One large simple rod crosses atop 3 large windows in her living space facing the backyard. Long and tall columns of fabric now frame out the seating area and give height to the room where there was none.Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Panels and Pillows
My sister's chocolate couch is updated with pillows made from remnants of her new triple pinched pleat panels. She loves a large print damask - because of the large repeat in the print we have so much left over.
One large simple rod crosses atop 3 large windows in her living space facing the backyard. Long and tall columns of fabric now frame out the seating area and give height to the room where there was none.
One large simple rod crosses atop 3 large windows in her living space facing the backyard. Long and tall columns of fabric now frame out the seating area and give height to the room where there was none.Custom Slipcover for Barrel Back Chair
This is a "Before" picture of a chair that had an attached buttoned-back cushion that I just removed. It is a nice chair from Ethan Allen, sitting with all kinds of potential in my clients garage. The material and style was outdated but the construction was still great.
Here is a picture of the back of the Barrel-Back chair. Your eye follows the seaming down until you reach the box-pleated skirt. Now the back cushion is separate and not attached without the covered buttons for a cleaner, modern look.


We were able to cover the entire chair and 2 separate cushions with 4 yards. What an update! This gold damask reads as a neutral and could be used anywhere in the home. The slipcover is fully removeable and can be spot-cleaned however, with a material like this one we did not prewash. A like this one starts ay $90 and goes up $30 with each additional cushion. Deconstructing the back of the original design and creating a separate back pillow costs more as well.
We were able to cover the entire chair and 2 separate cushions with 4 yards. What an update! This gold damask reads as a neutral and could be used anywhere in the home. The slipcover is fully removeable and can be spot-cleaned however, with a material like this one we did not prewash. A like this one starts ay $90 and goes up $30 with each additional cushion. Deconstructing the back of the original design and creating a separate back pillow costs more as well.
Cafe Curtains with a Teacup Hook Valance
Here is an excellent "before" picture for this space. Very clean and blank without fabric.
Pretty Little Valance
This client had some roller shades ordered a standard width that turned out too narrow for the windows. A "Dog-earred" valance covers the sides of the windows when the shades are pulled down. The fringe here really pops the color contrast.
A decorative lining material is important with a treatment like this one because it's shown in the folds of the draping.
The entire treatment was stapled to a piece of wood and drilled into the wall. This creates a clean header and you save on drapery hardware.
The entire treatment was stapled to a piece of wood and drilled into the wall. This creates a clean header and you save on drapery hardware.
Relaxed Roman Shade with Arched Window
Pinched Pleat Panels ~ 108" long x4
This Client has tall faux doors that run along the front of her home and lookout onto the front porch the length of her house. On the inside the doors are stained a dark brown and become an architectual element.
This room is a cozy study used to watch television and decorated on the masculine side with handsome accessories and a large mounted Zebra head. The client chose a chocolate houndstooth check in long lined panels with a triple pinched pleat - 4 per panel.
This room is a cozy study used to watch television and decorated on the masculine side with handsome accessories and a large mounted Zebra head. The client chose a chocolate houndstooth check in long lined panels with a triple pinched pleat - 4 per panel.

Dining Chair Update x 12
These clients had 12 dining chairs covered in an outdated material. Choosing a classy solid made for simplifying a busy room visually. The black truly grounded the entire room. What a big difference this makes for not a lot of money. This service starts at $12 per chair. Choosing a small print and you are likely to get 4 chairs out of a yard of fabric.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Baby Boy Bumpers
Swanky Master Bedroom with Tall Ceilings
This Master Bedroom sports ultra tall ceilings so, it was important that the window treatments weren't understated. #1 client chose a wide tonal stripe that reads as a silvery blue. The top photo shows a smaller window we centered a single panel in front of - it is identical to the center panel in the main window.
The 2 outside panels are double width to cover the entire windows at night for the clients. All they do is let the sashes down and the panels fall open. Had we done single width, it wouldn't have appeared as dramatic as it does.
