RoomRecipes » Living Room

Make Your Own Mod Lights

Krista Watterworth — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:00:07 +0000

On my HGTV show Splurge & Save I made some cool lighting and people have been asking how I did it. Modern lighting can cost hundreds, but I cheated the system. The Huang Family and I made our own for a fraction of the cost. Here’s the Room Recipe for these hipster luminaries.

Homemade Modern Lights

DIRECTIONS:
• Blow up beach balls – small and large
• Tape a starting point and wrap with armature wire (a sturdy wire used frequently in art projects). Smaller gauge is for small balls.
• Leave an opening at the top the diameter of a light bulb insert light kit.
• Wrap in full circles around ball in random directions. Cover the surface of the ball like a spider web. Go around approx. 100 times or until you’re happy with your coverage and can barely see the ball.
• Deflate the ball and remove it. You’re left with the silver wire.
• Stick the light kit (cord with a light bulb attached from a hardware store) down through the hole until the light bulb is in the center of the ball.
• Use 2-4 pieces of small armature wire to secure light kit in place closing in the hole at the top of the fixture.
• Hang the light kit with a cup hook on the ceiling

INSPIRATION: Random Light at DWR.com

TID BITS:
• For $10-$20 you have a modern light that could cost in the hundreds
• Lighting can turn a dark corner into a unique and creative source of radiance
• A modern style uses accessories that are elegant, shiny, and patterned in subdued colors such as silver, grey, or black

DIY HOW TO VIDEO:

Does this fireplace make me look fat?

Krista Watterworth — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:03:12 +0000

Why are people so afraid to dress up and show off their fireplace? It’s always a great opportunity to make a statement and a clear focal point. Here are a few tips that may help if you have fireplace fears.

BULK UP

If you have a very talented carpenter, like Tom Zemon who did this beautiful build out, then you’re golden.

Bulk it up

THE HOT MANTEL

Tom Zemon is at it again! This is another amazing transformation. Built with simple MDF because it’s easy to work with and paints beautifully… plus this tiny room needed storage.

Hot mantel

SEXY SHELVES

A family room needs a big ass television. This was a tiny room so I utilized all the space I could to create storage as well as a nice display case.

Sexy shelves

Art can cost less than an arm & a leg

Krista Watterworth — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:18:52 +0000

I found a great article in my inStyle magazine this month on Sources for Affordable Art. I love original pieces and often commission friends who are just dabbling or getting more serious in their work. It makes a room so much cooler if people don’t look at your art and say “ooh I have that one too, from IKEA right?” Or worse yet, Bed Bath & Beyond! So here are some great sources:

Floating from the series Double Life

Aperture.org
Click on “Under $750″ section
A non profit org with many great photographic prints

Artoftheprint.com
Many priced under $500
Original watercolors, paintings, drawing, architectural sketches and etchings

Ruth Gikow Girl's Head

Gallery10G.com
For $1000 to $5000
Manhattan gallerist Jill Gerstenblatt represents emering painters and photographers

Novica.com
From $35 to $250
Handwoven hangings and tapestries

Tinyshowcase.com
$20 for limited run print and donates a percentage to charity
Each week there’s a little work on paper (approx 5×7)

Zatista.com
Offers over 4,000 pieces of paintings, photography, drawings, digital media. If you don’t like it upon receipt the site offers a refund!

Hide n Seek Chic

Krista Watterworth — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:33:08 +0000

A remote control is never attractive, no matter how high-tech it is. The Slot Coffee Table at Cb2.com solves the problem of that ugly accessory and hides it in a slot in the table. Too cool for school! It’s also a great way to always keep dibs on where that pesky thing is. It does get lost, and if I want me some HGTV it better be just where I left it (that’s a personal note to hubby…) This is a table I GOTTA HAVE!

Cool Hiding Slot

Form AND Function!

What if your sofa could scrub your feet too?

Krista Watterworth — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:59:01 +0000

I like to multitask. If I could take a bath, watch international news, call my mom, answer emails and feed my babies all within an hour I’d jump at the chance. That’s why a sofa made from a recycled slipper tub is just my kinda thing. On my first HGTV show, Save My Bath, I received countless requests for the hundreds of antique tubs, sinks, toilets and hardware that we were ripping out of dated bathrooms. I would often wonder what kind of man would want an old 50s toilet. Hmmm… I digress.

But this Cast Iron Bathtub Couch shows that if you’re a creative and talented DIYer then anything is possible with old bathroom fixtures. It’s a wonderful green strategy too. Send in pics of your recycled bathroom items and WOW me! This is what we call a real conversation piece.

A Romantic ‘tude Works Magic on Your Mood

Kimberly Synnott — Thu, 20 May 2010 11:34:56 +0000

This season’s nod to inner-wear worn on the outside can work wonders on freeing your inner goddess. Bustiers and lace underpinnings walking the streets of NYC — paired with a chic trouser — have never looked hotter. The feeling and look of something so soft and delicate combined with an edge of menswear has combustible results.

