After this weekend, the Battle of the Boutiques will have come and gone and what will a PoorLittleRichGirl do then to get her fashion fix? How about scope out some of Chicago’s best up and coming designers at The Chicago Fashion Foundation 3rd Annual Scholarship Benefit!

Three lucky (and talented) designers will win scholarships, but they’re not the only lucky ones. Even though you’re not a CFF member, PLRG has hooked you up with the member price for tickets. That’s just $30 when you purchase ahead of time online (non-member tix cost $40+). All you have to do is enter “PLRG” in the Comments section when purchasing your tickets and they’ll take care of the rest!

Gray and yellow is such a modern, yet soft, color pairing. So hot right now.

The home-front (aka the area around Halsted and North in Lincoln Park*) just became a little more PLRG friendly with the opening of the city’s first West Elm store! Before now you had to hike up to the suburbs, or take your chances on an online purchase, but not anymore. This stylish, eco-conscious and wallet friendly retail furniture store should be a do-not-miss for all of you who love to decorate. Yesterday morning, we got a sneak peak tour of the new store and a chance to talk with West Elm execs.

Pinkish-purple and gray with black accents, mixed with fluffy pillows and mirrored pieces...our fave combo!

The color of the season that the design team at West Elm hope you embrace is yellow, and you will see it everywhere, from side tables, throw pillows and dinner wear. With all the grey (and white) weather we have been suffering through, not to mention the economy, it’s a nice change to embrace something so bright and energizing.

Keep your eyes peeled for a departure from their usual store layout/décor. There is definite attempt to mix materials and textures in their vignettes, as well as more installation art (think Anthropology). Currently, art from students at the Art Institute of Chicago hang throughout the store, which is a really great local addition.

So, the next time you are in desperate need for something new to spruce up your abode, or are just in the area, be sure to check out this new addition to Chicago’s design community!

West Elm Chicago
1000 West North Avenue (at Sheffield)
Chicago, IL 60622

(Katie Rogulski)

*PLRG Fun Fact- the new West Elm is located in the old Whole Foods space, which is conveniently located very near the new Whole Foods space (dubbed “the clubhouse” by team PLRG for their readily available free parking & internet, made-to-order burritos and alcohol). Um, when the weather warms up, we might just start camping out at this intersection.

While many home purchases can be rather pricey…think couches, tables, beds…there are plenty of great budget-friendly home gift options for that Nate-Berkus want-to-be in your life! I visited two local home décor shops, Zella Brown in Bucktown/Wicker Park and Home Accents in Andersonville, and the best thing is both shops are currently having sales!!

Zella Brown
1444 North Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60622
(773)276-1746

This hip home boutique will sadly be closing at the end of December, but that means that everything in the store (excluding art) is currently 50% off!!!

For the friend whose a little bit rocker and idols Kara Mann (and my personal favorite, hint, hint to those who love me). Put several of these edgy pistol vases on your dining room table and get the holiday conversation started! ($34.50). They also have a single pistol wall hanging version for $19.50.

Got a boyfriend or brother who appreciates a great gag-gift? This old-school receiver plugs into your cell phone and is perfect for the joker in your life. Imagine glancing at someone in their car while they’re chatting away on their screaming yellow handset…priceless! But it will only cost you $22.25.

Do you have a friend who can never make up their mind about what pictures or art to hang? Or maybe a mom of a young child, whose stick people drawings must be hung up for the world to admire? These reusable wall frames are just the thing. Several different shapes and sizes in a single package. ($15)

Home Accents
5653 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60660
(773)989-6883
This store is a treasure trove for finishing decorative touches and is very affordable, made even more so because many items are currently 20% off!!

If you think the gun vase would be a bit too much for the slightly more traditional girlie-girl in your life, these gorgeous metallic, floral candle holders are perfect. At $9 they are priced just right so you have no excuse not to create a bouquet!

Going to dinner at the boyfriend’s parents for the holidays? Instead of the usual wine or wreath, why not consider these unusual lattice work vases? Create a perfect centerpiece-ready look, by buying inexpensive ornaments (red and green for Christmas and blue for Hanukah) and filling them up, as shown. You will be sure to get brownie points for creativity! ($27 and $21)

If you can’t actually be there to snuggle up with your loved ones this holiday season, gift them one (or many) of these cuddly, and chic, throw pillows to cheer them up. They carry an array of colors to suite anyone’s style and are just $32 a pop!

