Flip to page 16 to see more of this gorgeous home by
Studio Plumb.
4 EDITOR’S NOTE
What does DIY mean to you?
5 ASK A NESTER
The agents of Nest Realty share their opinions on what makes a good DIY project.
design
8 HOUSE TOUR: Palm Springs Perfection
Famed interior designer Christopher Kennedy serves up chill vibes and cool sophistication at this Las Palmas home.
34 HOUSE TOUR: Fanciful Farmhouse
A patient and thoughtful renovation of a 1920s East Asheville farmhouse by Courtney Hinton of Hearth + Home Interiors.
home
16 THE POWER OF PAINT
Harnessing the transformative, mood-enhancing, invigorating effects of paint.
23 WINDOW COVERINGS
How to increase the beauty, style, and privacy of your home in one fell swoop.
28 THREE SIMPLE LETTERS: DIY
Add sweat equity with your own two hands while building something you can be proud of.
42 FURNITURE REFURBISHING 101
We sit down with a furniture refurbishing afficionado to get her advice on where to begin.
life
6 LOCAL LOVE
Makers, designers, and DIYers who are making homes feel uniquely local and personal.
48 HOME TOOLKIT ESSENTIALS
Build the perfect toolkit for almost any home DIY project.
“If you want something done right, do it yourself.”
~ Charles-Guillaume Étienne, 19th-century French playwright
For anyone who knows me, it will come as no surprise that my very first Junior Girl Scout badge was the “Do It Yourself” badge. Long before DIY became the phenomenon we all know, the Scouts were promoting independence and self-reliance. The silver-dollar-sized badge depicted a bucket and bright green paintbrush applying vivid blue paint. More than three decades later, I’ve painted more walls, murals, and pieces of furniture than I could begin to count. Perhaps it was the Scouts or my amazingly encouraging contractor father, but I’ve always believed in the ability to build something with my own two hands—to realize a desire, figure it out, and get it done.
Through learning how to do things ourselves, we can become better homeowners, better stewards of the land our houses reside upon, and better neighbors. Ultimately, DIY extends beyond our homes and into the realm of self-improvement. The satisfaction, pride, and realized self-reliance of doing something yourself is unmatched. In the same way that we have instant access to mindfulness apps, fitness routines, and parenting advice online, we have countless online tutorials and step-bystep instructions readily available to make our physical homes better as well. It’s there for the taking. And we are here for it. And for you.
In this milestone 20th issue of NEST Magazine, we present you with as much inspiration as we could pack into these pages, including incredible House Tours (pages 8 and 34), ideas for magical room transformations in our Power of Paint article (page 16), and a thorough explanation of Window Coverings (page 23). Figure out where to begin your next DIY project with Furniture Refurbishing 101 (page 42), and let us know how we did assembling the one thing all DIY-ers need: a Home Toolkit (page 48).
We encourage you to ask yourself if there is something in your life or in your home that could be improved upon. If so, define your desire, figure it out, and get it done!
JASMINE LISTOU BIBLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Bazaar Maxima Gator in Custom Green by Holli Zollinger, peel and stick wallpaper, spoonflower.com
ASK A NESTER: How do you DIY?
We asked the agents of Nest Realty to share their insights, experiences, and opinions on what makes a good DIY project, what they recommend doing yourself, and potential pitfalls.
EASY PEASY
What is the easiest DIY project that adds the most resale value to your home? More than 55% of Nesters agree, it’s painting. Improving the front landscaping also racked up 28% of votes; while updating cabinet hardware came in third, at just over 16%.
YOUTUBE, DUH
82% of Nesters say YouTube is their top source for home DIY advice. That’s hard to argue with. Still, 12% enjoy the inspiration and expertise found on home improvement shows.
DOUBLE DOWN
In order to effectively set a budget for a home DIY project, almost 59% of Nesters say to estimate your budget, and then double it. 28% of respondents recommend getting a professional estimate or two before tackling something yourself.
RISKY BUSINESS
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
What’s the best place to shop for DIY supplies? We were pleased to learn that 41% of Nesters still prefer to shop at their local hardware store, followed closely by 39% shopping at the usual big box stores. 20% of respondents shop first at an upcycled material source like Habitat for Humanity ReStore before heading to a big box store.
47% of respondents agree that tiling a shower requires the most expertise (so many things can go wrong!). 43% say building a good deck is also up there, and 10% know the pain of hanging your own doors.
10-FOOT POLE
What’s the one DIY project you would never touch? 67% overwhelmingly agree: stay away from high-volt electrical (anything with 220 volts requires a professional electrician). Another 19% say pest and rodent mitigation is best left to a professional. And 13% prefer to stay off extension ladders and second-story roofs. We agree with all of these.
CALL IN THE PROS
We know when it’s time to call in the professionals, and according to 68% of our respondents, that time is when plumbing or electrical enter the picture. That said, 8% of Nesters still prefer to do it all by themselves, while 7% like to wait until something goes very wrong before calling a professional for help.
MYTH BUSTERS
We know there are plenty of myths and misconceptions when it comes to DIY projects, but we wanted to know, what’s the biggest whopper out there? 57% of respondents agree that “saving time and money” is rarely true when it comes to DIY projects, but it sure does bring a sense of satisfaction.
Publisher Jonathan Kauffmann Editor-In-Chief Jasmine Bible Design Director Paigelee Chancellor
Senior Editor Aaron H. Bible Contributing Staff Taylor Ahn, Megan Chandler, Willy Clair, Gilly Davison, Emily Fenger, Elise Moya-Watkins, Taylor Titus
Contributing Photographers/Videographers Graeme Jenvey, Tom Daly
Cover Photo Tom Daly
Published Twice Annually in Charlottesville, Virginia
THANKS, I MADE THAT!
There’s a certain type of satisfaction that comes from building something with your own two hands. Sure, it might not be perfect, but there’s love, grit, and hopefully some laughter built into that raised garden bed, new flooring in the half bath, or refurbished table in the foyer. You set out on a mission, and you accomplished it. Even better when you sourced some of the materials locally.
