The Wallpapered Closet

We needed a wardrobe for more storage but I could find nothing below 100 Euro so I decided to start with a cheap Ikea wardrobe and wallpaper it. Unfortunately, I did not fully record this project with pictures but you should get the gist!
 ***Before:

Materials:
- Dombas Wardrobe from Ikea (on sale for 50 Euro)
- 1 roll of wallpaper (I got my black and white polka dot version for 21 Euro), the standard roll is approximately 15 feet by 27 inches.
- Wallpaper paste
- Rollers
- Paper smoother (optional)

Step 1: Unroll your wallpaper and cut the correct sized strips for your wardrobe. If you are using a pattern with a repeat cut in the same place on the repeat so patterns on adjacent sheets will line up.

Step 2: Lay a cut sheet on a flat surface. Using a paint roller, apply a thin film of clear premixed wallpaper paste on the back of the paper. Make sure to apply to all edges.

Step 3: Fold the pasted back of the paper onto itself, top and bottom ends meeting in the middle. Make sure the side edges line up perfectly. Let it sit according to the directions on your roll. (I forgot to take pictures so I pasted one from a DIY wallpaper online, feel free to click the link above for more details)

                              http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-apply-wallpaper/index.html

Step 4: Paste the first sheet onto one of the doors and smooth out using a special wallpaper smoother or a clean roller, anything to make sure there are no bubbles on the surface. Repeat this step for all your surfaces and wait for everything to dry.
*Cut all the needed small strips for the details. I got lazy and just painted the bottom trim black.

Step 5: After the doors all dry attach them to the body of the wardrobe, attach any doorknobs you want and voila!

Upholstering/Painting Stools

I need some tools to use as kitchen chairs as well as extra seating when we have guests. My little project took less than two hours!

Materials:
- 2 Ikea Oddvar stools (8 euro each)
- Fabric (I used extra pillows that came with our sofa)
- Pillow stuffing
- Stapler
- White spray paint

Step 1: Assemble the body of the stool, without attaching the top.

Step 2: Spray paint your stools and wait for them to dry. If you are using another type of stool make sure to sand it first so your new paint sticks.

Step 3: Place the pillow on the ground, cover it with your fabric and begin pulling and stapling to the stool top. Continue until you are all the way around.

Step 4: Attach the top of stool to your base using the screws that came with the kit from Ikea or your own nails/screws and voila!

DIY Black and White Dining Table

 
One of my first projects for this space was the dining room table. I couldn't find one that was both affordable and large enough so I decided to order a big natural wood table from the French version of Target, www.laredoute.fr and paint it.

I always wanted a black and white theme so I decide to go with a black and white stripped theme which I find both modern and classic.

This was a surprisingly easy project it just took a little planing and measuring.

Materials:
- wood table
- paint (black & white), can even be spray paint
- paintbrush
- masking tape
- tape measure or ruler
- paint sealer (this is important! I forgot this the first time around, the table was sticky and paint kept coming off. So make sure you get a sealer)

Step 1. If you are not using natural untreated wood like I was, sand your surface and try to get as much of the old paint off as you can.

Step 2. Prepare your stripped pattern on the top of the table using masking tape. Measure out stripes of about 6 inches and cover the entire width with the tape. By covering as much of the stripe with tape you are enduring that you do not get any of the other color when you are painting the nearby stripe.

Step 3. Paint all your stripes either white or black. It might be easier to start with the white so you can cover mistakes easier with the black after. Let the painted stripes dry for at least an hour (i let it dry about a day and a half). Do not remove the tape until you are sure everything is dry. When you do remove the tape do it carefully so you don't rip any of the paint off.

Step 4. Cover the edges of the already painted stripes with a layer of masking tape.

Step 5. Paint the other color stripes on the top of the table and the legs and edges of your table. Wait for everything to dry at least a day or two.

Step 6. Apply a thin layer of sealer (clear polyurethane) with a roller brush for smooth finish. After it dries apply a second coat and voila!

        

****Warning: When sealing white paint, use a water-based sealer because an oil-based one can turn the paint yellow. When applying sealer on a vertical surface, do not have too much polyurethane on the brush. If there is too much, it might cause running streaks on the furniture. If you have a small piece of furniture, such as a plant stand or side table, an aerosol spray sealer will be your easiest option. Aerosol sealers are available in matte and gloss finishes. They work well on ornate furniture to fit in the grooves and detailed areas.

The Skeletal Parisian Apartment

Renting a Parisian apartment is a brand new experience. It comes with nothing! You do not get any appliances, cupboards or any other built in storage. Unless you are coming from another apartment, which we are not, you have to start from zero. Considering the fact that in this city an apple can cost you .80 cents, the budget for getting this place looking like a home is be quite tight. 

This is what I am working with:

Living Room (right side)

Living Room (left side)

Bedroom (non-working fireplace)

Welcome to my life...Nice to meet you!

Paris is not a cheap city to live in, much less decorate in. Having married a French man, and rented a French apartment I will now attempt to DIY project my life until it resembles something akin to la vie en rose......or at least as good as through a nice pair of rose colored glasses.