The Painted Home by Dena

Patterns, Textures, and Colors for Inspired Living

Dena Fishbein

• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori & Chang
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781613123942
• Topic: Design
• Subtopic: Decorative Arts

A renowned designer shares surprising ways to add color, texture, and creativity to your home. In this beautifully illustrated book, the woman behind internationally acclaimed merchandise company Dena Designs shows how her hand-painted style combines vintage and traditional elements with a modern twist. Pick up a paintbrush and take a walk through the author's own home, room by room, as she discusses her inspirations and demonstrates her methods for encouraging creativity. The Painted Home by Dena features simple DIY projects, useful design tips, and personal stories from one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the textile and design business.

ENTRYWAY

’ve always believed it’s not what you say that matters as much as how you say it and the way you make people feel when you’re talking to them. The same can be said of your home: When someone visits, you want them to feel good, welcome, and at ease. If your house is relaxed, they’ll be relaxed. If you’re content and happy in your space, others will be, too.

The entryway sets the tone. Ours is a sunny yellow. I knew that I wanted the walls to be a warm, inviting color, but it took me some time to figure out the rest. When I decorate, I often work a step at a time. In this room, I painted the background color first and lived with it for a while. A month or so later, I decided to add the vines, leaves, and flowers. I love painting vine patterns because they are free-form; they do take some practice, but it’s lovely to sketch the design and not need to make sure everything is perfect and evenly spaced.

Working in stages takes the pressure off. The beauty of this method is you don’t have to do everything at once—nor does every project have to be huge. When a partial idea comes to you, go with it! If you’re not sure what to do next, let go for a bit. If you discover you don’t like what you’ve done, you can add more or take away—later. When it comes to decorating, remember that most things can be changed easily.

Simple, thoughtful touches—whether purchased or homemade—reveal who you are and what’s important to you. In our entryway, family and friends are greeted by colorful details. The delicate tole chandeliers are flea market finds; we have a set of two we found years apart but they are a perfect match. The cheerful assortment of hand-sewn pillows and the pretty porcelain plates add color and pattern. Like the opening of a garden path, this space is practical, yet inviting. It’s a point of entry … and a hint of what’s to come.

Salt-and-Pepper-Shaker Tassels

Add some vintage charm to your curtains, your Christmas tree, or the key to an armoire! Salt-and-pepper-shaker tassels can be used to embellish all sorts of things.

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GATHER:

Wire cutters

26-gauge wire

Salt shaker and pepper shaker, preferably vintage

Beads in a variety of sizes

Glue gun and glue sticks

Fabric adhesive, such as Fabri-Tac

1 yard cotton bullion fringe

Small-tipped scissors

Variety of decorative trims

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CREATE:

1. Cut a piece of wire about 12 inches long. Thread the wire into the hole at the bottom of the salt shaker and then up through one of the holes at the top. Leave a 4-inch tail of wire at the bottom of the shaker.

2. Thread a small bead (one that won’t slip into the shaker hole), a medium bead, a large bead, and another medium bead onto the wire at the top of the shaker. Continue to thread tiny beads onto the wire until you have enough to create a loop.

3. Thread a large bead onto the wire, then insert the end of the wire into the other hole at the top of the shaker and back down through the bottom hole. Both ends of the wire should now be coming through the bottom hole.

4. Twist the two wire ends together until the beaded loop is held firmly in place.

5. Trim the ends and use a glue gun to adhere them to the bottom of the shaker.

6. Place a line of Fabri-Tac along the top edge of the bullion fringe, then roll the fringe up tightly. Continue rolling the fringe until it is the same diameter as the bottom of the shaker, making a perfect tassel.

7. Use a glue gun to adhere the tassel to the bottom of the shaker.

8. Use a glue gun to adhere decorative trim around the top of the tassel where it meets the shaker. Add additional trim as desired.

9. Loop a small piece of trim through the beaded loop to hang.

10. Repeat with the pepper shaker.

EYE CANDY: From a choice, one-of a-kind piece to a quirky collection, wow your guests with something that’s fun and interesting.

A cheerful pile of homemade pillows seems to say, “Come in, sit down, and make yourself at home!”

SET THE TONE: Establish whatever style or feeling you want to evoke in the entryway, where visitors get their first impression of you and your home.

Danny and I found this vintage tole chandelier at the flea market.

Reverse Appliqué Pillow

Reverse appliqué is a fun and easy sewing technique that can be used to make the prettiest of pillows.

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GATHER:

Fabric pencil

Store-bought solid-colored pillow cover

Assortment of patterned fabrics

Pins

Needle

Embroidery floss

Small, sharp scissors

Buttons, beads, and trims (optional)

Pillow form

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CREATE:

1. Use a fabric pencil to draw simple shapes directly on the pillow cover. Make sure the shapes aren’t too small or intricate, and leave at least ½ inch between each of them.

2. Back each shape with a piece of contrasting fabric pinned on the wrong side of the pillow cover with the pattern facing the fabric. The pinned fabric should be least 2 inches bigger than the shape it’s backing all the way around.

3. Following the fabric pencil outline of the shape, sew the two layers of fabric together with a running stitch of brightly colored embroidery floss. A running stitch is a simple over-and-under stitch. You can decide how long or even the stitches should be.

4. With small, sharp scissors, cut out the solid-colored shape to reveal the patterned fabric below. Cut ⅛ ...