Whether it’s to save money, to reuse existing supplies, or to get the exact custom look you want, DIY projects carry with them a badge of honor. There’s nothing sweeter than when someone compliments your latest project and you can say, “Thanks, I made that!”
Palm Springs Perfection
TEXT BY JASMINE BIBLE + PHOTOGRAPHY
DESIGN
Palm Springs, California, has a quintessential style that’s unlike any other city in the U.S.—it’s bright, bold, iconic, and immediately recognizable. When you see a Palm Springs home, you know it. So how does a homeowner enter that atmosphere and embrace the best aspects of the ethos while making the home feel personal and unique, simultaneously avoiding looking like a mid-century modern time capsule? They turn to the best of the best… interior designer, Christopher Kennedy.
Kennedy has been living and working in Palm Springs for more than two decades and has become one of the most sought-after interior designers in southern California. “I believe in humanity. I believe in beauty. I believe that our physical environments have power,” he says with his characteristic positive attitude that has helped him rise to the top. “Creating rooms that inspire people, that elevate them, that help them live in the moment, to have meaningful conversations with their loved ones, to get a good night’s sleep… that is what inspires me… impacting people’s lives for the better.”
When a young couple from Nashville purchased a home in the Las Palmas neighborhood, they knew Kennedy was the right person to distill their design desires into a finished product. Kennedy explains, “I always ask my clients for three key words, short phrases, or adjectives to describe how they want their home to look and feel when we’re all done. We use those three key words to create a brand DNA for the house and every aesthetic decision.”
For these clients, their response was a bit more than three words. They wanted esoteric, ranging from rock and roll to Star Wars, Rainbow Brite and mermaids to Greek philosphers and the Garden of Eden. Kennedy expertly executed a design that hit all of those points and blended it seamlessly into a
mid-century modern shell.
Starting in the foyer, the home begins to tell the family’s story. The couple was on a cross-country motorcycle trip and entered the Palm Springs area through the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park, falling in love with the beauty of the high desert. Kennedy chose the mural wallpaper and the tumbleweed-esque light fixture to serve as an homage to the high desert. “It feels a bit edgy and sets the scene with an unexpected look right when you walk in the door,” shares Kennedy. The jagged edges of the console table further the rugged and relentless beauty of the desert, with life still springing forth from the cacti and succulents. To create a meaningful first impression in your own home, follow Kennedy’s advice: “You always want the entrance of a home to be an amuse-bouche, an appetizer of what’s going to unfold in the rest of the home.”
In the adjacent open-concept living room and dining room, the telltale slanted ceiling with wood paneling and beams in white is iconically midmodern while allowing the vibrant colors and patterns below to sing. On one side of the room, a teal-hued faux-bois wallpaper feels reminiscent of the Emerald Palace in The Wizard of Oz, a correlation the owner made and loved, much to the delight and relief of Kennedy, who had to meet with the clients exclusively online thanks to the pandemic. A pair of mustard wingback chairs pop against the emerald paper and the collection of artwork and vintage glassware behind. In the center of the room, a vintage Italian coffee table rests below the Milano Kinetic chandelier by Jonathan Adler. The curves of the boucle-clad rounded sofa play nicely with the curves of the table and soften the sight lines from the dining room.
“You always want the entrance of a home to be an amuse-bouche, an appetizer of what’s going to unfold in the rest of the home.”
The dining area is another study in scale. The oversized 1960s Danish lamp by Inge-Lise Koefoed is balanced by an oversized hand sculpture. The circular motif on the lamp repeats in the gold console and the draperies beyond. The colorful orbs of the Sputnik chandelier tie in the rust of the velvet chairs and the blues in the table and artwork. This mixing of colors, textures, patterns, and scale takes bravery. Try it for yourself! Visit your favorite local antique store and allow yourself to take a second look at something quirky that catches your eye. Trust your instincts and incorporate unique things you love into your home. To keep things from going overboard, restrained flooring like the large-format porcelain tiles Kennedy used here are perfect. Choose a soft gray or warm taupe with some variance.
Going back to the design brief, Kennedy leaned into the client’s Garden of Eden directive in the primary bedroom. The result is a captivating retreat layered with supple textures. On the largest wall, Kennedy applied the large-format botanical wallpaper not only to the wall but to the two doors on either side of the bed, camouflaging them almost completely. On the remaining walls, he used a seamless green linen by Phillip Jeffries. “When you install grasscloth, you will always have a paneled effect where you see the seams, and in this room we wanted it to be completely seamless,” says Kennedy.
In front of the palm fronds sits the brass and acrylic bed by designer Thom Felicia (from the original Queer Eye). Kennedy chose a deep jungle green for the upholstery on the headboard and side rails. Murano glass sconces, hung above the contemporary brass nightstands, illuminate the room at night.
For light control and sound absorption, dramatic draperies run floor to ceiling, wall to wall. “But these aren’t your grandmother’s pinch pleat draperies,” laughs Kennedy. “We do them in a modern fabric on a really nice contemporary track.”
If you’re ready for an iconic look in your own home, start with the architecture. What were the design trends the year your home was built? Search through reference materials like interior design history books and architectural websites for inspiration. If you live in a Victorian, maybe wallpaper is beckoning you. For a more minimalist aesthetic, lean into the ornate detailing and textures of the 1900s, but keep a strictly neutral color palette. For a split-level ranch, what elements of this 1970s style resonate with you? Find bits and pieces authentic to the history of your home and incorporate modern versions of those elements. And if you want this Palm Springs vibe regardless of where you live…read on to get the look. N
GET THE LOOK
Go for the Gold
This architectural Milano Kinetic chandelier by Jonathan Adler is quintessential Palm Springs. The polished brass finish twinkles, enhanced by the gold dipped bulbs. Jonathan Adler Milano Kinetic Chandelier, $1,925, luxedecor.com
Very Velvet
For the perfect dose of pattern, we adore this IKAT pillow, handmade of silk and velvet. The rounded circular shapes have a distinct mid-century modern aesthetic. Handmade IKAT Silk and Velvet Pillowcase, $90, m-dhome.com
Fit for a Queen
Yoruba chairs were traditionally created for the Yoruba tribe kings and queens and embellished with thousands of glass beads. This oneof-a-kind Yoruba chair, handmade and artisan-crafted in Nigeria, is more than a piece of artwork; it carries intrinsic value and beauty. Nigerian Yoruba Chair 1, $2,150, ngalatrading.com
Rhapsody in Blue
While nothing can compare to the oversized 1960 Danish lamp by Inge-Lise Koefoed, as seen in the Palm Springs home, the Ingrid Table Lamp carries with it the same sense of madness. Cast by hand, the sculptural lamp calls attention in cobalt blue from tip to toe. Ingrid Table Lamp in Blue, $350, williams-sonoma.com
Cheers!
