DYI: Curtain *Short Cut* & The Story of a Bench

When we first moved in it was glaringly apparent that we would need some sort of heavy drapes to sleep past sun up. Our bedroom has a full So. Cal southern exposure. This picture was taken mid day with no flash. That's bright sun!


I fell in love with these rusty red velvet drapes at Cost Plus World Market. They were a steal at $40.

The only problem was this...


The length was a good foot too short.

Oh sure, I thought about adding some coordinating fabric to the bottom, but I just couldn't find the right thing. However, my father taught me "there's always more than one way to skin a cat."

My DYI solution: a slick coat of black paint and a fine cushion! This bench was ready to keep my short curtain secret! The cushion was super simple. I bought foam cut to the right length and wrapped it in fabric. I used tape to hold it together package style as I stitched each part in place. Pictures of my super easy bench cushion cover directions are here.

Actually, this bench/trunk does have an interesting love story and I will spill it now.

Not surprisingly, it came to me by way of the curb. My upstairs neighbors were evicted moving in a hurry and they left a somewhat flimsy scrapped together chest on the curb. I snatched it right up and took it into my room. It was the perfect thing to store some odds and ends in.

A few years later I got interested in feng shui and read the book Move Your Stuff Change Your Life. Come to find out, this cheapo chest was sitting in my "relationship corner." To make matters worse, it had become the catch all for photo albums and stuffed animals from boyfriends past. No coincidence that my biggest complaint at that time was meeting the same kind of non-committed guy over and over again.

Well, it didn't take long for me to get a trash bag and dump those poison possessions!

I filled the bench with my salt and pepper shaker because symbolically they are paired forever. I also hung a picture of Klimt's The Kiss.

Not too long after I met Cliff again. He was my first kiss and the love of my life. You can read our better than a Hollywood movie story here.

Oh, and just to top it off, a few years ago my dear friend Lisa worked with the author of Move Your Stuff Change Your Life , Karen Rauch Carter, and I got to meet her. I also gave video testimony of this very story!

Recently my bench has received a new directive and will be reporting to duty on the balcony very shortly. I have plans for new curtains and new storage for those salt and pepper shakers. Stay tuned!

For more great DYI inspiration check out DYI Day at ASPTL!