How to Hide Your Washer and Dryer Shabby Chic Style

                              INSPIRATION from Country Living Magazine

                                                BEFORE                               

                                                          AFTER

My small house doesn't have a laundry room or a basement so my old, outdated, mismatched but functional washer and dryer are located in my kitchen.  Not very attractive but necessary and convenient nevertheless.  My favorite quote "Do what you can with what you have, where you are ." by Theodore Roosevelt  certainly applies here.

After my kitchen shelf makeover, I decided to tackle another eyesore in my kitchen, my washer and dryer. I have wanted to fix this problem for some time. I decided the only feasible solution to hide them was fabric. I even bought material a couple of times, but wasn't really in love with the patterns once I got them home.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, then starting on the first one." Mark Twain

Then I read the above quote in a post my daughter Regina wrote on her blog and had my aha moment. I decided that I would commit to working on this project at least 15 minutes a day until it was complete. Of course, once I got started I didn't want to stop.

The first thing I decided to do was to go through my ever-increasing stash of fabrics. Amazingly, I found a neutral colored patterned sheet that I had forgotten about. It  had an old, faded look, perfect for a shabby chic kitchen.

Next, I measured the washer and dryer to get the dimensions. For a fuller panel, I also decided to triple the measurement. Doubling the width is usually enough, however, I wanted more volume.

Since my dryer opens in the front, I also decided to cut three individual panels (one for the visible side, one to cover the front of the dryer, and one to cover the front of the washer). I figured this would allow for easier dryer access.

Next, I hemmed all edges of the 3 panels and sewed shirring tape to the top of each panel on the back side, then pulled the strings to the desired width.

Click here for another example with detailed instructions.The example is for a sink skirt, but it follows the same basic steps.

Image from Ballardstylestudio.com

After getting the panels to the desired width, I then attached self stick Velcro strips to the washer and dryer and to the gathered panels over the shirring tape. Be aware that increased fullness may cause the Velcro not to stick on some fabrics and it may have to be glued.

 

   

Project Completed

Mission accomplished ! ! ! !  Such a great feeling to complete a long awaited project. I hope this inspires you to tackle something you have been procrastinating about starting.

I

Floral Pillows

Bright, colorful, patterned fabrics can make dramatic changes to any space, indoors and out. Small splashes of color from throw pillows is an excellent way to lighten, brighten, and add vitality to your decor.

There are several options to cover your existing pillows and some don't even require any sewing knowledge at all; howver, I did sew these.

Look for fabric remnants at various fabric and thrift stores, and even yard sales. If you really want to be creative, you can use pillowcases, sheets, shower curtains, or old clothing items to create unique, one-of-a-kind handmade designer pillows for your space.

I really love the additional pop of gentle color that the fabric adds to my front porch, and how it softens the hard lines of the wrought iron railings and metal bench.

Bedroom Curtains From Sheets?

It has been extremely cold in N.C. the past week with windchills below zero, so I took advantage of my warm and cozy workroom to catch up on some delayed decorating projects. I decided to make curtains for my bedroom, a project that I had been putting off since last summer.
Part of the reason that I have procrastinated is that I have oddly sized windows that measure 36" by 48". This makes it almost impossible to find ready-made curtains. I have used blinds with valances and short curtains; however, I really love the elegant foor to ceiling look. So sewing my own custom curtains was my best solution.

In the picture you can see my old short curtain on the right, and the new curtain on the left. WOW!! What a difference!! I loooooovvvveeee them!

I chose sheets with a creamy beige background that complimented my wall color, but they also have thin vertical black stripes which add contrast and coordinate well with the other black accents in the room.

I fashioned these panels out of four full-sized flat sheets that I purchased for $32. These curtains were a HUGE SPLURGE and are one of the most expensive items in my bedroom. Twin sheets could have been used, however, I like the fuller look. Also when using this method, it is important to keep in mind that most sheets are thin and do not offer much in the way of light filtering. 
 

This was an extremely easy project. The edges of the sheet are finished, therefore it is not necessary to hem the sides or the bottom unless you desire a short curtain. Also, these curtains are hung just a few inches below the ceiling level to trick the eye into believing that the window is really much larger. It also causes the edges to fall at exactly the right length so no hemming is required.

The majority of labor is from making the rod pocket which is used for inserting the curtain rod for hanging.   
 
HOW TO MAKE A ROD POCKET :
1.  Measure your window and decide upon the desired length leaving approximately 5 -6" additional inches of fabric at the top for the rod pocket., and another 2.5'"for the bottom hem. Cut fabric accordingly if needed. (NOTE: I did no cutting whatsoever for my project).
2. From the top, fold the front side (the side which you will look at from inside the room) of the material  over onto itself 3"',  2.5' from the top , and sew your seam. (The band at the top of my sheet was white so I made that my turn line, as I didn't want the white to show.) Put your pins in horizontally every few inches along the seam line.
 
HEMMING INSTRUCTIONS: (For those who altered the length of the original sheet)
1. From the bottom, fold the front side over onto itself 2.5". Pin in place and sew 2" from the edge to complete.
 
*** f you don't sew, or want to make it even easier, you can use hemming tape. Just follow the instructions on the package.