There’s nothing like authentic vintage glassware. These beauties, found on Etsy, are Culver Valencia from the 1960s. The six highball glasses are adorned with 22-karat gold and emerald green accents. Culver Valencia 1960s Vintage Glassware, Set of 6, $150, etsy.com/shop/flowerbarn
Give Peace a Chance
Add more than a touch of beauty, but a symbol of unity and harmony in your home. Placed in a foyer or front room, this sculpture welcomes guests in the grooviest of ways. Crafted from metal alloy with a textural antique brass finish. Peace Sign Sculpture by Noir, $268, lumens.com
Foiled Again
We love a good sideboard, especially when it makes this much of a statement. The gleaming gold foil finish and clean lines provide the perfect surface for setting out a buffet or decorating with your favorite objects, while allowing plenty of room for storing servingware inside. Butler Francois 70.5” Buffet Sideboard, $3,959, perigold.com
Good Day Sunshine
Enliven any room with one (or two!) of these yellow beauties. Towering at 58 inches high, this wingback chair with tufted velvet buttons and walnut cone legs brings a ray of sunshine. New Trousdale Wing Chair in Mustard Velvet, $1,795, perigold.com
The Power of Paint
Harnessing the transformative, mood-enhancing, and invigorating effects of paint
TEXT BY JASMINE BIBLE
STUDIO PLUMB AND WHITNEY DIANNE
DESIGNER
“Color definitely makes me feel excited and alive and I crave it!”
Rebecca Plumb
FIRM
Studio Plumb
SOCIAL
@studioplumb
WEBSITE
studioplumb.com
When it comes to a low-cost yet highly effective DIY project to transform your home, there is simply nothing better than house paint.
Sure, it may require some patience and a little elbow grease, but the transformation that can occur is nothing short of amazing. To better understand the power of paint, we turned to one of our favorite color-loving experts, Rebecca Plumb of Studio Plumb.
“When we talk about the power of paint, we’re really talking about the power of color. Colors make me feel an emotion that I don’t get through neutrals. With neutral color, I get a lack of emotion, which can be intentional when people are craving the feeling of quiet. But color definitely makes me feel excited and alive and I crave it!” shares Plumb.
Colorful rooms, especially those painted in bold saturated colors, can immediately evoke an energy and a sense of place. You may turn to blues for calming, red tones for invigorating inspiration, or greens for a natural liveliness. Different colors will appeal to each of us, so listen to your intuition when choosing paint colors.
Let’s explore three spaces Plumb designed to get a better understanding of how she chose each paint color.
Moody Maroon
In a client’s home, just off the kitchen, there was a drab dining room that had been painted in a pale green with white wainscoting. Thanks to bold paint and clever built-in bookshelves, the space has been completely transformed.
First, Plumb widened the opening between the kitchen and dining room, adding a rounded archway (that she then repeated elsewhere in the home). The colors in the bright white and walnut kitchen informed the choice of the deep maroon color in the dining room. Plumb explains, “We had already chosen the olive-hued tiles from FireClay for the kitchen
flooring, so we needed something that went with that, and I knew a red hue would work well, as red and green are across from each other on the color wheel.”
Since it’s a dining room with a bar area, a wine-inspired red, Deep Maroon by Sherwin Williams, was chosen. “This dining room is at the center of the home, so we needed a color that would work well with all adjacent rooms. Red works well with every other color,” says Plumb.
Really? Red works with every color? “Yes! Think of it like a swipe of red lipstick. It goes with every outfit. By changing the hue of red, you can find the right shade to interact with any other color. When you find the right shade, you’ll know,” she encourages. The gorgeous maroon paint was added to the walls, cabinetry, and both the face and back of the bookshelves for maximum impact. Decorative objects pop against the saturated hue, and objects can easily be shifted so the shelves can double as a bar and serving area.
Boldly Blue
In Plumb’s own home, her living room sits at the center, and she turned to her signature color, blue.
“I was working with a very large neutral sectional that I already owned, so my intention was to counterbalance that and go with a cooler tone, to keep the couch from feeling sad,” she says. This follows another piece of advice for choosing paint colors: find a piece of furniture or art to draw inspiration from, then create contrast and interest around it.
Choosing where to paint can also change the overall effect. Plumb chose to paint the walls and ceiling in the same shade of blue—Blueprint by Berh. “In this space, since the ceilings are relatively low, under eight feet, and it doesn’t get a ton of natural light, I decided to lean into it and make it feel cocooned, like you’re enveloped in color. If the ceilings had stayed white, the room could have felt cut off and the white would feel oppressive.”
As for the doors and trim? Paint those too! “If you are going with a deep color on the walls, anything that you leave white is going to become very obvious and it will draw attention. And you likely want to highlight the interesting furniture or objects you’ve chosen, not boring trim or doors.”
Groovy Green
Adjacent to the blue living room is a dreamy green dining room with built-in cabinetry (a clever DIY project using IKEA Billy bookshelves).
Since these spaces interact visually, how do you confidently choose colors that can play nicely together? Plumb explains: “Green and blue are next to each other on the color wheel, which means they aren’t complimentary or tertiary colors, but they do work well together.” As for choosing the right shade of green to go with the blue? She shares, “I didn’t want it to be a really large contrast, just a blend between the rooms. I chose not to do the ceiling because the room does get a lot more sunlight, and I wanted the room to feel cozy but not too dark or gloomy.” Oakmoss by Sherwin Williams was the perfect shade.
