House Crashing
House Crashing: DIY Done Right
When Kara from Made 2 Create invited us to crash her Tulsa, Oklahoma house we decided that even though we couldn’t make the trek over there in person we needed to virtually cover her casa. Because it’s just that good. And to preface this amazing house tour we should mention that almost everything you’ll see in Kara’s gorgeous home came from a garage sale, Craigslist or she and her hubby Tim made it with their own four hands. Now let’s meet Kara the handy homeowner herself:
And now that we have the formalities out of the way, let’s poke around inside. Kara built a faux fireplace to create a focal point and put her favorite saying on the mantle (do what you love) along with bringing in a lot of spendy looking pieces that she hunted down on the cheap. She even made those billowy and dramatic curtains from affordable Lowe’s drop cloths.
But our hands down favorite part of the dining room is Kara’s homemade mason jar chandelier. Stunning, no?
There used to be two walls cutting the kitchen and the dining room off from the living room so Kara decided to get rid of both of them to open up the space and make for easy entertaining. She even built the media console from the old kitchen cabinets that were torn out during the big expansion. Gotta love that use-whatcha-got spirit.
Sadly Kara’s kitchen cabinets weren’t salvageable (although we love that some of them got a second life as the green media console), so she opted for assemble-it-yourself cabinetry to save money. You’d never guess that it’s not custom though, right? We love everything from the glass fronted cabinets that flank the window above the sink to the concrete countertops that she and Tim poured themselves. Kara even made the pot rack from her home’s own reclaimed copper plumbing. And she turned a garage sale table into an island.
Bear in mind when you look at this stunning guest bathroom that this space actually had wallpaper in the shower! Insane. But it was nothing that Kara couldn’t handle. She brought in beautiful hardwood floors (and put marine grade poly on them, so water won’t be a problem), added custom built-ins, and even turned an old desk into a vanity (again topping it with a chic DIY concrete counter). And of course we love that she and her hubby did all the work themselves to keep down the cost.
Again, in the interest of saving money (we love this girl), Kara repainted her original bedroom dresser with a flower motif that mimics the flower pattern in her curtains. She also gussied up her old headboard by tufting and upholstering it.
And one of the most major changes in the space was adding this gorgeous glass door in the place of an old window, which now leads to a lovely private outdoor area. Life is good when you’re Kara.
We also love that she was able to increase the square footage of her master bathroom by about 25 feet, but she visually expanded it by a lot more when she got rid of an old bulky vanity, brought in reflective white tile and added a glass shower screen for that open and airy feeling.
Here’s Kara’s “reading room” where she went for an exotic and worldly feeling with a bed nook for enjoying a book (or a nap) and a formerly black dresser that she amped up with colorful paint (love that Moroccan feel).
Everything from the padded pouf to the map on the wall of the reading nook adds to the worldly and well traveled feel. Which is perfectly appropriate for Kara since she actually lived in Lithuania for a while. Yes, yet another reason to be green with envy.
Kara wanted the guest room to have a rustic-yet-glamorous effect. And the corrugated tin headboard is the perfect combo of those two elements (she was inspired to whip it up herself after a trip to Lowe’s!). Touches of metallics, pops of yellow, and tons of texture really add to the space. And Kara figured why stop at making that amazing headboard when you can make the overhead light as well? So she did. We love the giant glowing orb, especially when it’s paired with those warm pops of yellow and the rustic wood wall.
