Best DIY Ideas to Steal From the AT:Chicago House Tours

Best DIY Ideas to Steal
From the AT:Chicago House Tours

Click on the Thumbnails to View all 8 Projects

Many of the homes featured in our housetours have included clever decorative DIY projects - ingenious solutions from the simple to sublime. We pulled eight of our favorites from over the years, such as Summer's wallpaper panels and Dana's gold ceilings to Shannon and Emmett's recycled stair tread shelving and Alan's leather fireplace surround. Check out the photos above and jump below for the links:

Top Row, left to Right:

1) Wallpaper Panels with Molding:Summer and Josh's Pumped Up Traditional
2) Leather Covered Fireplace Panels:Alan's Andersonville Loft
3) Hand Painted Target Curtains:Jessica and Alex's Simple Modern On a Budget
4) White Back Painted Glass Fireplace Surround:Meg and John's Big City Home
5) Shelving made from Recycled Stair Treads and Plumbing Supplies: Shannon & Emmett's From Factory to Family

Bottom Row, left to right:

6) Plate Collection as Kitchen Decor: David's Andersonville Apartment
7) Gold Ceiling: Dana's Sunny Logan Square Apartment
8) Dining Chairs Reupholstered with IKEA Fabric: Amy's Vintage Modern Nest

Check out our full House Tour Archive for more inspiration.

Comments (16)

Can anyone advise me on where one can get recycled stair treads in Chicago? They don't seem easy to come by.

(I've been coveting that bookshelf for a long time... they are completely lovable.)

posted by s-particle on February 16th 2009 at 3:33pm
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I am in love with the rooms submitted by Summer and Josh.

posted by wister5 on February 16th 2009 at 3:53pm
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My favorite color right now is totally YELLOW! And just look at what is on Apartment Therapy! I can totally did the wallpaper as a focal point in this room... Simple and Sweet!

Thank you for letting me Post a Comment,
Rudy with Yourfurniturelink and Mortise & Tenon LA

posted by mortisetenon on February 16th 2009 at 6:26pm
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I'm lusting after the gold ceiling....wonder where I could put that...

http://embritadesign.blogspot.com

posted by EmmieB on February 16th 2009 at 6:43pm
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I love the yellow floral wallpaper panel! What a great focal point!

posted by Kelly@Color Sizzle on February 16th 2009 at 6:46pm
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can anyone tell me where I can get a white chrystal ornate chandelier like that?

posted by scydream on February 17th 2009 at 12:48pm
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Summer and Josh's post is pretty much amazing

posted by wampler on February 17th 2009 at 4:41pm
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I love these shelves, too, and happened to come across instructions for some similar shelves at Instructables.com.

The shelves there are floor to ceiling, so there are no wall attachments as there must be for Shannon and Emmetts shelves. But it's still a good start:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Zero-Point-Shelf/

The Instructables version will work better for me as I've been thinking "room divider" anyway.

The method would work with any sturdy boards -- hard wood shelving, MDF, old stair treads, slabs of Ikea butcher block, old doors...

posted by ZuleikaD on February 23rd 2009 at 2:20pm
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sigh. that white chandelier. so lovely.

posted by Maryam in Marrakesh on February 25th 2009 at 6:53pm
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Here is a great article with links to some easy DIY projects.
http://www.mydesignsecrets.com/2009/02/19/easy-do-it-yourself-projects/

posted by MyDesignSecrets1 on March 6th 2009 at 11:13am
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How exactly is a gold ceiling "DIY"?

posted by jaf on March 6th 2009 at 9:52pm
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hi i love to see these pictures.Its really cute guys !i amazed with the design..Hi I really thankful to you because you are simply greatI am very happy to post my comment in this blog. I gathered lot of information from this site. Nice blog.
Dating Melbourne

posted by lorrie78 on March 19th 2009 at 6:29am
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jaf: They painted their tin ceiling gold. I guess they could have used gold leaf too.

posted by webherring on April 3rd 2009 at 11:52am
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I love the combination of pillows on the couch!

posted by Fiola on April 6th 2009 at 11:32pm
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i LOOOOOVE that first picture with the wallpaper in the living room. soooooo gorgeous! reminds me of the much missed domino magazine!

kindly,
vintagedress
www.vintagedress.etsy.com

posted by vintagedress on July 13th 2009 at 12:54am
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You can find similar white chandeliers at Home Depot these days... another great DIY tip, buy a regular chandelier with great lines that you love or can afford, then spray paint it white...

posted by DialJforJake on August 5th 2009 at 10:26am
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