home decor – Francois et Moi

Primary Bath Design Plan (at the Treehouse!)

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 17:48:48 +0000

Introducing the Treehouse Primary Bath design project! You’ve got to see these epic before photos and the design direction we are headed in for this space! Project Introduction We are back at it today, and getting started on the Treehouse primary bath design! If you’re just tuning in, the Treehouse is my parents’ home on a lake in Minnesota. We call it the Treehouse because It’s got three big decks that overlook the lake and woods and you really feel like you’re up in the trees when you’re inside. Also, as a point of reference, do you remember the Treehouse primary bedroom that we completed 2 years ago? Well, the primary bath is right off of this bedroom. A Look at the Primary Bath ‘BEFORE’ So here’s a look at the Treehouse primary bathroom as it was built in 2002. Aside from the obvious material choices circa early 2000’s, the jets on the tub no longer work and the shower door has had some somewhat major leaking issues causing the vinyl tile to peel up and also cause some water damage to the subfloor. We’re looking forward to transforming this space into a more functional space for my parents and […]

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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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DIY Fabric Flag

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:00:32 +0000

Though I’m not exactly a boho style girl through and through, I am inspired by certain elements, like the easy, laid back, seemingly effortless style that is quintessential “bohemian.” Lately on Pinterest, I’ve been noticing walls draped in fabric and decided to put my own spin on the trend in the form of a fabric flag, which introduces the drapey fabric idea, but in a more creative, quirky, and perhaps a bit Frenchier way, as opposed to straight up boho. In case you’re looking to give your walls an update for Spring, my tutorial on how to make this baby is up over at Sugar & Cloth! Into this project?! Please share the love! Update Your Walls for Spring with a DIY Fabric FlagClick To Tweet Follow

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Lace Applique Pillow

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 14:00:47 +0000

This last minute little pillow project came about as I sat down in the rocker one night taking in the progress we’d made in the nursery and while sitting there I noticed we needed a lumbar pillow for a little extra support in the lower back. The next day I started ideating what the pillow might look like and I remembered that right about the time we found out we were expecting, I had stumbled upon this beautiful baby swimsuit from Ox Eyed Baiby on Pinterest and fell in love with the yellow and white contrast, the lace, the handmade feel…all of it. I remembered being bummed at the time because the swimsuit was one of a kind, and no longer available. But now! 8 months later, it was the perfect inspiration for my lumbar pillow. It’s funny how inspiration works sometimes, isn’t it? The technique for the pillow applique is really quite simple. It’s just a matter of cutting apart the lace, arranging the design on the pillow, and tacking it in place with needle and thread. The most difficult part is probably deciding how to place and space apart the lace! Read on for the full tutorial… Materials: […]

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The Best Nordic Wallpapers

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:00:44 +0000

Amidst our nursery redesign, I spent an embarrassing amount of time looking for Nordic wallpapers. I knew we wanted to take the nursery in a Scandinavian direction, and wallpaper is just such an easy way to introduce it. As you probably have seen, we chose Nethercote from Hygge & West for our nursery. Though the design is “technically” English-inspired, it still feels very Nordic, and it’s honestly the PERFECT paper for Sylvia’s room. If you’re also looking to add a little Nordic accent to your home, hopefully I can save you some precious Pinterest surfing time by rounding up the papers I fell in love along the way… a. Trellis Leaves b. Dellen c. Trapez d. Borosan e. Strike f. Stjärntrellis g. Hoppmosse h. Grazia i. Pergola j. Forest Fauna k. Hyacinth l. Block Print Tulip m. Nethercote n. Black & White Town o. Nordic Houses Think this post is worth a read? Please share! The Best Nordic WallpapersClick To Tweet Follow

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Francois Renovates: Nursery Get the Look

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 19:52:55 +0000

As promised, today I’ve got all the sources used to create the nursery look compiled in one place! You may notice we stayed pretty true to the original concept board with the exception of the crib, accessories and some of the art. The yellow applique pillow, mobile, knot pillow and doorknob banner are DIY’s that will be coming at ya (some) as video tutorials in the month of February, so stay tuned! If you missed the full reveal and video tour, head here to check it out. a, Wallpaper | b. Board & Batten | c. Bicycle Print | d. Cocoon Light Fixture | e. Crib | f. Handmade Ballerina Rag Doll (made by Seams Sew Cool) | g. Glider | h. Rug | i. Dresser | j. Pillow (similar)| k. Bookshelf | l. Rope Baskets | m. Throw | n. Sheepskin Mudcloth Planter | Lattice House Shelf | Marble Lamp | People Book | White Fur Booties | Sophie The Giraffe| Geo Art Francois Renovates: Nursery Get the LookClick To Tweet Follow

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Francois Renovates: The Nursery Before & After! (Video)

