Let’s talk clear today. Whether acrylic, lucite or polycarbonate, clear “plastic” furniture and accessories can be just what the designer ordered.
The benefit of being colorless is that it goes with everything. It also opens up a space since it’s transparent so light moves right on through. Something about it just adds that touch of glamour and sophistication and most pieces tend to adapt to their surroundings much like a chameleon, which helps it fit into a wide range of styles from traditional to contemporary.
(Pintrest)
While glass is also clear, it’s not always ideal for every application due to it’s weight and breakable factor. Plastic materials like the ones listed above are not only visually weightless, but are actually light weight and surprisingly durable too.
(There’s lots of reasons to use this material, but sometimes the only reason you need is that it’s ridiculously FUN!
Here’s my line-up of “clearly” fabulous pieces:
(Small Lucite Tray by Dabney Lee At Home – You can customize the bottoms of these trays from a bazillion different pattern/font/color options!)
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(Peekaboo Nesting Tables by CB2)
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(Canali Crystal Clear Chairs by Overstock – I actually have a couple of these babies in my dining room, and absolutely adore them!)
(Lencon Lucite Desk by The Paris Apartment)
(Adair Acrylic Coffee Table by Overstock)
(King George Bench by Plexi-Craft)
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(Baroque Clear Acrylic Table Lamp by Euro Style Lighting)
The price point for pieces made of these materials can range from the hundreds to the thousands. The good news is if you’re looking for an inexpensive pop of clear you can usually find it at places like CB2. If you’re looking to shell out a couple grand for a custom statement piece, there are places like Plexi-Craft who can create pretty much anything under the sun!
Keep it real. Happy Wednesday!
-K
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The next thing after thoroughly documenting the space on camera is to document it on paper through measurements and more notes. Mine are always VERY rough sketches and scribbles, but it’s the numbers that count. When I get home and get all of the numbers and scribbles into AutoCAD (drafting software)….
Switching gears from the technical side of the process to the creative!
Thus began my inspiration for the direction I wanted to take the room. One by one I started thinking of items that would work wonderfully with these fabrics, evoking the feeling I envisioned. Then I’d add the items to my inspiration board.
An inspiration board is the first method I use when developing a design scheme. It contains anything from general ideas to specific selections. The helpful part of this is getting everything on the same page – literally – so you can get an idea of how it all works or doesn’t work together. It can include everything from specific ideas (the custom shower curtain I designed) to general ideas (a geometric rug).
Another method I use besides inspiration boards to give me rough idea of what things could look like together is creating a mock-up in photoshop over an image of the actual space. It helps to see things in context of the room.
*enter room* It’s very… coral? I love coral! Why don’t I love it in here? Ah – it’s a tall skinny room with inadequate lighting. The coral is closing in around me and I don’t like it in this application. Glass shower… that’s nice. I wish it were frameless. The frame lines make for so many right angles. I think I want to hide it. Something soft. Note: I feel uneasy. Change wall color. Something calm. Add soft billowing curtain to cover shower.
Speaking of inadequate lighting, what kind of lights are even in here? *look up* 1…2…3 can lights. One over shower, two off centered over vanity. Two windows is good natural light. But I want more overhead light. I love light. It helps the space feel bigger. It helps you see. And the right light fixture makes such an artistic statement. Note: Add fun lighting. Something on wall over vanity, something in the center of the ceiling.
*look down* Hm, nice travertine floor. It looks cold though. Maybe it is cold, from the air vent. Don’t love air vent placement. Don’t love tiny fluffy crooked rug. But I want something soft. How would two bath mats work in here? They’d fit, but I don’t love where how they would fit. I want to unify the space. I want one rug. I want a runner! Note: Look for skinny runners (not the marathon type, the decorative type.) Ask if it’s a problem to cover air vent temporarily for “show.” If that’s a no-go, can I cut out a hole in the rug for the vent? Hmmm…
*look back* More coral. Yep, definitely need a new color. Hey, those electrical outlets and switches stick out like a sore thumb. I want to hide them. And hey, are there no towel bars in here? How will I dry my hands? Note: tall floral arrangement in corner to distract from switching/outlets and towel ring next to them to dry hands on way out the door.
*look to right* I like the vanity color, and the cute little feet. What’s bothering me? Ah – the countertop. It’s cultured marble with a poured sink and back-splash. Why does it look like plastic to me? I would love to upgrade that. That would be expensive. Hey, there’s satin nickel hardware everywhere. Shinier would look nicer here. Note: Go over budget and look at upgrading counter-top. Something white. Marble? Quartz? Change out all satin nickel hardware for chrome.
