CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Use an Oar as a Curtain Road

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:15:04 -0700

In an effort to stay within budget, and to cut back on consumerism, sometimes you gotta work with what your momma gave ya . . . or what you already own. When stars align, sometimes the furnishing that's a hand-me-down, a street find, or the like, is the perfect one for your digs. The owners of this beach shack on the Isle of Wight in the UK, recently featured on AT:NY, made the most of an old oar by using it as a curtain rod. In most homes, a paddling device used to hold up curtain panels would look out of place to say the least. But here, it's charming and a bit kitschy, and it has the worn-in, well-loved style that every beachside home should have. Have you used any unusual items as a curtain rod in your home?

DIY: Tree Branch Curtain Rod

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:00:25 -0800

This DIY tree branch curtain rod project doesn't seem like most original idea ever. But actually, I've never seen it done before; it looks rustic-chic; it achieves that branches trend; and it's super easy to pull off. Here are the steps, according to do-it-yourself:

Find a tree branch slightly wider than your window trim.
Use pruning shears to remove long twigs, but leave a few stubs for character.
Spray-paint the branch or leave it natural.
Choose tie-top curtain panels, which allow you to adjust for the curves of the branch-no clips or rings needed.

Source

DIY: Grass Skirt TV Stand

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:15:02 -0700

I first saw Hawaiian grass skirts used to conceal clutter in one of my favorite decorating books, Pad. A few years ago, frustrated with the lack of stylish TV stands available, I decided to create my own grass-skirted version with a shelf I bought at Ikea. (Please forgive the poor quality of the photo; I've since upgraded to a new stand and couldn't take another one.)

By attaching the grass skirt to swiveling curtain rods that open and close like cabinets, you have a fun and funky way to conceal your DVD player and DVDs underneath. It's an easy and fun project you can do even if you don't have a lot of hardware expertise. For a list of what you'll need and step-by-step instructions, read more

What You'll Need

An unfinished wooden shelf large enough to hold your TV. (I used one from Ikea's Ivar system.)
Paint or stain in the color of your choice, plus a medium-sized paintbrush.
A pair of swing arm curtain rods in the finish of your choice. These come with hinges; all you have to do is screw them in.
A screwdriver
A grass skirt
String or twine
A hammer and nail or a drill

How to Make It

Before you start the skirt portion of the project, paint the shelf and allow it time to dry.
Next, measure the width of the front of your TV stand, and adjust the telescoping curtain rods so that when they meet in the middle, they will fully cover the front of the shelf. To adjust the rod, you simply loosen the screw, pull out the telescoping rod to the desired length, and tighten the screw in the right spot.
Lay the curtain rods on the floor, and line up the waist of the grass skirt beneath the rods. Cut two lengths of skirt so that one fits on each rod.
Using one long piece of twine, secure the skirt pieces to the rod by "lacing" it. Thread the string between the spaces in the grass, wrap the string around the rod, and repeat for the length of the rod.
Once each piece of skirt is secured to the curtain rod, you're ready to install the poles to the shelf. The rods will come with hardware, so you can easily affix it using the accompanying screws. Hold the rod where you want to attach it, and mark the location of the holes with a pencil.
Get each hole started with a fine drill bit or simply by hammering a nail partway into the wood. Then, hold the curtain rod brackets flush against the wood and tighten the screws through each hole and into the wood.
Ta-da! Your TV stand is now skirted, swiveling, and ready to go.

Steal of the Day: Recycled Glass Finial Rods

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:30:46 -0700

Need to update the look of your windows? Then try these Recycled Glass Finials Rods ($23.99-39.99). They're simple, chic, and eco, and come in three different lengths, so you can outfit every size window, from a sliding deck door to a small bathroom window. Pretty perfect if you ask me. Oh, and If you're feeling lucky, head over to Simply Green and leave a comment for a chance to win these finials.