(Katie Rogulski)

Being a poor little rich girl sometimes means taking on a challenge in order to save some dough.

For example, when my friend and client, Steph, told me she wanted an upholstered headboard, but was on a tight budget, I decided that we could make one. I’m not particularly handy, but designers do it all the time on those design-on-a-dime TV shows and all the websites we checked advertised “chic and easy” instructions. So why couldn’t we build one?

If you have read my column before you know that I tell it to you straight. Was it fulfilling to see the end result of our labor? Hell yes. Would I do it again? Definitely. Was it a walk in the park? Nope.

As a designer, I do have an ace or two up my sleeve that really helped us complete this project. I have a good relationship with a great carpenter, Chris Favia, who took his Sunday to help us put together the wood framework for the headboard. I do not recommend attempting this project without someone who has access to and is comfortable with saws, drills, etc. I also have a friend who is going to school for fashion and owns an industrial sewing machine. Special thanks to Teddy Schellenbach for helping us sew together our fabric. Matching the pattern would have taken me HOURS.

Even with all this help, Steph and I unintentionally (although it should have been pretty obvious) made things a bit harder for ourselves by choosing a curved design, which required more material and carpentry. To simplify this process, choose a rectangular design. Secondly, due to her 12′ high ceiling in the bedroom we chose to build a 6′ tall headboard, which looks AMAZING, but ended up proving difficult to haul around, even in an SUV. Unless you have unusually tall ceilings, like Steph, I recommend you make a shorter headboard. I make these mistakes so that you don’t have to!

Upholstered headboards are really en vogue and are an amazing way to glamorize your bedroom. Below are the directions we followed and the pictures we took so that you too can build one (without sugar coating the gritty details).

Materials:
two 1/2″ sheet of medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
batting, fabric and decorative trim
tempered hardboard (bendable board)
2×4s
staple gun (we got away with just using nails)
drill and wood screws
table saw or circular saw
measuring tape
miter saw
jig saw

1. Tip #1: You need to bring an SUV or truck to the hardware store. Tip #2: Have the hardware store cut the 2×4s into:
For the top of the frame:
two at 13-1/2” long
two at 10” long
two at 5” long
one at 30” long
one a 60” long
For the bottom of the frame:
Six at 60” long

2. Build the top of the frame as follows:

3. Build the bottom frame as follows:

4. Attach the bottom and the top frame together

5. Lay the MDF on the top of the framework and with a pencil outline the curves on the top of the headboard. Then with a saw cut along those lines so that the MDF matches (fits the exact size of) the headboard. When completed, attach the MDF to the framework.

HINT: This is where we got into a problem. Even though we had an SUV, this thing was so freakishly large that we had to chop the headboard into two pieces, in a jig-saw like way, and then reattach them on-site. Unless this MAJOR extra step sounds like fun to you, build a smaller headboard.

6. Attach the batting to the entire MDF covered side of the headboard, and the sides and top of the framework. I recommend using something rather thick, at least 1.5 inches, because that is what your head will be hitting when you are in bed. A staple gun will work, but we used nails.

7. If you want to add depth to your headboard, like we did, we added extra batting along the edges. We used slightly less thick batting for this part because it is easier to handle.

8. Steph and I also made our lives harder by choosing a fabric with a pattern. Sewing the fabric together so that we did not break the pattern was VERY TEDIOUS! (Thankfully, we pawned this part off to an expert). Cover the batting in fabric and attach it with either the staple gun or nails. Hide your nails/staples in the framework on the back and at the edges where you placed the extra batting.

9. To hide where you placed the staples or nails use a fabric glue to attach a decorative trim.

10. Attach the headboard to your bed and admire your 2 full days of work (not kidding)!

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

A large, but not-so-nautical, bathroom.

Dear Katie,
I am a sailor and really want to decorate my bathroom in a nautical motif. Do you have any suggestions?
-Jessica, Old Town

Dear Jessica,

Talk about perfect timing! I recently returned home from an entirely too short vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine and feel inspired by all things nautical (including the cute, blond sailor on the Margret Todd schooner)!

Your bathroom looks updated and roomy, which is great, but there are definitely fun and inexpensive changes that will make your room scream “regatta!”

Choose a calming color for your ocean inspired bathroom.