To amp up the effect of the green, Plumb added molding around the top of the space in a style called sawtooth. The clean, square edges of the trim work well with the clean lines of the midcentury modern ranch, as opposed to the curvy ornate moldings you would find in a Victorian-style home. Her advice for adding molding? “Whichever style you choose, it has to honor the original character of your home. So even if it’s a new build, hone in on one element of the architectural style and play off of that.”
We love the way paint has been used so plentifully and powerfully in these spaces. It’s no wonder that paint is considered the single most important tool in a designer and DIYer’s toolkit.
Is there anything we shouldn’t paint? Plumb leaves us with this bit of advice: “When you move into a home, just live with it for a while. Because when it comes to painting things like wood detailing or original stone, you can’t undo it very easily. Instead, consider how you can embrace the original quirky details and work around them.” N
Eager for more ?
We asked three of our favorite interior designers to show us their powerfully painted spaces. Then we asked, what do you believe is the power of paint?
DESIGNER
Stephanie Palm
SOCIAL @tewdesignstudio
LOCATION Raleigh, North Carolina
Paint transforms! If you paint a mural, you’re creating a focal point and essentially a piece of art. If you paint your doors and trim only, you create a fun and unexpected detail. If you drench a space in a single color, you’re creating a subtle backdrop to the furnishings, like this project. The rich navy blue lets the artwork and ceiling wallpaper shine while also playing off the contrasting faux leather chairs.
DESIGNER
SOCIAL @ashleyswhiteside
LOCATION Raleigh, North Carolina
Paint is energy! It controls the flow of the eye, dictates your vibe, and paint even influences how you’ll feel in the space. Harnessing paint is a superpower.
DESIGNER
Kate Pearce
SOCIAL @katepearcevintage
LOCATION Evanston, Illinois
If there is one single low-cost way to entirely transform a space, it would absolutely be paint. Not only does paint set the mood and change how you feel in a space, it can also create illusions. It can make ceilings feel lower or higher, it can make a space look bigger or smaller, and it can even make architectural details seem more or less prominent. More than anything, though, paint creates a feeling.
Ashley Whiteside
DRESS to IMPRESS
WITH WINDOW COVERINGS
Increase beauty, privacy, and style in one fell swoop
Window coverings do more than dress up the inside of your home—they can help save on electric bills, provide privacy, and add to the decor. Having worked with so many clients, home showings, and remodel projects over the years, we realized that this one crucial area of dressing up your home is often overlooked and confusing. What kinds of window coverings are best, what can you do yourself, and how much should you spend? Style, function, and cost will be the main determining factors when it comes to dressing up your home’s windows.
The available options tend to fall into four main styles of window coverings: blinds, Venetian blinds, draperies, and Roman shades. You’ll find some of these are more DIY than others, but they are all achievable whether you are starting from scratch, shopping in a showroom, or buying online. It can also keep your neighbors out of your business, and it might just save you a few bucks in heating and cooling costs as well.
Roman Shades
DIY DIFFICULTY:
You’ll recognize this traditional treatment instantly due to its cascading fabric folds, combining the soft look of curtains or draperies with the easy functionality of blinds or shades. They are typically easier than Venetian Blinds to install, and they are great at solving some common window covering problems, such as tight spaces and uneven frames. The name Roman shades is connected to ancient Rome, not for the way the Romans covered windows, but the way they covered venues, most recognizably the Colosseum amphitheater in Rome. Massive retractable awnings were designed to shade spectators from the sun while still keeping the grounds well-lit. This same design was later adapted for window shading, hence the name.
And again, because they are fabric, insulation value can vary and light transmission can range from completely opaque to fully translucent. They too can be combined with draperies for a more formal, finished look. Once you start to dig in, you’ll find a variety of styles in the way the fabrics are connected and unfurl, ranging from a plain fold to soft, relaxed, tied, flat, and swag. Be aware that some of these shades will take up a significant amount of space at the top of the windows when retracted, so they tend to work better on larger windows. The raise and lower functionality of Roman shades is slightly more complicated and heavy-duty than ordinary blinds. Like Venetian or other slat blinds, Roman shades are almost always controlled by a series of cords but are available cordless and motorized for the right price; and like some blinds, can be installed with both top-down and bottom-up functionality. They simultaneously provide privacy, light control, and insulation, which can save you money
Venetian Blinds
DIY DIFFICULTY:
As compared to blinds or roller shades, which are a continuous material, Venetian blinds are horizontal slats made from wood, metal, or synthetic materials, connected with a series of adjustable cords (or fabric tape) for raising, lowering, opening, and closing. These large wooden slats allow for instant full privacy or, in the open position, letting a lovely light in. Interestingly, Venetian blinds are thought to have originated in Persia, not Venice. Venetian traders discovered the window coverings in their trading with the East and brought them to Venice and Paris. Later, they were brought to America, where high society embraced them, and they were installed in many government and public office buildings to regulate air and light.
But these aren’t the easiest to install yourself due to size and weight. The simpler, more common plastic Venetian blinds found at Home Depot and other home goods stores, on the other hand, are probably your most affordable and easiest-to-install option for DIY window coverings. While those don’t provide much insulation value per se, they do give you decent privacy and reduction of sun glare
Draperies (Curtains)
DIY DIFFICULTY:
For an instant style upgrade, we love draperies. The terms “draperies” and “curtains” are essentially interchangeable and represent cloth or fabric hung vertically, attached to a rod or ceiling track. With a little patience, anyone can install a curtain rod to hang the draperies, providing a stylish look from both the inside and out, while offering privacy as well. They operate with a side-to-side opening and are often used in conjunction with the up-and-down functioning of blinds, as you’ll often see in hotel rooms. Double sets of draperies, one translucent and the other opaque, is an elevated approach, allowing you to control light, temperature, and color with the swish of a hand.
Draperies can have better insulating properties than other types of window dressings as well, and heavier fabrics provide even more insulation. They tend to have a more formal aesthetic, and can be cut short or long, pooling on the ground for a romantic effect. Draperies are easy to DIY because ultimately you can order ready-to-hang options online, or sew them yourself, adding finsihing details as your sewing abilities allow.
