The Cultivated Home

Over here at CH we are obsessed with stripes.  They are one of our favorite decorative painting applications for any room in your house. Whether they are vertical or horizontal, they add a graphic detail to a room that we can’t get enough of!

We know that tackling this challenge yourself can be difficult, but trust us when we say it is totally doable and well worth the effort.  Just follow these seven easy steps and transform your bedroom, bathroom, or hallway this winter.

Step 1: Tape
Tape the edges of the ceiling, windows, doors, and floor trim.

Step 2: Prep Walls
Using a cloth with water and a little mild dishwashing liquid to wipe down the walls and remove all of the dust.

Step 3: Plan
Whether you want vertical or horizontal stripes, choose the size and direction of the stripes. Vertical stripes work great in most spaces in elongating the room and creating the illusion of a higher ceiling.  Horizontal stripes work in more open spaces.  Calculate the total area of the walls you would like to paint and determine how many stripes will fit in the space at the width you want.

Step 4: Measure
Grab some measuring tape, a level, and a pencil and mark the top and bottom lines of where each stripe will go.  Once you are ready, use the level and mark the distance between each stripe.

Step 5: Tape
Grab that painter’s blue tape again, and place it along the pencil line outside the area to be painted.

Step 6: Paint
Start with an angled brush and paint up to the edge of the tape.  Keep going with the angled brush if your stripes are thin or, if they are thick, grab a roller and paint between the taped-off areas. Continue this in sections until you are finished with the first coat.

Step 7: Apply a Second Coat
Allow the paint to dry and brush on that second coat.  Once all of the stripes have dried again for a few more hours, remove the tape and get ready to rejoice in the fabulous new room you have created yourself!

Still need help? Check out this great video from Channel 4!

Repeat Studio was created by founders, Roisin Fagan and Arounna Khounnoraj, out of their shared interest and love of patterns and hand printed textiles and, we have to agree, it was the right decision for these two to create patterns!  We are head over heels over some of their patterns, including “Poppies”, “Pussy Willow”, and “Fresh Green Grass”.  Besides their brillant patterns, another great part about their fabrics is the fact that they are all printed on eco-friendly fabric with environmentally friendly solvent-free ink.  You can check them out at the Repeat Studio website or at their Etsy store!

We have stumbled upon one of the best secrets in green living – Green Depot! Green Depot is one of the leading suppliers of environmentally friendly products, whether it is building supplies, home products and services, or even home design. They carry products ranging from cleaning supplies, to lighting solutions, to baby nurseries, and even building supplies. Best of all, you don’t have to look far to find it! Not only does Green Depot have an amazing website, they also have many stores across the east coast, in many major cities.

Are you looking for a great piece of wall art but can’t find that perfect one? Are you always snapping shots with your camera or iPhone and wish you could blow it up to create an amazing piece of art for your empty wall? Well, look no further—CanvasPop is the answer to your problems! You can print photos onto canvas from any source and at any resolution and any size. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Upload your image.
2. Choose an image and customize.
3. Your new print is delivered directly to you for your enjoyment.

CanvasPop is a great source for decorating your walls or creating a unique gift for someone you love.

During the holidays we all start to think about family and coming together with the ones we love.  Taking the time to listen to stories from our elders and learn where we come from has become a holiday tradition for many people.  Why not treat the ones we love to a custom family tree that is not just educational but can also be a beautiful piece of art in their home?

We have discovered the great company called My Tree & Me that helps you to create a custom genealogy chart that becomes more of a work of art then a pathway through your family tree.  Started by the amazing designer, Jen O’Neill, based out of Vermont, each piece is a custom giclee and is as easy to create as 1, 2, 3.  Just choose your pattern, fill out the genealogy form, and wait for your beautiful new chart to arrive!  You can also choose to D.I.Y. (do it yourself), and a blank chart can be sent instead.

Great as a gift or just as a unique talking piece in any room, these family trees will make everyone happy.