And because we know you guys love a source list, here you go:
Dining Room- paint: Earl Gray (Lowe’s), chandelier: DIYed, table & bench & reupholstered chairs: garage sale, cowhide rug: side of the road stand, curtains: Lowe’s drop cloths, faux fireplace: built by Tim, mirror: DIYed frame + old bathroom mirror, purple pillows: Target, artwork: DIYed (she sells the Eye Charts). Living Room- paint: custom mix from leftover paint, roman shades: Home Depot, curtains: Target, armchairs: Target, media console: DIYed from old kitchen cabinets, sofa table: suitcases, coffee table/bench & sofa with slipcover: garage sale. Kitchen- cabinets: Home Depot’s self-assembled, beadboard color: Contemplation (Behr), kitchen island: garage sale, pot rack: made from copper plumbing (she also sells these), desk by the fridge: estate sale. Guest Bathroom- sconces: Habitat for Humanity ReStore, rug: Target, vanity: Craigslist desk, vessel sink: Craigslist, chevron towels: Ross, vanity shelf & bathtub caddy: IKEA. Reading Room- repainted dresser: Craigslist, rug & valance: garage sale, round pendant: Sam’s Club, red pouf: Pier 1. Master Bedroom- paint: Moonlite “something” (Glidden), flowery curtains: Target, yellow fabric: Walmart, chandelier: Habitat for Humanity Restore, nightstands: garage sales, concrete table: built by Tim. Master Bathroom- paint: “custom mix”, vanities: Lowe’s (painted & added glass inserts), glass shelves: Walmart, mirrors: Ross, vanity lights: Lowe’s. Guest Bedroom- paint: Prusian Cadet (Valspar), headboard: DIYed, bedding: Target, blanket: Walmart, stumps/side tables: mother nature.
So there you have Kara’s DIY palace. Doesn’t it look posh and expensive, even though it was anything but? We love that it’s full of doable DIY ideas that never look the least bit tacky or crafty. Thanks so much for inviting us into your lovely home Kara! And don’t forget to drop in on her blog for a lot more delectable DIY ideas. Now let’s play a little game we like to call what’s-your-favorite-thing? We’re totally torn between that amazing mason jar chandelier, the poured concrete counters or that brilliant tin headboard.
Psst- We’re always on the hunt for a mouthwatering house (or ten) to crash, so if you or anyone you know has a casa that’s feature-ready just shoot us an email along with some photos of the space and if we’re ever in the neighborhood we’ll be sure to drop in.
House Crashing: Stunning In The City
We’re back with an amazingly gorgeous home to share, and this one is actually located in downtown DC. We had a blast meeting and greeting Adam and Amber, and of course when they showed us around their Capitol Hill rowhouse we couldn’t contain our excitement. Here’s the happy couple now…
But back to the whole “couldn’t contain our excitement” thing. Do you see why? This is the view as you step inside. Their home is a modest 1000 square feet but they definitely squeezed all the beauty and function that they could out of it. Everything from the small scale sofa to the mini dining room that they created (the round table can actually accommodate six people in a pinch) makes their home usable yet oh so beautiful. And touches like oversized art and a giant lamp add interest and play with proportions in just the right way (if everything was mini it wouldn’t look half as chic).
We also love how the single step up into the dining room delineates that area from the living space without closing anything off. And even the airy iron banister keeps things feeling open so your eyes can sweep through every corner of the space without interruption when you enter. Of course the mirrored buffet, the leggy metallic dining chairs, the glass based lamp, and the delicate chandelier keep the airy and spacious vibe going strong.
And have you noticed how sweet that table setting is? Amber is actually an awesome event planner, which didn’t surprise us a bit. Every nook and cranny of her house was inviting and insanely charming.
But this home isn’t just easy on the eyes, it’s full of genius small space ideas. See that eggplant colored chest to the right of the flatscreen TV? It’s actually where Adam and Amber keep all of their TV components so they can quickly be hidden behind closed doors when they entertain. It’s a great solution for anyone looking to mount their TV above a fireplace without leaving their DVR box out in the open nearby. And the icing on the cake is that the deep plum colored component cabinet was actually an affordable Craigslist find. Jealous yet? Yeah, we were too.
Oh and the view as you climb the stairs is pretty amazing too. Looking down on their living and dining spaces really emphasizes how well they’ve used every inch of their home without creating that cramped and cluttered feeling that could definitely sneak up on anyone with this modest floor plan.
But onward and upward. Literally. Here’s their second floor hallway that connects the guest bedroom/office to the master bedroom (on the other side of the house). We were super smitten with those two-tone doors (which Amber just taped off and painted with the same gray color – Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore- that she used on the walls to accent the six panel detailing). Isn’t it architectural and lovely? And it’s such a cheap (free, actually) project for anyone to take on with their extra wall paint and some blue painter’s tape.
