Katie Steuernagle

Apartment Therapy contributor and manic crafter. Float like a butterfly, sting like bedazzler.
See What a DIY Painted Leather Sofa Looks Like Six Months Later…
Remember this sofa that used to be black that I painted brown? This photo is from last July. Are you curious to see how it held up after six months of constant wear from three kids, a cat, and a husband who naps on it nearly every evening? It looks pretty much exactly the same! I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how the paint would hold up over time and with a lot of use, but I am truly happy with the results.
Dec 21, 2016
DIY a Deal: Make Your Own $329 Agate Accent Table for Under $60
There’s a particularly gorgeous $329 accent table at CB2 right now that I can’t buy because I should really pay the mortgage this month, so I made a super easy DIY version. Sure, it doesn’t come close to the cast aluminum bamboo-shaped legs of the original, but did I mention it was cheap and easy? The top is inspired by blue agate, and if you sit far enough across the room while you drink your gin and tonic, the legs resemble something like bamboo.
Dec 13, 2016
DIY Project Test Lab Results: We Painted a Leather Sofa and Here’s What Happened
This sofa used to be black, but I painted it brown. You can see how it looks, but I know what you’re thinking. Did it rub off on your pants? How does it feel? Is it stiff? Is it gummy? Can you scratch it with your fingernail? Does it peel? Does it stink? Does it poke you in the butt? Is it a tragic mess that will end up in a dumpster? Let me break it down for you. First, the paint I used was Angelus Brand Leather Paint in tan.
Aug 4, 2016
Before & After: A Painted Leather Sofa Surprise
I’ve been on the hunt for an affordable brown leather sofa for a while now, and had just about given up when this one turned up on Craigslist. It wasn’t the color I wanted. I was hoping for something a little less Manhattan and a little more Marfa, but for 50 bucks, I figured I could experiment with changing the color. Can you paint a leather sofa? I did! And I’m in love with the results. Let’s take a closer look… And another close up.
Aug 3, 2016
Do It Yourself: An Easy, Affordable & Super Stylish Upgrade for the $40 IKEA Nolmyra Chair
The Ikea Nolmyra has so much potential. Great lines, perfect scale, cool bent plywood legs. But with that stock gray mesh cover, it’s a like a sexy foot stuck in a dirty running shoe. You can easily upgrade it, though. Just toss a $12 Gurli throw into your Ikea cart, and we’ll show you how to give this cool little lounge chair a whole new look. Gurli throw (or 1.
Jun 14, 2016
Before & After: How To Make Your Own Vintage-Style Striped Sconce
Inspired by the striped light fixtures at Schoolhouse Electric, I wondered if there was a way to dress up my basic sconce with a few fun stripes. I wanted the process to be inexpensive and easy, and I wanted it to create razor sharp paint lines. After a bit of experimentation, I think I got it.I painted 2 coats of green acrylic paint onto a strip of electrical tape and then stretched it around the fixture. For the black stripes, I cut thinner pieces down the length of the tape.
Feb 5, 2013
Be-foyer and After: An Entryway Makeover
Ever since my husband and I moved into our 1997 split level, we’ve been slowly working at removing the builder grade finishes to really make it reflect our taste. A couple of weeks ago I finally finished making over the entryway.I smashed the old green ceramic tiles, pulled the stained carpet off the stairs, and painted what felt like miles and miles of honey oak trim. The front door got a coat of yellow paint and the walls got a pale gray.
Nov 15, 2012
Washington Square Park Living Room and Kids’ Room
A big, open space in a home is a nice thing, but sometimes it can be hard to divide the space into useful areas. That’s exactly the problem Bob and Cortney tackled with their clients on Saturday’s Home By Novogratz, and the best part is that we get to see it in Before and After format!I’ve loved before and after transformations ever since Brady Bunch episode 71 where Marcia gave her friend, Molly, a makeover. This Novogratz design was similar.
