Paneled Headboard Tutorial

Thanks to everyone for all of the comments and feedback on my paneled headboard wall project.  I still find myself going in there and just looking at it.   A sign of a good end result for me.

So, I promised a tutorial!  This project was extremely affordable - all that I needed was some MDF boards since we already had the big tools we needed (nail gun) from when we did the board and batten in the hallway and laundry room back in January, as well as the trim paint.   So, the basic supply list includes the following:

• 1x2 1/2" MDF (I needed about 4 boards)
• 1x5 1/2" MDF (1 board)
• 1x1" MDF (1 board)
• Nail gun
• Level
• Paintable caulk
• Spackle
• Trim paint

So, since we were putting the headboard between the two windows, I took some measurements to try and figure out the best placement of the boards.  (Yes, there is some math involved here, sorry).

I sketched out the space and started by taking the measurement between the two windows (55.5") and cut the larger, 5 1/2" piece of MDF and nailed it to the wall.  This is the base for all of the vertical pieces, so make sure it's level.  As for the height of the headboard - I eyeballed it and it ended up being about 78" tall.  I wanted to have enough height so that it would show up once I put the pillows back on the bed.   

For the vertical 2 1/2" strips, I took the overall measurement between the two windows (55.5") and divided it in half (27.75"), using it for the placement of my first board, working outwards from there.  

I used a 12" piece of wood as a spacer for this project, which is an easy way to move from board to board.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of using a level in this project.  When putting a grid together like this, you want to make sure the boards are straight.

I used the same technique when adding the horizontal boards.  The squares ended up being about 12x12 when it was all said and done.  One note here - before cutting your horizontal boards, double check your measurements.  In making sure the vertical boards were straight, my 12" measurements were off by a few millimeters, so we had to do some extra cutting to make sure the pieces fit.

It's not pictured above, but we added a 1x1" piece along the top to give it a more finished look.  You can see it in the finished photos below.  But, from here, it's just a matter of caulking around the boards and gaps, spackling the nail holes, sanding and painting.  I used trim paint that matched what we have in the house in a latex semi-gloss.

 Some of you asked what color pink I used in her room - it's Priscilla by Sherwin Williams.  After having a Pepto Bismol pink incident in her room at our old house, I vowed not to make that mistake again and made sure that I bought a sample size to test it first this time.  Much happier with the results!

Linking up to:
Home Stories A to Z - Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesday
DIY by Design - Winter Blues Wednesday
The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday
Miss Mustard Seed - Furniture Feature Friday
Chic on a Shoestring - Flaunt it Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge - Feature Yourself Friday
Dittle Dattle - Amaze Me Monday
C.R.A.F.T - Making Monday Marvelous
The Lettered Cottage - How To's Day

Inspiration Monday: Camilla Molders

I always love when fellow bloggers share a source for great design, that is exactly how I found out about Camilla Molders (love her name!). Thanks to Kirsten, I caught a glimpse of one of Camilla's rooms and off I went to explore.

Based in Australia, I was of course instantly drawn to her use of color, not to mention some of my favorite colors. I love the artwork above the sofa, it looks like a aerial view of some coastline, neat.
The beautiful green ottoman and over sized tray, you know me and my trays, I love them. I also like the use of neutral backgrounds and color used in the way of accessories, just how I like it.

I think I am drawn to this particular picture because I will be reupholstering Keegan's chair soon and one of the fabric samples is a chocolate chenille. I'll be showing you those soon, I'm waiting for a few more swatches to arrive in the mail.





This is my favorite. I love everything about this room, the pillows are divine and I love the palm fronds. Black. White. Green. Love.






Very nice Camilla, I like your style!


Check out her website here and her blog here.

A Pretty Paneled Headboard Wall

Hello all!

Sorry this is a day late, but I think it will be worth it!  Yesterday was a cold and dreary day, and I was just not loving the light for my photos.  Is it too much to ask for a sliver of sunlight?  Plus, my son has the flu, so I was a bit scattered anyway!

But things are looking brighter in my daughter Kate's, bedroom!  I have to admit, since we've moved, I haven't done a whole lot to the kids' rooms, aside from painting them.  But one thing that has been bugging me for awhile now, is that my daughter's bed just looks... unfinished.  She has adorable bedding (PB Outlet), but I haven't found a headboard that I really like.


But along came this beautiful inspiration (thank you, Emily A. Clark).  Ever since I laid eyes on it - I have had this paneled wall image in the back of my mind...

Why not give this a shot, right?  You don't necessarily need the headboard AND the paneled wall to make a statement.  I find the paneled wall alone really striking!

First things first.  I needed to rearrange her bedroom.  There aren't a whole lot of options, and the original setup just wasn't really working.

So, here are some pictures of her room before we got to work.  I should say that part of what triggered this paneled headboard was that Kate wanted to "organize her room".  Who am I to stand in the way of progress?  (And yes, it's dark.  What can I say?  Women in this house get motivated in the nighttime hours.  Perhaps it has something to do with me painting our master bedroom the day before I went into labor with her...).

This is the view from her bedroom door (prior to clearing anything out).  You can see that some items have made their way up from the basement:

Again, a view from her bedroom door, slightly to the right.  Lots of doors to deal with in this space.

A shot from the doorway of the Jack & Jill bathroom.  More doors.

Like I said, this setup just wasn't working.  Plus, she has one additional nightstand that shouldn't even be in her room.  Too much stuff!

So, from here, I rearranged the furniture.

I'm liking the flow of the room more already.  I am thinking that a smaller dresser may be in order, but that's for another time.  I'm also adding "paint the treasure chest" to my to-do list in this room.

But now that the paneled headboard wall is complete, it really adds to the character of the room and I'm loving it!  I love the texture and the interest it brings.  Excuse the photo overload here.  Can you tell I'm excited?

