Category Archives: Decor

A Custom DIY Frame For Under $10

December 22, 2014Categories: DecorSarah @ 702 Park Project

If you follow me at all, then you know I love the South! So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Old Try, a southern husband-wife team living in Boston, but creating unique pieces that remind them of home in the South.

One of my favorite prints at Old Try is the Five String banjo. I love the simplistic yet modern style. I thought about having this print framed, but like so many prints, framing was much more expensive than the print itself cost.

So what do you do when you don’t want to pay a ton for custom framing? You DIY, of course! For under $10, I was able to create a fun and different custom frame for this beautiful piece of southern art.

702 park project - diy frame

Here’s how I did it…

Materials: 1 long piece of decorative molding (I used 7 feet by 1.5 inches), wood varnish or paint, 4 screws and corresponding bolts (I used 1/4-inch-20), and 1 saw-tooth hanger.

First, cut the molding into the lengths that you want. You will need 4 pieces. Since the print is 13″ wide, I cut the molding to 15″ in order to have 1 inch on each side.

Next, apply a few coats of varnish to each piece of molding. I used the leftover varnish from this project and applied two coats. You could also spray paint these if you’d prefer a different color.

Then carefully measure where you want your screw holes to go and drill through the molding. I measured 2″ in from the end of each piece, and then drilled through two pieces at a time to ensure that the holes would line up. (Side note: those are “my assistant’s” hands. Mine are not that hairy.)

Sandwich the 2 sets of molding around the top and bottom of the print and add your screw. I picked a large brass screw, but it’s really a matter of preference.

Lastly, add a saw-tooth hanger to the pack, and you’re finished!

That’s it! The easiest frame ever!

If you haven’t checked out Old Try, pop on over! Old Try creates “southern-inspired products for those living in and out of the South.” And they don’t just stop at prints! Old Try also carries wood art, t-shirts, bow-ties, and lots of adorable baby items. It’s a great place to find a unique gift, or something special for your home. (Bonus: all products are made in America!)

Be sure to follow Old Try on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook too…especially since they host a lot of giveaways on their social media sites!

This post was sponsored by Old Try. As always, all opinions are tutorials are my own.

All About That Basement

November 20, 2014Categories: DecorSarah @ 702 Park Project

See what I did there?

I grew up with a very useful basement. When I was about 10 years old, my parents closed in half of the garage area to make a full, finished basement. Ever since, that basement has served many purposes…office, TV room, workout room, game room, teenage sleepover room, man cave, rock band practice spot, and guitar room to name a few.

The basement in our Park Avenue house, however, is not conducive to any of those things. It’s come a long way, but it’s basically 4 concrete walls with a few little windows. Our new duct work takes up quite a bit of ceiling space, and our hot water heater is an eye sore. Although the basement stairs are just steps away from our kitchen door, there’s no access from inside the house.

Needless to say, this isn’t a room that we’ll be “hanging out” in. But it can still be useful. My best idea so far? A wine cellar, duh!

I’m thinking my dad could probably build something for us. I mean, if he can build this, wine boxes should be a breeze, right?!

702parkproject - wine cellar

What do you think? Do you have a wine cellar? Would you like one? What tips do you have for installing and using a wine cellar?

One Room Challenge Favorites – Fall 2014

November 10, 2014Categories: DecorSarah @ 702 Park Project

Twice a year, Linda from Calling It Home hosts the very popular One Room Challenge, in which design bloggers makeover a room (from start to finish) in just 6 short weeks. The makeover can be on a large scale, like gutting a kitchen, or a little smaller, like wallpapering a powder room. Each designer picks his or her own space and shares the process with us.

One of the best things about the One Room Challenge is that YOU can participate too! Each week of the Challenge, Linda hosts a link up for other readers, bloggers, and designers to share their progress on a room of their choosing. (Maybe next year I’ll join in…I’m thinking the master closet or laundry room could already use a makeover!)

Last Wednesday, the 20 designers shared the final reveals of their rooms, and everyone is still picking their jaws up off the floor. This challenge just gets better and better each time! And now, my favorites…

1. Design Manifest – Kitchen

This father-daughter duo knocked it out of the park! If the rest of the room was terrible, I could get lost in that quartzite waterfall countertop and not even care. Luckily, the rest of the room is stunning as well! This really was a huge transformation…take a look at the before shots!

2. Mimosa Lane – Walk In Closet

The closet of my dreams! Albertina is the queen of styling, and her room reveals never disappoint. Her family room last year was definitely at the top of my list! I love how feminine yet functional this closet is. The gold molding, the light fixture, the rug…it all comes together so perfectly.

3. The Design Daredevil – Master Bedroom

If you want drama, this is your room! This room is so edgy, yet so inviting. I can’t get over the moldings or the built ins, and that chandelier. I can’t even. Every single piece in this room seems to play an important part in pulling it all together.

4. The Pink Pagoda – Foyer

702pp - ORC - TPP3

I love this foyer makeover because it’s so achievable. Some of the makeovers featured are gorgeous, but I know they would never work in my home. I feel like this foyer could be transplanted to just about any home and it would work. Simple, sophisticated, and timeless. Oh, and I’m drooling over the new lantern.

