Chalkboard Markers on Picture Frames

How great is this living room of one of my readers, Linda?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>She wrote to me:  "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">I recently spied my old chalk board markers and randomly decided to draw on the glass of a couple picture frames.  It ended up being super fun and I liked the look (a bit irreverent), so thought I would share with you.  It's so simple and something your girls might enjoy for personalizing existing framed pictures.  And it wipes right off with a damp paper towel."</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love this! It is endlessly exciting for me to see the creative ideas you guys come up with. Sometimes the blog world can feel a little stale and your submissions are like a breath of fresh air in my inbox! :) If you'd like to share one of your ideas, feel free to <a href="mailto:jenny@jennykomenda.com" target="_blank">email me</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And for kicks, here are just a few more photos of Linda's pretty living room. Man, I'm so loving dark wall color, always and forever.</div><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_3.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_4.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_6.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_5.jpg" /></div>

Chalkboard Markers on Picture Frames

How great is this living room of one of my readers, Linda? She wrote to me:  " I recently spied my old chalk board markers and randomly...

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Faux Brick Hardboard Wall Panels

<div style="text-align: left;">I took a trip to IKEA recently and noticed the badly patched seam in this brick wall on one of their displays and thought, "oh, that's not brick then. duh."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1553.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_1553.jpg" /></div><br />Looks like they could have filled the gaps a little better? But I did like the effect of the texture from the "bricks."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1552.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_1552.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Later I did some digging around the web and I discovered these <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_13964-46498-288_0__?productId=1015475&Ntt=faux+brick+panel&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dfaux%2Bbrick%2Bpanel&facetInfo=" target="_blank">faux brick hardboard sheets</a> at Lowes. I wonder why I've never noticed these before in the lumber aisle? About $26 for a 4x8' sheet is so affordable! And the reviews are all really positive.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-03-21at15950PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/ScreenShot2013-03-21at15950PM.png" /></div><br />I think with a little effort and some plaster you could make the walls of your bathroom or laundry room look crusty and old like this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo hallieburtonbath.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/hallieburtonbath.jpg" /></div><br />Or if you're on a super-tight budget, I bet you could use the sheets in your kitchen even (painted flat black or white like the IKEA room above, but seamed better, of course!). Have you ever tried the faux brick hardboards? I'm dying to use them somewhere now!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 700_lambeth-kitchen-aga-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/700_lambeth-kitchen-aga-1.jpg" /></div>(<i>WHOA</i>, FLOORS! ^^^)

Faux Brick Hardboard Wall Panels

I took a trip to IKEA recently and noticed the badly patched seam in this brick wall on one of their displays and thought, "oh, that...

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Reader DIY: Stenciled Kitchen Floors

I'm a big fan of old <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=encaustic+tile&aq=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=TKE1Ufy5OMrO0wHqxYGwCw&biw=1079&bih=518&sei=UaE1UbzYNsXT0wH064CQCA#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=encaustic+tile+kitchen&oq=encaustic+tile+kitchen&gs_l=img.3...72474.74687.0.75014.8.8.0.0.0.0.52.338.8.8.0...0.0...1c.1.5.img.wVAsPGqLixw&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43148975,d.dmQ&fp=cbe0bcafdef6fb69&biw=1079&bih=518" target="_blank">encaustic tile</a> used in kitchens (I'm using a repro version in a laundry room project). This kitchen from Kristen Buckingham that features the prettiest encaustic floor tiles, will always be a favorite of mine.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/KristenBuckinghamInteriorsviaElleDecor.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />So I was excited when Jessica from the <a href="http://www.nesteaglerock.com/2013/01/the-kitchen-floor-finally.html" target="_blank">Eagle's Nest blog</a> (and the woman behind <a href="http://nest-studio.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">this amazing hardware line</a>) emailed to share this cool project she tackled in her kitchen. The brave woman glazed her concrete floors:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC01330.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />And stenciled on a geometric pattern (with several layers to the pattern!) and then gave the whole thing a glossy seal. Jessica gives <a href="http://www.nesteaglerock.com/2013/01/the-kitchen-floor-finally.html" target="_blank">the full rundown on her blog here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC01339.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I love the after photo and think the pattern on the floors really brings that space to life. Great job, Jessica!  :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img height="640" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/eaglesnestafter.jpg" width="478" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>If you have a project you'd like to submit to be featured on LGN, <a href="mailto:jenny@jennykomenda.com" target="_blank">email us</a>.</i>

Reader DIY: Stenciled Kitchen Floors

I'm a big fan of old encaustic tile used in kitchens (I'm using a repro version in a laundry room project). This kitchen from Krist...

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More Framed (Faux) Butterflies

I'm still in love with <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/framed-butterflies.html" target="_blank">framed butterfly collections</a>. Some of you were creeped out by the idea (and I suggested <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/07/alternative-to-butterfly-taxidermy.html" target="_blank">this paper cuts version</a>), but I still like something a little more real-looking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/MAISONRIKA1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>via <a href="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2013/1/29/maison-rika.html" target="_blank">Desire to Inspire</a></i></div><br />Recently I was at Michael's picking up some frames for a project and I spied a whole section of faux butterflies that were actually quite pretty! I think a framed collection of these would be adorable in any room, but especially in a nursery or a play room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0034.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0043.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0040.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0037.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not the real deal, but still pretty, right? Before any coupons, they were priced at about $1-$2 each, which is a steal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And why not try a unique arrangement pattern (<a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/framed-butterflies.html" target="_blank">like with these</a>) to mix things up a little?</div>

More Framed (Faux) Butterflies

I'm still in love with framed butterfly collections . Some of you were creeped out by the idea (and I suggested this paper cuts version ...

