DIY Network

Smith Feminine Bedroom A empty-nester mom's bedroom gets a girly makeover. From "Material Girls" episode DMTG-206

Susan Smith, a single mom and recent empty nester, is ready to add a more feminine touch to her home, starting with the master bedroom. Enter the Material Girls, who recommend using lots of toile and other fabrics in shades of pink, cream and tan to achieve an elegant look. Susan and her son, Alex, get started by painting the walls a soft pink.

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Room designed by Cat Wei and Kelly Keener.

London Shade

	Window: before
	Window: after, with London Shade

Materials:

fabric
lining
scissors
sewing machine
measuring tape
pins
iron

1. Measure the size of the window and add an extra 15" for the folds at the bottom and an extra 6" at the top for the rod pocket. Cut the fabric and lining accordingly.

2. Place the lining face up and the fabric face down. Next fold and pin the side hem and sew with a straight stitch. Then double-fold the bottom hem up about 2" and sew another straight line.

3. Fold and press the top where the rod pocket will be made later. But first the ties need to be made. Cut strips of fabric 6" longer than the length of the shade.

4. Fold the strip fabric in half with right sides together and press. Sew a straight seam down the length of each strip. Then turn the fabric right side out, fold the ends in and sew together.

5. Place the ties about 5"-7" in on both sides, depending on how much you want the shade to droop in the middle. Place two ties in the front and two in the back. Next fold and pin the top over. Then sew a straight stitch all the way across.

6. Fold the bottom of the fabric like a fan and tie the ties in place.

Valance

Kelly Keener and Alex Smith make the valance part of the canopy that will hang over Susan's bed. They wrap a wood frame with batting and fabric to create a soft overhead accent for the bed. To complete the canopy, Kelly and Alex use L-brackets to hang the valance and curtains.

	Bed: before
	Bed: after, with Valance

Materials:

fabric (2 types)
plywood
batting
scissors
measuring tape
staple gun/staples
screws/screwdriver
l-brackets

1. First determine how wide you want the valance to be (a safe rule is to make it close to the width of the bed). Then determine how far out you want it to come from the wall. Have the wood cut accordingly.

2. Attach the three pieces of wood with screws.

3. Tightly stretch the batting over the front and sides of the board and staple in place. Fold in the corners of the batting and secure with staples.

4. Wrap fabric over the board and secure it in the same way that you did the batting.

5. For a more dramatic look, staple panels made out of a second fabric on top; just staple one panel to the front and one to each side.

6. Attach the valance to the wall using L-brackets.

Table Rounds

April Edens shows Susan Smith how to make round tablecloths for her unattractive bedside tables. For this project, the table is measured, the fabric is marked and cut, and then a simple hem is sewn around the bottom.

	Table: before
	Table: after

Materials:

fabric
scissors
measuring tape
fabric chalk
sewing machine
pins
iron

1. Start by measuring the top of the table and the length all the way to the floor. If the fabric that you want to use isn't wide enough, sew two pieces together. To avoid having a seam down the center, cut one piece of fabric in half and sew them on either side of the other piece.

2. Fold the fabric in half from one end to the other, and then fold it in half again, making it quartered. With a cloth tape measure and fabric chalk, draw a 36" line from the corner of the fold out. Draw an arch from one end of the fabric to the other. Cut the mark.

3. Fold in a hem around the edge of the circle. Press and pin in place. Sew a straight stitch around the circle.

Re-Covered Switchplate

Kelly Keener demonstrates how easy it is to cover a switchplate with fabric. Then the Material Girls add their finishing touches: they complete Susan Smith's luxury bed by adding a duvet cover, decorative pillows and a bedskirt; they top the dresser and console with pretty pink runners; and they use decorative pillows to spruce up her antique chair.

	Re-Covered Switchplate, single
	Re-Covered Switchplate, double

Materials:

fabric
scissors
spray adhesive
fabric glue
utility knife
switchplate
nail

1. Cut the fabric to the size of the switchplate plus 1" on all sides.

2. Spray the front of the switchplate with adhesive and center the fabric on top.

3. Fold the fabric around the plate and secure on the back with fabric glue.

4. Cut out the hole for the switch with the utility knife and glue in place on the back.

5. Poke the screw holes out with a nail and attach the plate to the wall.

RESOURCES :

Waverly fabric
Product #666957 (Rustic Life Watermelon)
Website: www.waverly.com

Waverly fabrics
Product #647911 Oak Bluff Rose
Website: www.waverly.com