Design*Sponge » kate pruitt

diy project: ikea blankö woven jute table

grace — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:00:23 +0000

last week’s project really got me excited about woven materials. creating a simple weave is so easy (over, under, over, under…), but it creates amazing texture and a nice handmade touch. i spotted these new ikea blankö stools (so new they don’t seem to be online yet) in a gorgeous tomato red and an equally perky sky blue. i immediately felt inspired for spring, but i felt the stool could use some organic detail, and something to break up all the red. i bought a spool of jute twine at the hardware store and a few hours later…voila! i plan to use the stool indoors as a fun side table, but i think it would be equally appealing as outdoor seating. the weaving takes a bit of patience, but like most of my projects, it makes a good movie time activity (i watch waaayyy too many movies, i admit). have fun! -kate

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: woven cork ikea skala tray

grace — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:30 +0000

ikea really does have some amazing finds! while i do love some of their more unique, signature products, my favorites are the very plain, simple accessories; they allow you to customize them in so many ways to fit your own style. they beg for hacking! i’ve had my eye on the skala tray ($14.99) for a while. i love its clean form, and at first the simple beech wood was appealing to me, but when i brought it home i found it disappeared among the more eclectic objects in the bedroom. with a cork roll and some spray paint, i have made a totally transformed tray that is perfect for my bed activities: reading, snacking, drinking tea, using my computer – i admit that i have a tendency to set up camp in bed sometimes. if serving yourself tea in bed isn’t your thing, you could also hang this tray from a ribbon and have a message board! this project takes only an hour or so, and is great for a rainy, snowy day. have fun!! – kate

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: kate’s ikea signe rug ottoman

grace — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:15 +0000

i am going to experiment with a new theme this year, which i might pull out every once in a while: all-in-one shopping trips!* the month of projects will be devoted to transforming/hacking objects from one store into brand new designs. i happened to live a stone’s throw from the hackable mothership that is IKEA, so it is my first stop. but stay tuned for months ahead that might feature thrift shops, the grocery store, the dollar store, and others. if you have any shop suggestions, feel free to let me know!

this first project reveals my obsession with ottomans. i could have a whole room of poufs, stools, and ottomans, but that wouldn’t be super functional would it? oh well. this ottoman is actually super functional; not only does it act as a seat or a table, but it acts as secret storage! i have chosen to store my extra blankets and large fabric samples in it, but you can choose to make yours a more permanent fixture by stuffing it with a few inexpensive duvets. these cheap rugs come in a huge variety of striped patterns, all of which lend themselves to coordination. there is no wrong combination in my opinion. have fun! -kate

* the title is a tiny bit misleading, because the projects will require some supplies (tools, paint, etc) that you either hopefully have on hand or might need to get from the hardware or craft store. but the heart of the design will stem from the object from the store.

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: kate’s cold weather picnic pack

grace — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:00:34 +0000

my sister lives in grace’s neck of the woods (prospect heights, brooklyn), and she was telling me on the phone the other day that she and her boyfriend went for a walk in prospect park after the big snow. they watched snowball fights and dogs romping; it sounded like a perfect winter moment, and made me quite jealous of all you new englanders (i know some of you may shake your shovels at this…i admit it. like a true NH to CA convert, i tend to romanticize the winter weather when i don’t have to live through it. guilty as charged!). i decided to create a project for those of you who might be able to enjoy a “cold weather picnic” of sorts. this is a cheap project found mostly in the thrift shop: a few belts, and old purse, a blanket and a thermos. but the result looks pretty luxurious, and it will last a long time. you can attach some mugs and fill your pack with cookies, hot cocoa, and a book; hopefully you can steal a few scenic moments in the snow before it melts. have fun!! – kate

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: rubber lace coasters

grace — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:00:22 +0000

the other day i was walking through my local hardware store looking for fun new materials, and as usual i was not disappointed; in the contact paper aisle i found these awesome rolls of grip drawer lining made of foam rubber! the material is non-adhesive and easy to cut with scissors, but the best thing is that you can easily wipe it clean with a damp cloth, making it a perfect material for coasters or place mats. these are quick to make and super inexpensive, especially if you already own a craft punch. if you don’t want to make this design, or if you want to do a place mat instead, you can really cut these into any kind if silhouette or shape you want using scissors or a craft knife for a clean cut. have fun! -kate