Cool Idea: Disguise an Ugly Rental Wall

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:15:36 -0700

When you live in a rental, you often have to deal with some less-than-ideal features, such as ugly linoleum and mirrored closet doors. Canadian House and Home magazine recently offered a reader advice on hiding an ugly mirrored wall, and the tip is perfect for renters dealing with an ugly wall or closet door in their own home. Simply use inexpensive fabric curtain panels and a pretty curtain rod to improve that less-than-ideal feature in your rental. Want all of the details on how to do it? Head over to Canadian House and Home.

Before and After: A Bathroom Makeover For Under $80

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:00:33 -0700

Craftster member Nichola accomplished the admirable feat of making over her bathroom for under $80. Cheap, chic makeovers are always inspiring, and Nichola's bathroom definitely fits the bill. Before Nichola's bathroom got to this "before" status you see here, she spent three nights removing ugly, decrepit wallpaper that may have been original to the house. With this somewhat blank palette, Nichola went to work.

She notes, "Now, I really admire people who can use color, people who can grab a can of bright red paint and slap it on the wall, but I am not one of those people. I shamefully admit that I am one of those who grab a can of white, or off white and go to town."

Even if Nichola is shy of bright colors, she still pulled off an amazing makeover in more neutral colors. To see how it looks, read more.

Nichola hung a new mirror, added some furniture and accents (including that cool basket of dowel rods), painted, sewed and hung curtains, and crafted a silhouette portrait. She says, "In addition to being frightful of color I'm also cheap as can be and on a budget. Here's a rundown of my costs: $15, white eco friendly paint for the walls; $17, white floor paint; $35.99 mirror; $3.94, 2 metres fabric for curtains; $2, supplies for silhouette picture. Everything else was stuff from my stash (frames, vase, cotton to line curtains)."

The black and white palette looks very sophisticated, and all of the little touches are perfectly pulled off. Nichola notes that she's not quite done with all of the changes (how many of us home reno-ers ever are?), but that she's quite pleased with the results. As she should be! This bathroom looks fabulous!

View 5 Photos ›

Ask Casa: Cat Hair on Curtains

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:00:29 -0800

Dear Casa,
You recently posted a story about hanging curtains. All of my curtains have been hanging happily for a while now, but they get a lot of cat hair on them! Taking them down is a pain because the curtain rod has a little screw to keep it from moving around. I live alone, so using the vacuum was scary and I thought I might pull them down. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Scissorz

To hear my suggestions for Scissorz, read more.

Hi Scissorz,
Good questions! I'm assuming shaving your cat (kidding!) is out of the question, so I have a few other suggestions for you.

First of all, you might consider replacing your curtain rods with some that don't screw in. Check out Shopstyle for a range of choices.
If your vacuum has a long wand with a brush at the end, you should be able to safely vacuum your curtains hanging.
You can also just use a lint brush or a fur fighter to remove your pet hair directly from the curtains.
I'd also recommend purchasing curtains or shades with button tabs like the PB Solutions Button-Up Shade ($48), which you can just unbutton to remove without having to unscrew your curtain rod.
If you're partial to the curtains you own, you can just have a seamstress add button tabs to them, or do it yourself if you know how to sew.
You can also unstitch the foldover part of your curtains, and iron on velcro where the curtains were stitched together. So, instead of running the curtain through the rod, you just keep it wrapped around the rod with the velcro. Then, you can easily pull them off when you vacuum them.

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

DIY: Simple Panel Curtains (in Four Hours or Less)

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Our living room features large deck doors that look out over the San Francisco Bay - a beautiful view, no doubt, but one that was previously obscured by some boring, less-than-aesthetically-pleasing vertical shades. Intent on making a Spring change, I decided to whip up some simple panel curtains to improve the view both inside and out. I chose a pretty, patterned Amy Butler fabric, which added a textile highlight to the room, and with a few simple but smart techniques, I managed to get these off my ironing board and onto curtain rods in about three hours.

