Here we are! Half-way home on the big Dirr Dining Room Extravaganza.
I’m still pretty much on schedule to complete the room within the One Room Challenge projected timeline, but this week has less to show for it via pictures and text. It was a week of sewing, final decision making and sourcing.
I spent some time on-line considering options and ordering some of the things from my mood board, including very affordable custom, made-to-order fabric from Spoonflower. It’s being delivered today, and I’m excited to see it.
Spoonflower is a printing company that has thousands and thousands of designs from independent artists that you’re able to print on fabrics, wallpaper, wall hangings and home dec items. There are all kinds of options, like printing on gauze for baby swaddlers, or polar fleece for a fun tv blanket, or on Belgian linen for high end decor finishes. Fabric prices start at $19 yard up to $69 (Belgian Linen) but most are at the lower to mid-range. You can also upload and print your own designs.
I’ve actually used Spoonflower to custom print my own designs for baby gifts, I’ve designed fabrics using graphics of the child’s name, monogram etc, had them printed on baby fabrics, and sewed receiving blankets, swaddlers, commemorative blankets, and matching bows, hats and hairbands. They make super fun gifts to give.
And while it would’ve been cool to design my own fabric for the dining room, I preferred to actually get the project done in my lifetime and therefore started surveying what was available. I’ve long been a fan of the playful but traditional fabrics by artist and designer Danika Herrick, so I started on her page…and was thrilled to see that she was willing to recolor and customize her fabrics for the purchaser (aka, ME). I zipped off an email and after a couple of back and forths, was able to order fun and colorful customized fabric in a performance linen for our dining room chairs.
You’ve seen a sneak peek on my mood board, but here’s a little larger version of the fabric:
With that done, I also made my decision on wall sconces and chose the lucite/gold ones because I liked the thought of the acrylic coordinating with my curtain rods.
I”m duplicating the simple lucite rods that I used in our living room, and the woven Roman Shades as well, both to fake the window height and for continuity with the room across the Foy-YAY. I may change out the brackets because these seem a little flimsy.
We’ve been looking at fixtures to replace our current “funeral parlor” chandelier, so I am considering options for that. One option included a crazy thought I had way back in Week 1, but it seemed too out of reach at the time. It would be SUPER cool if it works out!
As for the curtains, well, I’m a little behind (and that is the only place where the words “I” and “little behind” are used in the same sentence, haha). I had ordered all the fabric supplies some time ago and discovered that the interlining they sent was not cut as continuous yardage. Ugh, the way it was cut gave me two usable lengths; SO DUMB! Plus, the company that makes the interlining went out of business and their white version no longer exists in the marketplace. Awaiting the replacement delivery so I can finish the drapes.
If you saw my latest Instagram Reel (please check it out here) I can satisfy your intense curiosity to the burning question:“Did Em succumb and break out the sewing machine?”.
And then it’s on to the mural. This week included some rabbit hole sessions of studying Chinoiserie murals, (many of which were saved on my Pinterest board for this project. The mural is the leap of faith portion of the project.
And let’s be clear: I didn’t just stay at a Holiday Inn last night then woke up a Chinoiserie muralist. So, let’s hope this isn’t the all-too-often “over my skis” project. As per usual, fingers crossed!
Now that the world is up to date, I can either keep bloviating about my progress or go make some (progress, that is)! Chop chop, little onion!
You can customize the fabric?? How cool is that?? And of course, you would know about this. I, on the other hand, would only think to go to Joanne Fabrics and think I was so limited.
This is why you are such a wealth of knowledge.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Actually, I think Joann was trying to offer something similar, where you could customize their fabrics. I tried it but their software was not very user friendly…or at least Em friendly. Couldn’t figure it out. I think Spoonflower is pretty easy to make custom products. Thinking that you could print your own silk scarf material and designs for gifts. Pretty cool!
You can also print your own wallpaper! I may have to try that sometime for fun.
Oh, I love that fabric! I wanted to get some peel and stick wallpaper…Nigel would have gone into spasms if he’d seen the bill! Since I’ve been known to change wallpaper almost as quickly as the proverbial undergarments, I’m still thinking! I am on pins and needles over your mural! I am completely positive you’ll knock it out of the park! While you paint walls, I paint little Dollar store pumpkins in a certain kinda pattern we both love! Good on you for sticking to the schedule. That’s where I usually go off the rails!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Interesting…. I’ve never looked into their wallpaper. I had sworn off wallpaper when we moved here, but peel and stick hadn’t been a thing back then.
I’ve actually been putting some peel and stick in my daughter’s apartment this week. She said it was pricey so she is just doing a feature wall. With old school paper, you could get a lot of square footage out of it, but this new stuff is quite precious…and when you get to those repeats there’s so much waste. Nigel isn’t the only one who would go into sticker shock. I would spasm right along with him!
BTW, I’m on pins and needles about the mural, too, haha. I am often overconfident in my abilities…
I think the schedule is the SINGULAR reason I am not off the rails yet. It’s because it’s set by someone else and there’s no waiting for me to overthink or make my usual excuses (as I might have this week).
Thanks for the good word!