Weekend Refresh

Introduction


Welcome to Weekend Refresh. This isn’t just a gorgeous coffee table book for you to ooh and aah over; this is the kind of book that will literally teach you how to redesign and repurpose that very same coffee table, using the right techniques and tools, instead of just making it look pretty. We believe that home design is for everyone, and that means you (yes, YOU!) can do every project we lay out in this book. The best part? Each one can be done in 48 hours. Let us help you turn any room into a well-designed space.

When Tastemade Home began, we pretty much knew right away that our goal would be to showcase accessible design and empower people to make their spaces a reflection of themselves. The founders of Tastemade—Larry Fitzgibbon, Joe Perez, and Steven Kydd—wanted to bring together a community of Tastemakers who are passionate about food, travel, and design, and, by doing so, change the way the world watches and engages with online content. Here at Tastemade, we strive to encourage our audience to make incredible meals and have a beautifully decorated space to serve them in. Our Weekend Refresh series was born from that very idea; home design shouldn’t just be aspirational. Whether you’re a renter, living in a small space, a new homeowner, or on a budget, your home should make you feel good. Personalized, intentional, and well-thoughtout décor can help do that.

To refresh is to make over your space. We hope we inspire you to pick up those power tools and make something incredible. There are endless ways to flex those crafty muscles and we are here to be your biggest cheerleaders. When you roll up your sleeves and put a little (okay, sometimes a lot) of elbow grease into a project, your home starts to morph into an oasis. There’s no pressure to get it all done at once—a beautiful home takes time! Pick a room and find a project, and in 48 hours you’ll have a brand-new space. Next weekend move right along to your next two-day transformation. Be advised . . . DIY can become addictive. Sorry, not sorry!

As you progress through your home, your skills will improve, and your confidence will skyrocket. No one starts out as an expert, despite how social media makes it look. Start small and paint one wall before jumping into the proverbial DIY pond headfirst. Or do the total opposite, if that’s more your speed, and learn by trial and error. There is no “correct” way to design and decorate. Sure, we have some suggestions, like when in doubt consider styling shelves in groups of three and make sure you measure and map out furniture before buying. But, for the most part, we think hard-and-fast rules are made to be broken. You do you and make your space a reflection of what feels right.

Our homes tell the stories of our lives, and no two lives are the same. Let’s get ready to refresh!


How to Use this Book

Look to this book not only when you’re in need of inspiration, but also when you’re in need of instruction. Not only are we going to teach you how to redo spaces, but we’ll also teach you how to enjoy and maintain them over time. Whether you’re a first-time homeowner, a renter, or a DIY-aholic, our goal is to show you how to refresh your home, one weekend at a time.

Before we get started on any projects, we will walk you through how to get started. We have suggestions for some of the essential tools you’ll need to get your toolbox up to snuff. The good news here is that your toolbox will be ever-evolving and growing—start with the basics and add to it as needed on a project-by-project basis. You’ll notice that a lot of the 101s in this book use the same tools, and each will have the necessary ones noted right at the top. How easy is that? Next, we’ll guide you in making a moodboard, which is a visual preparation step that is just as important as having the right equipment. We want you to look at the overall form and function of the space presented and decide what works for you. It’s something we always do at Tastemade that helps to get our refreshes on the right track, right away.

Now that your tool kits—both literal and mental—are properly prepped, let’s get started. In part one, we focus on upgrading your space. We have the book laid out just as you’d walk into and through a house, starting with curb appeal and the entrance, then going through each room. We’ll address some common scenarios that could present roadblocks when coming up with a design. Along the way, we’ll point out ways to personalize and customize your space, from your entryway to your backyard and everything in between. In each room, we’ll draw attention to particular projects, which we call “101s.” These are projects that we’ve done ourselves—and are even featured in some of our Weekend Refresh episodes! They will help you learn, step-by-step, the specific things you can accomplish at home. There is a range in difficulty (levels 1 through 3), which you’ll see noted at the beginning of each project. Feeling a little nervous about getting started? Find a level 1 project and build up your confidence. Feeling more ambitious? Go for a level 3. We believe that you can do every single project in this book, no matter what your experience level is.

Once you’ve gotten your home to look the way you want, it’s time to focus on the way it makes you feel. In part two, we want you to get in there! With our “Guide to Being a Good Plant Parent,” we explore the best indoor and outdoor plants for your space with tips on watering, good light conditions, and general plant care. We want you to feel good in your space and have the friends and family who visit your home to feel great, too. Keeping organized and maximizing storage space is so important to being a rock-star host. From 101s that set the mood for a killer party, to projects that will make your guests feel welcome, you have everything you need to maximize the enjoyment of your home. Entertaining should be stress-free, so we guarantee that all our 101s can be completed within our 48-hour refresh timeline. You’ll spend less time with setup and more time making memories with the people you care about.

You’ve done all the work to refresh your space, maybe you’ve had the chance to throw an epic bash—and do we spy a plant or two being beautifully taken care of? In part three, we give you pointers on how best to maintain your home, from cleaning to repairs. We have handy-dandy laundry tips on getting out stains using ordinary household products. There's also a cleaning chart that we hope makes cleaning less intimidating and breaks up tasks by day, month, and season. If you do a little bit at a time, rather than a whole lot every blue moon, maintaining your home will become a lot more manageable. Part three will be your one-stop shop for all the questions you would normally call your mom about. We promise that “boring” things can be fun when you have the right knowledge at your fingertips.

Throughout the book, read our “Life Hacks” for hints about how to work smarter not harder. We hope these little nuggets of info help make your weekend refreshes fly by with ease and make each 101 even more fun. Remember: All you need are the right tools and the belief that you are worthy of living in a beautiful space. For what it’s worth, we believe in you.

Happy refreshing!