And did you notice that pop of orange on the hallway chest in the photo above? Let’s take a closer look shall we? Amber actually loves making brooch bouquets with vintage pins that she finds on ebay or at the flea market. All she does is use green floral wire to attach them to wood skewers and then she uses green floral tape to wrap the entire skewer for a stem-like effect. Mix in a few real blooms and you’ve got the most charming little bouquet around.
But on to the guest bedroom slash office. Don’t you love that bold peacock blue? We adore how fearlessly it pairs with the punchy pomegranate colored CB2 daybed. And a collection of mixed and matched art along with a patterned curtain and a printed pillow really finish off the room in style.
We can’t forget the bathroom, full of cheerful pops of green and a printed shower curtain to keep things interesting. An abundance of white tempers these splashes of color and pattern for a fresh and vibrant effect, and we love that the bathroom is pretty much as it was when they moved in (no major bucks were spent renovating) so it really shows that sometimes just a few accessories can amp up a space and make it feel crisp and current in a snap.
And behind yet another fun tone on tone door, we bring you the master bedroom…
The super tall ceilings are accented by dramatic high-hung drapes, and Amber plans to DIY a giant upholstered headboard (using this tutorial) for the wall behind the bed to balance out the height on the window wall (fingers crossed that she sends us photos of her masterpiece when it’s completed!).
And we noticed a second door related DIY project that we loved, this one involving those metal radiator sheets that you can buy at any home improvement center on the cheap. Adam simply cut out the horizontally slatted tops of their closet doors (they didn’t like their shutter-like appearance since the rest of the doors in their home were of the flat six-panel variety) and inserted the patterned metal pieces in their place.
And they’re lucky to have two closets in their master bedroom, so it feels nice and balanced to have one set of metallic doors on each side of the room. Especially since Amber stores her two extra dining chairs in the bedroom (which have the same hammered gold tone as the metal door inserts).
As for the kitchen, it’s still a work in progress. But Amber has promised to send us some follow up photos down the line when they finally tackle it. And speaking of fearlessly tackling DIY projects, Adam had actually just completed this brick patio in their backyard just a day before our arrival. How’s that for made-it-myself mojo? Of course they still have to get some furnishings (and Adam’s even talking about building in a grill area) so we’ll be sure to share those photos whenever they get ‘er done.
And because we know you guys appreciate a source list, here’s some info on the paint colors and furnishings that grace Amber and Adam’s lovely home:
All paint except for office (including door trim): Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray, office paint: Benjamin Moore’s California Blue, liv. room couch: Crate & Barrel, pillows: West Elm, coffee table: secondhand store, side table: Target, lamps: Crate & Barrel, leather chair: TJ Maxx, purple TV component piece: Craigslist, tall floor lamp: Ikea, cowhide rug: Craigslist, dining table: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, chandelier: Craigslist, mirrored buffet: Horchow, dining room rug: Dash & Albert, dining room art: Crate & Barrel, dining chairs: purchased at a deep discount from an event rental company, office daybed: CB2, hallway dresser: Crate & Barrel, hallway lamp: Ikea, hallway floor mirror: Ikea, shower curtain: Marimekko, bath accessories: Target & vintage finds, bedroom curtains: Anthropologie, bedding: Martha Stewart for Macy’s, throw pillows: West Elm and Land’s End.
So there you have the latest house that we paraded through with our camera in tow. We love how inspiring other people’s spaces can be (from providing two totally unique and chic door makeover ideas to brooch bouquets and even TV component hiding ideas). Plus the fact that they saved money by DIYing things like the back patio and weren’t afraid to look on Craigslist for items that wouldn’t break the bank is the icing on the cake. Thanks so much to Adam and Amber for generously inviting two house-loving strangers into their home to poke around! There’s nothing we’d rather be doing. Now lets play the what’s-your-favorite-part game. Everything about their home is just so stunning it’s hard to pick just one fave…
Psst- We’re always on the hunt for a mouthwatering house (or ten) to crash, so if you or anyone you know has a casa that’s feature-ready just shoot us an email along with some photos of the space and if we’re ever in the neighborhood we’ll be sure to drop in.
