DIY – Francois et Moi

How to Turn Vintage Furniture into a Vanity

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 12:45:00 +0000

From thrifted desk to functional bathroom sink console! Here’s an in-depth look at how we turned an old, $40 piece of furniture into a vanity. Dreams really do come true! I’ve been fantasizing about turning a vintage piece of furniture into a vanity for over a year, and we finally made it happen! Not only is repurposing vintage furniture as bathroom vanities more cost effective than buying new, it’s also gentler on the planet. What was in this bathroom was a cookie cutter vanity, that I’m assuming was a quick band-aid for putting the house on the market. It’s served its purpose ok over the last 7+ years. However, the drain doesn’t work, the melamine wrap is coming off, and the back of the cabinet had been cut away inside, exposing the water lines, so as I mentioned in my bathroom progress post, every morning I’d wrestle with the pipes when reaching for my hair dryer. Last Fall I found this desk on Facebook Marketplace for $40. I love the classical details, the wood knobs and the shelf below. For the preservationists among us, don’t worry. This isn’t a precious antique. The drawer boxes (though dovetailed) are constructed of soft-ish […]

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DIY Textural Art

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 11:42:19 +0000

Channel your inner ‘artiste’ with DIY textural art! Use a tile trowel and modeling paste to create minimal and chic large-scale art in an afternoon. I first became infatuated with textural art two years ago after discovering the work of artists like Krogh Andersen. It has such movement and visual interest, all the while feeling minimal and chic. Last year I picked up some modeling paste, pulled out a trowel, and began experimenting with troweling paste into 3D art. However, I didn’t document a minute of it, because frankly I wasn’t sure it’d turn out. But much to my chagrin, it did turn out, and I LOVE it! So I’m back at it partnering with Handy Products to create another piece–this time with a very detailed tutorial, so you can make one too with confidence! What Type of Paste Should I Use? Flexible Modeling Paste: I use Flexible Modeling Paste because it trowels nicely without looking clumpy like joint compound sometimes can. It comes pre-mixed and takes the guesswork out of finding the right consistency. The paste is true white in color, and it can be mixed with acrylic paint if you want to add an element of color. Mixing […]

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Repairing Pottery with Kintsugi

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:36:22 +0000

Got a broken dish? Learn Kintsugi, or golden joinery, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery and embracing its imperfections. Recently, A reader on Instagram inspired me to try Kintsugi when she recommended repairing my ginger jar lid this way. I taught myself with this coral plate and will repair my broken, more complicated ginger jar lid is next! This isn’t true Kintsugi. Kintsugi kits are much more expensive and involve several additional steps. However, the essence is the same: repairing what’s broken and celebrating the imperfections with golden joinery. I’ve tried a few different methods involving clear epoxy as well as adding gold mica powder to the epoxy, but neither gave the look I was after. JB Weld Epoxy Resin was the ticket! Here we go! Supplies: Broken Dish JB Weld Epoxy Resin Toothpick Cardboard Square Liquid Leaf Paint (Gold leaf paint is not food safe, so the result is more decorative.) Art Knife or Box Cutter Painter’s Tape Small Paintbrush, size 0/2 1. Glue the dish back together using epoxy resin. Apply with a toothpick and work quickly as it sets up pretty fast. 2. Once dry, carefully use a craft knife to scrape off excess epoxy that […]

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DIY Kids Art Display

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 12:00:22 +0000

Create a dedicated space to display your kiddo’s art with this large DIY kids art display wall complete with a custom stenciled graphic unique to your family! Today is an exciting day. I’ve been dreaming of a kids art display wall since the day Sylvia started pumping out art projects by the easel-full. Studies show displaying your kids art empowers them by building confidence, developing sense of self, and encouraging creativity. My idea was to create a French-inspired ‘Galerie’ that plays on our last name, Francois. In terms of materials, cork was an obvious choice for a kids art display wall, but I chose it especially for this project because it’s very fast growing–an Earth-friendly rapidly renewable resource. This particular cork is ¼” thick. It comes in a roll and though it has mixed reviews on Amazon, it arrived here in one piece and worked great for this project. Large format projects like these keep you on your toes. Literally. From stenciling the cork graphics, to mounting the 3’ x 5’ cork sheet and backer board on the wall, to painting the picture frame trim, you’re always moving. And that’s why I’m partnering with Handy Products to bring you this […]