5. Waiting On Martha – Home Office

How can you not be in love with this wallpaper?! Mandy started out with this wallpaper, but her furniture was dark and heavy. I love how she’s lightened up the space with white furniture, ghost chairs, rugs and textiles.

Be sure to check out all of the rooms from start to finish. These designers really are so so talented.

Which room was your favorite? If you could give a room in your house a makeover, what room would it be?

PS- you can see my favorites from the Spring 2014 edition here!

Our 3 Budget-Friendly Fall Mantels

October 30, 2014Categories: DecorSarah @ 702 Park Project

Since we just officially moved in in May, this is our first fall in the house. I had these dreams that by the fall, every mantel and every room would be beautifully (and differently!) decorated. HA!!! I was just lucky to get just a couple of rooms and 3 of the 8 mantels in the house decorated by mid-October!

The biggest issues? Space and cost. What stuffed our little apartment to the brim barely covers a couple of rooms in our “new” house. I thought I had a lot to work with, but I was wrong, and it’s not like I could go out and spend a ton on all new stuff. Thank goodness for my mom and mother-in-law, who have helped me add to my stock, along with a few key sales.

My favorite by far is our natural fall mantel in the foyer. I like a lot of rustic looks, but to be honest, they usually just don’t really fit with the style and feel of our house. I love how this mantel kind of marries a rustic and glam look together without feeling too woodsy or too fancy.

The magnolia leaves and berries are from our yard, and the pumpkin was $3 at the grocery store, so this was a very inexpensive mantel to pull together.

I went for a more casual and fun look in the den, with lots of traditional pumpkins, gourds, leaves, and scarecrows. Most of the items I used were from the Michael’s clearance bins.

I also picked up a pack of fake fall leaves for about $1 at Michael’s and spread them all around the house in various places for a little punch of fall here and there. I think they really pulled this mantel together.

Last but not least was the dining room mantel. I stuck a couple of lanterns I had up there, and added a little fall ribbon to them. The candle sticks usually reside on the mantel in the den, but I thought they dressed up the dining room a bit next to the lanterns. I picked up the glass pumpkin, which is so beautiful and one of my favorite pieces, at TJ Maxx this year. Throw in a little greenery from the yard and bam! Finished!

Pretty simple, huh? And if you’re looking for just one more idea, I’ll share one of my favorites: candy corn! During the fall, you can use candy corn to decorate just about anything.

What are your favorite fall decorating secrets? Do you try to stick to a budget?

PS- Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a copy of the new CraftFail book!

Neutral Looks for Less

October 22, 2014Categories: DecorSarah @ 702 Park Project

From an early age I learned to shop for bargains and sales when it comes to just about everything (except toilet paper and trash bags). I shop way more than I should, but I always try to get a lot of bang for my buck, which is how I discovered Kirkland’s a long time ago. I’ve been shopping Kirkland’s to decorate my living spaces from my college dorm room to our new master bathroom, where I snagged two mirrors for our custom vanity for under $80 total!

One of my favorite things about Kirkland’s is the plethora of neutrals they have available. Since we decided to use color on our walls instead of going with beige or gray throughout the house, neutral accents don’t get washed out like they might otherwise. I think decorating is about finding that balance between bland/boring and sensory overload! With Kirkland’s, it’s easy!

Here are a few of my favorite neutral pieces and how they compare in price.

Kirkland’s ornate mirror vs. Hayneedle ornate mirror

West Elm metallic lamp vs. Kirkland’s metallic lamp

West Elm storage bench vs. Kirkland’s storage bench

Kirkland’s chair vs. West Elm chair

Pier 1 sunburst mirror vs. Kirkland’s sunburst mirror

Kirkland’s tufted headboard vs. Hayneedle tufted headboard

With Kirkland’s, you don’t have to sacrifice style or quality for your bargain piece. You can get everything you want without the scary price tag! I’ve gotten so many comments on our vanity mirrors and other decorative accents I have around the house, and I always smile knowing that I didn’t have to spend a fortune to pull it off.

Which of these items is your favorite? Do you shop at Kirkland’s? What deals have you found?

If you are a brand interested in working with 702 Park Project, please contact me here.

Fall Favorites: No-Carve Pumpkins

October 16, 2014Categories: DecorSarah @ 702 Park Project

I’ve tried time and time again to carve pretty pumpkins and it just doesn’t work out. Even with a stencil, they never look all that appealing for me. That’s why I love the idea of no-carve pumpkins: ways to decorate without carving!

Below are 12 of my favorites. Be sure to click through — most have DIY tutorials!

1. Double Dipped

2. Decoupage

3. Silhouette

4. Geo Love

5. Doily Stencil

6. Put A Bow On It

7. Glitter Monogram

8. Bewitched

9. Glitter Galore

10. Shabby Chic

11. Brass Tacks

12. Tribal

That’s it, my 12 favorites! What do you think? Do you love these as much as I do? Which is your favorite? You can see all of my fall inspirations here.

Check out my favorite fall porch ideas, fall place settings, and fall wreaths. And come back tomorrow because I saved the best for last: Fall Cocktails!