Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Modern fabrics for curtains tend to be polyester in nature. Learn about modern fabrics for curtains with help from an interior design professional in this free video clip.
Imagine nuzzling your baby's soft head and inhaling her sweet scent, all while giving her the nutrition she needs. On paper, breastfeeding sounds like a new mom's dream activity. In real life, the process isn't always a smooth one. Feeling stressed and pained by this ritual isn't healthy for you or your little one. While her needs are most important now, it's worth making the effort to make breastfeeding a nurturing time for you, too.
Customizing your kids' curtains is a great way to really make them feel right at home in their own rooms. Learn about patterns for kids' curtains with help from a former family case worker for CPS in this free video clip.
Boots remain ever-popular in men's fashion, ranging from casual to formal designs. Although commonly thought of as footwear for hiking or shoveling snow, boots can be as comfortable as a favorite pair of sneakers. Since boots are equally at home at the farmer's market or in the office, it's a good idea to have at least a few pairs of comfortable options in the closet.
That cherished blanket that has provided your child with comfort and security, seemingly from day one, has had an important place in your child’s life. A security object such as a blanket can help a child withstand stress and anxiety in some situations, so some children develop a strong attachment to the object, according to Cornell University Cooperative Extension. When you decide it’s time to wean your child away from his attachment to the blanket, proceed carefully to ensure a peaceful transition.
Men's fashion is filled with trends, some cool and some odd. As fads like graphic T-shirts and square-toed shoes come and go, there are staples that remain timeless. These items are not only versatile regardless of whether it's the work week or weekend, but are appropriate regardless of season. Keeping these classic styles in your closet is a reminder that some items never need to be replaced because they are never passé.
A crib sheet is almost an afterthought for many parents. As long as the sheet on your baby’s mattress is designed for that use, you may think it’s safe to use. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that since 1984 several infant deaths, most under the age of one year, have been related to suffocation or strangulation by crib bedding. Ensuring that crib sheets are in good condition and fitted properly on the mattress prevents this tragedy from occurring.
Two toned curtains can really help bring a room together in a very interesting way. Get a tutorial on two toned curtains with help from a professional interior designer in this free video clip.
A refundable cushion escrow is essentially funds that are set aside to cover unanticipated expenditures. Find out about a refundable cushion escrow with help from an accounting professional in this free video clip.
Screen Curtain is a very particular function of an iPad feature called VoiceOver. Remove a Screen Curtain from an iPad with help from an Apple retail specialist in this free video clip.
The quantity of material that you will need to upholster a sofa depends largely on the size of the sofa in question. Learn how to predict the quantity of material you'll need for upholstering a sofa with help from an interior designer and decor mentor in this free video clip.
An upholstered bench is a great opportunity to really try out some fun and unique designs. Decorate an upholstered bench with pillows with help from a dedicated interior designer in this free video clip.
When it comes to pillows, the term "welting" is used to describe a very particular thing. Learn about welting on pillows with help from a national interior design expert in this free video clip.
Oilcloth was originally made by coating canvas cloth with linseed oil. The oil soaked into the cloth, making it relatively waterproof. Modern oilcloth is made of vinyl fabric backed with cotton mesh, and is typically printed with various designs. It is easy to work with and more waterproof than the original. The process of making an oilcloth shower curtain is not too difficult for anyone who sews.
Cotton batiste provides a fine-textured cotton cloth used in linens or as decorator fabrics. The finest quality of batiste is thin and nearly translucent, with a soft feel and delicate appearance. Coarser woven batiste provides a sturdier cover with more texture. Washing batiste-covered pillows depends on the quality of the batiste, the pillow stuffing and whether there are other decorative elements on the cover. Refer to the pillow's care tag, if possible, to verify the proper washing method for your batiste pillows.
Anemia in felines can be caused by several different conditions, including blood loss due to trauma, infection or illness. Anemia occurs when the animal does not have enough red blood cells to transport adequate oxygen through the body. In some cases, anemia may be a side effect of health problems such as the feline leukemia virus, kidney or renal failure. Anemic cats tend to be weak and lethargic with little appetite and pale gums and tongue. It is important to keep anemic cats as comfortable as possible in order to minimize discomfort and encourage recovery.
