window dressing Archives - Pretty Handy Girl

Decorating, inspiration, kitchen, Kitchen Renovation, Window, window dressing

Dreamy Window Seat Inspiration Photos

I have a friend, named Claire, who is an interior design genius. She would beg to differ, but honestly she is brilliant when it comes to design decisions. This friend was the visionary who created our kitchen floor plan for us. She was also the person who envisioned a window seat in our bay window. Magnifique! Adding a window seat to the bay window was a great way to free up floor space, add storage to the kitchen, and give us a cozy spot to sit and eat. You can read how I built the window seat with storage in our bay window here.

Before building our window seat, I scoured the web for window seat inspiration photos and here are my Favorite Dreamy Window Seat Inspiration Photos (of the MANY more photos I pinned):

Designer Carrie Miller created a relaxing beadboard window seat via BHG.com

Gorgeous tower breakfast nook. Photo by Karyn R. Millet via House Beautiful

Elegant built-in seat (without a window) via: London Painting Group

Refrigerator cabinets used to build a window seat via Centsational Girl

Window seat with storage drawers via BHG.com

Bedroom window seat by Newport Beach Interior Designer Wendi Young Design via Houzz

Curved banquette by Brooklyn architect Ben Herzog via Houzz

White and black built in storage bench via BHG.com

Huge bay window seating by Flemington architect Pickell Architecture via Houzz

Small corner window seat by Santa Cruz Media and blogs Shannon Malone via Houzz

Finally, this was the photo that set my wheels in the right direction for construction via Houzz

Want to build your own? I have a great tutorial for how to build a window seat in a bay window with storage.

Hope you find some window seat inspiration! Happy building!

August 25, 2017/14 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

Rustic Metal Magnetic Window Frame | Pretty Handy Girl

I was really inspired by Laura Putnam’s new book: DIY Rustic Modern Metal Crafts. I love the look of aged galvanized metal and knew that our home needed more of it. Today I’ll share with you a tutorial to create your own Rustic Metal Magnetic Window Frame, inspired by Laura’s Vintage Window Memo Board. But, you’ll definitely want to get a copy of Laura’s book to learn how to make 34 more storage and decor items using galvanized metal!

Materials:
(contains affiliate links)

Old window
Galvanized Metal
Pencil
Ruler or Carpenter square
Tin snips
Flat head screwdriver
Staple gun with staples (1/2″ or longer)
Gloves
Safety glasses

Optional: Silicone Caulk (for more secure metal)

Instructions:

Ready to make your own Rustic Metal Magnetic Window Frame? If you have newer galvanized metal, you can easily add an aged patina to metal following this tutorial. Prepare ahead of time, because it might take up to 8 hours to get the look you want. The sheet you see below was left overnight in the solution to get a nice white patina.

Remove the glass panes from your old window.

Measure the size of each pane.

Transfer your measurements onto the galvanized metal sheet. Read more

December 7, 2015/8 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

accessories, Build It, decor, garden bench, hanging jars, Landscaping, Landscaping & Gardening, lantern, Tutorial, Upcycling, window dressing

How to Build a Temporary Pergola

Build a Temporary Pergola with Trellises | Pretty Handy Girl

This tutorial to build a temporary pergola is perfect for a wedding, photo shoot, for some shade, or for your garden if you are okay with it not lasting forever.

My sister and I constructed it for our Thompson’s WaterSeal Bali Dream Deck to provide some romance and shade from the hot Bali sun.

Materials:

2 Trellises (with double vertical construction)
1 Trellis
4 – 2 1/2″ wood screws
Drill bit
Drill
Clamps

Optional:

Instructions:

Dry fit your trellis pieces together to create the pergola shape. Make note of where the top trellis intersects with the two side pieces.

Pre-drill holes through the top trellis piece at the four intersecting points.

Pre-drill holes into the top outer pieces of the vertical side trellises (where they meet the top trellis.) Read more

March 30, 2015/41 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

Build It, Contributor, Decorating, DIY, Home Decor, shutters, window dressing

DIY Interior Cedar Shutters

Hello Pretty Handy friends, Jaime from That’s My Letter here today to share how to build functional interior cedar shutters using inexpensive AND readily available hardware.

I have been itching to build some cedar shutters for our living room for quite some time now. I had two requirements: 1) they had to be completely functional to block out the hot summer sun (which also makes them great for privacy) and 2) use no fancy hardware. I didn’t want to special order any shutter hardware and I like to build using readily available supplies.

You can find the cedar planks and hardware at your local home improvement store. Ready to learn how to build the shutters and install these beauties?

You can see just how much light the shutters will block out once closed. I plan to keep the shutters open except during the extremely hot summer days.

Interior cedar shutters make a great alternative window treatment if you’re not into fabric panels. They truly are a statement piece (and hopefully distract from the fact that my windows don’t match!). I also built the sliding door console last Spring, a link to all the details on that piece is in this post.

Materials:

cedar boards (1×6 and 1×4)
saw
nail gun
1 1/4″ finish nails
1×2 pine board
2″ wood screws
drill & bits
pencil
measuring tape
wood putty
sandpaper
paint
hinges (pictured below) & screws

Hardware: (for one pair of shutters)

2 – 2 1/2″ hinge (spray painted oil rubbed bronze) & 12 screws
2 – 4″ decorative tee hinge & 12 screws

Instructions:

MEASURE YOUR INTERIOR WINDOW SPACE. MEASURE IT AGAIN. MEASURE IT AGAIN. The top of the window may vary from the bottom. Read more

September 17, 2014/12 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

accessories, bedroom, curtains, decor, Decorating, Master Bedroom, window dressing

Easy and Inexpensive Romantic Curtains

Are your windows naked? What’s holding you back? Don’t have the funds to buy some? Don’t have the time to sew some? I have the instant cure for your naked windows. Get ready to make your own easy and inexpensive romantic curtains! Best of all, you don’t have to sew a thing!

Materials:

2 Flat twin sheets from Walmart ($4.97 ea.)
10 Curtain ring clips

Instructions:

Fold your bed sheet in half lengthwise at the top edge. Pleat the left corner and clip a ring over the pleats approximately 2-3 inches below the top edge.

Pleat and add another clip at the fold. Gather another pleat halfway between your two clips and add a third clip. Read more

August 29, 2014/10 Comments/by Brittany Bailey