DIY Network

Wood Floors and More Wood Floors and More From "Ask DIY Decorating & Crafts" episode DADD-111

Q: I have a hardwood floor in my living room that has seen better days. I would love to do a painting technique on it. How do I start a project like this?

A: (DIY decorating expert Bea Pila) You can make that floor beautiful again by painting it. You'll need to clean it well and remove any old wax or floor varnish; then sand to roughen the surface so the paint will adhere. And then the sky's the limit: you could just paint the floor and be done, or create a stencil or other design such as a harlequin diamond pattern in black and white. Position the pattern so that at least one foot of the original floor color shows around the edge of the room. This will give the effect of an area rug covering the floor. You'll want to seal your floor with two or three coats of polyurethane to protect your paint job.

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Q: I want to give my back deck a cottage feel to go with the rest of my house. It's pressure-treated wood, and I'd like to paint it. What accessories should I choose to get this look?

A: Paint the deck white. First clean it well, then apply an oil-based primer and paint it with a deck-covering paint that can stand up to foot traffic and the sun's hot rays. Add an arbor to two sides of the deck and plant vines such as wisteria or morning glories that will grow up the sides. Add hanging ferns and plenty of flowering plants in terra-cotta pots to create a garden feel on the deck. Then add a small café table and chairs for charm and a quiet place to enjoy your morning coffee

Q: Is there any way to dress up plain roller shades?

A: With just a yard of fabric, you can make a scalloped valance with a matching scalloped trim on the bottom of the shade. The look is clean and tailored, and it artfully conceals the plainness of any roller shade. For the valance, I sewed my floral fabric to a liner fabric and stapled it to a 3" board that's the size of the window. Hang it with L-brackets. For the scalloped edge on the shade, I sewed together smaller pieces of fabric and attached them to the shade with fabric glue.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for creating your own valance-and-roller-shade set:

Materials:
1 yard decorator fabric
1 yard lining fabric
Tracing paper
3" length of wood the width of the window
Wood staple gun, staples
Fabric glue
L-brackets

Valance

Steps:

1. Create scallop pattern on tracing paper, make sure to add a 1/2" seam allowance. Cut out pattern.

2. Cut the fabric as follows: For the length, cut the fabric the valance length plus 3-1/2" (this will be used to cover the board). For the width, cut the fabric the window width plus 7". Cut both the decorator fabric and the lining to size.

3. Turn the fabric right sides in and pin together. Pin patter to center of bottom edge of decorator fabric.

4. Cut scallop edge, continuing pattern to end of fabric.

5. Sew fabrics together along sides and bottom edge. Turn right side out and hand-stitch top of valance closed.

6. Cover board with fabric, folding over sides. Staple fabric in place.

7. Hang the valance at the window with L-brackets.

Roller Shade Scallop:

Steps:

1. Decide on the length you wish to make the edging. Cut decorator and lining fabric to desired length plus 1" and the width of the shade plus 1-1/4".

2. Place fabrics right sides together and center the pattern on the bottom.

3. Cut out the scalloped edge and sew the fabrics together, leaving one side open.

4. Turn fabric right side out and stitch 1/2" hem along both sides of the opening (don't sew them together).

5. Slide the fabric "pocket" onto the bottom of the shade, covering the wood slat, and glue to shade with fabric glue. Hang the shade at the window.

Decorating Tips: I have some suggestions about buying furniture, which can be the most costly part of redoing any room.

• Size matters. Choose furniture that is proportional to your room.

• I recommend going neutral with your furniture -- and that doesn't mean beige. Navy, brown, taupe and similar tones can all be neutral.

• Buy classic styles with fabric that has a smooth, tight texture.

• Some great resources are consignment shops, model-home sales, showroom-sample sales and even clearance sales at high-quality furniture stores.
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Campfire Kit
  	Wood Floors and More
  	Color Stains
  	Crafts Quick Tip: Scissors