Table of contents for Spring 2019 in Do It Yourself

I think of DIY projects during this time of year as spring cleaning for your home’s style. Now is the moment to let go of the old and welcome the new. You know that lighter, brighter feeling you experience after washing the windows? You can enjoy a similar effect year-round by undertaking one of the targeted makeovers featured in this issue. Start by doing something with that old dresser or cabinet gathering dust in your garage or basement. “Drab to Fab,” page 78, shows how to complete four no-fail furniture flips. Just combine the finish changes, carpentry details, and storage upgrades that suit your piece and get going! I’ve long believed in the power of paint, but I was awed by the way it transformed a cavelike bedroom (“Room…

1. NATURAL LATEX CLEANING GLOVES A good glove makes cleaning easy-breezy, especially when it’s a cheery lime green color, soft to the touch inside, and slip-resistant on the outside. You’ll want a pair at the sink, where the cuff will keep your digits dry, and in each cleaning caddy in the house. $13; fullcirclehome.com 2. LINT-FREE CLEANING CLOTHS Spot-clean stains from upholstery and smudges from glass with these lint-free cloths that leave no fibers behind—unlike sponges, washcloths, or paper towels. $20; thelaundress.com 3. ANGRY MAMA MICROWAVE CLEANER Let this little lady pop her top, because it helps get your crusty microwave clean. Fill with water and vinegar, microwave, and wipe. Try adding a squirt of lemon juice for a fresh scent. $10; containerstore.com 4. 18-INCH LAMBSWOOL DUSTER Lanolin in…

HACK IT MAKE IT BUY IT NEAT NOOK Eye-level cubbies recessed into the wall provide extra space for oft-needed items like cotton swabs and makeup brushes. Glass shelving offers dual-level storage and a clear view to graphic patterned tiles that line the back. LET IT SLIDE A custom built cabinet drawer insert facilitates easy access to products deep within. Make your own by measuring available cabinet space, building a wood box to size, adding drawer slides, and installing at the desired height. BIN THERE Open vanity shelves offer flexibility in storage. Handwoven rattan bins can be used to keep each partner’s toiletries stowed neatly out of sight—but easy to grab and set on the counter when it’s time to get ready. Container Store, starting at $20;…

BITS AND PIECES Home improvement stores routinely offer steep discounts on the last box of tile. Grab those bargains and turn them into a custom backsplash, left and opposite. Create textural interest with tiles of different shapes and sizes, but stick to a single color for a cohesive look. On a flat surface, lay out your pattern. To keep things interesting, offset some pieces so all the grout lines don’t line up. Also, choose a design that requires as few cuts as possible. Install the tile starting from the center and working your way toward the edges. STICK TO IT Typically used to line shelves or drawers, vinyl adhesive paper can also serve as a surprisingly stylish backsplash, this photo. It’s an easy-on, easy-off solution for renters or anyone…

TREND OPEN SHELVING, EVOLVED Just when you thought you’d seen it all in open shelving, fresh interpretations are breathing new life into the well-loved #shelfie trend. Floating shelves that wrap around corners, units suspended from ceilings, organic live-edge wood—these innovations keep this popular look at the forefront of kitchen and bath design. HARDWARE HELPER A 1∕2-inch extra-long drill bit and blind shelf supports make the floating look possible. These accommodate shelves between 7 and 12 inches in depth and support up to 100 pounds per bracket when mounted in studs. Dakoda Love Floating Shelf Brackets, set of four, $50; amazon.com LIVING ON THE EDGE Step aside, barnwood. Live-edge wood shelves offer a new way to channel a rustic vibe. Peruse retailers like Etsy for shops offering handmade shelves like…

[P] Paint Color Because of the magazine printing process, paint colors depicted on our pages might vary slightly from manufacturers’ colors. Use paint color names or numbers, when provided, as a starting point. To get a color as it appears in the magazine, take the page to a paint retailer for matching. [T] To the Trade Contact a design professional to find more information about this product or service. ON THE COVER Primer ProBlock Primer, hutch paint Tricorn Black SW 6258—The Sherwin-Williams Co.; 800/474-3794; sherwin-williams.com [P]. White cube drawer unit 3-Drawer Organizer Cube by Ashland—Michaels Stores, Inc.; michaels.com. Glazier points for glass installation Ook Glazier Points PK45—Zoro; 855/289-9676; zoro.com. TRY IT: HANDMADE PAPER PAGES 6–12 Botanical add-ins search: Botanical Flower Kit, gold leaf for bowls search: Gold Leaf Kit—Amazon;…

