Simple is Better

This coffee table is not my first choice for my living room. In all honesty it is not my second, third or even fourth choice. It is however, what I have at the moment so I have decided to make the best of it.

You may remember this picture which was taken right after we repainted our living room.

Although the space looked considerably lighter, I received many comments about the table appearing dark. I totally agreed.

Since replacing the table with something new is not an option right now and I couldn’t bring myself to paint perfectly good cherry wood I settled on adding a new piece of fabric to the display drawer.

I kept the contents simple – three white ironstone dishes – and used a piece of vintage French feedsack cloth for the inside.

I guess simple really is better!

Bag of Tricks

Be sure to grab a copy of Better Homes and Gardens winter edition of 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100. Inside you will find a story on using vintage sacks for many simple decorating projects. I created the roman shade and the small pillow shown in the article.

100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

The coffee sack roman shade was very easy to make and required a minimal amount of sewing. (Directions are included below.) I think the most difficult part of this project is finding a sack that is close to the right dimensions of your window. If you can't find one wide enough, simply add banding on both sides like was done on this shade. If you are not a sewer, you are better off using a smaller sack and adding banding to it, rather than trying to take apart the sack and make it smaller.

100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

I also made the small red and black striped feed sack pillow shown below. I closed my pillow with a zipper, but you could also use a needle and thread. Feed sacks can be found in a variety of colors and patterns. Some (like the one shown) even include embroidered initials. Because these sacks are typically fairly long, they will make two or three smaller pillows depending on the size of your inserts.

100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Here are some other photos from the article.

100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

One of my favorite attributes of vintage sacks is their versatility. If you keep the sack as found, it can be used as a table runner, table topper and a large pillow - no sewing required! I have several sacks in my house that I simply inserted a body pillow and secured the end with a large antique laundry bag pin. This allows me to use the sack for several purposes.

100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio
Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 / Photographer - Michael Partenio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

My previous tablescape post also included a picture of a chair seat that I covered using a vintage sack and my kitchen includes stools covered in vintage sacks. If you have other ideas you would like to share for using vintage sacks I would love to hear them!