Blinds
DIY DIFFICULTY:
Blinds are often a simple, utilitarian window treatment, and can be relatively inexpensive. In many cases, they are quite easy to install yourself and provide a moderate amount of insulation.
To understand what is possible with contemporary blinds, the most popular and omnipresent of window coverings, we went to one of the foremost national experts, Graber Blinds. After studying all offerings carefully online and flipping through sample books in our home, we went with classic Roller Shades with UltraLite Cordless Lift for this particular project, where blinds were necessary for privacy and harsh sunlight. Cordless and motorized options make blinds sleek and easy to use by eliminating cords and drawstrings. We chose the cordless, which easily lowers and retracts with a light pull, allowing us to place the blinds at the exact desired position in a precise and hassle-free way (pictured at bottom right).
Understanding the terminology and how each style can be applied is a bit of a learning curve, but blinds range from sheer to complete blackout, depending on your needs. Graber products are sold by a network of more than 10,000 professional dealers and designers throughout the U.S. and Canada, and each product is made to order. They offer localized full-service measuring and installation for any location in your home: an office, bedroom, theater room, kitchen, dining room, or den, allowing you to easily control light transmission and privacy. From blackout to light-filtering, Graber Blinds are durable, modern, and versatile. In our home, we went with a modern look, but you can peruse their site for more traditional options as well.
The other benefit of going with Graber versus something more off-the-shelf is the valance—the fabric-covered box at the top of the window that hides the rolling mechanism. Gerber’s fabric-wrapped flat valance provided the cleanest contemporary look we found on the market.
HOW to HANG: INSIDER DIY TIPS
Here are some of our pro tips for installing any of these window coverings on your own.
MEASURE CAREFULLY
Always measure thrice. Twice isn’t enough, especially if you don’t do this stuff every day. It’s easy to make mistakes in tight spaces. Measure down to the 1/16th of an inch for precise alignment
DRILL A PILOT HOLE
If you are going into wood, pilot holes are essential for preventing wood from splitting and ensuring screws go in straight. Use a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the screw you plan to use. Mark the exact spot for your pilot hole with a pencil, and if you want extra precision, use a center punch to create a small indentation before drilling. This will keep your drill bit from slipping and ensure a perfect placement every time. If you are mounting into drywall, you’ll need to use plastic drywall anchors.
These self-expanding anchors create a stronger connection between the screw and wall by gripping the drywall more effectively for a stronger anchor point.
FIND THE RIGHT HEIGHT
When hanging draperies/curtains, you can set your marks for drilling for your brackets halfway between the ceiling and the top of the window frame. For a more dramatic look, hang the brackets as close as you can to the ceiling, leaving enough room for the curtains to slide. Widthwise, you’ll want to mount the brackets to the outside of the window frame, allowing for maximum coverage.
LEVEL UP
Whether you’re hanging a drapery rod or bracket for blinds, always use a laser level or 4-foot level to ensure the hardware is level with the earth, not the top of the window frame or ceiling, as those are not always perfectly level. N
For our list of must-have tools, flip to page 48!
DIY
How three simple letters came to represent an entire movement among homeowners.
Do It Yourself. These three words get thrown around a lot in homeownership. The rise of glamorous, and sometimes fantastical, home-improvement shows on television networks has brought the idea and concept of DIY to the next level. In fact, it sparked an entire industry. With the help of home shows and YouTube tutorials, people are tackling larger and larger projects never before accessible to the average person.
But over the years we’ve learned it takes not just a certain set of skills but also a certain set of tools, and the right mindset, to consistently be good at DIY projects. Some of us do it to save money, some for sheer personal satisfaction—and there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of self-reliance in a modern world where we are increasingly distanced from the places and ways things are made.
So, which DIY projects are the most accessible, and what should be left to the pros? Before you dive in, consider which projects will ultimately make you happy and make your house feel more like a home. If the project increases the sweat equity in your home, terrific! But these projects should be rooted in the desire to make your home feel unique and special—to reflect your own personal style and preferences.
Let’s dig into seven of our favorite indoor DIY projects…
LIGHTING
Lighting provides ambience and instant style, and there are literally thousands of beautiful options out there. There’s no need for boring boob lights! Create a priority list of the lights in your home that would make the biggest impact if changed, and start there. Focus on scale. Is the light in your dining room the right size? Does it emit enough light? Is it hung too high or off-center? How about a bathroom? Is there a tacky naked bulb shining in your eyes every morning? It’s easy to swap it for something more modern and less abrasive. The foyer is the perfect place to make a daring move and introduce the tone for the entire home. Our top tip? Always be sure to turn off the power at your fuse box, and have a helper on hand to turn the power on and off as you connect the new light…especially if you’re up on a ladder and the fuse box is two floors away.
WALLPAPER
There’s a touch of magic in wallpaper. It’s part art, part texture, all vibe. Dating back to the 16th century, the earliest wallpapers were stylized floral motifs and repetitions of pictorial scenes taken from contemporary embroideries and other textiles. By the beginning of the 20th century, wallpaper was being used everywhere from kitchens and bathrooms to bedrooms and hallways—found in the most elaborate of homes and the most simple. It was a way to bring artwork into a home without the price tag of a muralist. In recent decades, it has ebbed and flowed in popularity. We all smile at the nostalgia of groovy metallic walls in sunken living rooms of the 1970s, and we grimace at the idea of rooster-themed borders in kitchens of the 1990s.
With the invention of increasingly effective peel-and-stick papers, the popularity of wallpaper has once again soared. A bold print like the one seen on our cover can enliven a space in a completely unique way, just as a monochrome textural paper can add sophistication to any room. Wallpaper can be used on one wall as an accent, as seen in our House Tour (starting on page 9), placed on four walls, or even a ceiling. It’s a great way to add intrigue to the back of a bookshelf or china cabinet, or as an unexpected surprise in a closet.