A needle pillow, or pincushion, is a creative and charming accessory for storing your sewing needles. Not only will the pillow look attractive resting on your sewing or craft table, it's a convenient way to keep track of your needles. If you have a vintage or well-loved pincushion with rips and filling falling out, you can restore it rather than buy a new one. Bring the pillow back to its original splendor with a few simple techniques.
Puckered fabric along the seams of a rounded pillow is caused by mismatched seams during the sewing process. The puckers that cause small wrinkles around the curved seams occur when excess fabric on one side of the seam tries to catch up with the smooth fabric on the other side of the seam. The resulting puckers are unsightly, but you can fix them by resewing the seam with a few simple, effective sewing techniques.
A sheetlike cascade of water, a water curtain can be an exotic focal point indoors or out. The water feature also can be used as a prop for rain effects in a performance or for creating unusual visual effects for photography. Both visually and aurally appealing, a water curtain can be made to any scale by even a do-it-yourself novice using hardware-store supplies and standard tools. Design your water curtain to mount behind the horizontal crosspiece of a garden arbor or to hide behind the soffit of a bar.
Old curtain liners can become torn or stained, or they just may not block out the light or provide a suitable level of privacy. If you love the drapes but hate the liner, replace it with a new liner that better suits your needs. Most fabric stores have a selection of liner fabrics in different weights and colors. By carefully removing the old liner and stitching in the same seam holes, you can replace the liner without causing any obvious damage to the curtain.
Shirring is the process of creating gathers in a fabric. When applied to curtains, the term could refer to simply gathering the fabric along the length of a curtain rod via a casing, or it could mean stitching several parallel lines to create permanent gathers. In either method, the result is a soft and elegant curtain. A horizontal shirred curtain requires stitches across the fabric to hold the gathers in place. The process may appear complex at first, but it is straightforward and requires few supplies.
Comfort Glow kerosene heaters produce heat by burning a wick in kerosene inside a glass chimney within the heater. You should change the wick every year to keep your heater operating at its best. And, if your heater is not producing enough heat, or if the wick is damaged or missing, replace it right away to get the heater working properly again. The process is relatively simple and should only take you between 15 and 30 minutes to complete.
Stab stitches serve to join parts together, create bold borders and provide decorative features as simple forms of embroidery. Mastering the stab stitch technique gives you a basic skill for more advanced embroidery stitches. Learn how to stab-stitch a cushion to create an attractive cushion for your home or to give as a gift.
Kitchen and dining room chair seats take a lot of abuse. In time, staining and wear can make the whole furniture set look tired. Fortunately, many chairs have removable seats with plywood bases that you can reupholster for very little money and with only modest effort. The process is much like wrapping a gift, with the cushioned-plywood seat base serving as the package and batting and upholstery fabric serving as the wrapping. You can complete the project in an afternoon even if you’re a beginner do-it-yourselfer.
The challenge of adding a subwoofer under the seat of a car or truck is largely one of space. The under-seat area is usually shallow, while subwoofer speakers are usually deep. Manufacturers make shallow-profile subwoofers expressly for this application, and building your own enclosure gives you the ability to customize for your vehicle. Shallow subwoofers are, in some cases, designed for installation with no enclosures at all, increasing adaptability to under-seat mounting.
A pulley side curtain is usually created with a transom curtain rod and a pulley mounted on the side of the curtain. The pulley attaches to the wall, and its purpose is to keep the activating cord taut. In some cases, such as an outdoor patio, you may need to create a pulley-style curtain that is larger than the available rods. You can build a pulley system similar to a clothesline that is more weather-resistant and utilitarian.
Toilet seat covers enable your bathroom to appear more decorative and welcoming, and are available in a wide variety of colors at any department or home decorating store. If you want the toilet seat cover to match your bathroom towel color exactly, construct a cover using one of your large bath towels. A toilet seat cover created from a towel also enables you to wash the cover in a standard washing machine along with all of your other bath towels.
