I recently had the opportunity to share some of my DIY knowledge on apartmenttherapy.com, take a look at the instructions below. If you decide to try your hand at it, please, let me know how it goes.

Tools:

• Measuring Tape
• Hammer
• Stapler
• Finishing Nails
• Scissors
• Pen or pencil

1. Measure the width of the window and cut 3/4″ thick screen molding to size. If you’ve got a saw at home that’s great but I would suggest making your cuts at the store where you buy the molding. It’s easier to transport when the pieces aren’t 10′ long and hanging out the back of your car. Most places like Home Depot will supply a small hand saw and tape measure for your convenience.

2. Measure the height of the window. Using a straight edge (extra piece of molding will work), mark lightly on the the back of your fabric the length (plus a 3/4″) and the width of the window and cut out. If you’re using a striped or patterned fabric be sure to place your cut molding in the center of the pattern so that when you draw the curtain the edges that meet will match.

3. Lay your pre-cut molding a 3/4″ shy of the top edge of your cut fabric and fold the excess over. Secure with heavy duty staples every inch and a half.

4. Cut a piece of twine double the length of your fabric and lay over the center of the molding.

5. Either very strategically on your own, or with help, hold the molding tight to the window casing (staples facing up). Hammer in finishing nails at either end first and then follow with one in the center and any additional that are needed. The heavier your fabric, the more you should use.

6. Tie the loose ends of the twine in a bow/knot as high or low as you like. The higher you get the more gathering will occur with your fabric. Once you’ve secured the twine you can adjust the folds. The softer the fold the better, if they’re too perfect your curtain will look like an accordion. Just lift and gradually set down letting the fabric settle on itself.

That’s all there is to it! Of course, if you’d like a more finished look and you know how to sew you can add a hem to all four sides of the fabric before you staple the fabric onto the molding. Just be sure to account for this when measuring.

Because this is such an easy way to add color/ texture with the added benefit of privacy to your place you can switch out the fabric as often as the desire strikes you. If you want to change the look replace the twine with ribbon. I myself was struck with the inspiration to change this weekend while visting the fashion district downtown. I discovered, after a long absence, that Michael Levine has hundreds of awesome, affordable fabrics that would work fabulously in my own place.

To those coming here from AT, WELCOME! Have a look around, and I hope you enjoy seeing the progress on the house. Be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed and follow us on Twitter to get the latest posts. I have to say we didn’t expect the post to be up until next week, so we were caught a little off guard. We have some posts prepared to publish for this weekend, so please don’t think this blog has gone stale. If you like our house, you’ll want to see them!

When we started this project we thought we knew what we’d end up with but it’s not that, it’s so much more. Working on this house day and night with my dad was truly a dream come true and for that I will never be able to repay my parents. How do I thank them for the peace of mind that I now have, for the happiness I feel as I drive up to this house after work, for the pride I feel for contributing to all the work that made this place what it is now?? For now I will simply say thank you. Thank you for your love and your support and your advice and your generosity. I love you more than words can say. I love you more than life itself.

Now enjoy the before and afters

For more before and after pics visit,

http://picasaweb.google.com/jenikakurtz/RegisWeek1#

http://picasaweb.google.com/jenikakurtz/RegisAfter02#

If you’re feeling a bit bored with your current set may I suggest you take a spin on craigslist.com. You can find some great deals on crap that you can make beautiful again. A little Killz, a little color, perhaps some new fabric seats and voila! A new dining room. Same can be done with furniture for any room. Old stuff has a lot more character than new stuff most of the time so don’t buy anything until you’ve really done some digging.

Anyway, lucky for Robert and I he is the way he is because he is creating for us one hell of a place to call home.

It is more than we could have ever hoped for living here. The amenities are not to be believed! We had our first real house guests over last weekend and entertaining was a dream; heat, a backyard with a bar-b-que, a dishwasher, an extra bed!!! I’m pretty sure I am NEVER going to leave this place.

It will be an absolute dream bringing in a new year with this house surrounding us. I wish you all a safe night tonight and the most wonderful new year you’ve ever had. I look forward to seeing you each here and creating new memories with all of you soon!

I’ll leave you with some holiday fun…

Best Christmas present I’ve ever received you ask? This house

So, a couple weeks ago I showed up for work and we headed to Sepulveda stone to see what they had. We ended up leaving with 1300 pounds of a material I forget the name of. All I remember is it had lilac in it and that was enough for me to make my decision.

Based on the description that i gave Ken he worked his magic yet again. Once the grass goes in it will grow between the gaps in the stones too, pretty. Perhaps we’ll even take Becky’s suggestion of planting an odorous herb that will release it’s fragrance when stepped on.

The ONE thing I loved about this house the most when we first saw it was the hydrangea bush in the front yard and what did Ken rip out as soon as I turned my back? Yep, the hydrangea bush. Ever since then I’ve been trying to convince him to put it back in but he’s been pushing spikey this and cypress that and rocks here and ferns there. Remember when we found our inspiration at the bank? Well I liked it but the more I thought about it the less I did.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, we’re changing the exterior colors again. I won’t tell you what they are but I will tell you that they inspired me. With the help of one of my landscape designer friends I realized that what I’ve been envisioning is “Cottage Garden-ish”. Ken requested a picture and I sent him twelve so now he gets it and he’s excited too. “Thank you. Now I have something to work with. PS. How do you spell miracle?” was his response.

Hydrangeas, geraniums and camellias are what I’m after.