Oct 29, 2012
How To Make an Alphabet Shadow Box
We’re always on the lookout for new ways to display the alphabet in a child’s room. Using an old picture frame and some wood, you can construct a shadow box, stencil letters onto the glass, and fill it with tiny, found objects to represent each letter. Click through for the complete how to.
Sep 18, 2012
Before & After: Mid-Century Inspired Dresser Knobs from Mason Jar Lids
I recently purchased one of these RE dressers on sale at Target, and after 2 days of putting it together, it was crying out to me for some kind of bold hardware. Not wanting to spend a lot on 6 knobs but still wanting something with some mid-century flare, I came up with an idea: mason jar lids.I remembered as a kid occasionally watching a show called Family Affair. Remember Uncle Bill and Mr. French?
May 18, 2012
How To Make Mini Garden Gnomes
These extra tiny garden gnomes have a modern shape that makes them a breeze to cast out of basic craft store plaster in a simple, homemade mold. You can pop out a whole village of them in an afternoon and let the kids (or yourself!) go to town decorating them.Materials• craft plaster• toilet paper tubes• water cooler cones• acrylic craft paint, polyurethane• dimensional fabric paint 1. Put a toilet paper tube on top of a water cooler cone.
Apr 26, 2012
How To Make a Toy Grill for $20
After being blown away by so many stunning DIY play kitchens, we’ve decided to take the cooking outdoors for summertime. This toy grill can be knocked out in a day for a grand total of under $20 (even less if you already have a plastic mixing bowl on hand). It’s easy! You only need to know how to cut a dowel with a handsaw and drill a hole. And if you’ve never tried before, now is the perfect time!
Apr 13, 2012
Before & After: TV Tray Table Gets Decked Out
As part of my ongoing quest to add some color to my grey living room, I picked up one of these inexpensive tv tray tables at Target and decided to give it the before and after treatment. Yes, there is spray paint involved. And lamp finials. And rope. Intrigued? Click on through to see my nautically-inspired end result.The goal was to transform this $9 table from ‘college girl watching sitcom reruns and eating popcorn’ to something a little more yacht chic.
Mar 27, 2012
Cheap & Chic: How To Make a French-Vintage-Inspired Wire Hamper
Is it possible to find a laundry hamper that’s cheap, sturdy, and so stylish that it makes you feel like Jean Seberg in 1960s Paris? No, it isn’t. That’s why you’ll have to make your own. This vintage inspired design cost around $20 to make and is perfect for holding all your Breton stripe shirts.
Feb 16, 2012
Before & After: Wicker Chair Made Pretty
There’s nothing particularly wrong with this wicker chair. It’s got a nice shape and nice legs. It’s just so…brown. But not for long!Oh, spray paint, is there nothing you can’t do? This chair is so pretty now! Kendra from Sweet Magnolia Way has been working on a big girl room for her daughter so she pulled this forgotten brown chair up from the basement and gave it new life with a few coats of spray paint.
Nov 11, 2011
How’s a New Mom Supposed to Get a Shower?
“Do not leave child unattended.” We’ve seen it stamped on every piece of baby gear we own. We know that it makes sense, but is it realistic? If so, how on earth does a new mom ever get a shower?This is an issue I’ve thought about since baby #1, and I still don’t have a straightforward answer. I can’t always wait until my husband is home, especially since he has a rotten work schedule.
Oct 14, 2011
Make Your Kitchen Kid-Friendly with Laminated Cotton
有三个孩子,我不能保持台布干净for more than a few hours, and my adorable Orla Kiely for Target tablecloths are completely stained with various food splatters. I need a tablecloth that can be wiped clean but doesn’t look like a cheap, plastic picnic table cover. The answer to my problem? Laminated cotton!I just read a great article about this wonder fabric over at Oilcloth Addict.
