a SUPER room! DIY T-Shirt Canvases

I headed to Goodwill and found 4 t-shirts of different super heros! I actually found a couple more, but they ended up being too small so I was left with 4! (I found that a boy's size small was about as small as I would recommended.)

I made 4 simple boxes out of 2x2's cut down to make 12"x12" boxes. I just used a pin nailer to attach them together at the corners. (Because it is going on the wall and is not holding anything, I didn't need to get too crazy with how it was held together.)

I cut the back off of the t-shirt and centered it on my square. I then flipped it over (careful not to let it move on you) and stapled the top middle, then pulled it tight and stapled the bottom middle. I went back and finished the top pulling it tight as I went, then down to the bottom. I did the sides just like the top & bottom. Make sure that you are keeping it tight as you staple.

Because they are so light weight, when I hung them I used 2 nails keeping them about 6" apart to help keep them straight.

It all cost about $12! Not too bad.

What do you think? Do you have some walls that need something? You can do this with ANY fabric! I chose t-shirts because I could get them cheap and I knew that super hero t-shirts would be easier to get a variety of.

Want some help filling your walls with one of a kind, personalized "art"? Give me a call today! I'd love to help!

Megan

(616)240-7095

A SUPER room! Comic Cork Boards

It seems like pre-schoolers come home with new pictures/projects every day and each one is their favorite! I wanted to add a place for him to hang his new favorites right in his room (the fridge only has so much room, right?). These were very easy to make and the most expensive part of it was the adhesive!

I used 12"x12" cork boards. Sprayed one side with the spray adhesive, covered with my fabric square (I cut my fabric about 14"x14"). Because of the fabric that I choose, it was important to make sure to keep it straight, some fabrics it may not matter - but if it does, try to keep it as straight as possible.

Flip it over and spray the edges with the adhesive (about an inch) and fold the edges of your fabric in, kind of like wrapping a present.

Let it dry and hang it! I used Command Strips to hang it (the less holes the better, when you are decorating a kids room - chances are that it will change again in a few years).

And now the perfect spots to hang the next master piece!

What's your favorite way to display kids' art?

Thanks for stopping by!

Megan 

A SUPER room- DIY Cityscape Shelf and Hooks

If you Google super hero kids room, almost every picture has a city scape mural in it. I love the idea, but I didn't want a big mural for this room. I then saw a picture of big wood cut outs of a cityscape and loved it! While this was also not right for this room, I decided to make it in to a shelf with hooks.

I bought 1/4" x 24" x 24" birch plywood.

Using a pencil and straight edge, I drew out my cityscape.

We cut it out and built the floating shelf with scrap mdf.

I painted the cityscape and shelf with left over paint from the bed (it's free that way, right?). I added a few "windows" painted with a light yellow. I spray painted the hooks with a red spray paint that was left over from something... :) (I've got too many of those!)
To make the shelf: I just built a box, leaving the back open.  

To hang the shelf I made a bracket out of 1"x2" and attached it to the wall into the studs. 

Then slide the shelf on!

I just love how this one turned out! What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Megan

A SUPER room for a SUPER boy!

 BEFORE:

 While the "before" isn't horrible it had some problems.
1. The mismatched bed. This bed was his dad's bed when he was growing up! We had painted the upper part only first, the plan was to move him up there and then paint the bottom. But after having the bed set up like this for a few days, we decided that the lower bed wasn't necessary. If he sat up in bed, he hit his head on the upper bed and a parent didn't fit great to say good night.
2. It's a bit boring, there is nothing on the walls and even though there are toys, it just isn't a fun room - a 4 year old should have a fun room!

AFTER:

 It is in a new home so we were able to pick the paint color from the beginning. He requested black, it is his favorite color and he wanted his room like the bat cave. We didn't want his room to be an actual cave, so we talked him into Intellectual by Behr. It is dark enough that he still calls it black, but the dark gray will grow up with him and looks great with the while trim. 

