DIY Halloween Dragon
Posted by Cynthia | Filed under Musings
It’s that time of year again. Our thoughts go all things spooky and spectacular. At the DeGrace house, we are big into a handmade Halloween. Simple, tactile and unique, it makes the experience of the day that much more special. Each of our boys has a connection to their chosen disguise through their own efforts to craft and create it. It is a time to rally the collective creative energy of the family, ultimately everyone teaching and learning from one another. It seems it offers the unique vision that anything is possible. Powerful indeed. Imagine it, and create it.
One of our most memorable recent projects was a Chinese Dragon. It began with the imagination of our youngest son. Like all projects it presented a myriad of design challenges and problems to solve. How to create a structure light enough to carry? Can I see where I am going? And perhaps most importantly, how do I still get to the door for candy? Paper Mache was the medium of choice, over an aluminum wire frame.
The Dragon has been used multiple years, by the boys together, as well as groups individually, with groups of their friends. The head hangs proudly in their bedrooms now. Like most creative adventures, there were benefits and outcomes we couldn’t have anticipated. Three young brothers learning to work together to walk in unison was priceless. Each taking a turn at the head to lead the charge. All equally invested, and valued. The gifts of collaboration and design. Happy Halloween!
Tags: Chinese Dragon Costume, diy, DIY Halloween Costume, halloween, interior design, Paper Mache Dragon, Sculpture
Why Don’t You…?
Posted by Erin | Filed under Design Tips, Inspiration, Musings
…highlight the underbelly of your furniture?
Tabletops get all the credit; why not have some fun with your dining room table, desk or vanity by painting it a fun hue underneath? Rotterdam-based designers Minale-Maeda recently created a collection entitled ‘Inside Out’: an entire series of furniture where pops and hues of color are spotlighted inside the piece, rather than out. Drawers are rejoicing everywhere!
Why not DIY your own version with your existing furniture? The look is sure to make you smile when you’re dusting bunnies off the floor!
Image Credit: Minale-Maeda via Treehugger
Tags: color, diy, furniture, Paint
Aniline Dye For Wood
Posted by Cynthia | Filed under Musings
When installing or renovating a kitchen, there are many finish options for cabinetry. Natural wood, lacquer, paint, or stain are just some of the many available. Aniline Dye is one of my favorites and is a bit more uncommon. It’s simple enough to do yourself, with a bit of practice. Aniline dye adds a rich luminous layer of color to wood without masking its natural beauty. Dyes are often confused with stains. A stain is essentially a thin, lightened form of paint which coats the surface of the wood without penetrating it. Dyes on the other hand, soak into the wood and create a deep layer of color. They are generally transparent, so they’re a great choice if you don’t want to cover up a beautiful grain. Dyes allow the natural hue of the wood to show through. For example, a pale blue dye applied to yellow pine might result in a slight green cast. Bleaching wood before you dye it will provide a more neutral background. There is a subtle and sophisticated quality to aniline dyed wood projects. Depth of finish can be adjusted by custom mixing to achieve just the color you are looking for. The dye comes in a dry powder form, and water or alcohol is added to create the desired color for your project. A great DIY project, providing the opportunity to create a custom wood finish, with a simple application using a brush, foam applicator or sponge. Typically, two to three coats result in a evenly colored wood, less for a more sheer look, and additional layers create a more opaque finish. Allow at least 12 hours between coats for dye to penetrate into the wood and dry. I’d love to see images of your project!
Image and excerpts sourced at Houzz.
Tags: Aniline Dye, Custom cabinets, diy, interior design, Kitchen Cabinets, kitchen design, Wood Stain
ACE Hotel Inspiration: DIY Mural
Posted by Cynthia | Filed under Musings
I have recently had the very good fortune to visit the Ace Hotel, both in Portland while visiting family, and on a weekend trip to NYC. I absolutely love the brand, from the relaxed and edgy feel, to the city specific sensibility reflected in each personalized location. I enjoyed more than my share of Stumptown Coffee, and witnessed the sharing of the Roasted Suckling Pig at the Breslin. Each of these experiences rich in comfort and the culture of their environment. In my room in New York, was an inspiring mural by artist Timothy Goodman. Unique and accessible, the artwork reflects a depth of content of the city, as well as the artist. A bit like reading a good book, I found myself visiting these images again and again during my visit.
Truly, an inspiration for a home DIY project, the handmade quality of imperfection in this beautiful display is something I believe could be personalized and stylized to suit any individual. Now, I won’t pretend to have the talent of Mr. Goodman, but I might be able to pull off a fun story for my own space. How about you? Start by doodling, and enlarge or reduce images to suit your design, then tape them up on the wall. Once placed, sketch lightly first, then grab your marker and get to work. Personal, and forgiving, a mechanism to imprint a little bit of yourself on your space. Mr. Goodman describes taking the time to set up his project, to ensure proper alignment and position of each element. That’s experience talking, and worth the investment of time.
Tags: ACE Hotel, Breslin, diy, interior design, mural, New York, Portland, Stumptown Coffee, Timothy Goodman
Why Don’t You…?
Posted by Erin | Filed under Design Tips, DIY Projects, Inspiration, Musings
… add some unexpected species to your office?
Take a cue from genius crafter Kata and replace your average cabinet knobs with your favorite kids’ plastic toy animals. With a bit of paint and handy drilling work, you can get the look on a serious budget! Great idea, no?
Happy crafting!
Images and project via Design*Sponge