One of the quickest and most cost effective ways to update any room is to change the color. When I think of sailing the colors that come to my mind are blue, white, gray, and red. For a clean and fresh look that captures the feel of the churning waters I would suggest “Ocean Pearl” 780C-3 by Behr, which you can find at any Home Depot. Behr is a good option because they offer primer and paint in one, which means you do not have to use primer before you paint your walls. This will save you time, and with a gallon starting at $23, money as well…I suspect all poor little rich girls appreciate both.

Recycled shower curtain is "green" and fashionable!

For a totally unique, as well as earth friendly purchase, I found several companies that recycle sails and “blow” new life into them by turning them into shower curtains (yes, I admit the play on words was corny). Check out UncommonGoods.com to find options for $70. I prefer the curtains with blue accents. As a sailor, if you have unused line lying around, try cutting it into small sections and using it in place of shower rings. Line is made to be weather resistant, so it will hold up well in the humid environment of a bathroom.

Sailor stripes, anyone?

What could possibly encapsulate a sailor more than blue and white stripes? I found this bathmat for $28 at ElizabethsEmbelishments.com, but you can also check out your local TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Target for something similar. Simple white towels will look classic, or add another level of color with blue/green towel with a hint of gray.

To add a bit more coastal flare to your nautical bathroom I dropped by Seagrass in Winnetka where I found two great pieces of wall art, which originally sold for $160 apiece, but now are half off. I love deals! Buy one (or both if you are feeling extra flush) and hang them over the banjo top. The white and gray of the matting of the art will look serene with the paint and the red coral in the pieces will add some drama.

For limited elbow grease and around $250 you have a bathroom that captures the classic look of sailing. Invite your crew over once you are finished and make them jealous!

Thanks for the questions, and keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming article where I decorate a living/dining room for under $1000!

As a special treat, we’ve got a giveaway to accompany Katie’s “nautical” makeover. Email Giveaway@PoorLittleRichGirls.com, subject: Seagrass for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the store!

If you dream of a tranquil (and unique) beach inspired home and you’d like to be kept updated on Seagrass’ sales and events, click here to request to be on the list.

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

Dear Katie,

I’m looking for some help with an outside space….my balcony.

I have a glass top table with a wrought iron base and chairs with a little ivy design. A table for four on a balcony you say? It’s from the 60s and people were smaller then so the table for four will work on the balcony space just fine. To keep it simple, I’m painting it black (already looks so much better).

Do you have any fun thoughts for seat fabrics? Are you seeing any cool trends for this type of space? I’ve thought about the classic wide black and white stripes (very cabana-esque) but thinking it could be too conservative so maybe a solid vibrant color or another pattern.

My windows are floor to ceiling so the space will be visible from the inside so I am definitely taking that into consideration.

Just curious what you’re seeing in this space, if anything :) Thanks!

- Heather, Lincoln Park

Dear Heather,

How very PLRG of you to take an old table and breathe new life into it with paint! Black was a great choice. The table looks more modern and sophisticated.

Outdoor pillows will brighten the look of your balcony and will visually increase your homes livable space. Not to mention, seat cushions will allow you to sit in comfort while you enjoy an after work cocktail……or the view.

The good news is that our less than perfect weather and the economy have contributed to some fabulous sales on outdoor accessories. The bad news is cute outdoor fabrics really lag behind interior fabrics. I visited several Chicago boutiques and was totally disappointed with the lack of outdoor pillows available, and those I did find were uninspiring. I was forced to venture online.

Target has a surprisingly large stock of outdoor seating accessories. I was drawn to a combination of the white Oasi set of 4 seat pads with alternating stripped and blue medallion pillows as decorative chair backs. The fusion of the black wrought iron and white seat cushion takes into account your original idea of a black and white motif and the accent pillows add comfort and visual excitement.

The accent pillows make the space and at $24.99 for a pair are a great deal. Buy a pair of each pattern and alternate them on the chairs. The four white seat cushions are priced at $119 for a pair of four, and Target is offering 15% off orders over $125 and free shipping, so the total look is approximately $150.

Place this great candle lantern from CB2 onto your table for $39.95 (on sale, original price $59.95) to finish the look.(I know you didn’t ask about a lantern, but it just works!)

For under $200 you will have a sophisticated and polished outdoor area to enjoy for the remainder of the summer. Keep the questions coming!