He had requested the ceiling fan during the entire construction of his house. His friend has one like it and it has rocket ships! You can't go wrong with rocket ships! ;)

Other than that we had a "blank" canvas!
I DIY-ed the super hero pictures you see hanging above the bed out of Good Will t-shirts.
I made a "fort" under the bed and added Christmas lights and some paper lanterns.
I made the cityscape shelf & hooks.
I made the outlet switch plate covers as well.
I also covered cork board squares in a fun comic book fabric.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN:

Paint for bed and cityscape shelf:  $15

Fabric for "fort" curtains:  $25 (yay for clearance fabric and coupons!)

Curtain rods:  $8

Lights under bed:  $10 (they had the paper lanterns already)

Cityscape Shelf & Hooks:  $6 and scrap wood
T-shirt Canvases:  $12

Outlet and Switch Covers:  $5
Cork board Comic: $8 for fabric and spray adhesive (they already had the cork board).

Miscellaneous Accessories:  $30

Wall Lamp:  $40

Wall Baskets:  $20

Total: $179

Not too bad!

I will go into more detail on the DIY projects in the posts to come! So make sure to stop by again!
Need help making a room in your house a little more super? Give me a call today! 
Megan
(616)240-7095

Happy Holidays!

While I am finishing up the pictures and post about the "Super Room", I thought I would help myself get in the Holiday spirit, and maybe you too!

It may not look like Christmas yet, but it is December 1st! And I am getting ready to decorate my new house for Christmas! I was looking at the outside of it last night, trying to decide if I really want to attempt exterior lights...we've never done them before, but there is always a first! :) While I debate if I want to tackle that this week, I am definitely planning to start the inside Christmas decorating! Now to decide what to do! How about a little more inspiration, some Holiday inspiration! :)

This is just plain pretty and I love the chalkboard! What a great idea for all year around! 

 I love all of this color! The embroidery hoops are an inexpensive way to add pops of color, and so easy to do! Pick your fabrics and hoops, cut the fabric to fit and hang!

 A cherry Christmas. The couch fits right in!

 Maybe I will do a little exterior decorating! ;) This porch is so welcoming.

 Another pretty one! The tree is not too over done, the sign above the fireplace is great and adds a bit of rustic charm. The lights on the mantel set it all off perfectly!

I love this one. The little trees on the mantel and the vases of ornaments with the candles and sign are very cute. The tree is so classically done. It has just enough country charm for me! Did you notice the bowl of pinecones? (I might need to make my way back to JoAnnes for the cinnamon smelling ones!)

 

 

Now to dig out my boxes and get decorating (and resist the urge to start over with all new Christmas stuff)!

Have you decorated for Christmas yet? Or are you like me and have to wait until December is upon us? I couldn't start this weekend - I was still recovering from our Thanksgiving feast! :)

Do you need a fresh take on your Christmas decorating? Give me a call I'd love to help you out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Megan

Inspiration, Super Boy's Room

I am going to be working on a bedroom for a 4-year old boy. He is totally into anything super heroes! :) So I am using that as my inspiration! While I don't want to do a completely "themed" room, for kids it is a lot of fun to use a theme as a jumping off point! I also have a very small budget for this room, so I will be doing some DIY projects to help keep the costs down. I can't wait to share these projects with you! 

I have a ton of ideas and love them all! So I thought that I would share some pictures of rooms that I have found that have some of the "super hero" theme ideas! 

Maybe they will give you some super inspiration too!

 I love the colors and the lite up cut out buildings!

 These colors definitely say super hero and are perfect for a young boy!

I like how they personalized the city mural with the children's initials in the spot lights.

I've got a feeling this room is going to be SUPER!

What are you working on right now? Where do you find your inspiration?

Need some extra help? Call Megan Jelsema Designs today! (616)240-7095

Paint!

Color is very personal. I think that is why, even though paint is the easiest thing to change, it is the hardest decision for most people!

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when choosing paint.

