How to Make an Easy, Inexpensive, Fake Fur Rug

I love fur! (Sorry, but I do and can't help myself). And I do own two absolutely beautiful sheep skin rugs. But I want more without either the numerical price or the cost to the lives of the animals. 


So I was perusing an old issue of Veranda magazine this morning and saw a home that was designed in the 60's by a very inventive designer. He'd used a goat wool rug in the room and it was stunning!


Suddenly, my mind drifted to thoughts of making my own "fake fur" run. Instantly, the solution came to mind:
Purchase a large section of fake fur in your favorite color (mine would be white and I actually have quite a large piece of this!).


Stitch it to a section of rubber rug backing. Why stitching instead of gluing? Because fake fur should never be washed. It needs to be dry cleaned and I'm not sure that can be done with the rubber backing attached.


So it you simply stitch the edges and then tack it here and there through out the center, the rug would lay flat and not skid. 


Tah Dah! There truly is an answer for just about everything and now I can't wait to try this!


Let me know if you do one.

The Thrift Store Saves the Day!

Now that I'm planning to move to my second home in Northern Idaho this spring, I've begun thinking about things I will need there in order to make it truly my "Palace". Curtains! Yes, I need curtains. Many of them, since right now, the window coverings I have at that house aren't necessarily what I would want as permanent coverings. 


Taking a break from work, I perused my local "Value Village" thrift shop in search of high quality window coverings in colors that I love to decorate with. Wha La! I found curtains alright....Lots of them!


You can find cheapo curtains all day long, but finding those of "quality" usually takes a bit of hunting or numerous trips.


Four absolutely gorgeous, heavy velvet panels in pale beige ($4.99 each) and in pristine condition made their way in to my cart right off the bat!

2 really lovely traditional style swags with a pale beige background and sage green scroll pattern ($4.99 each)


A gorgeous pale beige swag that must be 100" long with beautiful darker beige fringe along one complete side ($14.99) I'm sure I'll find a cool use for it!


 4 heavy brocade panels ($4.99 each)


So for $64.00, I wound up getting window coverings that are perfect for my style of decorating and will go really well with my furnishings! I figure that I saved myself at least $300.00 if I tried to purchase them all brand new.


I love, love, love, thrift store days like this one! 

Designing in the Forest

Visit the VictoriaLarsen.com website for inspiring rooms filled with murals, faux finishes, ornamental plaster and unique wall treatments that YOU can do!

The comments I'm getting this morning are how wonderfully inspiring it will be to design in my home in Northern Idaho. That's an understatement!

There is a sense of euphoria as soon as you drive up the driveway to the large, chalet style home. It is surrounded by 20 acres of forest with a luscious view of the valley below.

Each morning, I grab my coffee and dog friend Sadie and I take our morning walk. In the spring time, those walks are through areas of wildflowers that suddenly arrive as colorful paintings as you turn a corner or round a group of trees. If that isn't inspiration, I don't know what is. 

I've done my best designing there over the past 6 years. The trees outside the windows were my inspiration for my Raised Plaster Aspen Tree Stencil Design which has now been featured in Gary Lord's most recent book "Simply Creative Faux Finishes". 

I look forward to many more innovative processes happening there!

Welcome to My New Blog Site

Visit the VictoriaLarsen.com Website for exiting ways to decorate your home with stencils, ornamental plaster decorating and faux finishes.


Wow, it's been awhile since I posted on my blog and trust me, it's been a whirlwind few months! The last of 2010 found me making the decision to take my Northern Idaho home off the market and actually moving there come this spring (March/April). You can't imagine my excitement over that decision!

I have 4,000 square feet of home with walls that have 10 foot ceilings to create, decorate and show off my skills and designs. What more could a girl ask for besides that stunning view and laid back life style!

With 1300 square feet of space just for business, I can spread out, all the while taking in the valley view from every office downstairs. 


So please bear with me as I make this transition over the next 3 months (I have to wait until the snow disappears before I can get a truck up that very long driveway), and then watch the blog for all the incredible home decor projects to come!


In the mean time, check out the new designs on my website at VictoriaLarsen.com and all of the new decorating projects to inspire you to create the home of your dreams!