House Crashing: Luxe & Lovely (Part Two)
You guys remember Stacie, right? She lives downtown in a gorgeous home that we actually got to help her decorate. And we even got the chance to House Crash her a while back (check out all those details right here).
Maybe the befores of her bedroom will jog your memory. It used to look like this:
And then we whipped up one of our first mood boards ever for her… which helped her transform it into this:
And we also got to help Stacie revamp her dining room for a big party that she was throwing a few months back. Here’s how the room started out:
And here are the lovely afters pics (click over to our House Crashing post for all the dirty makeover details).
You also might recognize her gorgeous spiderweb-ish window atop the dreamy french doors that lead to her kitchen…
… or her super dramatic living room with luxe dark walls and stunning supersized windows flanked by ruby red curtains…
So now that we’ve reviewed a few of the fantastic rooms that we’ve already covered in that House Crashing post of yore, let’s get on to why we’re revisiting such a fantastic home. Well, Stacie’s boyfriend Jeff painted the most stunning mural, and we just had to share the latest chapter in her casa’s brilliant evolution. Here’s the entryway before the big makeover.
And here it is in progress after Jeff designed a detailed and customized cherry blossom branch just for the space, and then blew it up by projecting it on the wall to be traced and painted.
Oh and we suppose we should properly introduce the talented and brilliant muralist himself, so meet Jeff (armed with his trusty projector):
He designed the cherry blossom (with a lot of feedback from Stacie) in Photoshop, and was even able to show her how it would look on the wall (again thanks to Photoshop) before he got down to projecting and tracing the outline of the design on her wall.
Then he started filling things in with those steady hands of his (he’s actually a full time artist) and even left intricate cut outs to create a stunningly interesting and detailed composition as he went.
And now Stacie’s entryway looks like this:
Is that not the most fantastic mural you’ve seen in a long time? We love how it creeps up the stairs thanks to being custom designed for the space. And if you think it looks good in photos you should see it in person. It’s truly spectacular.
Here’s a closer shot so you can see that the small round buds that Jeff penciled onto the wall were actually given a lot more detail and depth when he got to the painting stage. They’re almost like little rounded star blossoms so they feel elegant and sophisticated (as opposed to kid-like and cartoonish). And those little white slivers that he left on the branches really create the illusion of shine and dimension- it’s almost like the chandelier above is casting light right onto the tops of the branches.
So that’s Stacie’s amazing entryway project. Just when we thought her house couldn’t get any better she goes and pulls a stunt like this.
Oh and Jeff’s actually for hire if any locals are interested in working with him (just shoot him an email right here). But back to that gorgeous cherry blossom. Is anyone else considering a mural for any room in their house? If so, which room- and what wiould the subject matter be? Share and share alike. And if you’re in the mood to crash some other homes that we’ve featured, you can check them all out right here. Bonus: you don’t even have to wipe your feet upon entry.
Psst- We’re always on the hunt for a mouthwatering house (or ten) to crash, so if you or anyone you know has a casa that’s feature-ready just shoot us an email along with some photos of the space and if we’re ever in the neighborhood we’ll be sure to drop in.
House Crashing: A Brilliant Bungalow (Take Two)
You may remember when we took you on a virtual tour of one of our favorite homes ever- this charming bungalow in Charlotte.
It belongs to our friends Matt & Kristin (and their adorable pooches Simon & Sage):
And we just can’t get enough of it. Hence the second post. You might remember some of the gorgeous spaces like this…
And this:
And this (see the whole original House Crashing tour right here):
It’s a seriously unforgettable home, right? Which must be why when we found ourselves back at their casa for another visit about a year later we re-saw so many things and kept thinking “that’s such a genius idea.” So much so that we actually decided it was worth pointing out five genius decorating ideas a la Matt & Kristin that you can easily implement in your own home. It’s sort of a part two of the tour mixed with some tips about what Matt & Kristin do to really make their house stand out- so you can shamelessly steal their crafty tricks for your very own abode. So without further idea we bring you five genius why-didn’t-I-think-of-that-ways-to-pimp-your-place:
Idea #1: Group bold art for a cheerful and graphic gallery effect. Every time we visit Matt & Kristin we’re inspired to save up for some real art. They don’t break the bank on the original pieces that they collect, but they aren’t afraid to spend a little money for one of a kind canvases (in fact they love gifting each other great art for birthdays and anniversaries). And they really know how to make it even more impactful and eye pleasing- by hanging similarly strong and colorful pieces together in a semi-balanced-but-still-unusual arrangement (the two smaller frames under the bigger one in the middle is just “off” enough to look oh so right). The best part about this idea is that if you don’t have any cashola saved up for other people’s original art you can always make your own by purchasing a few different sized canvases and using bold hues to color block simple shapes and designs for a similar effect.