 

I'm still debating on the artwork here - what do you think?  When I hang it on the wall, it just gets lost in the Sea of Pink.  When I hang it on the paneled wall, you could actually see it.  So, this is where it stands for now. 

What do you think?  Leave the artwork there?  Or better off without?

But wait!  Just when you thought it couldn't get any cuter... (I literally thought of this just before I was going to post).

Who can resist a boxwood wreath?  Wait, is that a cute, coordinating boxwood topiary on the nightstand?  Oh yes it is!

Well, there you have it.  I will post a tutorial on this project in the days to come.

Enjoy your day!

I'm linking up to:
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays
Shabby Chic Cottage - Transformation Thursday
Not Just a Housewife - Show Me What Ya Got
Somewhat Simple - Strut Your Stuff
Seven Thirty Three - Sugar & Spice
Blue Cricket Design - Show & Tell
Hooking Up With House of Hepworth's
Miss Mustard Seed's - Furniture Feature Friday
Fingerprints on the Fridge - Feature Yourself Friday
Remodelaholic - Remodelaholic's Anonymous
Just A Girl - Show and Share Day
I Heart Naptime - Sunday Scoop
Green Door Designs - Saturday Spotlight
Dittle Dattle - Amaze Me Monday
Between Naps on the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday
Thrifty Decor Chick - Before and After Party
Decor Chick - Molding Link Party

A Couple of Announcements

(Random picture, I just can't have a pictureless post! :)

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I wanted to make a couple of announcements about what is going to be happening here on the blog. Nothing drastic, I just want to introduce a more organized schedule.....and when I say schedule, I mean more along the lines of having a better idea of what you'll see here at Sweet Something Design. Up until now, I'm kinda squirrely on what I write about, but I am trying to get more organized, you know, that whole New Year's Goal thing. So after some careful planning, here is what I've come up with and I hope you'll enjoy:

Inspiration Monday

With so much inspiration around the web, Monday's are going to be devoted to sharing interesting and inspiring links, with pictures of course.

It Works For Me Tuesday

From fabrics, to paint colors, to DIY projects and anything in between....if it works for me, it might work for you! I'm looking forward to sharing what I love and relate to, I know we'll find something in common.

Whatever Wednesday

Wednesday's are open to share whatever I'm working on. Let's face it, I am squirrely, so I need an open day, Lord only knows what I'll share, I need a little wiggle room on Wednesday, maybe I should name it Wiggle Wednesday! :)

At Home Thursday

Take a look at what I'm piddling on here at home. Projects, tablescapes, mantelscapes, seasonal interest, and more. How about some field trips too!

Weekend Links

For now, Fridays are the day I want to share links to peruse over the weekend. Eventually, I will use Fridays to highlight my sponsors.

Secondly, I would like to start accepting sponsors. The online community is such an inspiring force, I would love to highlight your blog, Etsy shop (or any other store), or website. This has been on my mind (and heart) for a long time now. Any chance to partner with a fellow entrepreneur is truly one of my goals. My sidebar is open and ready to welcome you! The only disclaimer I have is that each sponsor will be researched before being accepted. This is not to offend anyone, simply stated, I must feel that my readers will benefit from your product or service and I want to make sure we are a good fit. I look at sponsorship more as a partnership and I would love to work with you! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, email me for rates.

I am excited to share these new things with you! Thank you so much for stopping by and while you are here, consider following along!

I will be starting the new schedule next week and the sponsorship right away, email me.

www.sweetsomethingdesign@yahoo.com

A Ballard Designs Outlet Field Trip

Hey all,

It's been a busy and semi-productive weekend, and eventful as well.  My 5 year-old daughter took the scissors to her hair and gave herself a little trim.  I'm talking a chunk out of her hair.  The poor girl has always been hair-challenged, so this is just adding to it.  Perhaps mullets will make a comeback.  

Anyway, I have a great project (for my budding hair stylist, no less) that I was hoping to reveal to you today, but alas, I need another day to finish.  But trust me when I say that I think it's going to turn out beautifully!  Here is a hint...

Once again, I was inspired by the photos from Emily A. Clark's blog from the Charlotte Homebuilder's Tour.  Apparently, I'm living in the wrong state.

In the meantime, I also made a trip down to the Ballard Designs Outlet, which is just about 25 short minutes away!  I thought I would share some of the treasures that are available in this Land of Loveliness.

They have me at "Hello" - I'm not even IN the store yet, and I'm greeted with this!

A wide variety of pretty clocks at your service:

 Some artwork:

 A yummy quatrefoil mirror:

 Some fab headboards:

And the lighting - oh the lighting!

Some awesome chandeliers and lovely lanterns.  I was oh-so-tempted by the lanterns!

 A pretty console:

A beautiful linen sofa:

 And a selection of mercury glass:

 

They were even having a President's Day Sale!  Everything was marked down with an additional 20% off, and then ANOTHER additional 20% off.  So what did I get?  Nothing!  Zip, zilch, zero, can you believe it?  

I was looking for some specific things - drapery inspiration for my dining room, maybe a chandelier for our bedroom or the dining room.  Figures, right?  When you're looking for something specific, you just never find it! 

I was very tempted by that beautiful lantern though - I have been digging through lots of dining room inspiration photos, and I love that look!  But one of the curses of the Ballard Outlet is a No Return Policy.  So, I didn't want to risk not loving the lantern.

But really, like any outlet, there are some great deals, and there are some things that are just so-so.  You need to look, but I certainly enjoy stopping by, looking for deals!

Did I mention there is a Frontgate Outlet right across from Ballard?  No, I'm not kidding. ;-)  I'll save those deals for another post.

Happy Monday!