1. Don't worry about brand when picking your color, pretty much any paint store can color match from a different line/brand. Although now, that adds another problem, have you ever noticed how many paint colors there are!!! It can make a person dizzy just thinking about it!
*Keep in mind, most painters have a preferred paint brand, so if you are hiring it out, it is best to ultimately use what they want. They are putting their name behind it and if something goes wrong, the last thing that you will want to hear is, "If you used such and such a brand like I wanted, you wouldn't have this problem".  Because paints are different, a painter will get to know how "his brand" works and how to apply it the best. If you are doing the painting yourself, pick whatever you want, but please don't pick the cheapest! Check for reviews on-line and consumer reports. I've always had good luck with Behr, by Home Depot. In my current house, we have a Sherwin Williams paint and I have not noticed any problems with it. * 

2. Start looking in your closet, it can give you big clues as to what colors you are drawn to. Take a favorite outfit and pull colors from that. I wear a lot of neutral colors (black, white, brown, tan or grays) and add color with accessories. I like BRIGHT pops of color. You will notice in my house, all of my wall colors are very neutral, that way I can throw in my bright pops of color without overwhelming the room. My dining room is Rolling Pebble, a greenish tan and I added a bright rug with large colorful flowers in red, yellow and oranges. I also have orange dining room chairs. Had I painted the walls in an orange (one of my favorite colors at the moment) it would have been way too much orange.

3. It's nice to have a consistent color that can flow from room to room. I'm not saying paint every room in your house one color, what I mean is... re-use your colors. If you go with a burgundy wall color in the kitchen, add some burgundy or red pillows in your living room or art work in a bedroom, bathroom or hallway. Having colors that work together is a great way to make your home feel instantly put together. See how the colors below work well with each other?

^Colors above are: Elephant Skin (PPU18-16, Pale Honey (PPU6-8), Coliseum Marble (PPU8-16) and Stone Walls (PPU8-49). Paint Samples are from Behr.^

4. Because there are a million different paint colors, look at your choices with your flooring, or couch-if that is staying (or staying for a while). The blue that you love might not work great with your carpet, but there are a bunch of other blues that might, and I'm sure you can find another one that you will love just as much or more!

What ways have you found to help you pick your favorite paint colors? 
Hopefully that will help you get started! If you need help selecting paint colors, give me a call! I bet in just a couple short hours, we can have it nailed down!
Megan
(616)240-7095

Selling your house? Should you stage your home?

Even in the cooler months, you can sell your house. With a few less buyers and still lots of homes for sale it is important to have your house stand out from the rest!
It is important to realize that when your house is for sale, it is no longer "your home". Before it goes up for sale, is the time to get your home ready. You want to have anyone walking in your home to feel at home and to picture themselves living in your home. 

A few ways to do that:

• De-clutter: You are getting ready to move, so now is a great time to get all of your extras packed up. Those clothes that only get worn seasonally can be stored (it might not be a bad idea to keep them accessible if you are about to change your clothing). Closets are a great feature, if you can make it look like there is more room than there actually might be. Clearing your closets out, not only helps you, it gives the impression of tons of storage! Storing your rarely used kitchen appliances helps to keep your counter tops clear to show off all of your kitchen work space and empties your cabinets, which again shows off all of your storage!
• Depersonalize: This one might be the hardest to do. Pack up the pictures of your kids, grand kids, pets, family and friends. Replace them with  art work. Art work can be pricey but you can also DIY some inexpensive artwork as well (we will work on some of that late). A great way to add the void from your old pictures is a mirror (or mirrors grouped together). A mirror adds a big impact, making the room feel larger and can let the potential buyers really SEE themselves in your home. 
• Furniture & Placement: Keeping your home feeling large is helped with the furniture that you have in it. Some rooms cannot support a large heavy couch, or china cabinet. While it works for you and your family, if it does not emphasize the amount of space in your home, it might be best to store it until you move into your new home. Furniture placement is very important. you don't want to show an empty home, but you don't want your home crammed with furniture. As you move your furniture, be aware to keep the walking areas, large enough that as a realtor is showing your home to 1 or 2 people, don't run into each other or "get stuck". Pulling your furniture off of the wall can help a room feel cozier and if you can keep it far enough off the wall, you can add a nice walking area to see the whole room without tripping over a chair.
• Maintenance: Even if you take care of your home, it is easy to miss small things (paint touch ups for the kids running toys into the walls) because while you are living in it you get used to it. It is helpful to have someone with no emotional attachment to your home (it could be a friend, your realtor, or a staging professional) walk thru your home and let you know what they notice.
• Color: If you have rooms that need more than paint touch ups, it might be best to re-paint. Use warm and soothing colors, that will help relax buyers when they walk in. Lighter shades help your home feel larger and are more attractive to the eyes and help potential buyers picture their own furnishings in the home.

