Ideas and Inspirations from Country Living
Quick, Easy Weekend Projects
Quick Weekend Projects
Have a to-do list of home projects as long as your arm? Now is the time to tackle it. Whether you have five minutes over a weekend or an entire day, you can start (and finish) at least one of these easy improvements. Schedule some quality time with your house -- to finally undertake all those household projects you've been saving up. And you don't need to spend the whole weekend to see results. Here you'll find a roundup of basic maintenance tasks, simple switches, and quick decor updates that can be accomplished in minutes or an hour or two.
If You've Got 1/2 HOUR
Update old furniture with new knobs to create a custom look! Hardware from Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware, and Rejuvenation.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsWendell T. Webber
Keep tabs on your to-do lists with an attention-grabbing binder clip. No. 2 Task Clips; knockknock.biz.
EASY 5-MINUTE UPDATES
1. SWITCH TO ENERGY-SAVING BULBS
Save money and energy by replacing incandescent bulbs around your home with compact fluorescents.
2. INSTALL A LUXURIOUS SHOWERHEAD
Oversized showerheads offer wider coverage and soothing spray. Moen's Isabel model keeps water flowing at a steady pressure. moen.com.
3. LIVEN UP YOUR LAMPS
Give lamps a color or style makeover with new shades from target.com or restorationhardware.com.
4. ORDER NEW ARTWORK FROM HOME
Choose from a variety of artists' works, then select dimensions to fit your room. Artaissance.com custom prints a giclee copy and delivers it to your door.
5. PERFORM A SAFETY CHECKUP
Be sure to check the expiration date on your kitchen fire extinguisher, and also replace the batteries in each smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsWendell T. Webber
5 MINUTES -- Try this super-simple trick to keep cleaning supplies organized and handy:
ROUND UP SUPPLIES
Speed up cleaning tasks by storing wipes and sprays on a lazy Susan inside a cabinet for easy access. Try Oxo's Good Grips 16" Turntable, a generously sized, sturdy option that'll make fumbling around in dark, messy cabinets a thing of the past. oxo.com.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsPhilip Friedman/Studio
5 MINUTES -- Make a numerical statement with stylish new house numbers from customhousenumbers.com.
Simply browse through thousands of fonts in an online library (one is sure to suit your taste), then choose the material and finish you would like.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsPhilip Friedman/Studio
5 MINUTES -- DOOR KNOCKER
This iron lion's-head knocker from hooklady.comcomes in a verdigris finish, but the owner can apply a rustic, hand-painted "aged" patina if you prefer.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsPhilip Friedman/Studio
1/2 DAY-- Do prep work ahead of time -- paint ceiling medallions; have artwork framed and matted -- to make shorter work of the following two projects
INSTALL CEILING MEDALLIONS
For homes not blessed with beautiful plaster moldings, replicate the look with a lightweight plastic version. First paint the medallion to match the room's trim; allow to dry. Turn off electricity and take down the light fixture. Install medallion with screws or DAP's StrongStik adhesive (lowes.com and rehang fixture.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsWendell T. Webber
1/2 DAY -- HANG YOUR ARTWORK
Make a statement with your favorite paintings, drawings, and photographs by massing them on one wall. (Works of similar themes, mediums, or colors look best together.) Trace frames onto paper and cut out, then arrange the templates on the wall until you find a layout you like.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsLucas Allen
1 DAY -- These projects may require more of your time, but the result -- a beautiful home that reflects your personality -- makes them worth the extra effort!
WALLPAPER YOUR CABINETS
Cover the back of your glass-front or open cabinets with wallpaper remnants or pretty contact paper to give collectibles and fine china an elegant backdrop.
TIP: In kitchens, vinyl wallpaper makes for easier cleanup.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsCatherine Gratwicke
1 DAY -- MAKE A HOME DECOR NOTEBOOK
Fill a small notebook with paint chips, fabric swatches, and photos, and keep it with you for mistake-proof home shopping.
HOW-TO -- Organize the book by room, and be sure to note wall and window dimensions. Include pictures of the furnishings you plan to keep in each room along with ideas for possible color schemes, fabrics, and magazine clippings that inspire you.
Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Quick Weekend ProjectsWendell T. Webber