Roman Shades with Inverted Box Pleat
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Tell Santa that you want Custom Window Treatments and Bedding from
The Material Girl
Gift Certificates are now available for Christmas and all occassions!
Any donomination is available and good toward only the labor of your project.
Please tell Santa's elves gift certificates can be ordered easily over the phone and mailed!
The Material Girl
Gift Certificates are now available for Christmas and all occassions!
Any donomination is available and good toward only the labor of your project.
Please tell Santa's elves gift certificates can be ordered easily over the phone and mailed!
205-401-0202 Thanks, victoria
Friday, November 13, 2009
I just did the window treatments in this master and I really think they are suitable for almost any room in the house. I made these cornice boxes for almost nothing using a 12" x 2" and securing them to the wall with teacup hooks! I wraped them in batting for a cushiony look and fastened the fabric around the corners seamlessly like I was wrapping a present.
The windows already had real nice blinds so the treaments did not need to function for privacy or light. Because of this the panels did not need to function so to save even more money there is no rod involved. These are half width "dummie" panels stapled to the other side of the cornice box. The ywill always hang beautifully because they are stapled in place.

Here is a closer look at how the panels just fall from behind the boxes. The materials used are also a neutral tapestry up top and a gorgeously expensive golden dupioni silk for the panels. Lovely choses by my client who tied this whole room together.
Dependent on the size of the window these custom made cornice boxes start at $40 and the panels are as always $1.00 an inch in length per pair -lined!
Luxurious Custom Bedding
Care to know what $42.00 a yard looks like? Well here it is. The main component of this material grouping is a golden taupe silk with a large tonal stitching. It has such a great hand we didn't even line it. The 3 large euro shams are piped in an icy blue dupioni silk to match the reverse of the coverlet, so that when this couple turns down their bed they get a contrasting color. It also helps to break up all the taupe.
Below you see a window to the left of the bed. We did embroidered chenille in brown and blue. A simple pleat across the top keeps the panels from being too busy. I chose a simple antique brass rod and rings not to distract from the beautiful fabric and to coordinate with the pulls on their furniture.

Below is the other double window in the room. We did 2 double width panels so that when the panels functyioned to meet in the center there was still that extra amount of fullness to look nice and not skimpy.
I wanted to show the foot of this sleigh bed because we really love the idea of folding down this expensive coverlet at night for practicality. What keeps the coverlet on the bed? The fitted corners we put to fit thew foot of the mattress. Now they don't have those big floppy triangles flapping on the corners of their bed and gives a more custom look.
Below is the other double window in the room. We did 2 double width panels so that when the panels functyioned to meet in the center there was still that extra amount of fullness to look nice and not skimpy.
A striped material was chosen to create a large bolster pillow. This king is very wide and alot of the pillow forms ready for purchase appeared way too small for this grouping so I chose a large roll of batting to fill the space for less money than a custom ordered pillow. Upholstered buttons secure tightly to the cinched ends of this pillow.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Little's Nursery
This happens to be one of my favorite nurseries! When I first met with the client I was immediatly concerned about all the busy prints she was hoping to incorporate. You can see that she was successful at pulling it all together using the same consistant color palette and a fresh white background. The Curtain panels were hung with grommets on a cream rod. The cloet doors were replaced with the same treatment for easier use of the entire closet. The bumpers are 4 individual cushions made to convert to pillows as their baby girl grows. Handmade ties in orange secure them to the bed.
A floral, a stripe, and a pale print that reads as a neutral come together to make a cheery, unique, and very custom look. Try to find this in stores. My talented client created a piece of art for over the changing table. A contemporary flower inspired, Im sure, from all the beautiful materials.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Before and After of Window
True or False ~ "We have blinds in all of our windows so we don't really need window treatments."
Answer~ False ! Window treatments add so much more to a room than just light filtration and privacy. You can tell a huge difference in this entire room.
We started with 3 store bought panels inherited from another home and split one down the middle to create 2 width and a half panels. They are thicker and more luxurious this way. The panels are hung just on the edge of the window to give the appearance the window is much bigger. So much better.
We started with 3 store bought panels inherited from another home and split one down the middle to create 2 width and a half panels. They are thicker and more luxurious this way. The panels are hung just on the edge of the window to give the appearance the window is much bigger. So much better.
Inexpensive Rod Pocket Panels
These are some very simple unlined "rod-pocket" panels for my little boy's room. Something like this would cost between for $40 and $50 for both panels total. I purchased the material at Joann's for less than $15!
We have done primary colors in this room. Even though there are blinds to block out light, curtains were another opportunity to add color to this room.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
2 wingback chairs
Slipcovered Chaise Lounge
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
October Special
Place an order for any 2 pillows or slipcovers and get one free!
For Example:
Purchase any 2 euro shams or sofa pillows and the third is free!
Slipcover any two dining chairs and the third is free! This means you can slipcover six dining chairs for the price of four!
Slipcover any 2 pieces of furniture and get the third free - of equal or lesser price.
Contact me for details!
owensvm@gmail.com
205-401-0202
For Example:
Purchase any 2 euro shams or sofa pillows and the third is free!
Slipcover any two dining chairs and the third is free! This means you can slipcover six dining chairs for the price of four!
Slipcover any 2 pieces of furniture and get the third free - of equal or lesser price.
Contact me for details!
owensvm@gmail.com
205-401-0202
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Lilly's New Big Girl Room
Big Girl Room with Gorgeous window treatments ~ This pale pink toile with a large print was a great choice for a young girl's room. She will be able to grow with this for years and if they were to move, panels are easily adapted to new windows. I love her pink tu-tu hanging on her closet door!
Here is tiny Lilly in her new " Big Girl Room" ! She is getting a new baby brother so, a new room was in order as well. The gorgeous white slipcovered headboards are a real focal point for the room. They are so fresh and clean. This picture also shows off a pair of new dust ruffles shown again below.
These windows were tricky because they ran right into the corner of the room. 3 panels cover the awkward architecture. We found a ticking stripe that matched the beautiful pink toile and banded out the borders of the panels for a more custom look. The white curtain rods and rings match the new crown molding. 
These twin beds are so girly! The precious white matelasse is plain enough to pull off a really fussy bed skirt. We created a layered ruffle out of a solid pink underneath and a beautiful tulle with tiny pink bows sewn all over it! Looks like a ballerina's tu-tu!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Another great pic of the job below. This is a great headboard the client made herself with only her trusty staple gun - no sewing machine required! -- course I can make one for you too! :)
New box-pleated bedskirt compliments an existing matelasse. I love a vertical stripe in a bedskirt! We prewashed the material so that after it had been sewn it can be easily laundered. An awesome trio of euro shams ties it all together. The large 28" flanged edged shams are $30 a piece for labor alone. They have a finished envelope closure in the back and easily laundered just like the bed skirt. I love the rich print in the center of the stripe.
Those of you who are waiting for the brown and blue craze to end should get over it. Because it is gender neutral and appears so "hotel-chic", it will remain a popular and relaxing choice for bedrooms especially. It is also very relaxing, unlike bolder reds and browns. Maybe a reinvention or fresher spin on this trend is the tanish taupes coupled with the pale blues instead of chocolate brown.
Once a pale lavender guest room and now a new baby girl's nursery - The existing lavender gingham roman shades are "fussied -up" and united by a valance made from a paisley linen. Trimmed in a box-pleated edge made from the same material and draped in all directions this room now appears to be a nursery for a new baby girl.