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

I admit, for the past few years I have been the cobbler whose children have no shoes. While focusing on making other peoples’ homes beautiful I have greatly neglected my own. So, in order to rectify this disconnect, I have declared the summer of 2009 the year I make my home a true reflection of myself.

The wall over my bed has been empty since I moved into my place three and a half years ago. I guess I have an issue with commitment. 

However, I knew I could create a unique solution to this problem without breaking the bank.

Colorful paper is a great and inexpensive way to spice up a wall. I went to Paper Source, but you can go to any specialty paper store, and bought three different pieces of paper. To keep the look cohesive I picked paper with a similar color-scheme. I also kept them unified by choosing all floral prints.

Just like choosing textiles, if you select two papers with similar colors and prints, opt for one large print and one small. If you have trouble mixing and matching…it took me about a half hour because their selection was so amazing…ask a sales associate. He or she is usually more than happy to help.

I spent a total of $15 at Paper Source.

I then went to Michael’s and picked up six 9×12 inch canvases for $6 apiece. I would suggest bringing your paper with you to double check they will fit the canvases you choose.

Attaching the paper was easy:

1. I cut each paper in half so I had 6 pieces total, one for each canvas.
2. I wrapped each canvas with the paper like it was a present. Work on a flat surface to ensure you tightly wrap each canvas and the paper does not wrinkle.
3. I used both glue and tape on the back of the canvas to affix the paper. 

Note: I made an effort to make each canvas unique by arranging the same prints differently. For example, I placed one large decal in the center of one canvas but did not center the decal on the second canvas. 

You can get even more creative when hanging your new wall art. While you can hang them in straight rows I decided to offset mine. 

It would also look great if you choose different shaped canvases and assembled them on your wall in a geometric pattern.

In the end I created a distinct look in my bedroom for $55 and a few hours of work!

One room down…

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

Dear Katie,

I have an oddly shaped, small bedroom with really high ceilings. Any suggestions on how I can better utilize my space?

- Noelle, Bucktown

Dear Noelle,

Upon seeing the pictures you provided (see before photo below) I knew there was no way I could let a fellow PoorLittleRichGirl live in such clutter and mayhem! But, just writing an article was not enough. I had to personally intervene and stop the insanity. So, I paid a house call…

When I asked why you had placed your bed where it was you told me, “Because that’s the way the person before me had it.” Great logic! If we all lived by that philosophy wall-to-wall green shag carpet would be everywhere.

Listen to me all you PLRGs! Never be afraid to try something new when it comes to design. Even if you mess up you can always fix it. Later this summer I will share how I thought it was an AMAZING idea to repaint my condo and did a real number on the trim, even though I was using my beloved blue tape. But, guess what? It will get fixed and I get to write a comical and self-deprecating article about my attempt which will hopefully teach you all not to make the same mistakes. It ends up being a win-win situation!

Back to Noelle’s problem- Noelle and I decided the best plan of action was to get together and rearrange her bedroom to better utilize her space.

Some notes when trying to rearrange furniture:

Before you haphazardly rearrange your room, it is a good idea to first measure your furniture, walls and potential walkways. Graph paper is extremely helpful in creating a preliminary layout.

Use friends to help you move the heavy stuff. Mimosas and/or other alcoholic beverages are a good motivator. Try to limit yourself to just a few, so you don’t hurt yourself or others!

When moving dressers, first remove the drawers filled with clothes!

Rearranging your room is a great opportunity to clean under all that furniture that you never move. If you happen to vacuum up a piece of jewelry you can remove the bag to find it. (Noelle learned this from experience-see photo on right)

We had several design obstacles to tackle. A converted loft, Noelle’s room is quite small and oddly shaped. This problem was compounded by her furniture layout, which left little to no standing/changing space and a dizzying zig-zag path from the doorway through the room (you can see how close the dresser is to the bed in the photo below).

Also, while the interior walls were drywall, the exterior walls were brick, with a steel and concrete cut out, which at one time was a doorway. Noelle experienced difficulty hanging anything from the brick and had given up, leaving her largest wall empty except for a small lantern she hung from an ancient nail head.

After some preliminary measurements we agreed to a plan of action. We flipped her bed around to give her more standing/changing room and moved her dresser to the opposite wall to break up the empty, brick wall. Due to her high ceilings, we raised the shelf she already had to just above head height in order to create an easier walkway through the room. Using a concrete screw in the mortar we also hung a second, larger lantern over her bed, complimenting the lantern she already had and increasing the visual interest.

