MY HOME, MY SPACE

What is your favorite area in your home and why?            

I hope you are well! I'm Jana Bek an Interior Designer & past DIY contributor here on MadeByGirl many times!  I wanted my petite 500 square foot studio to be featured in a "My Home, My Space" post. You so often talk about how trying it is, living in smaller NYC spaces & I thought my apartment could serve as inspiration to your readers who share our plight.

I love my space because I set it up like a hotel room. As it's all in one room essentially, I choose to show off my bed, friends often sit at the end of it, we pull out the stools, I set up a bar on my console & it allows me to entertain with ease. I think my space prove that chic spaces can come in small packages :)

-images via jana bek

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DIY: Chalkboard stemware

Hi All MBG Readers, Jana here to share a chic & super simple solution for entertaining: stemware with writable chalkboard bases.  A sophisticated way to distinguish ones champagne cocktail when the event is too engaging to keep track.

Materials:

Chalkboard Paint 

Stemware

Paint Brush

Chalk

 

Paint the base. I recommend using short brushstrokes. This layer will be thin as you want just enough coverage to create texture for the second layer. This layer will not look attractive but do not worry, it will turn out!

Let dry overnight. Then paint on a second layer of paint. It will look goopy, but again, do not worry, as it dries the paint settles into the shape of the base.

 Let the second coat dry overnight. Now entertain away!

Something to note - do not get the bases wet as the paint will chip. To preserve, wash only the bowl of the stemware. An upside to the somewhat delicate nature is that you can easily wash all the paint off if you want your stemware only transitioned temporarily. 

-post by Jana Bek

-images by Erik Melvin

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DIY: Herb Wreath

Hi MBG readers! Jana here today to share a DIY gift for the gourmand in your life - Jen, maybe perfect for your chef hubby?

I stumbled upon the inspiration for this herb wreath when passing through the Tribeca Greenmarket one beautiful fall weekend. I love fresh herbs & have quite a few foodies as friends. They have cooking gadgets galore but, as far as I know, herbs at the ready are a gift any chef would greatly appreciate. The genius of this gift is that when the wreath dries out the herbs are still recipe ready.

Materials:

Herbs (I used Dill, Rosemary, Oregano, & Lavender) (my friend I am gifting this to makes wicked Lavender ice cream!)

Twine

Cardboard

Cut the cardboard into a circle. I traced a 12" dinner plate then cut out the inside for a rough 1/2" edge width. 

Using the twine, tie your herbs into small bundles. The bundle should be not too small, and not too bulky. About 5" long with a 1 1/2" width at center of bundle is a safe starting place.

Tie first bundle onto the cardboard ring.

Now, add bundles by tying successive herb bunches 2" under its preceding bunch (to reduce the amount of visible twine). Alternate herbs. I tied on two bunches of an herb type before I switched onto a new herb.

Once all bundles are tied on, wrap twine over the sections where two bundles overlapped and tie off. This thicker section of twine is a decorative way to secure the herbs in place. 

I finished my wreath off with braiding the twine into a loop and securing to the wreath for ease of hanging in the kitchen. 

Voila, an herb wreath at the ready for the chef who has everything. (Or the hostess that may have forgot that final sprig of rosemary!)

Do you have someone that might relish in this wreath? We would love to know!

-post by Jana Bek

-images by Erik Melvin



 

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DIY: Bridal Shower Favors

Hi All Jana here, 

With my best friend's big day a few weeks away I am enacting all of my maid of honor DIYs in a fast frenzy way. The bride & myself are designing on a dime (who isn't??) so when I thought about bridal shower favors it was a given that I would be DIYing them. 

I had a million ideas - some beautiful, but not so personal; & than others that just seemed too crafty. One Saturday, while I was transitioning my dry-cleaning (silk shirts) onto hangers I had an epiphany - for that gorgeous silk cami that you often get (or give) as a gift that always falls to the floor - you need a hanger that will keep the precious piece in place. Why not showcase the piece? Hence the glam hanger with a practical punch was created.

Materials:

• Hanger
• Dazzlers (Rhinestones, Pearls Large & Small)
• Glue
• Paint (Gold & your fav color) 

Paint Hanger Gold

Paint Monogram 

Glue on Dazzlers, alternate pearls & rhinestones to your liking

Volia - statement pieces that stay in place

-images and post by jana bek

-images by Erik melvin

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DIY: Leopard Print Tray

Hi All, Happy Nov 1st! It's Jana here to share a DIY to update your trays for the new Season. With the weather turning a little more crisp & cool I look for simple ways to transition my decor accordingly!

Inspiration for this DIY came from a project I saw on Martha Stewart over the summer. Since my lacquer tray is a mainstay when I entertain, I loved that I finally had a solution to the inevitable sliding of drinks and h'orderves on the glossy surface. 

To add an autumnal twist, I decided painting leopard spots on the cork would add the perfect punch of personality.

Materials:

Sponge

Cork (cut to size of your tray base)

Brown & Black Paint

Gloss Varnish

Cut the sponge in various round and oval shapes, add in a few kidney bean shapes as well.

 Sponge brown spots on tray - vary the sizes so a larger spot is surrounded by slightly smaller spots.

Sponge black spots around the brown spots. I found pairing 1 black spot to 1 brown, 2 black to 1 brown, 4 black to one brown, and fully encircling the brown dot with black dots created the most natural patterns.

Coat the gloss varnish over entire surface. 

Make drinks & treats, add a few flowers and you are set for the perfect Indian Summer afternoon!

-Photos by Erik Melvin

-post by jana bek

 

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DIY: Anthropologie Vase

Hello readers! Welcome back from your Labor Day weekend! This is Jana Bek, a DIY contributor here on MBG! Today, I'm here with an interesting project I think you'll really enjoy!

I love these blooming vases from Anthropologie. Have you seen them? I'm always looking for ways to personalize a space, and DIYing a vase to compliment your palette is the perfect decorative touch!

What You Need:

Self Drying Modeling Clay

Paint & Brushes

Hot Glue & Glue Gun

Vase 

Knife

Making the Petals for the Outside Petal Ring:

Roll large pea size piece of clay into a ball. With clay in palm, press down with thumb and rock gently to make elongated quarter size oval. 

To create more texture, gently tear the edges around the oval.

Use knife to score ‘petal’ starting from a center point at the bottom, fanning out towards the edges. Repeat until you have 5 petals. These will form the "outer ring" of the flower

Making the Single Inner Petal:

Repeat steps above, but use slightly less clay to make a single, smaller petal for the flower center. Pinch this smaller petal at its base to make it look like it's opening. 

Finishing the Outside Petal Ring:

Layer the five outside petals, one slightly overlapping the next, to create the outside ring. 

Press each petal into the one you are layering over so they stick together.

You should have a complete ring of petals. 

Place your 'inner petal" into the middle of the Ring, and press it down securely.

Finishing the Flower:

To dry, prop your flower against a glass. About half of your flower will rest on the glass, and the other will rest on the surface. This will create a natural curve to your flower. Let dry over nite. 

Once your flower is dry, paint to your liking. Even one color will be beautiful!

After paint is dry, with glue gun in hand – position and glue. Voila your custom Petal Pusher Vase!

-post by Jana Bek

-Images by Erik Melvin 

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