Staging Stats:
1. You will make more money: A survey conducted by Coldwell Banker discovered that staged homes are usually sold 6% above the asking price and spend less time on the market when compared to an unstaged home.
2. You will get a good return on your investment: Another NAR survey reveled that a 1-3% investment on home staging yields 8-10% return.
3. Your photos will stand out. Most buyers start shopping online, so it is very important that your online pictures look great!

Are you getting ready to sell? Give Megan Jelsema Designs a call today! (616)240-7095

Kitchens!

Kitchens are the heart of many homes! It's where everyone gathers! It's important not only for a kitchen to be functional and practical, but it should also be stylish, comfortable and a place where you WANT to spend your time! Because there are better things to do in a kitchen than dishes!

 

The back splash in this kitchen turned out so cool! And complemented the laminate counter tops so nice. The raised bar area, gives a nice divide from the dining room (and hides the mess in the sink), but still keeps it open.

 This is a very pretty, classic kitchen. I love the light fixtures. The Oil Rubbed cabinet door hardware looks great without an overwhelming presence.

 This maybe one of my favorite kitchens! I love the dark crown on the light cabinets. Even with the the dark island (same as the crown) and the dark granite counter tops, this kitchen is bright and airy with the very light blue on the walls. The table (below) is made out of reclaimed wood, you can't see it in this picture, but it had a great matching bench too!

 I love the black and white in this kitchen! Black and white always looks classy. We added a black glaze to the white island cabinets, making a little more fun!

 

This is a warm and comfy kitchen. While the dining area was not big, it is still comfortable with the dining table and consul table. The taller upper cabinets in the corners, make a nice statement, and adds a custom touch without a crazy price.

This kitchen before was dark and boring. Adding the lighter cabinets, even with the darker tan on the walls, lighten the whole place. Adding a rolling island was not only functional, it became a great place eat. This home was lacking a eating area (until a later renovation added one). The under cabinet lighting, added great task lighting. 


How is your kitchen cooking? Does it need some spicing up? Maybe something as small as new cabinet hardware, or are you ready for a total kitchen make over? While it is not the most fun to live thru, having the right help and planning can make a world of difference! And before you know it, you'll be gathering in your new space!
Call me today and lets get planning!

MeganJelsemaDesigns@gmail.com
(616)240-7095

About Me

Hello, My name is Megan Jelsema. 
I have been working for RDI Homes for the past few years doing all of their selections for their new construction homes and remodels. I have done over 100 homes, including Parade of Homes, custom homes and spec homes. 
I have always been a creative person and very interested in home design. Before working for RDI Homes, I would help friends and family while they were remodeling/redesigning their homes. 
While working for RDI Homes, I was involved in the selections for everything, from the roof over your head to the flooring (and underlayment) under your feet & the paint all around you! It is an honor and pleasure to work with the home owners as they are building their new homes! I love helping people with the practical aspects of building a house, but it is almost more fun to help people make it their home. Adding the furniture, art work and accessories that make a home specifically yours, makes such a huge difference and is so much fun to do! 
I have also had the opportunity to stage homes that are for sale. When a home is for sale, it needs to be a home that ANYONE can see themselves in. I have read many stats about homes for sale (and one day I'll post some) but one thing that I have seen over and over again is that a staged home sells quicker and for more money than a non-staged home! Who wouldn't like that?
Look around your home, what needs a little boost? Give me a call today! I would love to help you freshen up a room or re-design a tired space in your home! 
Thanks for checking out my blog! I look forward to adding more to it! I will hopefully have more pictures on here for you soon! Until then you can check out my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/meganjelsemadesigns.
Megan