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Crafty Homes Unleash a Wildly Creative Spirit
Mix an offbeat aesthetic with a DIY demeanor, and what have you got? One-of-a-kind homes with a sense of design adventure
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel... More »
You don't have to be a glue gun genius or a sewing superstar to have a crafty home. And you certainly don't need a 500-square-foot craft room, either. All you really need is a sense of adventure, some imagination and a little DIY gumption.
To me a crafty home is deeply personal. It's not about gluing ribbon on everything or decoupaging the wastebasket (although go for it if you want to do these things). It's about handmade, unique pieces that reflect the resident's specific aesthetic, sense of humor and history. And it's about a can-do attitude. It's homemade headboards, weird collections, layered fabrics and going your own way.
Some of these 18 photos are of specific craft projects, others simply reflect a crafty DIY aesthetic — colorful, intentional and beautiful.
To me a crafty home is deeply personal. It's not about gluing ribbon on everything or decoupaging the wastebasket (although go for it if you want to do these things). It's about handmade, unique pieces that reflect the resident's specific aesthetic, sense of humor and history. And it's about a can-do attitude. It's homemade headboards, weird collections, layered fabrics and going your own way.
Some of these 18 photos are of specific craft projects, others simply reflect a crafty DIY aesthetic — colorful, intentional and beautiful.
by Nicole Lanteri
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A crafty home is often an eclectic home. And an old chair with some bright new fabric is a sure sign you've entered the home of someone who knows their way around a staple gun.
See how to re-cover a chair seat
See how to re-cover a chair seat
by Tamar Schechner
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Good ideas, like painting the stairs spring green, coupled with found objects, like this old cabinet that's been stripped to shabby chic perfection, are major craftiness indicators.
See more of this colorful house
See more of this colorful house
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A crafty room never looks like something you could walk into a store and buy. It's always one of a kind and highly personal.
by decordemon
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Matching, but not exactly. These chairs, painted and upholstered to match one another, are stylish and fun and probably cost less than $150 all together.
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The signs of a creative mind at work are everywhere.
by Ninainvorm
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Eclectic, colorful and a little bit kooky (notice the dress in the dining room and the desk lamp on the table).
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by Ida Lifestyle
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Bright colors, handmade objects and found furniture, all combined with intention and forethought.
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| The quirky with the mundane: an Ikea console covered in a bright runner, a Craftsman couch facing a modern sofa, old-fashioned quilts and modern patterns. It's a mishmash that works. Take a tour of this barn house |
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by Holly Marder
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| Use your talents for good: Can you sew, knit, crochet or build? Put your skills to work in your home. I love this white room with spots of colorful crochet. It's a modern version of Grandma's house. |
by Monica Ewing
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Clever, Crafty Projects
Embellish a simple paper lantern with pom-poms or other trim.
Embellish a simple paper lantern with pom-poms or other trim.
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Art from the everyday: a paint-chip collage.
| Homemade balloon shades: just ribbon and fabric. |
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| A formerly blah brown planter dipped in yellow paint becomes a lovely modern piece. |
by decordemon
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A vintage suitcase with a pillow and some legs is a supercute dog bed.
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An old frame with corkboard instead of art makes a fun and elegant place to tack ephemera.
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Crafty types know that objects have many uses. There is no reason a tiered serving dish can't hold jewelry.
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Comments
megaelarsen It's a fine line between crafty and messy. But most of these are wonderful.
8 months ago · Like
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Rough Linen The whole point is that a crafter is in communication with her home, they interact. It doesn't matter that much what the result is, the point is the relationship. That is intimacy.
8 months ago · Like
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smoore I'm not crafty at all but I just might fake it to get that suitcase/dog bed! What a cute, unexpected use for old luggage.
8 months ago · Like
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Darzy I'm not too crafty either but I wish I'd kept my old Samsonite luggage for a dog bed. Too cute.
8 months ago · Like
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robinsoquel So so many great ideas. I am wildly inspired. Already pulled out some fabric to start some shades and pillows! Thanks.
8 months ago · Like
Lanie Brown I join the I'm-not-crafty club, but y'know what? I decided to paint a little dresser to use for extra storage because I just couldn't bear the alligator green with old blue showing through. Through the process, which I'm sure took far longer than it needed to, I kept exclaiming, "I'm a bad painter." But now that it's done - except for refastening the hardware, so it's really not done yet - it looks quite cute! Ya just gotta try and figure No big deal if it's not a masterpiece.
8 months ago · Like
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Casart Coverings I admit it; I admire but am envious of creative people!
8 months ago · Like
Peggy Aronson Thanks for this creative ideabook. You made me smile!
8 months ago · Like
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Heather Love this idea book! Very pintresty and fun! Thanks for posting it
8 months ago · Like
cococolville I think I may need to show these pics to my husband, just to show him that our house isn't nearly as wacky as he thinks! There are plenty of others out there like me! (And yes, the dog DOES have to be in every picture. Take out the camera and there she is...) 
8 months ago · Like
cococolville I think I may need to show these pics to my husband, just to show him that our house isn't nearly as wacky as he thinks! There are plenty of others out there like me! (And yes, the dog DOES have to be in every picture. Take out the camera and there she is...) 
8 months ago · Like
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shawnaleeah Love. :)
8 months ago · Like
cococolville Sorry bout the repeat and sideways pic...stupid phone.
8 months ago · Like
shawnaleeah Loved the tiered serving dish idea. Happened upon one at a garage sale today and now I have my own!
8 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Sept. 17, 2012.
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