BEFORE	AFTER

(The images above were created by Lacey, our Editor, not graphic deisgner, so they are clearly not to scale. But, we wanted to give you a better visual of the furniture placement.)

Once all the furniture was in place it was time to accessorize. When you have a small space it is really important that you attempt to be organized and have a specific place for everything. If you haven’t used, seen or touched something in over a year it is time to get rid of it. Okay, I’ll allow one or two exceptions, like the romantic letter written by your first love that you read after every breakup to remind yourself you are loveable. Wait…that’s just me? Well, you know what I mean. Don’t be a hoarder!

In the end, Noelle’s room turned out really great (after photo above). In just a day we were able to create a more visually appealing and functional space for free!

Thanks for the question, Noelle, and keep them coming, ladies!

UPDATE: To follow up on my previous article, although many people thought the red light and tip jar was a great idea, Maggie has decided to sandblast her shower window. Sorry boys!

Katie Rogulski is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. Send her all of your design questions and comments and she’ll will do her best to help you design a fabulous pad without breaking the bank! Katie@PoorLittleRichGirls.com

Katie Rogulski and I hit the streets last weekend to find out where all the great furniture/home accessory sales were happening. If you’re looking to redecorate you entire apartment, or just spruce it up a bit for spring, then check out the steep discounts at these stylish stores:

Kreiss (415 N. LaSalle)
Moving Sale; Up to 70% off select showroom samples
Kreiss is known for it’s bold, unexpected combinations of fabrics, textures, finishes and accessories. Check it out for deals on everything from furniture to lighting. Oh, and we won’t lie, the sample sale prices might still be a bit steep. But, depending on what kind of a piece you are looking for (say a sturdy bed frame built to last for years to come) quality is key and getting it on sale helps put the item in a PLRG’s reach.

Cambium (113-119 W. Hubbard)
Display/Floor Sample Sale; 20-50% off select display/floor items
Cambium seeks to provide clients with design that is unique, creative, but also functional. During this sale you can score not only furniture at great prices (counter stools for $198, down from $305), but entire kitchens! Homeowners- whether you’re looking to sell your place for top dollar (even in this economy) or just want a refresh, they have kitchen cabinets, islands, the whole works for half the price. If we were remodeling a kitchen, we’d pick the Alder wood kitchen with inset doors and blue steel frame and leg construction (the whole shebang is just $16,530, down from $39,000, pictured).

PA Larkin (118 W. Kinzie)
Floor Sample Sale; 20-50% off select items
P.A. Larkin offers a line of timeless Asian furniture including dining tables, chairs and benches, stools, chests, tv stands, screens and more. They are well known for their custom pieces where you can pick everything from the dimensions, to the wood, to the hardware. And, while the floor sample pieces may not have been customized just for you, the pieces are still made by fifth-generation craftsmen using ancient methods. Meaning each piece is 100% wood and uses no glue or nails in it’s construction.

Sultan Oriental Rug (300 W. Grand Ave. #100)
Sale; Up to 80% off select items
Sultan specializes in handmade floor coverings from the Middle East and Asia. Most of the rugs are new and designs include everything from contemporary to traditional (though this store leans towards the latter more than the next listing). Small rugs can start around $75 and go all the way up to $10,000 for a large rug, depending where the rug is imported from.

Al-Sahara Oriental Rugs Ltd. (301 W. Grand Ave.)
Sale; 80% off select items
Al-Sahara also carries rugs imported from the Middle East and Asia, but if you’re taste is more on the contemporary side, we think this floor covering mecca will be more to your liking. In fact, we saw a zebra print rug there that would be fantastic in an eclectic room with graphic colors, like this!

Design Inc. (1359 W. Grand Ave.)
Moving Sale; 20-50% off select items
If you are in the market for something different and unique, look no further than Design Inc. Most all of the pieces are one of kind (the owner tells us about 98% of the artwork is original) and all are custom designed by talented artists and manufacturers. They carry just about anything you might want, textiles, lighting, furniture, sculpture and even gifts and accessories. Note- PLRG always recommends stocking up on giftable items when they are on sale. You’ll always be prepared, but will never have to pay full price!