Idea #2: Who says interior doors have to be white? Not Matt & Kristin. In fact every single interior door in their house is stained a gorgeous ebony color- and it totally makes every space in their modestly sized bungalow pop with drama and definition. It doesn’t hurt that they have lovely interior french doors that lead to their office…
… but even bifold closet doors look extra elegant with that moody black tone- and basic bedroom and bathroom doors look special as well…
So go ahead and stain your natural wood doors the same ebony hue (or paint your white ones a rich dramatic black tone- like Benjamin Moore’s Black Satin or Deep Caviar). It might be just the splash of sophistication that your home is begging for.
Idea #3: Window sashes can be black too. You may have even noticed Matt & Kristin’s awesome black window sashes from the exterior picture of their bungalow that we shared above. But even if your house doesn’t have true black sashed windows, there’s nothing that says you can’t paint yours – especially the interior frames (assuming they’re metal or wood, which will both take a few coats of latex paint beautifully). So go ahead and slap on some rich black paint (and scrape off any drips that get on the window panes with a straight razor). It’s kind of like eyeliner for the windows- so stunning and crisp. It’s definitely an amazing way to add definition to your space. And if you have vinyl window frames you can still add a dose of deep sophistication with white curtains or roman shades that are lined with crisp black ribbon (we love when the ribbon runs around the perimeter of either one- and you can even DIY that detail with iron-on hem tape and a thick roll of ribbon from the craft store). Or you can even opt for black curtain rods to bring that elegant linear effect to your home in a snap.
Idea #4: Personalize your pendant. Kristin picked up this pendant at a local shop in Charlotte that actually offers a ton of different fabric options when it comes to their drum shades. And we love that she went with something a bit more daring than the average white or cream shade. So go ahead and spring for a special patterned pendant for the room that you’re looking to amp up (we love Stacy Garcia’s stunning designs) or even recover a pendant light that you already have (or pick up a cheap drum shade and give it some serious style with less than a yard of fabric). Here’s an old post all about recovering a lamp shade – see, it really is something you can do yourself. Bam, you’re one step closer to having this amazing breakfast nook…
Idea #5: Create A Gorgeous And Functional Drop Zone For Cards & Letters. Kristin adored this deep wooden bowl (the orange tone was what really won her over) so she snatched it up without really knowing what she’d use it for. Then she noticed a pile of cards and letters from friends & family and tossed them into the bowl (and placed it in a nice convenient location in her front hall). The result was a sweet collection of correspondence from loved ones that Kristin just didn’t have the heart to toss right away (“it feels so mean to open a card, read it and then just throw it away”).
Now she has a bona fide landing spot for all those cards and about once a year she goes through them and keeps only the few that really should be saved for good (and tosses the rest without feeling nearly as bad since they were enjoyed in the bowl for a while instead of being promptly discarded as soon as she opened them). Plus it’s really fun for her to go back through all those letters and cards at the end of the year one more time. Isn’t that a smart (and sweet) idea? It’s one part organization, one part sentimental and one part easy on the eyes.
So there you have it. Five very doable ideas that you can pick and choose from to supe up your house Matt & Kristin style. What do you guys think? Do you have any favorites that you’re itching to implement? Are you shamelessly dreaming of moving in (don’t worry, we threaten to do that every time we visit). Or have you spotted any other easy ideas in their home that anyone can do (or come up with alternate ideas that you’d love to toss into the mix)? Spill it.
Psst- Can’t get enough of virtually making your way through other people’s homes? We can’t either. Which is why we compiled an entire page full of every House Crashing adventure that we’ve taken on to date. Happy house snooping…
