Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products (12 page)

3.
Place the top of the panel into the grommet tape, allowing ½ inch on either side. Cut the grommet tape to the right length, turn the ends under, and stitch closed.

4.
Insert the fabric into the strip, pin, and machine sew ½ inch from the edge.

5.
Snap on your grommet rings.

FURNITURE

You may have heard that certain kinds of wood may give off toxic gases. It’s pretty horrendous when you understand that this “off-gassing” can go on for quite some time after the furniture has been bought and installed—years, in fact! The main culprit is particleboard, a material that’s often used to make cheap kitchen cabinets, tables, chairs, and kids’ furniture. You can avoid it by either making your own shelves and bookcases from scratch, or buying from flea markets, antique shops, and thrift stores.

THRIFT STORE STEALS

I have found some amazing bargains at thrift/consignment stores in cities nationwide. I’m always on the lookout because I’d much rather buy something that will get a second use than get a made-in-China flat pack, which is notoriously tricky to assemble.

When you’re out hunting, look beyond the dirt, dust, scratches, and chipped paint. I found a beautiful chest of drawers for Lola for less than the cost of a deli lunch. Admittedly, it had some weird stains all over the top, had pretty deep scratches, and two of its six handles were missing. Trembling with excitement, I manhandled it out of my car and dragged it onto my patio to begin work. Twenty used sheets of sandpaper and a lick of nontoxic stain/sealer later, it totally could have come from a high-end kids’ store. A quick visit to my local hardware store for six new handles and I was able to pass it off to Lola as brand spanking new.

I would offer one word of caution when buying old furniture: Try to make sure it’s not made of particleboard. If you can see the wood grain and knots, as in pine, it obviously isn’t. A shiny, perfect-looking (like smooth plastic) finish is a red flag. Remember that particleboard can off-gas formaldehyde, which you don’t want anywhere around your kids.

Easy Bookcase

I love working with wood. While I’ve never taken a carpentry class in my life, I have figured out how to make a few basic pieces of furniture that would have otherwise cost me an arm and a leg. A bookcase is an essential addition to a nursery and a good place for you to start. The beauty of making your own is that you get to customize it to your exact specifications in terms of shape, color, and size.

Most cheap bookcases (and even pricier ones) use the horribly toxic formaldehyde. For better air quality in your child’s room, you’re better off making your own or buying an antique. The project below makes a 4x4-ft. square bookcase.