John Galliano at Dior channeled Lauren Bacall from her film noir whodunits as Humphrey Bogart’s leading femme fatale, though the only possible way to wear expensive lacy underpinnings (unless you are Sienna Miller on the red carpet or Kate Moss, who can get away with anything and everything) is to treat them for what they are: lingerie so pretty it deserves to peek out from under a spectacular structured jacket and thigh-split skirt.

As for the influence on interiors?? This Antoinette Sofa from Urban Outfitters (now out of stock) is the perfect combo of gender-fab. The curves are truly womanly, but the fabric (black herringbone) is a man’s suiting material. Love it!

But this Tillary sofa now available at West Elm comes in a blue, beige or brown herringbone and is mod, chic and masculine. Pair it with a soft pillow (as shown here) adding a feminine touch.

Wash Your Unmentionables… And Your Slipcovers

Kimberly Synnott — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:14:34 +0000

I found out the hard way that washing slipcovers (which can cost a fortune, BTW, especially if you buy them from Pottery Barn) takes a slight hand and a lot of courage. Much like washing your favorite $400 set of lingerie from La Perla.

Here’s how:
- Spray for stains but don’t rub only blot with a clothe
- Wash on gentle cycle
- Use Dreft or other gentle detergent
- Air dry flat for best results (if line drying use wooden clothespins)
- Don’t wash with any other clothing
- Remove dust mites by vacuuming thoroughly every 3 weeks
- A light iron is recommended using a towel or clothe as a buffer

Words to the Wise:
- Some slipcovers are dry clean only!
- If your slipcover is too big for your washer, bring it to your local dry cleaner with specific instructions for delicate wash.
- I’ve heard the home dry cleaning kits like Dryel sometimes work well with slipcovers.

If the Fashion Fits, Sit On It

Kimberly Synnott — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:34:03 +0000

Repeated themes in fashion and interiors is not a new notion. What walks long legged on the runways of Paris often end up as inspiration for bedding, drapery, rugs and home accessories.

What I like to wear is reflective of how I design my own NY pad. For me, it’s gotta be:
1. Fun & Flirty
2. Bad Ass
3. Full of heart

Here are some thoughts on the hot topics in fashion that crossover to the home -with a nod to nature.

A wave inspired couch from Anthropologie is curvy and curious. Even the name toys with the past, instead of Louis it’s Louisa. Love it! This wave dress by Kirribilla makes it all come full circle.

I know, I know… we all love nature, we all want to save the planet, but have we taken this “tree” and “bird” them a little too far? Truth be told, I can’t get enough of it. It’s for girls, boys, men, women, and even Courtney Cox. Plus these mod tree wall decals are way to fab to knock down (yikes!) They’re everywhere, I know, but… a city girl needs a little reminder that a tree does grow in Brooklyn.

Courtney Cox loves birds??

Real Men Wear Birds

Sticking with the nature theme but from a different angle, contrasting contemporary florals are still where it’s at. Especially for summer – it’s the saturated color themes that make me happy. These Orange Piel custom printed window shades I found can make any room feel fun (some are quite literally fashion inspired like the corset imagery). But color and contrast works wonders for a girl’s complexion.

Coolest Chair

Krista Watterworth — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:16:30 +0000

We all know and love the Barcelona Chair designed in 1929 by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It’s modern and chic in chrome and leather. But this very cool company, Viva Terra, offers an eco-earthy version. Built from FSC-certified machiche, a tropical Guatemalan hardwood, with cushions covered in either reclaimed jute coffee sacks or organic color-grown cotton fabric.

This is one chair I GOTTA HAVE!

Splurge & Save: Early American Living Room

Krista Watterworth — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:14:58 +0000

On my HGTV show Splurge & Save today I revamped a living room and gave it the Colonial twist that the Vaccarino family was craving, on a budget of $4000. Yikes! Here’s my Inspiration Board for this Room Recipe…

Problems with the old room:
• First room upon entering home and no “wow” factor
• Earthy, muted colors
• No real focal point

Before My Design

SPLURGES:
Sofa: $1000 (Clubfurniture.com)
Chairs: $1300 for both (BallardDesigns.com Colefax Chairs in Ashford Paisley)
Balloon Shades: $850 (Smith and Noble)
Lamps: $300 for all three

After My Design

SAVES:
Book shelves: Tom Zemon, my amazing carpenter, created additional architecture to the space by handcrafting book shelves to flank the fireplace and give the room a focal point

Paint: Brightened up the space and used Benjamin Moore’s historical color palette

Chair Rail: Inexpensive molding and paint

Coffee Table: Free! Two tables put together, both stolen from the basement

Rug: $150 (IKEA.com)

Trunks: Free! Re-purposed