The Yellow Cape Cod: August 2011

Tutorial: How to Get a Custom Front Door (And a New Window) for $100

(After)

Anyone who knows my family knows where they can find us after 6:00pm. Right here, on our front porch. Every night. All year long.

One day I got to thinking... If I switched out the front door for a full glass door, we could enjoy the porch from inside as well. Sounds easy, right?

Just order a new door, remove the old one and plop it in.

After the door guy at the "Home Improvement Store" composed himself he explained to me that I would need to hire a professional installer to remove our decorative molding and re-build the entire door jam to accommodate a new door.

He also mentioned full glass pane doors like the one I had in mind cost $1000 and up

(10x my budget for this project).

Here is my $100 solution:

(Before)

(After)

Instead of replacing the door, I had a glass insert installed in the existing steel slab door.

For $100.

(Before)

(After)

(Before)

(After)

No professional installation required.

First, I removed the door by unscrewing the hinges. Then I covered the opening with a tarp while I ran the door up to my local door and window supplier (where I pre-ordered the glass insert).

I brought a can of Krylon black spray paint with me. I asked the window company to spray paint the inside of the grid before applying it to the glass. I knew I would be painting it black and did not want the white back side of the grid to show from the opposite side:

After I screwed the door back in place, I gave it a coat of primer. Then, a coat of black exterior semi gloss paint.

Now, we can enjoy this:

from inside...

Not only did we acquire a great new view but the natural light we get from the new window is fantastic.

According to Murphie, this was the best home improvement project ever.

For information on my affordable online design consultation service, please Click Here.

Thanks for visiting.

Linked up to:
Stories From A to Z
Just A Girl
Abode Love
Under The Table And Dreaming

Enchanted Makeovers

A few months ago, I was introduced to Enchanted Makeovers through a friend. That night, when I went home and pulled up the website, I was totally unprepared for the emotional journey ahead of me. This incredible organization was founded by Terry Grahl, a talented designer who closed her decorating business to devote all her time and energy to making over shelters for abused and neglected children and women across the country.

While checking out the website, two "before and after" videos in particular affected me. I would like to share them with you. Although this is a national organization, the shelters in the following videos are in the Detroit area.

(Grab a box of tissue).

This one is a shelter for abused and neglected girls:

This project was a shelter for abused women...

I will be participating in an Enchanted Makeovers project this fall in the Detroit area. The project is an 18 room makeover and the creation of a sewing room for a Detroit shelter, Alternatives for Girls.

Here is a video on "Alternatives for Girls":

If you live in the Detroit area, they are in need of volunteers to paint rooms and furniture. If you do not live in the area or you would like to help in another way, here is a list of items needed for the project:

~20 brand new pillow protectors

~5 sets of brand new white twin sized sheets

~30 brand new twin sized mattress pads

If you would like to donate any of these items or participate in the painting, please contact me at theyellowcapecod@yahoo.com for details.

You can also make a general monetary donation to the organization via the Enchanted Makeovers website.

Thank you in advance,

Sarah

Video Tutorial: How to achieve the Potterybarn Black Finish

Before sharing today's exciting DIY project, I wanted to announce that my E-Book "DIY Interior Design For Real People" is currently available in a gigantic bundle of 76+ DIY related E-books ($34.95 for the complete bundle) for the next five days only. Please click here for details.

Have you ever longed to achieve the perfect black paint finish? Like the worn black finish on Potterybarn/Ballard Design Furniture?

Well, I have. After years of trying different techniques, I finally got it down. Just in case anyone else has the same longing, I put together a quick video tutorial.

This video demostrates my technique for turning thrifted furniture pieces into Potterybarn quality furnishings with the perfect worn black finish.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW
MY STEP BY STEP VIDEO TUTORIAL

The furniture piece used in this tutorial was not a thrifted item. It was actually a client project that was in pristine condition (it definitely did not stink :) )

It still however, represents the basic painting technique.

Do you have any secrets for getting the perfect black?

For information on my affordable Online Design Consultation Services please Click Here.

Linked up to:

Coastal Charm

Not Just A Housewife

The Stories of A to Z

Miss Mustard Seed

Under The Table And Dreaming

Redoux

The Yellow Cape Cod @ No Minimalist Here

Hi everyone! Just wanted to share a link to a great open house party today hosted by Sherry @ No Minimalist Here. Please stop by and check it out. Sherry is featuring The Yellow Cape Cod today as her open house feature in a flattering post with a tour of my home.

Please stop by and link up your latest project.

Thank you, Sherry! Great party!

Recipe For The Perfect Bed

A special client fell in love with this gray and white bedding at a local boutique. There were two different sets. One gray cotton/linen duvet set and a white cotton ruched coverlet set. When both bedding sets were combined with carefully chosen inserts this little piece of heaven came to Earth...

Here are the ingredients:

1. 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, 500 thread count.
(The cool organic feel of these sheets is totally worth the investment. And the wrinkles).

2. 2 Base pillows for sleeping with firm feather-down blend inserts cased in the sheet set shams. Feather-down blend inserts hold their karate chopped shape the best. They are also insanely comfortable.

3. Three Large Euro shams filled with feather-down blend Euro pillow inserts. Two in Gray (matching the duvet cover) and one in white with an adorable ruffled box edge.

4. One white cotton ruched coverlet

5. One gorgeous cotton/linen gray duvet cover.

6. One king sized feather/down high loft maximum fill duvet insert.

7. Two standard sized white ruched pillow shams with feather/down extra firm inserts and one gray decorative toss pillow.

8. Two white decorative ruched toss pillows.

And there you have it...

Heaven.

On.

Earth.

For information on my affordable online design services, please click here.

My home featured in Romantic Homes Magazine

I am over the moon excited to have my home featured in the Fall 2011 publication of Romantic Homes~Bedrooms and Baths magazine. I'm completely humbled to be featured in 5 different articles! The magazine is available on news stands until 10/18/2011.

Here is a peek: