➷ Restoration Hardware Decoupage Map ▫Knock Off▫ ➹

 You guys know I'm a fan of Restoration Hardware's Map Art- remember these knock offs from a few months ago ?

Well, I was brainstorming a way to get bigger version of this MAP art- but also trying to figure a way to keep costs low. I figured I could use the same tutorial- {which explains on how to blow up a jpeg image of a map and keep the high resolution.}

But also- I could print off INDIVIDUAL color pages and pay per page rather then paying 60+ bucks for one giant color print off.

 

Which reminded me of this super-sized map art, Decoupage Paris Map, at Restoration Hardware.

They sell a decoupaged reproduction map of Paris for a couple thousand bucks! Crazy!

 Well- if they can mod podge- then so can I.

Here's what you need to recreate the look.

 1] Get your Image: Use this tutorial to get your jpeg images of your map- or whatever else you're blowing up

2] Print'em off: I prefer to print mine off with a laser printer when I'm going to decoupage them. So off to Staples I went. I had them do a couple test sizes- trying to determine how large I could get my map before it got too pixelated- and finally settled on the largest image I could get. 

But you could also go in with specific measurement in mind and that would be easy too.

3] Cut Wood or Canvas: Once I knew how large I could get my map, I had a piece of mdf cut to size.

4]Get you Images Ready: Use a paper cutter to cut off all the excess white boarders on each page

5] Deoupage: Use Mod Podge to decoupage each piece of your map puzzle together. I started in the top corner and worked one at a time. 

Brush mod podge onto your surface, then onto the back of the paper and adhere. Burnish the front of the map- making sure to work out any bubbles.

6] Edges: Either: Wrap the Map around the edges and Mod Podge them down, see where my white arrows are in the above image? That was my overhang.

 or- If your map is too small to do that, you can paint the edges a matching color.

 7] Seal you Map: Use a final coat of Mod Podge to cover the front and seal the work together.

My map ended up being about 3 1/2 feet by 4 1/2 feet- perfect for over the guest bed. Like I mentioned- I wanted it as big as I could get it- without having losing detail via pixelation.

 The placement had me thinking of these pics I had pinned on Pinterest. 

I believe all of these, mine included, are maps of Paris.

The Cost: 

Color Copies: $12

Mdf: $10 {I purchased a small piece to save money}

Hanging Hardware: $6

I already had: Brush, Mod Podge, Paper Cutter, Paint

 RH sells theirs for $1,700 to $2,450. Super rad savings, right?

 

But I did go out and buy a special cleat that allows me to hang heavy art on the wall. I don't need this thing falling on my Grandma when she comes for a visit! ;-) I also used the same type of cleat to hang my headboard in this post- in case you'd like to see what it looks like and how it works. Oh yeah- it cost 10 bucks but you can buy it at Hobby Lobby with a coupon and save 40%.

For any of my more nosey readers- I've mentioned a million times how this room has to "do it all" as a sparebedroom/craft room/ office/storage room. Here you can see how close the desk is. Just keeping it real, folks!

-xoxo-

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Reader Feature: Fabulous French Style Home ✥

Meet Des- she's the darling owner of Peeking thru the Sunflowers. Des blogs about her her vintage and antique finds, projects, and shares inspiring design photos. She has a beautiful home and I don't mind saying I am jealous of her gorgeous furnishings!!
I've asked her to share her living room, family room and her dining room with us today.

 

Here's a view into {what I believe} is her family room. I love the color scheme- and can you believe Des painted that gorgeous armoire herself? It turned out so beautifully!!

Notice her collection of canes in the antique galvanized container? Such a beautiful space- I love the color of this petite sofa and chair.
I looove this shot of her home! Tell me this pic isn't pin-able! SO pretty!

Here you can see into the living room. The two rooms flow beautifully! I love the sconces that you can see in the next room.

 You guys! Just look at this gorgeous space!

 Each detail Des adds is chosen thoughtfully- each piece of art and each accessory.

These pillows were made from some antique grain sacks she had grabbed awhile back. Everyone loves them some grain sacks- so I know you guys will like them as much as I do!

Beautiful architectural details...

 

The rooms flow one into the next downstairs. You can see the dining room in the corner of this pic.

The table was handmade- you can check out the details here. The chairs, however, are from Restoration Hardware.

The dining room is so beautiful and serene. The rooms all feel different and unique but also unified by similar color schemes and window treatments.

This French baker's table holds more vintage collectibles.

Des is one talented lady to compose such a beautiful space. I love all these details.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful home Des! I am humbled to share your space with my friends over here!

As a side note-

When you guys have homes this beautiful I honestly, not for the life of me, can figure out why you follow my lil' blog! It seems crazy to me that anyone would want to see how I decorate my rental condo- when they live somewhere like this!

 {You guys know who I'm talking about- my friends out there- whose homes are beyond gorgeous!} Well, thanks for following, thanks for showing an interest! I'll be back in a day or so with a new project. I hope you guys stop by, and tell Des hi for me!

xoxo

✥ Reader Feature: 3 DIY Projects {That Won't Disappoint!} ✥

My email to Shannon inviting her to share her home today read a little something like this, 

"Shannon- is there any way in the whole wide world that you would be willing to share your super duper amazing projects with my readers so that we could all swoon simultaneously at your ridiculously awesome home and crazy talented selves?- um please?"
 Fortunately for all us regular folk she was able to work this into her schedule- {thanks, Shannon!}

Shannon and Dean have a cute DIY blog where they document projects and updates on their little bungalow- check out their home tour- you won't be disappointed! I asked her to share three projects from the main room in her home- although I had tons of amazing DIY projects I could have chosen from!
✧✧✧✧✧

In case you don't know us, we're Dean & Shannon Acheson and we're the Canadian couple behind the blog, aka design. We love to share our thrifty design finds, organization ideas and affordable DIY projects. When dear sweet Becca asked me to share a few of our projects with you, I happily said yes! The tricky part was timing - we're both so busy! But here we finally are to bring you highlights from a few of our DIY projects.