*look closer at vanity* While I’m thinking of upgrades… how COOL would a glass vessel sink with a waterfall faucet look in here?! I mean this is alright… it works. But something sleek and spa-esque would really help accomplish the feel I’m going for. Note: Pinch pennies to get new countertop… so that I can get a glass sink and faucet. Yep, definitely want to do that.
*look to left* It already has wooden blinds… those can stay, you need privacy in a bath. One again, so many right angles. The window needs to be softened. Drapery? Floor panels are sort of impractical for a bath, but especially one with a shower. Cornice? Valance? Yes. Nothing overwhelming. Just a simple “hat” for the window to soften the corners and bring in pattern/color. Note: Pull images of outside-mount window treatment style options. Think about fabric. Call seamstress for quote.
*walk back to entrace and turn around for another look* Yep. The shower is fine but nothing special. Drapery in front of it would be prettier. The countertop will do, but if I can swing it, and new one and new sink/faucet would be fabulous! The mirror is too square for all of the right angles already happening in here. Maybe round? Definitely want to add a wall sconce over the mirror, or maybe one on either side of it. Hey, a giant piece of art or a grid of several pieces would look swell between the mirror and shower! Okay, yes, good talk with myself. I have something here. This could be great.
This was the event program cover, featuring the Living Room by 
… while was waiting for my bench to dry, I worked on recovering the bench seat.
Step 1: Flip over and start pulling up the old fabric from the corners. Work your way around ripping up the fabric. Use scissors, pliers, or whatever tools needed to destroy any stubborn fabric refusing to surrender.
If there is another fabric layer discovered (like I’ve found on most of the treasures I pick up) simply repeat the stripping process until you uncover the actual “fluff” of the cushion. It should look something like the stripped cushion above.
Step 3: To add a little extra substance to your cushion, unroll a piece of quilting batting, lay the seat cushion and existing fluff face down on the batting, and cut out a piece of batting around with with about a 2 inch margin for wrapping around. Starting with the corners, wrap the batting tight around the edge and staple into place. Trim any excess batting.
Covered with a layer of batting, the seat should look something like this.
Step 4: Roll out your new fabric of choice, face down, over a flat clean surface. Place your batting covered seat cushion face down on the portion of the fabric you want to use. Depending on the pattern, you may want to hold in place and flip over to line up or center the pattern on the seat. (I chose a solid white linen I had extra yardage of from another project.) Cut out your fabric around the seat cushion, with a 3-4 inch margin to give you wiggle room to adjust the pattern placement. Trim off any excess fabric.
Step 5: Similar to step 3, pull tight, wrap the fabric around the edge, and staple in to place. Begin with a corner, follow with the corner diagonally across from it. Then the third corner, then the last corner diagonally across from it. Picture stretching an artist canvas – you want it pretty tight! Then fill in with as many staples as needed along the edges to hold tight and not pucker. It should now look something like the seat cushion above
Step 6: This was a total experiment. I wanted to do an insert border of grosgrain ribbon, without cutting, sewing, etc. I would have normally tried ironing it on with Stitch Witchery, but alas, all I had in my cabinet at the moment was Liquid Stitch. (Which was also a total experiment.) I laid out the ribbon where I wanted it, pulling tight, pinning, and pleating to turn corners as I went. Once it was all laid out, I went back and turned up the edges to squeeze the glue under. I removed the fabric pins after the glue had set but was not completely dry.
Step 7: Once the seat cushion and the bench base had both dried enough to handle, they were finally reunited!
I started with this sad little bench that I picked up for $10 at an estate sale a couple months ago.
It was the perfect little bonus piece I needed to fill an empty space in the kitchen to serve as extra pull-up seating, a surface for the purses that get tossed or a shield for the shoes that get kicked off.
It had potential… just needed a little TLC.
Step 1: Detach the top from the base, in this case by unscrewing the screw in each corner underneath the bench with a flat-head screwdriver.
Step 2: Prep the “splash zone” for painting. I layered plastic trash bags over my patio table.
Step 3a: Assemble the troops. Liquid sander and applicator (rag or paper towels), paint of choice (with corresponding paint tools) and disposable gloves for the splash-inclined like myself.
Step 3b: Station your trusty guard dog is at his post to keep an eye on things and keep you company. This step is not required, but recommended for a more enjoyable painting experience.
Step 5: PAINT! (Prime first if needed. I didn’t in this case as I planned on two coats of thick paint, so the first coat was like my primer.) I used a high-gloss oil base paint from Sherwin Williams (color: SW 6938 Synergy) as it was a color I had on hand and had used elsewhere in the kitchen. Oil base is harder to work with and takes longer to dry… but it sure is pretty. For easier clean-up and faster dry-time, I’d recommend latex paint or even spray paint if they have the color you need.
Step 6: Wait. Follow the dry-time instructions for whichever paint you use. I let the first coat dry overnight, and put a second coat on the next day.