This is a valance I did for 2 brothers who share bunk beds in their Titans Themed room. Their smart Mommy purchased a store-bought bedskirt that matches the rest of their room, and we made the valance out of that. So simply done. I stapled it to a 2 x 1" piece of wood and drilled it into the wall.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Dramatic Dining Room
Silly me cannot make this image turn but, This is a full look at the treatment. Keep in mind this is x 2 windows. We did panels to the floor united by a swag with rusching that adds some formality to the room than just plain panels would on their own. The homeowners are a fun young couple and though they have a full service dining room did not want it to take on a look that might convey a much older couple was living here. This look reflects them well. 
Kitchen Bay window
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Cheap to Chic Chaise
Kitchen Valance
Okay, so stay tuned because the client wants to send me a pic of this over their kitchen table window. They live in Murfreesboro so we designed this piece around the deminsions of the window. The piece is resting on my table in the pic. I stapled it to a 2 x 1" piece of wood that can be drilled into the wall or above the window casing.
I trimmed the piece in a solid chocolate brown to give the eye a place for the busy print to stop. I always feel like large prints need to be blocked in somehow. We added a bit of permanent rusching to the ends. This keeps the piece from looking like a restangle over the window.
Pay no attention to the messy house in the background!
Pay no attention to the messy house in the background!
recovered ottoman
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Brentwood Hills Church Nursery
One of the Brentwood Hills Church nurseries is now updated! The collection of gliders were still nice and operating well but, the fabrics were faded and stained. 2 coordinating fabrics update and cheer this space into a place a baby boy or girl would love to "pat the bible" in. 2 ottomans were also easily updated to match the cushions. The valance was hung with industrial strength velcro to avouid drilling into the bricko block walls where there was no valance before. Box pleats across the top make a tailored statement. 
2 Euros
Thursday, July 2, 2009
$13 Seating Area
This whole ensemble cost only $13.00!! Can you believe it? At a half price sale at Jo Anne's (my hangout), I purchased 1.5 yards of this outdoor material costing me only $13. I recovered an old ugly cushion from the eighties my mother had. Although it is curved in the front, it fits the bench well. I also recovered 2 ugly pillows that no one had admired in a long time. Without cording I was able to complete the look in less than 2 hours. For this grouping my fee is $40, however the price can go down with multiple cushions and pillows.
Allen's Outdoor Retreat
What you are looking at now is two coordinating materials, one featuring vintage postcards with a polynesian theme and the other a Robert Allen Bamboo that is an awesome neutral for the black furniture.
A swing creates an unexpected seating option to finish out this area. We measured and created a custom foam piece for this swing. Each of the 13 cushions are double welted (cording) with a zipper in the back. Older faded pillows were recovered in coordinating materials to complete the outdoor room.
My Fvorite piece was this labor intensive 3 seat sofa. The Bamboo print is featured nicely here. 
Off to the side of the living area is outdoor dining to match. 6 chairs are updated when we recovered the same cushions with the golden bamboo material. I made the square knot ties to keep the cushions in place. Awesome look that I hope lasts a very long time for the Allens who use it very often.
Off to the side of the living area is outdoor dining to match. 6 chairs are updated when we recovered the same cushions with the golden bamboo material. I made the square knot ties to keep the cushions in place. Awesome look that I hope lasts a very long time for the Allens who use it very often.
Dunn's Dining Drapes
This picture doesn't do this room justice (no offense Julie). Amedium sized window centered in their new dining room was forgettable. We sewd 4 store bought red panels together to create two double width panels. A large rod with wooden rings is more dramatic and traditional. Kyle hung it 3-4 feet out on either side off the window so the new panels cover mostly wall.
Across the bottom we hemmed a 16" border of gold silk. This made the store bought panels appear more dramatic and coordinated well with an existing rug that ties everything in the room together. The gold material was purchased from Victoria's Bargain Basement, Ha! (After years of hoarding material, I have a little to share for cheap). Yeah! Custom drapes out of existing materials in this home.