Oct 12, 2011
Before & After: Ikea Malm Goes Grecian Glam
看看宜家白垩土梳妆台都坐在there all plain and white. You just wait, Ikea Malm dresser. You have no idea what’s about to happen to you. (Hint: it involves O’verlays!)Told you so! We’re such big fans of furniture makeovers, especially when it’s more than just a coat of paint. This makeover, created by Amanda Carol, turned a blank canvas of a dresser into a super statement with Greek key shaped O’verlays that she painted gold.
Sep 28, 2011
Oil Drip Pan Magnet Board
Here’s an awesome idea that popped up at Pinterest and has us drooling. Have you seen it? It’s a super sized magnetic board made from something we didn’t even know existed.Kate from Nic and Kate came up with this great idea since her refrigerator isn’t magnetic and she wanted her kids to have a place to play with alphabet magnets.
Sep 9, 2011
州的活泼的时尚牛仔的房间
Name: State Aloysius (13 months)Location: Dallas, TXRoom size: 13.5 ft x 13.5 ftIf you close your eyes and picture a little boy’s cowboy inspired room in Texas, we’re betting you’d come nowhere close to picturing this room. Two entire walls of windows with breezy white drapes keep it light and fresh, and the overall look is just about as gender neutral as it gets.
Aug 30, 2011
Tripp’s Big Red in The Big D
Name: Tripp (6 weeks)Hometown: Dallas, TXRoom size: 19″ x 13″ Red is the color of love, vitality, fire trucks, and cherry sours, so what a perfect accent color for a nursery. Tripp’s mom, Jennifer, went all out with the red pops to create a bright, happy place for her new baby boy. We love the fire engine red crib and daybed, the vintage plumbing valve dresser knobs, and the bold, graphic alphabet wall.
Aug 17, 2011
Top 10 Items to Buy with a Craft Store Coupon
Between Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabrics, and Michaels, I pretty much always have a 40% or 50% off coupon burning a hole in my pocket. If you’re lucky enough to live close to one or more of these stores, get on the mailing list. It’s worth it! I’ve honed my couponing skills and have determined the absolute best items to buy (nursery-related, of course!).
Aug 10, 2011
Locke’s Clean & Modern Nursery
Name: LockeAge: currently 5 weeks Location: Toledo, OhioRoom size: 120 square feet Mary Wyar is a professional photographer who does stunning wedding portraiture. She doesn’t shoot photos of babies or nurseries, so we certainly feel lucky that she shared with us these beautiful images of her newborn son’s room. We love the clean, modern lines, while the bold use of color keeps it playful.
Jul 8, 2011
How To Make a Cork Canoe
These sweet toy canoes, made of cork, are sure to inspire feelings of summertime, campfires, and the great outdoors. They’re easy to make, fun to paint, and they really float!Materials:thin cork sheethot glueacrylic paint clothespins or binder clipsInstructions:1. Print out the template onto an 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. Cut it out. 2. Trace the shape onto the sheet of cork. Cut the canoe shape out with a sharp craft knife.3.
Jun 27, 2011
Gus’s Modern Nursery on a Budget
Name: GusAge: Still cookin’, expected July 2011Location: Minneapolis, MNRoom Size: 110 sq. feet After seeing Alison and Jeff’s house tour and the playroom they created for their son, Finn, we were thrilled to finally see the big reveal for the nursery Alison created for their new baby (due in July!).
Jun 7, 2011
Ikea Gorm Makeover
Ikea markets the Gorm shelf as lowly secondary shelving for the pantry or garage. Well, take a look at this makeover, Ikea. We think this transformed Gorm belongs in the living room, office, or even a lucky kid’s room.After!Shauntelle from A Beautiful Abode snagged a $15 Gorm off Craigslist and with some silver spray paint, wood stain, and some boards, turned it into this amazing industrial chic shelf.
Jun 2, 2011
How To Make Fireflies That Really Light Up
Remember when you were a kid how magical it was when the summer sun finally set at the end of the day and the fireflies came out and you never wanted to come inside even though your older sister told you your house was built on a graveyard and the zombies would come out at night? Well, here’s a super quick craft to help your kids feel a little bit of that magic. These fireflies are super easy to make. Just pop a flameless LED tealight into a plastic Easter egg.