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: valentine lightbulb

grace — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:00:03 +0000

i know a lot of people find valentine’s day to be a commercialized, over-hyped, pressure-cooker of a holiday (um, take it easy with the chocolate aisles, drug stores). in my mind though, valentine’s day is great because such little things can make huge statements on this romantic day. pretty much any act of kindness carries with it a bigger message of love: a note on the counter, an extra long hug, a favorite food in the fridge, etc. so with the “little gifts” concept in mind, i bring you this valentine’s day light bulb. a subtle love note tucked inside a pretty glass bulb, this can hopefully be displayed year round, and have longer lasting power than a dozen roses (not that i’m knocking roses). the other awesome part of this project is that once you’ve hollowed out a light bulb, the possibilities are endless for future projects: mini terrarium? check. handmade snow globe? check.. go crazy!

also, if the wire sculpture is a bit intimidating to you, put a small message or little drawing on a tiny scrap of paper and attach it to are strand of wire, then suspend that in the bulb…instant success! remember, cute is king on st. valentine’s day… have fun! -kate

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: hidden jewelry box

grace — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:00:16 +0000

grace mentioned to me that jewelry storage is a hot topic for a lot of readers, so i set to work brainstorming some possibilities! i realized that there are basically two camps: people who like their jewelry on display (neatly of course), and people who like to hide it away (also neatly). so i am going to do two diys for jewelry storage that can satisfy both camps. the first is an attempt at hidden storage, which in this case is a mega top-secret, ninja-spy, behind-the-painting deal. i’ve always loved the idea of secret hiding places in fat old books, under rugs, and behind old paintings. this is pretty easy to rig up, especially if you have an old painting with a nice wood frame, but really any picture with a relatively wide wood frame will do fine. if you feel like you have too much jewelry to fit, this can also be a great way to store keys and mail by the entryway. or you could pair it with a nice leather bound book with a secret cutout container. have fun! – kate

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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monday diy special: kate’s menu binder

grace — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:44 +0000

[hi guys! i'm so sorry for the delay on kate's project. my blogging schedule got all mixed up when i was in salt lake so we're going to post kate's project from last week today, as a special monday diy treat]

hey everyone! i am back with another organization helper for your kitchen (and your tummies). this one might be a little controversial (who has the time to do this?! isn’t this a little too organized?). but i must tell you from experience that when we have people over and decide to order out, they are genuinely mega-impressed with this organized little binder. plus, every time we flip through it, saving ourselves from rummaging through a drawer of papers to seek out the elusive pizza menu, our stress level decreases. trust me, it’s worth the effort to make this binder if you get take-out with any regularity. if you don’t order out very much, i salute you and your cooking skills, and i also encourage you to use this method to store online recipes or those clipped from magazines, which also have a knack for crowding our drawers, getting lost, and making us feel messy! i hope this project is of use to some of you. have fun! – kate

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: kate’s grocery planner

grace — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:00:29 +0000

unfortunately, the beginning of 2010 has me battling an epic cold, so the first few diys are going to be simple, mellow projects that you can do on a sick day or in front of a movie. i know that resolutions are kind of overwhelming, but i find that taking the time to complete a couple organization projects early really helps things go easier throughout the year.

i purchased one of those grocery list pads one year and while it was very cute, i found problems with it. it had a lot of things i never buy and not enough space to add things i always buy (like soy sausage and earl grey tea). plus the pad was so heavy it ripped and fell of my fridge…bummer. so i thought it would be fun to make a personalized grocery planner that i will always want to use because it is specific to my needs. i made a menu format and a simple list format; i plan to try out both. the majority of time spent on this project was on the computer, typing up the right list. after that, the cute clipboard and matching pen box are a snap. the pen box also holds all grocery receipts to help with budgeting: an organizational bonus! here’s to a healthy organized 2010! (as i cough and blow my nose for the hundredth time…) have fun! -kate

*DOWNLOADABLE versions of kate’s lists have been added below!

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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diy project: kate’s log buttons

grace — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:00:45 +0000

here’s a last minute idea for your gifts- wrapping them or making them! these log slices take mere minutes to complete if you have a saw and drill handy. you could also ask your local lumberyard to cut them for you if you don’t have a saw, because it’s just a few quick slices. you can add these to gifts or cards as extra decoration, or add them to sweaters, scarves or hats for a nice organic touch. i hope you have safe, relaxing, and happy holidays everyone! see you in january!! – kate

note: the screen printed faux bois wrapping paper is available from blankspace gallery in oakand.

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

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