under $25

Studio Vignette: Mirror, Mirror

by Alexis L. on June 24, 2010

My displeasure about our vintage baby blue bathroom was made known to any and everyone who would listen to me when we decided upon this apartment. I had fantasies of reglazing the blue tub or removing the blue commode but since we haven’t decided to buy the apartment, neither is practical. I was especially annoyed with vintage medicine cabinet whose mirror is so old that is actually rainbowing with discoloration and was planning to yank it out. Well with some time and wise counsel from my dear commentors, I decided to make a series of minor changes:
- white drapes instead of a shower curtain (more on that some other time) that block out lots of that blue tile
- a freehand darkest charcoal stripe border that looks original but cheekily wraps around the mirror
- a new Ikea Frack extendable mirror

The $5 mirror extends left and right so hubby can shave in the shower and I can apply mascara without blinding myself. Two postcards cover a now-unusable niche that last held toothbrushes circa 1920.

What felt old and rundown before now feels period appropriate and refreshed. What’s going on in your bathrooms, particularly above the sink? Advice, conundrums and experience very much appreciated in the comments section.

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Tagged as: frack, ikea, mirrors, shabby chic, super-cheap, vintage, wall art

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myDIY: O Christmas Tree Branch!

by Alexis L. on December 22, 2009

“Christmas branch” doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, does it? But after excessive deliberation and a lot of great advice, that’s what we happily arrived at. I wanted something that was low-priced, fanciful, wouldn’t end up in the landfill after the celebration and didn’t require a lot of storage. I looked at all sorts of alternative Christmas trees and eventually decided finally to arrange a few bare branches. Rather than buy expensive, heavy-to-ship manzanita branches, I went to my favorite source, Prospect Park, picked up windblown branches and hauled them home for a thorough washing. Once they dried, I arranged them in a vase with a lot of ornaments from years past and a few new ones. In total, the arrangement cost only $13 and the branches will be returned to the park at the end of the holidays. So what’s decorating your home this holiday season? Show off! I’d love to hear your peacock-proud boasts descriptions and even links to your decor in the comments section.

Rather than a symmetrical display, I wanted an arrangement that reflected the wind-torn street saplings that are dotting my neighborhood these days.

I was quite pleased with the look of these $1.50 Michael's craft bird.

$2 Vintage Indian glass ornaments from El Milagro in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Saved from our 2007 wedding, this glass ornament from CB2 holds a white pine tip for a bit of cheeky greenery.

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Tagged as: celebration, christmas, eco-friendly, projects under $20

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myDIY: Easy Radiator Cover, Skirt Style

by Alexis L. on August 8, 2009

Before

Before

Among other things I have hated about my apartment, you can count the radiator in the bedroom, a listing, rusting troll of a machine from what should be a bygone era. Even the unattractive mugshot above does not does not accurately convey how nasty the thing was. Not wanting to invest $300+ in a custom radiator cover and completely bereft of any carpentry skills of my own, I opted to clean it (egh), paint it (sigh) and conceal it (yeah!) with a quick, super-easy radiator skirt, inspired by rustic pieces like this one in Domino Real Living Australia magazine.

rad1

After

To make:

Cut lumber to the length of the radiator to create a shelf/top. If the radiator is uneven, use another scrap of lumber as a shim to support the new shelf and make it appear straight and level.

Cut a piece of fabric 2-3″ longer than the board on all sides and fold it around the board, stapling the fabric on the underside.

To determine the skirt length, place the covered board (and the optional shim) on top of the radiator and measure the distance to the floor, plus 2-3″. For the skirt width, measure the board perimeter (minus 4-8″ to allow for an opening in the back, depending on the size of your radiator) and cut the fabric. The sides of the radiator should be covered; the back should be mostly open.

Staple the top of the skirt to the underside of the covered board and place the finished skirted shelf on top of the rad. Rejoice.

The overall effect is rustic and unexpected. I love that it doubles as a shelf and the fabric actually matches my drapes so the look is slightly bohemian without being too improvised.

Can this handle the heat? Well, I don’t know for sure until winter but it certainly works as an off-season solution. I specifically chose a natural fiber to avoid unwanted off-gassing or melting and encourage you to do the same, even if you choose more interesting fabrics or embellishments than the untreated cotton dropcloth I used.

Cost: While this was free to me because I had materials on-hand, you can expect to pay about $7 for a small cotton dropcloth and maybe $10 for lumber, if purchasing from a major home improvement store. If you don’t have a staple gun, invest in one or attach the fabric using a hammer and fabric tacks.

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Tagged as: before/after, diy, love/hate, making it livable, my grand home, my not so grand home, projects under $20

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From "Oops" to "Yes!", Affordable Custom Paint with Tints-All

by Alexis L. on June 21, 2009

'Mr. Oops Has His Own Paint' via larcher on Flickr

'Mr. Oops Has His Own Paint' via larcher on Flickr

Ever look with longing at the ‘Oops’ paint in the local home center for rock-bottom prices? The problem, of course, is that the colors are often not exactly what you are looking for. Here’s a solution:

Tints-All from Ace Hardware, from $1.93

Tints-All from Ace Hardware, from $1.93

Starting at prices under $2 per tube, Tints-All paint additive instantly shades latex and oil paints to a perfect color. It’s fade-resistant, even outdoors, and does not change the texture of the paint. There are 27 colors available but I suggest starting out with the primary colors plus black so that you can create the widest range of colors. So take that $1 quart of bubblegum pink and use red and black to tint it to an all-grown-up deep raspberry or add a drop of color to a white base in order to create a fresh pastel.

And I think the best application is making your own custom shades–pick up a dark or light base, depending on what you would like to achieve, and then mix the tints in to your liking. If you need more paint, just paint a chip and take it your home center to match.

Want to see Tints-All in action? These beautiful faux bois logs were dyed with Tints-All help you see the possibilities:

Faux Bois Logs by Something's Hiding Here on Etsy

Faux Bois Logs by Something's Hiding Here on , $24

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Tagged as: decor essentials, paint, projects under $10

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Daily Deal: Freer & Sackler Gallery Exhibition Posters for $1

May 22, 2009

What does a dollar buy these days? Something off the value menu or an exhibition poster from the Smithsonian Museum’s Freer & Sackler Galleries. This is instant wall art for the price of a junior burger, leaving you plenty of cash to casually mount on foamboard or frame it for an upscale look. What makes [...]

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myDIY: Remaking a $15 Office Chair

May 4, 2009

There are only a few major pieces of furniture I don’t have for our new apartment and one is an office chair. I’ve looked all over for affordable models but with a budget of $60 or less, I haven’t had many options. Target came to my rescue, though, with this Swivel Ring-Back Office Chair for [...]

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Affordable Letterpress Decor

April 29, 2009

I love all things paper and letterpress with its lush colors and fine texture offers a relatively affordable accessory option. Enjoy these offerings from Etsy, all under $25. An incredible value for letterpress, use this collection of coasters for your drinks (you can brush them with ModPodge to make them more waterproof) or mount and [...]

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