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Athena Calderone DIY

Staying organized and inspired are both important factors for enhancing creativity.

When you work from home, as many of us now do, the scenery in our “office” can feel a little stale. All it takes is the slightest glance at that pile of laundry or stack of mail to dampen the creative energy.

A pinboard serves a dual function in your WFH space as it operates as an organizational center to keep all of your reminders in one place, and as a vision board, where you can display items like photos, quotes, and more. While Pinterest certainly has the digital realm covered, it’s nice to have a physical board that you see daily. Inspired by this tutorial from designer Athena Calderone, I created a scalloped panel pinboard that not only keeps you on track during your workday, but gets those creative juices flowing.

Steps

Step

1

Use a ruler to measure 2 inches down from the top of the balsa wood plank. Mark the measurement on each side of the plank.

Step

2

Place something round (like a cup or roll of tape) on top of the wood, and trace the curved shape from the 2-inch mark on one side to the 2-inch mark on the other side. This will create a scalloped shape.

Step

3

Place something underneath the wood plank to protect your work surface (I used a cutting mat, but scrap cardboard would work). Use a utility knife to cut out the scalloped shape. 

Step

4

Cut a strip of burlap approximately 3 inches wider and 3 inches longer than the balsa wood plank. Place the wood on top of the burlap, pull the fabric tightly around it, and staple it in place along the straight edges. Trim any excess fabric.

Step

5

When you get to the scalloped edge, cut a slit in each corner, and pull the fabric down so that it lays tightly around the curve. Staple it into place.

Step

6

Repeat to make four more panels (or more if you’d like a wider pinboard).

Step

7

If you’d like your pinboards to blend in with your wall, paint them the same (or a similar) color. The fabric drinks up the paint, so you’ll need to paint two or three coats to get even coverage. Let the paint dry fully.

Step

8

To attach the panels together, line them up evenly with one another and press three strips of double-sided mounting tape across the top, middle, and bottom. 

Step

9

Now simply, peel off the adhesive backing from the three strips of mounting tape, and press the pinboard firmly in place on the wall. Have fun decorating it with your favorite inspirational items!

 

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DIY

We are no strangers to DIY home renovations at Semihandmade. After all, that’s where the idea for making doors for IKEA kitchen systems came from. So naturally, we had to dedicate an entire section of SemiStories to celebrating our design community’s ingenuity, from DIY kitchen ideas to thinking of smaller details like rattan glassware and easy-to-make wall hangings. Don’t just take it from us: we’ve tapped the best in the business. Anita Yokota shared her best trick for a $20 bathroom renovation, Jessica D’Itri Marés shared her favorite spray painter, and Jenna LeBlanc showed us how to give wall-to-wall storage a custom touch. Maybe you’re just dipping your toes in the world of do-it-yourself, in which case we recommend starting small: try your hand at making your own speckled candle holders, for example, or give your greenery an updated home with pretty stacked planters. If you have a handy side (maybe you’ve put together DIY kitchen cabinets or are not afraid to use a power tool), we have projects for you too: painting a hand-painted mural is a fun way to give your favorite room some life or maybe you’re game to try putting together your own TV cabinet like Sarah Sherman Samuel did (PS: she saved thousands in the process). Experts, we’ve got you covered too: from learning to tile and grout your own backsplash to painting your cabinets without a hitch, we have plenty of DIY kitchen renovation ideas to keep you busy. We don’t stop at the kitchen either: from wall-to-wall media centers to fluted doors made for playroom storage, you’ll find ideas to improve every room in the house