Want to learn how to make these curtains? Then read more.
What You'll Need

2 to 4 panels of fabric (cotton is easy to work with, and seasonally appropriate), cut to the correct window length, plus about 1/3 of a yard extra to allow for shrinkage and seams
Sewing machine
Matching thread
Iron and ironing board
Pins
Scissors
Curtain rods

How to Do It

The first time-saving technique begins before you even step into the fabric store. Measure the length of the window/wall you want your panel to cover. Add 1/3 of a yard to this number. (For instance, if your window/wall is six feet, you want seven feet of fabric cut, and would ask for 2 and 1/3 yards cut.) Now, decide how many panels you need. Two? Four?
At the fabric store, ask (nicely!) the fabric store employee to cut your fabric out in panels, instead of in one long piece. This will save you a lot of time measuring and cutting at home. Just remember to measure very carefully before jotting down your needed lengths.
At home, toss the fabric in the laundry, as it will definitely shrink.
Iron your fabric panels. Look at the long sides of the fabric. The edges are already semi-finished (no raw edges), but the name of the fabric designer, as well as the color stamp, are visible. Iron this edge over, and then sew the sides first with a straight stitch. You won't have to double the edges over, since the edge is semi-finished to start with.
Next, fold over about half an inch of fabric for the bottom hem. Iron this hem over, onto the wrong side (the side with the lighter fabric pattern). Now, fold that hem over and iron it again. This will hide the raw edges. Sew this bottom hem with a straight stitch.
Now, start on the top of the curtain. Fold over about half an inch of fabric onto the wrong side. Iron, then sew. Then, fold the top of the curtain over so there is enough room to slide the curtain rod through. Iron, then sew with a straight stitch.
Your first panel is done! Now, repeat these techniques with the remaining panels. If you're using a pattern like I did, you may want to check to make sure your patterns match on each panel. You can easily do this by pinning the unfinished panel next to the finished (hung) panel, and then adjusting to line up the patterns.

View 5 Photos ›

How-To: Hang Curtains

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Hanging drapery is often the finishing touch a room needs to give off a polished look. But beyond that, the smallest difference in length can also make a drastic difference. That said, you should always take measurements before you buy any curtains, and if you must, just buy the longest size and alter them later. Hear a few tricks of the trade that can work wonders on any room when you read more.

If your ceilings are short (or average), hanging your curtains high will make your room appear taller. Sometimes just a half a foot will do the trick, while in other rooms you'll need to hang your curtain rods all the way near the ceiling. You just have to play with it. And, remember that curtain tabs add extra length.
The typical rule of thumb for curtain length is to have them hit the floor. But slightly longer curtains that bunch at the floor will add texture and a little flair to a room. In kitchens and bathrooms, where your floors are high-traffic and mess magnets, if your windows are small, it's standard to have your curtains hit the window sill.
If you're lacking in the light department, buy an extra long rod. This way, when your curtains are open and pushed back, they won't conceal the window but they'll still give it a polished look. This is also a good idea for curtains that are merely decorative.
If your curtains are store-bought, you don't have many decisions to make. But if you're having custom curtains made, I recommend having a professional come by to take your measurements. Sometimes a more narrow curtain will give your room a tall and lean look, while wider, billowing fabric can give it a casual, elegant vibe; this is why having your drapery custom-made can really pay off!

Cool Idea: A Shoe Organizer as a Vertical Garden

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:30:28 -0700

Vertical gardens are a great choice for those of you who are space-conscious. But, unless you want to pony up for a Living Wall system or the like, they can be complicated and costly to build on your own. So, I was pleased to find a vertical garden made using an over-the-door shoe organizer on Instructables. Aside from the actual soil and seeds, the installation requires only a few household supplies (curtain rod, hooks, a piece of wood, and a trough) and takes only four steps to build. While I'm not sure about how long the fabric would last, it's still a pretty clever solution to a small-space dilemma.