HEADBOARD A cast-off headboard becomes a new bedroom beauty with the help of upholstery. BHG.com/UpholsterBed LAMINATE FLOORING Give your whole main level a makeover with plank flooring—it’s easy to install and stain and scratch-resistant. BHG.com/Laminate PANTRY SHELVES Who couldn’t use a little more storage? Maximize your shelf space with easy organizational tips. BHG.com/PantryShelves ARTWORK Fill an old frame with custom artwork made with unexpected materials. BHG.com/DIYArt…

DAUGHTER OF AN ARTIST AND AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, EMILY EISENHART GREW UP POKING AROUND ANCIENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES AND CENTRAL AMERICA. AFTER STUDYING CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY IN COLLEGE, SHE BEGAN A CAREER AS A DESIGNER WHILE MOONLIGHTING AS A PAINTER AND MURALIST. FEELING BURNT OUT WITH HER NINE-TO-FIVE, SHE LEFT HER JOB IN 2017 TO HIT THE RESET BUTTON. MORE TIME TO MAKE ART QUICKLY TURNED THIS SIDE HUSTLE INTO A FULL-TIME GIG. THE MAKER: EMILY EISENHART The Texas muralist is experimenting, exploring, and discovering her own style one brushstroke at a time. O: Why did you decide to pursue art as a career? A: I think at my core, I was born an artist and that’s always what I wanted to be. I ignored that for a…

FLUTTERY CHARGERS Vinyl butterfly cutouts morph plain chargers into eye-catchers, right. In your cutter’s design platform, upload butterfly images. We used three different images and resized them to fit our charger’s outer ring. Place white vinyl onto cutting mat and set cutting settings to vinyl. Cut according to design platform’s instructions. Remove the negative space off the vinyl. Cover with vinyl transfer tape and carefully remove from mat. Cut the transfer tape around each vinyl butterfly. Remove backing and set design into place on charger rim. Smooth using scraper, and remove the transfer tape. Handwash only. LEATHER NAPKIN RINGS Sure, we all know an electronic cutter cuts paper, but the new Cricut Maker cuts leather, fabric, even balsa wood, too. Can you say game changer? For the floral napkin…

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1 CHOOSE AN AREA: A backsplash is traditionally installed behind the stove and sink to keep stains and water off the wall. Extending the backsplash can make the kitchen appear larger, while limiting it can make a more dramatic statement. 2 LIMIT BOLD ACCENTS: Avoid an overly busy look by concentrating elaborate designs on natural focal points like the areas above the range and/or the sink. 3 PICK THE RIGHT PRODUCT: If you’re using tile, which is the most popular backsplash material, consider its durability (porcelain is stronger than ceramic) and upkeep (natural stone must be sealed once a year). 4 DON’T OVERLOOK GROUT: Almost as important as choosing tile is selecting grout. Grout comes in many colors (darker grout is more forgiving). Stain-resisting epoxy formulations can be worth…

CEMENT THE DEAL Trendy encaustic cement tiles like those on the floor, below, can be difficult to work with because of their handmade imperfections, thickness, and tendency to stain. If you go this route, do plenty of research first, take your time between steps, and invest in quality tools—especially a good tile cutter and diamond blade—for the best results. MATERIAL MATTERS Porcelain and ceramic tiles offer trendy looks, often at affordable price points. In general, porcelain is harder, more durable, and more impervious to water than ceramic because it’s fired at a higher temperature. Ceramic is easier to cut, but it can show damage more easily as the color is only part of the glaze layer. PLAN FOR SUCCESS The difference between a top-notch installation and one that looks…

MAKE IT PAPER MATERIALS • 2 same-size wood frames with flat sides• Vinyl window screening• Staple gun• Junk mail• Paper shredder• Blender• Extra-large rubber bands• Plastic tub big enough for screen• Small plastic tub• Sponge• Felt sheets Step 1 Cut screen approximately 1 inch larger than frame. Lay screen over the flat side of one frame. Wrap screen around frame edges and staple. Cut an additional screen piece approximately the frame size; save this piece for Step 4. Step 2 Place a handful of shredded junk mail into blender; cover with water and let soak for 15 minutes (A). Blend until the paper mixture is a smoothie consistency (B). This is the pulp. If using add-ins, below, mix them in now. Step 3 Stack the frames, placing deckle (the…

