Saturday, August 21, 2010

Disguising Shower Doors


Like many master bathrooms, mine has sliding shower doors, which leaves the bathroom pretty plain and cold looking. To add a layer of interest I bought an extra set of curtain panels to match the bedroom ones (I was lucky to get three matching pairs at a thrift store for $8/pair that are just a little darker than my walls and have a delicious sheen and texture). I purchased a tension shower rod in brushed nickel from Walmart and hung it higher than a standard shower curtain to accommodate the 84" length of the curtain panel (a typical shower curtain at 72" would not have been long enough to cover the door and reach all the way to the floor, but it would work if you are ok with the curtain only covering the doors and the white from the shower surround showing at the bottom). I purchased S-shaped shower curtain rings at Target for less than $10/pack and instead of making button holes in the top of the curtain, I just sewed them tightly in place to the front of the curtain.


A trick I use to make the sewing go faster is to double the thread then thread it through the needle, then double again before knotting, so you're sewing with 4 strands each time you pass the needle through the fabric. Using this method I only needed to stitch through twice before knotting off and moving on to the next ring.

Once I had all six rings in place I just hooked them over the rod, and voila! Instant dressiness and camouflage. I'm still contemplating wallpaper on the ceiling to add some color in here because it's still a little beige, but that's a project for another time.



Friday, August 13, 2010

Back to School (or Not) in Terrific Tartan

It never fails, when the school supplies start hitting the shelves at the local box stores, I wish I were going back to school again. Something about a fresh start, the chance to learn something new, and an excuse to immerse myself. It doesn’t help that by the time August rolls around I’m sick to death of shorts and t-shirts and hot weather and ready to break out the cashmere, jeans, wool, and boots. There are certain classics that never really go out of style and one of my favorites is tartan. Even if you’re not going back to school, you can incorporate a bit of this classic collegiate style into your wardrobe and let it inspire you to new heights, fashion or otherwise.

Nobody does American classic better than Ralph Lauren, even when he’s imitating a classic Scottish kilt. Paired with a cashmere turtleneck or Irish fisherman sweater you have a look that is classic, tailored, British aristocracy meets American country.




If  you prefer a more modern twist, Morgan McFeeters gets it just right with this black and wine tartan dress. Perfect for the boardroom, but pair with stilettos and fishnets and it's the tartan twist on the little black dress.


If you’d rather just accessorize in tartan, the Dooney & Bourke Gwenny bag is a nice choice, and how cute are these tartan shoes from shop.com? They can make them for you in over 500 (yes, 500!) different tartans so you can choose your favorite or pick one that is significant to your family heritage.            



So whether you're going back to school this fall or just looking to refresh your wardrobe and maybe get a fresh perspective and some inspiration to make a new start on some aspect of your life, consider this timeless classic to update and engergize your look and your spirit.



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