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DIY Window Candelabra from Scrap Wood

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 13:29:36 +0000

Celebrate light amidst Winter’s long nights with a DIY window candelabra inspired by Scandinavian tradition. Make this project affordably using scrap wood! When it comes to holiday decorating, my style usually comes to life in two ways: Bringing the outdoors in. Celebrating my Scandinavian heritage through handmade decor and crafts. I’ve been wanting to light our front window with a candelabra since we bought this old house 6 years ago. Window candelabras or adventsljusstakar in Swedish, are often used for Advent or to bring a welcoming glow during long winter nights and are common across Scandinavia. Window candelabras are an investment cost-wise though. I love this candelabra from Star Trading and a few other online retailers, but with shipping from Sweden, the cost is over $100 smackers, and I’m not sure it would get here in time to enjoy for Winter Solstice. I was pulling into the garage one afternoon and spotted our big stash of scrap wood collected throughout the year. At that moment it dawned on me; I could make a candelabra pretty darn affordably using scrap wood! My candelabra has a few tweaks, it’s smaller in scale to proportionally work in our windows. It has a curved […]

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Painting Your Bathroom? Steal These Tricks!

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Unsure what sheen to paint your bathroom walls or how to get behind the toilet? Read up on everything you need to know when painting your bathroom! One thing leads to another! What began as a simple tiling project to update the molded plastic shower/tub surround in our main bathroom, ultimately morphed into fresh paint too. Once that shower tile went up, it was all too clear the walls were due for some love. Up until recently, we didn’t have an exhaust fan, so you can imagine the shenanigans these walls have seen over 85 years…yikes! I was excited about the prospect of painting the bath. Beyond obvious maintenance reasons, I’d been wanting to test out a warmer paint color (Behr, Roman Plaster) to bring contrast to the otherwise white tile and fixtures. To bring you up to speed, above is a mood board of materials, as well as a look at the tub/shower BEFORE and with the new shower tile going in (though very much still in progress). Painting a bathroom is unlike any other room in the house due to the amount of moisture they contend with, their often modest size, and the number of built-in fixtures/material transitions […]

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How to Build a Garden Gate + Free Plans!

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Upgrade your chain link gate with a charming cedar garden gate! Download free PDF plans and learn how to tie the wood gate into your existing chain link fence. Chain link fences: can’t live with them or without them! Our backyard’s chain-link fence (installed decades ago by a previous owner), has been on my “to update list” since the day we bought our place. It’s not my favorite, but the thing about fences is they’re a big financial investment. And since ours is still very functional in keeping our kids and cat corralled, we’ve opted to flex our creativity muscle and make the most of what we’ve got. Instead of a full fence replacement, we’ve planted climbers and other greenery to disguise most of the fence around the yard and teamed up with Handy Products to build a beautiful stained cedar garden gate (that smells incredible!) to upgrade the current chain-link situation. In this post you’ll find the DIY garden gate tutorial with downloadable pdf plans, as well as instructions for removing an existing chain-link fence and installing your new wood one. There’s so much goodness packed into this post–let’s get to work! Get your Garden Gate Plans HERE! Materials: […]

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How to Restore a Radiator Cover

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 14:19:07 +0000

Expert DIY tips for how to restore a radiator cover! Plus, what to do if you suspect lead paint and how exactly to achieve that near flawless paint finish! Hot water radiators are one of my favorite features in older homes. Sure, they take up extra square footage and require minor annual maintenance (bleeding air bubbles, etc.), but there’s no denying their antique charm! In most areas of our 1930’s Tudor, our radiators live uncovered in all their exposed pre-war beauty. However, in other areas we use them as an opportunity to bring added function to the space, such as with a radiator cover that doubles as a console table in the foyer. In an effort to carve out some soft seating in our bedroom (which in true old home form is too small for a chair), I snagged an old radiator cover on Facebook Marketplace that happens to be the same dimensions as our bedroom radiator—the luck! I’ve refinished it with Rust-Oleum Universal Spray Paint and topped it with a bench cushion for a cozy window seat situation. Considerations When Restoring an Old Radiator Cover Since the radiator cover was likely made before 1978, we tested for lead paint […]