Across the bottom we hemmed a 16" border of gold silk. This made the store bought panels appear more dramatic and coordinated well with an existing rug that ties everything in the room together. The gold material was purchased from Victoria's Bargain Basement, Ha! (After years of hoarding material, I have a little to share for cheap). Yeah! Custom drapes out of existing materials in this home.Thursday, June 18, 2009
Griffith's Glider & Ottoman
The Griffith's Purchased a glider desined to wear a slipcover. I made this one custom for them without cording or a skirt to be inexpensive and practical for laundering as Logan grows older. They will enjoy this in future nurseries and other rooms of the house later on because it will always be clean and bright due to the durable duck cloth cover. Material cost less than $35 and my fee was around $100 for the chair and ottoman - finished in one day while they were both at work. Thanks for the photo guys!Saturday, June 13, 2009
Black, White and Hot Pink!! w/ a Glider
The is a "before" picture of a Glider that was just fine. It just did not coordinate with the new Baby's bedding, so we slipcovered it with inexpensive duckcloth.
Here is the "After" picture. It now matches the new bedding featured below perfectly! They can remove the slipcover to return to the original chair at any time they wish. This chair and ottoman slipcover with no cording or skirt cost $100.

I wish I had taken a close up of the ruffled hot pink trim we found at textile fabrics. It's like a tuxedo ruffle. It matches our ties perfectly. White is scarey to think about for children's bedding but this will wash well in cold water and air dried. The large black dot is actually outdoor material so it is especially durable. 
I love this simple combination for a black bed!
I did not get to see these in the Black Rod Iron bed they were made for so I placed them on the edge of my son's toddler bed for the effect. I love this combination for the second baby girl in this family. Sweet Baby Girl #2 will be born in Arizona! Good Luck Hardins!
I did not get to see these in the Black Rod Iron bed they were made for so I placed them on the edge of my son's toddler bed for the effect. I love this combination for the second baby girl in this family. Sweet Baby Girl #2 will be born in Arizona! Good Luck Hardins!
White minky dot for the interior is soft for the baby and the large black dot will pop through the black rungs of the crib. Inexpensive hot pink ribbon was easily sewn-on for the ties and coordinates well with the bright stripe in the ruffled crib skirt.
The Miller's New Nursery!
Elliot will enjoy the view from her window framed by these new panels lined with black out material for afternoon napping. The existing blinds do most the work. This material was a splurge so we did half widths for the panels with a small pinched pleat and a sewn-on metal ring.
This is a view of the crib skirt which ties everything together. We repeated the dot from the bumpers on the trim of the pale pink pickay. The thick black ric-rac pops the combination and matches the crib.
Ben and Beth had the room painted the exactgreen from one of the dots in the bumpers. We made cuffs with upholstered buttons for a more tailored look instead of ties. First time I have done this and I really like the look for a change. The interior of the bumpers is the solid pink from the crib's skirt.
Pair of New Chairs ~ Slipcovered
BEFORE~ These matching chairs are remnants from the early eighties. I have cut out the attached back cushions and removed the seat cushions for recovering in new clean material. I cut off the original box pleated skirt as well, so these are the bodies of the chairs bar bones. 
AFTER - We have less than $40 in material because the Murries chose an inexpensive duck cloth that is fully washable and dog friendly. Now the chairs look fresh and new for their new home in East Nashville with gorgeous hardwood floors!
What a transformation! Who knew hand-me-down furniture could look so good? These slipcovers have no cording or skirts so they were extremly affordable to make as well. $90 a piece plus the cost of material.
What a transformation! Who knew hand-me-down furniture could look so good? These slipcovers have no cording or skirts so they were extremly affordable to make as well. $90 a piece plus the cost of material.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Before Pic of Reupholstered Chairs
The seats of the 2 chairs were so old that they were stuffed with horse hair! We repadded them and smoothed out the edges with the awesome coordinating trim seen below in the after pic. Fabric included, the client had less than $200 dollars invested in each chaitr bythe time she was done! Try that at your favorite furniture store.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Large Formal Pair of Roman Shades
The shades are fully operational. They can rest all the way down to cover the entire window or be pulled to about 16" and appear almost like custom valances. The swag in the center of the shades makes them more dramatic and formal.