Turn your bedroom into a romantic getaway by installing a set of curtains around your bed. Give up the idea of a traditional headboard and foot board and surround your bed with decorative privacy curtains. Whether you choose sumptuous brocade or romantic gauze, a curtain surrounding your bed will transform a plain mattress into an oasis of calm relaxation.
Roman shades are a refreshing departure from typical blinds. They are made of fabric and can make your living area feel a little more modern than typical horizontal blinds. Roman shades come in many colors and types of fabric, so you can select the shades that best match your decor. Hanging the shades can be a bit of a challenge, but there are ways you can make the experience less difficult.
Give your waterbed a chic new look by adding color and pattern to the bed frame. Creating a new look for your bed’s rails is a simple project when you have a flat, wooden bed frame. Upholstering the waterbed’s frame helps you infuse color, pattern and personality into the bedroom. This project is an easy DIY fix and can be completed in an afternoon. Choose a fabric that coordinates with the colors already in your bedroom, or use this project as a jumping-off point for a complete bedroom makeover.
A wrought iron bed frame can provide a classic, sophisticated look for your bedroom. However, this type of bed frame may not include a headboard, which would make your bedroom appear incomplete. You can make your own upholstered headboard that attaches to the bedroom wall to complete the look of your bed. A simple upholstered headboard does not require sewing, and can be moved if you decide to change the configuration of your bedroom.
Give your home a touch of Parisian flare or a whimsical look with indoor awning curtains. These curtains hang from the top of a window frame, creating an eye-catching tented look, similar to the curtains that hang over awnings of cafes. When selecting your indoor window awning curtains, consider your taste and the style of the room to choose a treatment that adds to the appeal of the space.
A shabby chic design scheme allows you to create a space that feels as welcoming and elegant as would a space decorated with high-priced antiques but without the expense of relying solely on antiques to outfit your place. Create your own shabby chic seat cushions for your dining room chairs to offer you and your guests a little extra comfort when you visit and dine.
Cushioned footstools are very handy around the house. They are used in mudrooms or foyers when changing shoes, or in front of a chair to rest the feet, or a small child can sit on one as a chair while watching television. The simplicity of the stool rests in its basic design. A few materials are all you need to make a sturdy low stool that everyone will enjoy.
Rocking chairs have an enduring popularity. This shows up in the many styles of chairs that have been made into rocking chairs by manufacturers. Among these are the upholstered rocking chair. Traditionally the upholstered rocking chair was created by joining the legs of the chair with two curved rails. These chairs are frequently passed down or found at flea markets and garage sales. You can transform the rocker back to its chair form by removing the curved rails.
When you use stiff heading tape on curtains and draperies, the task of creating pleats and gathers becomes simple. The cords that run through the length of this special tape make fabric pleats or gathers when you pull them. After stitching the tape to fabric and pulling the cords, your curtains instantly gather into the stylish pleats you desire. Apply stiffened tape on sheer curtains, using transparent tape that will not show through the light curtain fabric.
Pleated, button-embellished bed skirts enable you to create a more decorative and stylish bedroom with minimal effort. Although you can buy a pleated bed skirt from any department or home decorating store, they can be expensive and you may not find one that suits your personal taste. Save money and time by making your own pleated, button bed skirt using a few basic materials that are purchased inexpensively from any sewing or crafts supply store.
A blue floral couch in your living room -- either as the space's showpiece or as part of an ensemble -- can add a soft, homey touch to the gathering area. Floral upholstery can present a challenge when you're choosing window treatments, but you can find curtains that help tie the decor together and complement your blue floral couch. There are a few different ways with which you can approach choosing curtains and each lends a slightly different look to the room. You can put a blue floral couch in rooms other than the living room, too.
Warm air wants to escape a building in cold weather and wants to invade the structure in hot weather. Whether you are trying to cool your home in the summer or heat your home in the winter, you need insulation to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Insulation helps conserve energy as it forms an effective barrier against nature's inclination toward temperature equilibrium. Different types of insulation, such as rigid insulation board and blanket insulation rolls, are available to suit specific structures and climates.
