DIY Design

If, like me, you’re a person of a certain age, who grew up surrounded by mid-century modern design (which promptly got tossed out in the seventies to make way for rough and wobbly pine pieces from Quebec and - I am greatly pained to admit - macrame plant holders) you may experience sticker shock when you look at the prices some of that same stuff is now fetching in second-hand vintage shops. Like me, you may now kick yourself for not hanging onto those great teak pieces, sleek lamps and colourful enameled clocks. If you want to get the look and find your budget is tight, or if you simply enjoy using your hands to make something beautiful, as do the good folks at Curbly, you’ll want invest in a copy of Make It! Mid-Century Modern, a soft-cover booklet with 12 mid-century design projects with detailed, step-by-step instructions and photographs. I came across the booklet one day when I found myself ignoring a deadline researching trends by visiting Curbly, an online community where homeowners share DIY ideas, inspiration and advice. Truth be told, I spend way too much time on Curbly trolling for inspiration. You can download a copy of the booklet  for U.S. $10 or get a print version delivered for U.S. $18