Please notice "Utah" the resident dachsund as she makes a stately pose in the center of the sofa.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Callie's Big Girl Room
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Reupholstered Chairs
Monday, March 16, 2009
Slipcovered Loveseat
This was one of those really tired looking pieces that was majorly revived by a cheery yellow damask material. A custom slipcover, but you would never guess because the curves have been excentuated. This slipcover cannot be laundered but could be removed for a drycleaning.
I charged $175 for this piece due to the boxpleated skirt and cording along with the corded cushion. Also a busy print like this one makes construction a bit more difficult. A good deal on material could turn your ugly piece in to a show stopper for less than $200.
Friday, March 6, 2009
2 Double Width Panels w/ Interlining
These curtains are the new shot of drama to this living room. The clients wanted "bold" because it is what you see as you enter the home. A large set of double sliding doors let in hot sun and cool air in the winter. I included an insulating interlining to these silk panels with grommets along the header. The interlining will prevent cold air from seeping in during the winter and vice versa during the summer. The grommets keep the look from becoming too traditional for this young hip couple but, are extemely functional for pulling back and forth daily.Thursday, March 5, 2009
Antique Recovered Chairs

These are a pair of great antique chairs Rachel picked up at an estate sale for a steal! Somewhere in my phone I have the before pictures and they have come a long way with the silky, quilted material she chose to cover them. I lais a clean blue lining over all the work done so everything looks really clean and crisp. They make a great showing in her home!Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Tisket, A Tasket.....Custom Bassinette!
A tisket, a tasket, a Baby in a Basket! Check out my friends gorgeous Baby, Mason! She had a neat antique bassinette she wanted to use but, had no linens to go with it, so we reused a large shabby chic curtain as the material! Perfect for keeping baby near by. I made the skirt to velcro onto the base of the basket and the interior liner lifts right out for easy cleaning. 

Tuesday, February 17, 2009
McHaney's Big Girl Room
Slipcovered Dining Chairs with boxpleats
Slipcovering a dining room chair brightens the whole room. This look is certainly popular right now. Any chair works - from a parsons chair to any ladder back chair.
Have you inherited a table and chairs you couldn't care less for but, don't have the money to start over? Duck cloth is less than $3 a yard! These chairs took less than 2 yards a piece.
Slipcovered sofa with 6 cushions
Matthew and Jenny just welcomed their first child, Grant! This slipcover will certainly help out in the future as there will definitly be plenty of messes to clean up in the family room. Now they can throw their whole sofa in the washer if need be!
Look at House Beautifuls February issue. You will see a designer featured from the 60s who was famous for the slipcovered look which is now coming back! The pictures' resemblance is remarkable and for only around $250. We arrived at this estimate because there were 6 individual cushions to cover and the box pleated skirt added to the bottom. Prices vary and estimates are free!
The sofa underneath the slipcover looked lik the dark green pillows we sat on top of the piece. What a contrast! The dark pillows on top keep the piece grounded and create depth otherwise the sofa would just fade away.

Look at House Beautifuls February issue. You will see a designer featured from the 60s who was famous for the slipcovered look which is now coming back! The pictures' resemblance is remarkable and for only around $250. We arrived at this estimate because there were 6 individual cushions to cover and the box pleated skirt added to the bottom. Prices vary and estimates are free!
Jenny and Mathew had a very pretty olive green chenille sofa. Visually it was very dark and heavy in their "light and bright" living room. We used inexpensive duck cloth with an organic linen look to it. Now they can wash their cushion covers if they need to but, they have the versatility of returning to their original sofa whenever they like!
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