ORCHIDS ON DISPLAY Create a quick hanging basket to show off your orchids, previous page. Place Spanish moss in the bottom of a sphere planter. Press to the sides, leaving a depression in the middle (A). Soak sphagnum moss in water for 30 seconds. Wring out slightly and place atop the Spanish moss. Snugly fit your orchid, still in its nursery pot, within the sphagnum moss (B). Secure the orchid with additional sphagnum if needed. Add potting soil around the orchid (1 inch deep) (C). Tuck sedums in the potting soil (D). Hang from a long plant hook. FIT TO FRAME Give air plants a home base with an old frame and chicken wire, left. Spray-paint an empty frame. Cut chicken wire 1 to 2 inches larger than the…

1. STAMP SHEETS These clear stamp sheets from Brother are just the right thickness to be mounted and used as a stamp after your design is cut out and applied to a stamp block. 2. BALSA WOOD AND CHIPBOARD The trick to cutting wood veneer? The blade. For best results, cut your wood with the special Cricut knife blade or Brother Auto blade—and make sure it’s sharp! 3. HEAT-TRANSFER VINYL Offered in many colors, heat-transfer vinyl can be applied to cotton, polyester, blends, even leather. For best results, transfer vinyl by using transfer tape. 4. TRANSFER TAPE Transfer your vinyl designs easily with this gridded transfer tape. Place it on top of the cut vinyl, position vinyl where you want it, then peel back the tape to reveal your…

CURTAIN CALL Boost the style of plain-Jane curtain panels by stamping them with a shapely print, this photo. To create custom stamps, cut five half-circles out of adhesive felt pads, varying their sizes slightly but keeping them 1–2 inches long. Adhere felt pieces to a scrap block of wood. Spread a white curtain on a drop cloth, and position a straightedge where you want your first row. Dip stamp in acrylic paint, dabbing off any excess. Press stamp onto the curtain along straightedge. Repeat, leaving a small space between each print as you work your way across the curtain. Moving the straightedge up about 10 inches per row, continue until the curtain is complete. DRESSED TO THE NINES Outfitted in a sea of grainy orange woodwork, a pair of…

“I LOOK AROUND AND SEE A TABLE MY HUSBAND MADE OR POTS MY KIDS PAINTED, AND IT’S THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL. THE HOUSE IS A REFLECTION OF US AS A FAMILY.”—JULIE BALCOM, HOMEOWNER “TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE! WE WOULD’VE BEEN TOO SCARED TO DO ANY OF THIS WORK, BUT BECAUSE OF PINTEREST AND BLOGS, WE GOT THE CONFIDENCE TO TRY THINGS. YOUTUBE OPENED A LOT OF DOORS.”—JULIE BALCOM, HOMEOWNER “OUR GOAL WAS TO BUY IN THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD WE COULD, AND TO GET A HOUSE WE COULD FIX UP OURSELVES. WE DIDN’T WANT TO PAY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE’S UPDATES.”—JULIE BALCOM, HOMEOWNER FOR RESOURCES SEE PAGE 100.…

The Side Table SHOP WITH AN EYE FOR SHAPE, SCALE, AND POSSIBILITIES. DON’T OVERLOOK THE UGLY, SAD, OR FALLING APART. THIS LOW-SLUNG SIDE TABLE WAS ONLY $12. WE ADDED LEGS AND A SHELVING UNIT FOR HEIGHT AND FUNCTION. TALL DRINK OF WATER Adding height transformed a low-rider cabinet into a living room standout, opposite. Attach legs of your choice to the original piece. Determine the desired final height and the length of the vertical boards of the shelving unit. Cut to length. Determine the length of the horizontal boards by subtracting the thickness of the vertical pieces from the width of the cabinet. Measure and mark the shelf placement along the vertical boards as desired. Drill three Kreg jig holes and attach one horizontal board to span the two…

THE PROBLEM THE FRAMED ARTWORK AND LAMPSHADE ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE SPACE AND FEEL DISCONNECTED. THE SOLUTIONS FILL EMPTY SPACES SPACE INVADERS Keep accessories from floating in a sea of space by lowering the artwork on the wall and swapping out the lampshade for a taller one. Place the lamp on a stack of books so the frame and the shade reach the same height. Add a top layer to the arrangement with a trio of matching accessories. ADD PATTERN & POP JAZZ IT UP Layer on a dynamic background and give the lamp a makeover. Cut fabric to the desired width and length (ours extends 5 inches beyond either side of the dresser), then stretch and staple the fabric onto the walls. Cut and paint pieces of…

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