Union Jack Coffee Table

Our coffee table has been made over twice now ñ the first makeover was painting it and adding the beadboard. You can read about that here.  Would you believe it used to look like this!?!




A bit of a change, no?

Anyway our super handy dandy storage coffee table holds all of sorts of things, which is why we redid it rather than replace it. I prefer to leave the top clear so the kids play board games whenever they like, but found that it looked odd that way before. Now, with the addition of the Union Jack, it looks just fine au natural! (Excuse the winter decor - we tackled this project in January!)




For the full Union Jack Coffee Table how-to, go here.


Restoration Hardware Inspired Shelves




I have to say writing this particular DIY was a little tricky.

Normally our project process works like this: I come up with an idea, draw a rough sketch or show Dean some concept pics; Dean draws a plan and gets to work building; I finish up with paint and styling; and then I write the DIY. The glitch with this project was that Dean built the shelves mostly at work because of the winter weather. So I didn't see how he did it. Which means I didn't know how to write the tutorial. Anyway, we finally sat down together long enough to come up with some instructions. Yay!

Want to know the BEST part? The price of ours vs. the price of the Restoration Hardware shelves:
 

For the full Restoration Hardware Inspired Shelves how-to, go here.


 Rustic Farmhouse Table



This project totally made us want to say "Never Again."

Just kidding.

Sort of.

Let's just say refinishing a dining room table and chairs IN the dining room is a tricky thing! (We donít have a basement or a garage).

Our old pine dining room set was purchased eight years ago from IDOMO in Toronto. At the time it barely fit into our apartment & it had to go up against the wall on one side. When we purchased our townhouse, the set fit into the dining room with just barely enough space to walk around it when the chairs were pushed in.

Fast forward to this house and our dining room is about half of the 300 square foot addition (which also includes our living room), which means it was time to get a bigger set or DIY something with the old one.

And that brings us to this beautiful hunk of handsome that we scored for free!



Our plan was to remove the wood boards from the pallet, build a really large tabletop and reuse the legs from our old table as well as reusing the chairs from the old set.



For the rest of the Rustic Farmhouse Table how-to, go here. 

Thank you, Becca, for having us!

✧✧✧✧✧

They are so talented, huh? I love how Shannon comes up with these awesome ideas- then Dean has the know-how to make'em happen. Of course their knock offs will forever be close to my heart! ;-) I wish I had the skillz to make those shelves- maybe one day....

 Here you can see their dining portion of their living/dining room combo- I just die for the stenciled wall on the back. I think I need one in my bedroom! Of course we love the dining table- but check out the hutch! It was a super incredible makeover- check out this post for the details!

 I am ready to move right into Dean and Shannon's master bedroom. I think their headboard is slightly famous in Blogland- and for good reason! I've seen a lot like this- but there's is absolutely perfect!!

There are so many beautiful spaces in their home- not to mention a zillion great DIY projects! I hope you guys will stop by and show them some love!

✥ Printer's Cabinet ✥

When Z asked me what I wanted for Christmas- 

I showed him a pic of this Restoration Hardware beut and then sent him to The Design Confidential. Yup- he had 2 choices. Drop 2 grand and buy me the gorgeous printer's cabinet- or make it himself. So a few weeks before Christmas we printed off the plans and went to buy supplies.   

Unfortunately that's all the was done on the cabinet for one, two, three, four, now five months. Not that I'm bagging on my man- I am NOT. He's is super, ridiculously busy- working like a madman to finish writing his book. 

Soooo, it was a small miracle when I walked into Downeast the other day and saw "MY" cabinet! Mine- like the very same one I have pinned and repinned, and leave as a pic on my desktop- reminding me tht one day it would be mine!! {all mine!}

The cabinet was marked at 1000- a few hundred more than Z and I figured we would pay to build. But I drag him there anyway- just to "look."

Can you see where this was going? Well Z talked with the sales dude- and in no time he found a way for us to pile up a  few discounts. See- there was a small gouge in the underside of the piece-and instead of the usual 10 percent off- Z worked his magic {he is a world class talker} and we got 2- percent off. Now we are down to 8000- right? 

THen the guy told us there is a local coupon floating around for 10 off. Sayw what? So we put "my" printer's cabinet on hold and set off to find the illusive coupon.

 Long, long story short- we found it. Monday morning I ran in and saved the additional 10 percent and paid  just over 700 for the piece. Proving sometimes- you do NOT have to DIY to get an awesome deal.

I may be in love with it- just a little. 

Downeast makes furniture but they also get castoffs from other brands- things that were returned or damaged. I am 99% sure mine is not from RH- but it's the exact measurements. So to be honest- I could not care less if this guy is brand name or not- it's solid wood- amd just what I wanted.

 In fact, I actually just saw the real RH cabinet this week for the first time- you know what? I like mine better. {Breathe huge sigh of relief!- Ahhh}

Not bad, huh? It's kinda like Christmas over here!

What deals have you gotten lately?

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.