While we would still enlist a professional for traditional pasted wallpaper, the peel-andstick variety is doable for even the minimally handy. In addition to the standard installation tips that your paper will come with, our insider tips are: first, choose a pattern with a lot of detail, as it is easier to line up small components of the pattern as you place one sheet next to the other, versus a more simple paper where you won’t have visual checkpoints to ensure a perfect match or where mismatches will be more obvious. Second, use a self-leveling laser level during installation. This will save a lot of headaches. Third, if you use a darker pattern printed on white paper, and the white seams are visible after you’ve installed, find a crayon in a similar color and carefully color over the seams—even if it’s not perfect, it will be less visible than the white seam. Start with a small space and perfect your skills before taking on a whole wall or room.
HARDWARE
Swapping the hardware (handles, hinges, and drawer pulls primarily) on cabinetry is like giving your kitchen or bathroom an instant facelift. You can go from builder-grade to custom in five minutes. Mix and match drawer pulls, bin pulls, and cabinet knobs for a layered look. Mix metals and mix finishes. Have fun and push yourself a bit. It’s a low-cost swap out that can bring a new feel to a dated room. Our biggest tip? Be sure to carefully measure your existing hardware to order the correct size replacements, and to save yourself from having to drill new holes and patch and repair your cabinets. For example, don’t replace a five-inch pull with a three-inch pull. If swapping out all new hardware gets to be too expensive (it can), simply paint your existing hardware in the same color as your cabinets for a soft, monochromatic vibe. Be sure to properly prep pieces before you begin: sand and prime as necessary before painting and then seal with several coats of clear polyurethane for durability.
PAINT
There is truly no better way to transform a space than with paint. We believe in the power of paint so wholeheartedly that we dedicated an entire article to it in this issue. Flip to page 16 to see just how transformational a DIY paint job can be.
FLOORING
COVER PLATES
It’s almost shocking the impact that new outlet cover plates and lightswitch plates can have. If yours have yellowed over time and just need a fresh coat of paint, the effort will be worth it. But while you’re at it, take it up a notch with new plates. There are modern plates with clean lines in white, black, gold, silver, or wood, and beautiful ornate antiqueinspired push knobs that will transport you to a Victorian era. We are obsessed with these 2G Toggle switches from Buster and Bunny. Always be sure to turn off the power before removing the existing plate. And if you need to rewire anything, call in the pros.
Not all flooring is created equal, and not everyone should attempt to install it. While we would be hesitant to install or even refinish a hardwood floor in the entire main level of a home—a basement, sunroom, or powder room is a great place to try your hand at DIY flooring. Head to the closest big box store and you’ll see a wide variety of laminates, engineered woods, and LVP (luxury vinyl plank), and the newer EVP, which stands for engineered vinyl plank. The difference between LVP and EVP is that LVP is flexible while EVP is rigid. There are also bamboo and cork flooring options. But let’s focus on LVP. You’ll find a few different install options—some stick while some snap together. Most brands have their own proprietary method that may require different installation tools, but the skill set is similar. Talk to the experts at the store to be sure you’re choosing an option you’re comfortable with; consider traffic and longevity first and foremost. We’ve installed LVP many times and can attest that it’s fairly easy to install, durable, water-resistant, and easy to clean. There are also some low VOC (volatile organic compound) options available from brands like Proximity Mills, and prices typically range from $3-$8/sq ft. As with any of these projects, take into account time and resources for clean up, furniture moving, and time out of your space.
FURNITURE REFURBISHING
While rearranging furniture is a tried-and-true way to refresh a room, a good furniture makeover is an even better way to bring some personality into a space. You can strip a piece back to its original beauty or introduce a vibrant new color to your home’s palette by painting hutches, dressers, side tables, bookshelves...the list is endless. Turn to page 42 for a full lesson on where to source quality pieces that are worthy of your time—and a few refurbishing tips from our in-house pro.
Now muster your can-do attitude, your creative energy, and your home DIY toolkit found on page 48, and get to work. We can’t wait to see what you make. N
Fanciful
Farmhouse
TEXT BY JASMINE BIBLE + PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNA PEFFLEY/OTTO
DESIGNER
Courtney Hinton
When interior designer Courtney Hinton and her husband decided to leave the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, California, for the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, they were elated to serendipitously find a farmhouse in East Asheville that was exactly what Hinton had envisioned in her dreams. The home previously belonged to the daughter of Richard Sharp Smith, the architect who supervised construction of the famed Biltmore House and estate in Asheville.
This 1920s farmhouse needed a lot of love, but Hinton was up for the challenge. They began patiently and thoughtfully renovating, sticking to a tight budget. Fascinated by rustic, storied objects, Hinton began gathering decorative items at local flea markets and antique stores. “I started acquiring things for this house, really just buying things that I love,” she explains.
“I think ‘buy what you love’ is a good design rule for a lot of people…but then there are a lot of situations where that doesn’t work because then you have just a very eclectic, disjointed home.” So how did she keep her farmhouse from feeling chaotic? “For this home, to make it feel cohesive, a lot of the things I bought were very neutral in color. I leaned into mixing textures, soft objects, leather, and woods, then painted the whole home white…which is kind of a cop-out,” laughs Hinton. “But the home had beautiful original trim that I didn’t want to paint over, and wood and white just work so beautifully together.”
In the living room, the pure white paint covering the walls feels fresh and architecturally appropriate all at once. For a bit of bold contrast, Hinton painted the curved bookshelf archways in black: Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore. Across the room, the brick fireplace also received a facelift. Several coats of the same black paint ground the room and bring balance to the black archways. A wimpy mantle was replaced with a hefty piece of reclaimed wood. “An easy fix for any living room that needs updating is replacing the mantle. It’s one of the easiest things you can do, and there are so many options that allow you to add character,” says Hinton.
Another major design move was removing drywall from the ceiling to expose the rafters above. “We had to rip down nearly seven layers of ceiling, but it was worth it,” says Hinton. “It really gave more height and drama to the room, especially since the ceilings were so low.” And she says she would absolutely do it again. “It does create more noise between levels, so it is something to keep in mind, that you’ll be able to hear everything. It works best in an area where there isn’t high traffic above.” To complete the look, they thoroughly cleaned the ceiling and sealed the rafters in a clear poly, enhancing the beauty of the natural wood. The hue of the beams works harmoniously with the window trim, moldings, and hardwood floors.
