It's always nice to see the people who win their competitive reality show succeed. Kim Myles on Myles of Style, or Michael Symon as the new Iron Chef are great examples of that. After catching up on some recorded episodes of Myles of Style this morning, we were really taken with a few projects that were presented. We will show you 2 of them today (look for the other one later)... click through the jump to see the first!
This episode of Myles of Style, started out like many others. Two busy people have a room that hasn't come together design wise. Kim Myles steps in and saves the day, transforming their space into a warm and cozy place to hang out. Awww.
On this particular episode Kim took built in bookshelves (painted white) and gave them a boost of color to make them a focal point in the room.
Kim cut mdf to fit in the back of each shelf on the bookcase (although almost anything would work). She then painted them flamingo pink and sat down with her homeowner (don't you just love it when the homeowners pitch in to help, and the women scream each time the nail gun goes off?).
Myles decided that aside from just painting the backer boards, that she wanted to use washers to give each one a textural element. At this point we were a bit worried (even the best projects have the ability to turn south quickly), but it turned out to be a fabulous look in the end. Check out the steps below to create your own "washer backboard" for your bookcases.
Kim busted out the ruler and made small "x's" every six inches or so. She then placed a single washer so the X was showing through the hole. Next glue is applied to the backs of washers, which are then placed at North, South, East and West around the middle washer. In the episode, Kim used a standard Craft glue. Just make sure that the glue you use will hold the weight of the washer firmly in place.
The middle washer is then removed. Remember to allow the washers around the outside time to dry before removing the middle washer. It will have a tendency to slide as you pick it up.
Don't forget to keep a small bit of touch up paint on hand to cover back over your X that was marked. Or if having to struggle with touch up paint doesn't sound like the best idea, a hole punch and a post it note would also do the trick. Simply punch, stick and remove when done! No touch ups needed.
The finished piece not only gives pattern and texture to the room, but the reflections off the washers from the lamps made a nice glow and sparkle to the room (without looking like a Disco Ball).
All in all it's a great project to keep in the back of your mind. Maybe washers aren't up your alley, and maybe pink isn't either. But the idea adding warmth to a space where there normally wouldn't be any brings balance to their accessories, books and other items on the shelf.
Photo of Kim Myles provided by HGTV
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I really like the effect but I am envisioning them falling off and having to re-glue.
view OliviaV's profile
Very nice for folks who have plenty of shelving and few books.
view bepsf's profile
Here, here, bepsf! Every time I see the suggestion to paint the interior of a bookcase, I always think, "Who is going to notice that half-inch strip on each shelf above all the books?"
That said, the design looks nice and perhaps it could make its way into some other element in my home.
view hmr's profile
I'm sure this looks cool on camera... but I couldn't possibly imagine this looking like anything but a bunch of washers glued to a painted piece of board in person.
view hejiranyc's profile
ooh, this was a great makeover. i really liked it.. and the sofas were to die for
view animalhouze's profile
I agree, not fond of this type of DIY thing, and thinking of how annoying it would be to take the washers and traces of glue off a few years from now when you're fed up with it. I really think it's better to do something that can really last, visually as much as technically.
view Daniel Poitiers's profile
Or one could simply paper over the backing with a wall/ wrapping paper that had some kind of design- sparkle or not- and save the time and glue gun mess.
view MelissaLeigh's profile
Yup, I agree with Melissa and Daniel. It is a neat temporary treatment for a tv show. I see them slipping off and then you have some weird glue ring.
view OliviaV's profile
If you use the right glue there is no chance of them falling off and since they didn't do it on the actual bookcase but on MDF boards all they have to change the look is pull the MDF boards. I wish people actually read how this was done before making comments. The chances of these falling off with the right adhesive are slim to none. It's not like they are using elmers.
As for them not being seen I have a wall of built in square bookcases that in a wall space that is 15 feet wide by 11 feet high and even with a large library of books we still use some the shelves for display as do many people.
view TheoJ's profile
I did read the entire article, and I still feel the same way. ;0)
view OliviaV's profile
I'm going to agree this looks special for tv, but in person it would look obvious and goofy. Washers just don't look that nice. The good part about this project is that it was done to board that can be removed and not directly to a piece of furniture. Paper and fabric would have been a nice treatment, but I think we all know about it so tv shows have to keep inventing new projects.
In the end, I would take this project as an inspiration, but not use common washers. I have a problem with people who think nobody can tell when "a perfectly acceptable substitute" is actually made of cheap crap. Christopher Lowell (is he still on anything?) used to do it with cardboard and duct tape, etc. "No-sew" staple gun, glue gun, slap a coat of paint on some plywood and "nobody can tell the difference." UGH. I would adapt this idea, because it is a valid thought, but I would not copy it directly in the materials division because it is half-assed and fools nobody but other fools.
view K T G's profile