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 22:20:33 +0000

Today is the big day! We’ve been working hard to renovate the nursery and after several weeks I’m excited and relieved to say it’s done. And just in the nick of time might I add: our due date is less than 2 weeks away! At the beginning of this process, I had no idea what I wanted this space to look like, only that I wanted it to feel Nordic, fun and playful, a space that might spark imagination and foster creativity. When we found out we were having a girl, I have to admit my mind immediately went towards the color pink: girly pink with white and neutrals. But the more visual research I did on Pinterest, the more I came to the realization that Ken and I don’t even really like the color pink. And we all know the baby doesn’t have a preference what her room looks like yet, so why not create a space that we’ll enjoy spending long hours rocking our little one to sleep in. Let’s kick things off with what this room looked like BEFORE, shall we? For the full renovation diary check out these Francois Renovates posts: The Before || The Concept […]

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Francois Renovates: Nursery Sneak Peek

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 14:00:53 +0000

It’s been 6 weeks of renovation and the nursery is nearly finished! Today I’ve got a little peek of the room for you and want to talk specifically about the art we chose because it’s one of my favorite things in the room and honestly probably the easiest things to execute. Once the old ice damage was fixed, the board & batten and wallcovering were up, it was time to think about art, and we worked with Framebridge to make it happen. Framing is their specialty, which means they have it down to a science, from the ordering process, to the personal note tucked in with each framed piece, to including the hardware needed to hang your specific piece. It’s obvious there’s a lot of thought and love that goes into their craft. We wanted the wall decor to feel playful + spark imagination and creativity so we went with a downloadable print from Merillee Liddard’s illustration shop, Tuesday Mourning for the large piece above the crib. Ken and I both love to bike ride, so the bicycle built for three was just all too perfect. Not to mention, the ample white space was great for breaking up the […]

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Francois Renovates: Wrath of the Nursery Ice Dams

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:33:21 +0000

Good Afternoon! I’m back with an update on what’s been happening in the nursery. As you know, we suspected some water damage on the west wall due to decades of ice dams, and as we pulled back the lath and plaster, we found some extremely rotted, uninsulated 2×4’s that needed replacing. However, no moisture or signs of mold as there was also a little hole in the exterior plaster that we’re assuming allowed everything to dry over the years. The plan was to replace the wall’s 2×4’s, insulate and dry wall, but before we could get started, we had to address the drooping ceiling crest. You see, since the wall joists had rotted, the ceiling joists, though still in great, non water-damaged condition began to droop slightly in this area. In an effort to jack the ceiling back up, Ken built a fake “dummy” wall about 12″ from the exterior wall, and then, one by one, replaced each of the vertical 2×4’s (on the dummy wall) with slightly longer pieces by pounding them into place, and thereby lifting the ceiling. He did a couple rounds of this in order to get the ceiling as high as he could. We had […]

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Francois Renovates: Nursery Concept Board

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 21:48:46 +0000

Okay guys, you’ve seen the before photos, and now you’re probably wondering what the heck we have planned for this space! Here’s a breakdown of the scope of the project: Address bowing ceiling and ice damage by replacing rotted studs, insulating, and re-drywalling Add bead board substrate to ceiling Create white board and batten paneling around the lower 1/2 of the wall Un-bury original hardwood floors to address water damage // decide if we should refinish them or leave the existing carpet as is. Wallpaper upper half of the wall with playful Scandinavian inspired paper. Update ceiling light fixture. Furnish the room with classic pieces that hopefully can continue to work for us as our family grows You may be looking at the material selections for the room and thinking ‘I thought they said they were having a girl. Where’s the pink?!’ And you did hear right; we are indeed having a girl, but since neither Ken nor I are particularly keen on the color pink, we chose colors and materials that we’re drawn to, while making an effort to bring in girly accents in ways other than with pink. Of course every design starts with lots of visual research, […]

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DIY Leather Wrapped Wall Vase

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 14:19:46 +0000

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for wall vases. Exhibit A. Exhibit B. I just really freaking love bringing the organic lines of flowers and branches onto the wall, and I keep finding new ways of creating them. So I thought I’d share the latest which includes permanently attaching a picture hanger to the back of a flat-sided vase using a mouldable glue that turns to plastic as it hardens–I mean what will they think of next?! I also used a faux leather wrap to the conceal a chunk of flower foam at the bottom of the vase which helps keep branches somewhat in place. Take your bouquet from the table to the wall with this space-saving hack, and check out more on the vase in our murphy bed guest room reveal! Materials: Small vase with at least one flat side Sugru Mouldable Glue Picture hanger Small piece of leather or faux leather Industrial adhesive Floral foam 1. Roll two mini pea-sized Sugru balls in your hands, place them on either end of your picture hanger and center the hanger on the top back of the flat vase. Flatten the Sugru balls adhering the hanger to the vase and […]

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