For the furniture layout, Hinton paid close attention to scale. “Since the space itself is very tiny, I found an antique Chesterfield that was only five feet wide with lovely worn leather arms and comfortable canvas cushions,” she shares. Her husband is tall and loves a big slouchy chair but the limited floor space didn’t allow for anything oversized; so instead Hinton chose a mid-century-inspired butterfly chair that can easily be moved about as needed. To make room for the four-legged members of the family, Hinton found an antique sideboard with enough height to allow the placement of a fluffy dog bed beneath. “I wanted to create a space where he felt comfortable and safe, but that was still visually appealing.”
“An easy fix for any living room that needs updating is replacing the mantle. It’s one of the easiest things you can do, and there are so many options that allow you to add character.”
As with many older homes, the bedrooms lacked closet space. A statementmaking solution was two metal garment racks, whose decades of wear and tear only add to their appeal. “If you’re like me and a bit of a show pony, and you have things from your youth or garments that hold meaning, it’s a great way to have clothing act as a piece of art,” muses Hinton. For the vintage dress form, Hinton dressed it in her favorite jacket, a statement necklace, and the top hat her husband wore when she met him. “It’s a fun way to display sentimental pieces that represent different parts of your life, instead of being hidden in a closet,” she shares.
For the bed, they wanted something that felt period appropriate but in a California-king size, which wasn’t made in the early 1900s, so they sourced the gorgeous iron bed online from Antique Iron Beds. “The ceilings are so low in this room and I didn’t want a solid, heavy headboard, so we went with this antique-looking iron bed. I wanted the space to feel light and airy.” She topped it with fresh neutral linens, purchased on Etsy.
Perhaps our favorite element in the room is the artwork. “These pinup girls were drawings from my great aunt, who dreamed of being a fashion designer. So rather than these beautiful pieces sitting in an attic or tucked away in an envelope, I wanted to honor her and put her talent on display,” she says. To frame each piece would have been cost prohibitive, so Hinton grabbed clips from Michaels and rusted them in salt water to make them look aged. She tacked in small nails and hung the art from the clips, creating a bit of a gallery wall in the dressing area of the room.
Under the drawings, a scalloped lamp sits atop a spool Hinton found at a local Asheville gem, The Antique Tobacco Barn. “I love the connection to history. I really love daydreaming about the person who owned it or where the object was and what it was doing,” she says about her passion for vintage. “I love the connection to another human you can have through an object.”
Another reason to shop vintage and get creative with repurposing, DIY-ing, and reusing items? “Vintage shopping is environmentally friendly, which is something the design industry struggles with. There’s certainly a time and place for new items, and there is so much talent out there producing new things, but choosing to shop recycled is a very green way of living, and that sits well with me.”
If Hinton’s home speaks to you, follow her lead of shopping flea markets, scavenging antique shops, and refurbishing vintage items. “It’s a way to ensure your house really speaks to you and nobody else. Your home should tell your individual story, and when someone walks in, they should immediately get an idea of who you are.” N
Nothing to Hide
Natural elements like this cowhide throw pillow can help to ground a space. We suggest adding one to the front of your pillow stack. Union Rustic Colvard Animal Print Cowhide Throw Pillow, $66, wayfair.com
In Your Illuminate Era
Ridged detailing speaks to the industrial influence of this wall sconce by 360 Lighting. We dig the dual-tone black and warm brass finish, complete with an era-appropriate Edison-style 360 Lighting Burke Dark Bronze Brass Sconce, $100,
French Country Feelings
Intricate detailing on the milk glass of this fixture elevates the overall look and gives it a French Country vibe. The adjustable chain and rod lets you hang it as close to the ceiling as needed, or leave it at full length for maximum impact. Glass Pendant, $174, amazon.com
Fit for a Family
Wings Up
Add some rustic sophistication to any room with this butterfly chair. The two-tone leather and canvas materials are a fresh take on this classic design, supported by an iron base. Easily move from room to room when you need additional seating. Sevita Two-Tone Canvas and Leather Butterfly Chair, $229, bedbathandbeyond.com
Luxurious Linen
Striped linen feels so classically French in the very best way. Beautiful, chic, and textural. Sonia Striped Linen Pillow Cover, $72, jossandmain.com
I See an Archway and I Want to Paint it Black
We love the way the arched bookshelves in the living room pop, thanks to the high contrast of white and black. Wrought Iron 2124-10 by Benjamin Moore in the arches, and Simply White OC-117 by Benjamin Moore on the walls. benjaminmoore.com
It’s hard to go wrong with a classic Chesterfield sofa. Durable leather in a warm caramel hue will only grow more comfortable and beautiful with wear and tear. Chesterfield Leather Sofa in Vintage Caramel, $3,799, potterybarn.com
Chic Sheep
This humanely sourced white Mongolian sheepskin ottoman screams luxury. This untamed pouf would work well with farmhouse chic decor or something more modern and Scandinavian. Versatile and beautiful? Sign us up. Pelosa White Sheepskin Ottoman, $899, cb2.com
Q&A: Furniture Refurbishing 101
HOW TO CHOOSE JUST THE RIGHT PIECE TO DIY
SOCIAL @new_iterations LOCATION Charlottesville, Virginia OUR EXPERT Taylor Ahn
A piece of vintage or antique furniture full of history and soul is a beauty to behold, and the satisfaction of refurbishing it yourself makes it that much more meaningful. But before you delve into a world of sawdust and wood stain, spending potentially hours upon hours of your time, you want to be sure you choose the right piece of furniture—one that’s worthy of your attention.
But how and where do you find quality used furniture pieces? What is the difference between vintage and antique? How do I know real wood from engineered wood?
To answer these questions and more, we sat down with our very own Nest Realty Art Director, Taylor Ahn, who expertly refinishes and restores incredible pieces on her Instagram channel.
Q: Where do you source your pieces?
My three main sources are Facebook Marketplace, local consignment or thrift stores, and lastly antique stores or estate sales. Facebook Marketplace is where I find 80% of my pieces. It’s a convenient way to shop and you can usually find great deals from sellers wanting to quickly get rid of furniture. Have a specific idea of what you are looking for and be prepared for any damage that might not be visible or disclosed by the seller.