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Reader DIY: Mongolian Lamb Stool

I love the look of benches, stools and chairs upholstered in fluffy sheepskin. They look really great as small accent pieces in a living room or a bedroom.<br /><br /><center>     <img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/viaPaloma244812929714954227_T0cSdzkR_c.jpg" /></center><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://paloma81.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">La Dolce Vita</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/decorista210332245066542578_F86RieWq_c.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://thedecorista.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">the Decorista</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/decorpad8233211789160735_egyDH5di_c.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=93174&currentPage=11&index=8&relatedPhotoId=" target="_blank">Decorpad</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/TheEverygirl_HomeTour_ErinGates141.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Erin Gates via <a href="http://theeverygirl.com/feature/erin-gates-south-end-home/" target="_blank">the Everygirl</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/5962264176_18073e81ba_z.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnannebruns/5962264176/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/182677328604695513_Ox6lhIL6_c.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/05/sneak-peek-emma-reddington-of-the-marion-house-book.html" target="_blank">Design*Sponge</a></div><br />Reader <a href="http://www.preciouslyme.com/" target="_blank">Nadia</a> used the simplest IKEA stool and a Mongolian lambskin pillow cover (<a href="http://bit.ly/VZhwnp" target="_blank">this one</a> would work really well!) to make a gorgeous little stool for her home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DIY-mongolian-stool-81copy.jpg" /></div><br />I love the pink legs of her IKEA stool (and how about that wallpaper?)! For the full, very easy how-to, check out Nadia's post <a href="http://www.preciouslyme.com/diy/diy-mongolian-lamb-stool-2911" target="_blank">here.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DIY-mongolian-stool-5.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you have a project you'd like to share on LGN, please email me <a href="mailto:jenny@jennykomenda.com" target="_blank">here</a>. Thanks!</div></div>

Reader DIY: Mongolian Lamb Stool

I love the look of benches, stools and chairs upholstered in fluffy sheepskin. They look really great as small accent pieces in a living roo...

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Roll On Wallpaper

My friend Grace from <a href="http://www.astoriedstyle.com/index.php/2013/01/patterned-paint-rollers/" target="_blank">A Storied Style</a> (who posted the <a href="http://www.astoriedstyle.com/index.php/2013/01/gebhardt-guest-roomoffice/" target="_blank">cutest room reveal today</a>), <a href="https://twitter.com/jennykomenda" target="_blank">tweeted</a> me a link to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/patternedpaintroller" target="_blank">this company</a> recently.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/il_570xN376705914_8ri1.jpg" /></div><br />I think I got a PR email from them or something once and was intrigued with the idea. Do any of you have any experience with patterned paint rollers? I wonder how hard it is to line up the patterns perfectly and to get the paint on the wall in a consistent layer? I suspect you'd have to get okay with the idea of there being a lot of variation in the color shades. Could look cool though?<br /><br />I'd be tempted to try something like this neon pink in a kid's room, or a closet or the backs of a bookshelf. A stencil would work just as well, though I wonder if the roller application would be much faster?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/gasl_wallpaper_20-783466.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>domino</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Happy weekend, friends! Let's make it a great one! xx</div></div>

Roll On Wallpaper

My friend Grace from A Storied Style (who posted the cutest room reveal today ), tweeted me a link to this company recently. I think I go...

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Framing Baby and Vintage Clothing

Not to get all TMI on you all, but we're in the thick of some big family planning decisions around here. I would love to have more babies I think, but we're trying to be thoughtful about the timing and about what makes the most sense for us and for our future.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/meohmy_MG_2415.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://meohmymama.blogspot.com/2011/02/presleys-room.html" target="_blank">Me Oh My</a></i></div><br />Before <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/05/no-sleep-til-brooklyn-rip-mca.html" target="_blank">we moved</a> this summer, I donated, gifted and tossed basically all of our baby clothes. Truthfully, it was a little heart-breaking. I'm the kind of person that can remember what I was wearing at every single important (and semi-important) event in my life. Isn't that weird? There's a similar memory attachment to my kids clothes too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/eddieross6a00e55391c48e883301157070367f970b-400wi.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/eddieross6a00e55391c48e88330115707036b2970b-400wi.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Both images above from <a href="http://www.eddieross.com/eddie_ross/2009/05/inside-the-box.html" target="_blank">Eddie Ross</a></i></div><br />But, after three girls in a row, most of the clothes had been passed down once or twice (poor Evie!) and they were just <i>done</i>. It made sense to not waste precious storage space any more. I did keep a couple of really special pieces - blessing dresses and some of the really teeny tiny clothes from the newborn days. And I love to have one or two of those items framed - maybe in the hallway to the girls bathroom?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/luciteframes.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scwinteriors.com/" target="_blank"><i>SCW Interiors</i></a></div><br />I also love all the vintage bathing suit ideas that have been floating around for the past couple years. Shoes, purses, wallets, jewelry, glasses - all of these would look great for those heirlooms you'd like to be able to enjoy, but that need protecting (<a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/heirloom-button-art.html" target="_blank">like my grandmother's buttons</a>).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/Image11.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.kdhamptons.com/featured/exclusive-kristina-davis-shares-her-navy-beach-design-diary/" target="_blank">KD Hamptons</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/jeffreybilhuber59109813829945806_bJY7KEyR_c.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeffrey Bilhuber design</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Camila from Effortless Style recently framed her son's going home outfit in a standard acrylic frame from the craft store. It was a really cute and easy DIY that I might just have to copy! <a href="http://blog.effortless-style.com/2012/12/diy-lucite-shadow-box-framed-outfit/" target="_blank">Check it out here.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/effortlessstylefinishedshadowbox-520x643.jpg" /></div>

Framing Baby and Vintage Clothing

Not to get all TMI on you all, but we're in the thick of some big family planning decisions around here. I would love to have more babie...

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