Euro Furniture (2145 W. Grand Ave.)
Spring Clearance Sale; 10-50% off select items
Euro offers the largest selection of Modern Classic and Contemporary products, accompanied by thousands of items in inventory available for immediate shipment. An authorized retailer of brands like Kartell, Blu Dot and Della Robia, this store has serious contemporary clout.  Some of our favorite sale items include the La Palma Log Stool, $200 (down from $399.99) and the PoppyStar Stackable Chair, $149.99 (pictured right, down from $169.99), which makes for great outdoor seating.

(Katie Rogulski & Lacey Brenly)

It is my pleasure to introduce Katie Rogulski, our newest contributor. Katie is our go-to gal for all things design, from choosing a paint color to installing a light fixture. In her first “Keeping It Cozy” column, below, Katie helps out a reader who’s feeling a bit overexposed in her new condo. -Lacey Brenly, Editor-in-Chief

Dear Katie,

I recently bought a condo that was redeveloped several years ago. During the final inspection I noticed that there was no shower rod in the master bathroom tub/shower area, but I didn’t think much of it. BIG MISTAKE! After closing I happened to be on my deck, which is also a walkway to the building’s parking lot, and realized you can completely see through the glass blocks that separate the outside from my master bath. I can literally see the individual cabinet knobs through the glass…and the blocks go down to the tub deck! I don’t think the sellers ever used this shower. I want to make new friends in my building, but not like this. Please help!

-Maggie

Dear Maggie,

Wow, that developer was a quite a perve! So you don’t want to show off your knobs to the neighbors, huh? When I shared your dilemma with Lacey, PLRG’s editor, she mentioned something about a tip jar outside your back door. In this economy you could start a lucrative side business. All you have to do is install a red light outside over your window!

Not the suggestion you were looking for? Don’t worry, all is not lost! Assuming you want to keep the glass blocks (due to the light they provide) tiling over the blocks is not an option. Similarly, hanging a second shower curtain in front of the window would solve the problem; but, it would also block the light and not look very good. So you have several other options, which require varying degrees of elbow grease and offer different levels of permanence:

The least expensive option is to buy a frosted glass semi-transparent spray, which when sprayed on glass will make it look frosted, obscuring vision for privacy but still allowing light into the room. Rust-Oleum manufactures such a product and it retails for around $10 at most local hardware stores. Please note that this product is specified for interior use only so you should spray the blocks inside your shower. Use painters tape (tape used by painters that easily comes off any surface without damage) and old newspapers to cover the area around the glass blocks that you want to protect from the spray. Then go wild without inhaling too much of the spray because I don’t want to be responsible for making you high. However, this option will require maintenance. The coating may fade due to the water and humidity from your shower and scratches may reveal the clear glass underneath. So while this option is the cheapest and requires the least amount of work it will demand regular upkeep.

Your second option is to buy colored film that is made to adhere to glass for just this sort of problem. Home Depot carries several versions that run from $19-$30 for a 24×36 inch piece and there are many online manufacturers, such as wallpaperforwindows.com, glassdecorandmore.com and glassdeco.com, just to name a few. However, there is a catch. This film is made to go on smooth panes of glass, not blocks, so in order for it to stick to the blocks accurately you will have to cut the film to fit each individual block. Yes, this will be tedious, but you can also look at it as a way to bring some color into your bathroom. Choose several different colors of film and create a pattern or apply them randomly. Now instead of a clear wall of glass you have a fabulous, glass mural. Buy some color-coordinating towels and you will look like a design goddess. I would recommend keeping extra film on hand in case they become dislodged due to the humidity in the shower.

Offering the most permanent solution is sand-blasting the blocks. Sand-blasting would cause small scratches all over the glass and create a frosted appearance. This option would be a one-time fix. I would recommend sanding the blocks from the outside so you don’t create a sandbox in your bathroom. A neighborhood handyman could do this for you, or if you are feeling fearless in a Rosie the Riveter sort of way you can rent a sandblaster and do it yourself. I googled “rent a sandblaster, Chicago” and came up with at least a dozen local places that rent power tools.

I hope one of these options will work for you so that you can enjoy your new master bathroom without worrying about putting on a show for the neighbors!

I am extremely excited to be the new girl on the block at Poor Little Rich Girls! Send me all of your design questions and comments and I will do my best to help you design a fabulous pad while not breaking the bank!

(Katie Rogulski)