I find 10% of my pieces from local consignment shops or thrift stores, where they are usually reasonably priced and you can inspect them before you buy. The drawback is that depending on your area, you may not have great inventory to choose from. You’ll need to visit these stores frequently to score a good find.
The last 10% of the pieces I refurbish are from antique stores or estate sales. The stores usually have a nicely curated selection, but you’ll pay more. And estate sales are a wild card with some items priced reasonably and some overpriced, or so pristine that they don’t require refurbishing.
PHOTO BY ANNA KARIEL
Q: What do you look for in a refinishing candidate?
There is a sliding scale of value when assessing furniture for refinishing. There are many antiques that are actually more valuable with their original finish left intact, and for those pieces, I prioritize preserving the patina while cleaning the piece up and repairing any structural issues. However, there are also many pieces of furniture whose value is more subjective and would benefit from being refinished or restored to serve another century of use. I personally look for solid wood pieces that are “rough” and need a significant amount of fixing up, as it is a passion of mine to invest in the ugly ducklings. However, many of these rougher pieces require basic woodworking knowledge, so if you are only looking to refinish the exterior and not worry about fixing up structural issues, you might want to consider starting with vintage pieces instead of antiques.
Q: What is “vintage” vs. “antique,” and what are the pros and cons?
The main difference is age. Antique furniture includes pieces that are at least 100 years old; while vintage furniture can be anywhere from 20 to 100 years old. Antiques are valued not just for their age but also for their historical significance, and they often represent specific periods. When it comes to craftsmanship, antique furniture is usually handcrafted, reflecting the techniques and materials available during the time it was made. It often showcases intricate details, superior craftsmanship, and high-quality materials. When it comes to refinishing antiques, it is much more likely you will come across structural damage in need of repair to restore the piece to its original functionality. Vintage furniture often reflects the style and trends of a specific era, such as Art Deco (1920s-1930s), mid-century modern (1940s-1960s), or retro (1960s-1970s). It captures the essence of its time period in terms of design, materials, and manufacturing techniques. Vintage pieces are sought-after for their unique design, nostalgic value, and quality of materials not as prevalent in modern mass-produced furniture. As for condition, while vintage pieces typically show signs of wear, they are usually still functional and wellpreserved. Vintage furniture is more likely to be machine-made and includes modern conveniences in its construction such as sliding track systems for drawers. If the piece was decently cared for, the repair work for vintage furniture is usually a fraction of the work most antiques need.
Spot the differences between antique and vintage:
Antique Vintage
Construction Techniques
• Hand-cut dovetail joints, which are irregular and not perfectly uniform.
• The Knapp joint, a less common joint from 1870-1900, may be present in antiques.
• Hand-forged nails and screws with irregular shapes, along with woodworking marks like hand-planed surfaces and saw marks, indicating pre-19th-century craftsmanship.
Materials
• Uses solid woods like mahogany, oak, walnut, cherry, pine, and maple.
• May have a poplar core with a veneer of higher-quality wood.
• Hardware such as handles, knobs, hinges, and locks were commonly made from brass or iron and may show wear and patina. Look for “messy” glue drips, indicative of hide glue.
Signs of Aging
• Genuine antiques show wear in natural places like feet, armrests, seat edges, and drawer slides.
• Uneven wear suggests long-term use, and a patina on wood or metal develops over decades.
• Wood may shrink and warp over time, resulting in gaps or cracks, especially in solid wood panels.
Design and Style
• Familiarize yourself with styles like Eastlake, Queen Anne, Georgian, Victorian, or Edwardian to identify historical periods.
• Look for intricate carvings, inlays, and other handcrafted details typical of specific periods.
Construction Techniques
• Machine-cut dovetail joints and consistent, smooth machine marks are typical, with perfectly cut and aligned joinery.
• Mid-20th-century pieces often feature dowels, staples, and uniform, machinedthread screws.
Maker’s Marks and Labels
Maker’s marks and labels, while less common on antique furniture, can sometimes be found on the back, underside, or inside drawers.
Materials
• Vintage furniture often used solid wood, as well as early forms of plywood and particleboard.
• Original hardware may include brass, chrome, and Bakelite, offering clues to the era.
Signs of Aging
• Look for discoloration, minor scratches, and mellowing wood finishes.
• Slight warping or shrinkage in wood parts is common due to age.
Design and Style
• Art Deco (1920s-1930s): bold geometric patterns, mirrored finishes, sleek lines, inlaid details, exotic wood veneers. Mid-Century Modern (1940s-1960s): clean lines, minimalist design, organic shapes, tapered legs, materials like teak, walnut, fiberglass, and plastic.
• Retro (1960s-1970s): bright colors, bold patterns, modular designs, use of plastic and plywood.
Maker’s Marks and Labels
More common in vintage pieces; often found inside drawers, on the back, or underneath.
• Look for serial numbers or production codes indicating the year or place of production.
Q: What is artificial wood? How do you identify it?
Artificial wood, also known as engineered wood, composite wood, or man-made wood, is manufactured by binding or fixing together wood strands, fibers, veneers, or particles with adhesives to form a composite material. These products are designed to mimic the appearance and properties of natural wood while often providing improved stability, durability, and resistance to environmental factors. There are many benefits to building with artificial wood, but it is not ideal materials for refinishing unless you plan to paint.
For more tips on the refurbishing process, additional links, before and afters, and resources, head to the article on nestrealty.com. We can’t wait to see what you are capable of! N
Build the Perfect Toolkit
What should really be in the bag...
It’s the envy of every armchair woodworker and obsessive DIY enthusiast: the perfect toolkit. The one that has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Some people will always overtrain for the mission, but you don’t have to buy out the entire hardware store to create a handy toolkit that allows you to quickly and easily address most problems that tend to crop up around the house.
Here are our basic homeowner toolkit must-haves. Some of these items you probably already have in your junk drawer, and others will feel like a light-bulb moment.
How do they compare to your own box of musthaves? Email us at editor@nestrealty.com and let us know how we did.