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How to Install Wallpaper + Playroom Kick-Off

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:44:57 +0000

Playroom Progress! Learn how to install wallpaper the easy way by pasting the wall, not the paper. Plus take away ideas for customizing ‘big box’ furniture! I’ve been working feverishly behind the scenes on the play room, and I’m excited to share where we’re at so far! You may remember we freshened the upstairs with paint last year when our tenant moved out, and now we’re adding functionality (& fun!) to the den, a small space just off our family room, turning it into a play space for the kids. This is a robust blog post packed with details on the playroom design direction, as well as a full tutorial on how to install unpasted wallpaper. Towards the bottom of the post, you’ll find ideas for modifying inexpensive furniture for a custom look. Here’s a look at the playroom’s design direction. Last summer I stenciled a harlequin rug for this room, and it’s definitely sticking around. We’re also adding a subtle stripe wallcovering to the window wall. Since this is a small space where we have a large bold pattern on the floor and lots of colorful toys on their way, we’re keeping the wallpaper accent wall (eye level pattern) […]

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How to Create a Library Wall

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 03:28:09 +0000

Add the illusion of built-in bookshelves with floor to ceiling floating shelves! Read on for logistics for creating your own library wall … My goal for this corner of the family room was to create the illusion of a built-in bookshelf–a place to store books and display collected pieces, but without having to actually foot the bill and/or build an actual custom bookcase. Scroll down a few images to see this room right after our tenant moved out. Rather than doing a freestanding bookcase in this bare corner, I went for floating shelves that are painted the same color as the wall and ceiling to further the built-in feel. The Inspiration Above, this family room’s built-in bookcase with leaning ladder, designed by Cait Sourpas, was my inspiration. The Details I wanted the shelves to span as much of this wall as possible, in order to ground the shelves, and create more of an architectural addition. Short of ordering or building custom shelves, 60″ long white floating shelves were impossible to find, so we ended up purchasing these floating shelves from Home Depot and painting them white. We spray painted them, but you could make an argument for roller painting them […]

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Stenciled Harlequin Rug DIY

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 03:02:41 +0000

A step-by-step guide to stenciling cotton rugs. Here’s how I made a harlequin pattern rug using only materials I already had on hand. Last month, my friend, Annie of @zevyjoy challenged me to make a project using only materials I already had around the house as part of her #zevyjoydiyworkwithwhatyouvegot series on Instagram. I’d pinned a few painted rugs over the years and decided this would be a great opportunity to pull my old cotton flat woven rug out of the basement and paint the backside a harlequin pattern inspired by this harlequin Rug and this checkered rug for the new playroom space upstairs. Check out the step-by-step guide below for stenciling the rug, and don’t forget to watch the Instagram Reel too. It’s always fun to watch the project in action! Materials: Flat Woven Cotton Rug Latex Paint Stencil Paint Brush High Quality Painters Tape Foam Core for Stencil (Optional) How To: Because the rug had been hanging out in the basement for over a year, I machine-washed it on delicate cycle. Then I air-dried it, and ironed to smooth wrinkles. Decide on your pattern. If it’s a simple pattern like diamonds, it might be helpful to cut a […]

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Top 5 Ways to Paint More Efficiently

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 11:00:45 +0000

Ready to paint your space? Get our tried & true advice on how to paint more efficiently–everything from room prep to our thoughts on ‘cutting-in’. This post is created in partnership with Handy Products. Thank you for supporting brands I truly love and personally use. We are off and running painting the upstairs apartment! If you’re just tuning in, our house is a duplex, and for the last 5 years, we’ve been renting it out (best decision we ever made as 1st time home buyers!) But with both Ken and I working from home, and baby #2 arriving in less than two months, we’re at the point where we need more space. Thus, we aren’t renting it out any longer and instead living in our entire home. There’s nothing like the preeminent arrival of a baby to spark Tasmanian Devil-style motivation for wrapping up ALL projects and honey-dew lists ever discussed. Ever. Am I right?! The nesting bug is REAL, guys. With lots to do and not a lot of time in which to do it, Ken and I pulled together this quick, but thorough list of how we could paint our upstairs as efficiently as possible. These tips, which […]

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