May 31, 2011
Oliver’s Crafty Crib
Name: OliverAge: 9 monthsLocation: Brooklyn, NYRoom Size: 11′ x 14′ Can you imagine what the nursery of the first born son of Parents Magazine Lifestyle Director Amanda Kingloff would look like? Well, it’s even better. Modern and vintage, fresh and playful, colorful and light, this room exudes happiness. And even though it was featured in the June issue of the magazine, there’s nothing staged, stiff, or pretentious about it. It’s a real space for a real baby.
May 20, 2011
Quick Tip #34: How to Protect Carpet When Painting Baseboards
Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We’re sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today’s helpful hint, and links to tons more… Run PACKING TAPE along the edge of the carpet and let it lap up onto the baseboard about 1/4 inch. With a butter knife or a flat head screwdriver, push the top edge of the tape under the baseboard.
Apr 27, 2011
Squid Dresser
You’ve probably seen a lot of before and afters by now where you can sort of predict what the after might look like. A coat of paint or some new knobs might be what you’re expecting for this dresser.It’s a squid! You weren’t expecting that, were you? Well, maybe the title gave it away a little.
Apr 20, 2011
Before & After: Painted Upholstery Chair Makeover
We’ve seen the topic of painting upholstery come up from time to time to time, but this Before & After made my jaw drop. While I may have been on the fence before — one look at the After photo and I’m a believer.the After!Given the option of spending hundreds of dollars to reupholster her Craigslist chair or experimenting with painting the fabric, Kristy Swain of Hyphen Interiors broke out the brushes.
Apr 15, 2011
塑料阻碍麦eover: From Cheap to Chic
We know there are plenty of good-looking hampers available for sale, but some of them have not so good-looking price tags. And, come on, it’s going to have my son’s dirty socks in it. Couldn’t I just figure out a way to jazz up his old plastic hamper?Sure! I love a challenge, and this is what I came up with. Silver spray paint (with a coat of plastic primer first) and a simple orange drawstring bag.
Apr 15, 2011
Frances May’s Patchwork Nursery
Baby’s Name: Frances May, 10 monthsLocation: Melbourne, AustraliaRoom Size: 4 meters x 4 meters “Distinctively sweet, luxurious, beautiful and somewhat quirky” is how Kathryn, a.k.a Lady Bird, describes the bespoke quilts she sews for her business, Maggie and Sparrow. It’s no surprise, then, that the nursery she created for her most recent baby bird, Frances, has the same qualities.
Apr 1, 2011
How To Turn a Tapered Lamp Shade into a Drum Shade
I recently bought a set of five cheap lamps from a big box store. The price was right, but I wasn’t loving the tapered shades. Purchase five new drum shades? Not on my budget. Then it hit me. A tapered shade is pretty much half a drum shade, isn’t it? Chop off the top ring, extend the spokes, flip it upside down, and for 3 bucks plus the cost of fabric, you have a drum shade!
Mar 31, 2011
Good-Looking Laundry Hampers
image:009c5ed66e7dfaa898ec5c0e2bae1efde65a605f w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" It’s that time again. We have Spring cleaning on the brain, and the best way to make sure things stay clean is to ensure that everything has a place where it belongs. We rounded up 10 hampers from sleek to textural, monochromatic to colorful, that we think are good-looking even if the dirty clothes don’t always make it inside.
Mar 14, 2011
Maeve Rosalind’s After the Rain Room
Name: Maeve RosalindAge: 3 monthsLocation: Colorado SpringsRoom Size: 10′ x 10.5′ Maeve Rosalind’s mom, Michele, didn’t go safe with this room. Nope, after lots of moving and years of living in rental homes, the purchase of the family’s first home gave Michele the freedom to chose whatever paint color she wanted.
Jan 25, 2011