A drop curtain in theater is a curtain that drops onto the stage from the flies. When it is retracted, it is retracted back into the flies by use of a rope and pulley system. Drop curtains may be used in the back of the stage as scenery, or they may be used in the front of the stage to cover it. With common materials and easy to purchase hardware, you can make a simple drop curtain for small-scale and home theater use.
Turbidity curtains are also known as silt curtains or silt barriers. The job of a turbidity curtain is to contain debris in water, usually from construction or dredging. While the curtain cannot prevent all material from getting though, it does block a majority of material. The type of curtain you need depends on the water you are putting it into. For instance, ponds and other sheltered waters do not need the heavy-duty materials required by the open ocean.
Using bedsheets for decorating purposes offers an affordable, simple way to personalize your bedroom decor. It also enables you to select your own palette of colors and patterns to create one-of-a-kind coordinated bedding ensembles and curtains. Ready-made pillowcases to match a favorite bedding ensemble can be expensive -- make your own from a single twin flat sheet to save money and ensure perfectly coordinated bedroom decor.
The childhood cautions "sit still" and "don't fidget" are miserably hard to obey, even as an adult, when you are sitting in a chair with sagging or bumpy springs. Part of re-covering a chair is removing lumpy padding and replacing broken or worn-out springs. Even beginning upholsterers can learn this essential task that involves simple tools and a little time. Restore a beloved chair to comfort and good looks by learning to respring it.
A breakfast nook is a cozy eating area in, or adjoining, the kitchen. The nook consists of a small table surrounded by chairs or benches. Although often built in, a breakfast nook can contain removable furniture. The cozy nature of the area makes cushion sets a common addition to the intimate seating. The cushions not only provide comfort, they serve as decorative accents. Creating the cushion set yourself helps save money and adds a personal touch to the space.
Split curtains are hung over a window, and can be pulled back on both sides to create a balanced, elegant appearance. However, split curtains that are weathered and faded can make a room look unsightly. Although you can buy new split curtains, your decorating budget may not allow you to buy brand new curtains. One alternative is to make your own curtains using inexpensive materials and tools purchased from a craft supply store.
Curtains that are pulled open using a drawstring enable the curtain to display a decorative, gathered edging with minimal effort. Although it is difficult to locate an inexpensive drawstring curtain at a department or home decorating shop, you can transform the curtain you already own into a drawstring curtain using a few basic craft materials. This enables you to achieve the look of a drawstring curtain without spending a lot of money in the process.
A drop cloth curtain can provide an inexpensive way to cover your windows without purchasing ready-made curtains. Because drop cloths can be dyed and painted, you can customize the look of your curtains to match a room's decor. You can also create custom-sized curtains for irregularly sized windows. Making a drop cloth curtain is a relatively straightforward task that requires only basic sewing equipment.
Making a slipcover for a sectional with back pillows involves sewing a separate cover for each piece in the sectional. This may take a little extra work to complete, but the slipcover will fit better and allow you to move the sectional pieces without taking off the covers. The attached pillows will fit comfortably underneath the slipcover as long as you hold the measuring tape loosely over the top of the pillows when taking the body measurements.
A curtain wall is a thin barrier usually held together by aluminum framing that is composed of glass, metal or stone panels. Curtain walls are not load-bearing and transfer the force of incoming winds to the floor line of the building structure. They are typically cost-effective and are also decorative. One risk with curtain walls concerns leaking. A curtain wall will leak if there is water present, air pressure pushing that water inside the building, and a damaged or imperfect seal between the frame and the panel of the wall. Detecting these leaks when they first form is important to…
The well-equipped bed has layers of functional and decorative pillows. These design elements are common to most decor styles. The luxurious layers of textures and shapes and the use of sumptuous fabrics and trim enhance the statement of the bed --- the focal point of the bedroom. The Euro pillow sham is an integral part of a bed pillow assembly and is the starting point for the collection. Understanding the purpose of a Euro pillow sham and how to use it is also the first step in designing a well-made bed.
