PINTEREST CHALLENGE is all done. Check it out, folks.
Tuesday, Aug 02, 2011 73 Comments 
Or in my case 'Challenges'.
Alright the first Pinterest challenge, spring edition, has ended. Here's a recap in case you missed my post last week: Sherry and John from YoungHouseLove.com, Joey and Lana from JoeyandLana.com, and Katie and Jeremy from BowerPowerBlog.com and I, Emily Henderson, decided to challenge ourselves to a DIY challenge based on a pinterest inspiration photo. (Pinterest has nothing to do with this, we are just fans). So we gave ourselves a week to find the photo and do our interpretation of it in our very own DIY.
Let me be clear. I can be DIY, but in order to really DIY well, you must have patience and i don't. I romanticize the idea of painting my walls or sewing my own drapery, but two hours into i stop the project, distracted by the shiny reality show going on or an adorable little bearcat that is begging to be cuddled.
Therefore, i was looking forward to this challenge to make me finish something. And i'm not sure i succeeded. Stay tuned.
So my first brilliant idea was inspired from this photo (interior design by Kelly Wearstler).
Uh huh. It's awesome. And lucky me (and unlucky Brian, Orlando and everyone else who has been burdened by having to carry this at some point) I found 15 bags of 100 foot long vintage brass chain from a architectural salvage store about a year ago and schlepped it home. So i hoarded it, as you do, and its been sitting in my living room (too heavy to really move) since then. I want to do this wall, i really do, but i plan on moving in the next year so i didn't want to do an installation that i couldn't move. And also, where i would do it doesn't get a lot of light and gold chain needs reflection to really be appreciated so i'm putting this off until next year.
One bag of chain. I have 14 more and they be heavy. So i think, how's about a pendant, a la this:
From DIYideas.com
But i want to do it with my hoarded chain, but i couldn't find a picture of anyone having done it before.
PERHAPS THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS A BAD IDEA. Keep reading.
So i start with this prototype, just to see if i like where its headed. I stripped this $5 beat up lampshade:
Into this:
And with a glue gun and my hoarded chain (i was going to buy a mini-soldering iron if i liked it) i attempted the prototype, just to see if this could ever possibly work:
UH, nope. Just beautiful isn't it? It looks sloppy and ultimately wouldn't be that functional with the exposed bulb. I think someone who had the right chain and who knew how to weld and doesn't have the patience of a 4 year old could take this idea and roll with it - especially if it was just styled for a set and not an actual house. But not me.
So i wanted to simplify it and add a lot more chain to obscure the harshness of the bulb. Genius move, right?
So i decided to make them all even (like the string above) and hang it from a drum shade that has the same size top and bottom. I had to undo each link (at 12) with pliars to adhere them, and my fingers started hurting. So i brought it to set where i have some awesome interns, Aubrey and Annie, help me out.
Sorry, this picture sucks. I forgot that i was actually documenting this for the blog and was just taking pictures.
And ready for the big reveal:
Woah!!! its almost like that gold chain was way too heavy for the small wire circle ring.
So that idea is shelved until i get a welder to weld me a circle or square frame that is solid. But either way it is going to need to be screwed into a beam because it is over 20 pounds. In theory, though, this could be awesome. In theory.
WHOOPS. Well, that was stupid. So luckily, I was in the middle of a DIY project on set and i was all 'ding ding ding, hello NEW pinterest challenge, its your blogger calling'.
So here was the idea behind this DIY project:
OH my those nailheads are awesome. So i got inspired. And then i found this one:
Another pattern, but the overall effect is awesome. So unfortunately i don't have before pictures of the closet doors that i decided to redo, you can kinda see them in the background of this picture:
So i bought plain closet doors, painted them white and played with patterns:
These weren't measured out perfectly yet, just a visual. i chose the one on the right, this kind of regency inspired silhouette. And I decide to use these guys:
The hammered brass, not the aged brass. And we went to 5 home depots (plus a bunch of michaels who don't carry them) to get all of them, and there are none, i mean NONE, left in L.A.
So we start measuring, and this is the boring part. We had 880 nailheads, over 4 panels, so 220 each. So we decided to do one each inch and to leave 10 inches in the middle blank.
But i did not do this by myself, no siree, i had some helpers:
It Aubrey, Annie, Brittan, David and my assistants Rebecca and Chris a couple hours, while i was filming inside.
The main advice they said was to a. us a pencil to measure and make a dot. b. use a rubber mallet instead of a hammer to not ruin the top of the nailhead.
And there you have it:
I wish i had taken better photos, drat. But you get the general idea.
So it was quite an evolution, but it turned out pretty great and i was totally happy with it. Had we had more nailheads i would have done an outside border around each panel to make it look more finished, but we bought all the brass hammered nailheads in Northern California.
It did get me excited to do something for myself (one of the rules, of which i failed) so yes, i'm excited for the next pinterest challenge. Don't forget to check Joey and Lana's, Sherry and Johns and Katie and Jeremy's results. I'm pretty excited to see how they succeeded, which i'm sure they did. Probably not with interns, BUT they did have husband help.
So i guess my DIY was more DIYI (Do it your interns). Next time, i swear.
What did you guys do? link your pinterest in your comment if you did it, or else just comment per usual. And tweet it on twitter with the hashtag #pinterstchallenge and i'll try to retweet them all day.
Holiday special starts today. Happy holidays!
Link Up Party People!!
Emily Henderson
I have no idea what is up with my pictures. Somehow they got completely changed and now i don't have the old ones. So annoying. I don't get it, sorry guys.
Pinterest challenge 
Reader Comments (73)
LOVE LOVE LOVE the closet doors.... I have terrible bi-fold doors in my office and have been scheming about what to do with them... this is amazing!
(side note: i'm so taken by the closet doors, I almost forgot to share my own personal challenge.... http://www.houseofearnest.com/2011/08/01/before-and-after-office-light-fixture-and-my-diy-orb-chandelier/)
This pinterest challenge was so fun here's my turquoise mirror inspired by none other than pinterest.
http://www.ourlakelife.com/2011/07/26/turquoise-mirror-makeover/
It turned out wonderful Emily! Here's a question that I have for you. I see the picture of the closet doors had slats in them right? How did you cover those up in order to put the nails in? Or was I just looking at the wrong set of doors?
My best, Lynn
Love the closet doors - you took something that is typically so standard and blah and made them interesting.
I also loved the challenge, it was a great motivator to do customize an Ikea Maskros light (inspired by Amy Butlers and seen on Little Green Notebook) here's a link to my project:
http://lyricaljourney.blogspot.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge.html
I need to get me some interns :) The nailhead doors are fantastic. Love it and will probably have to add yet another pin to my collection.
I just moved into a new place (first mortgage!) and decided to start small...yet bold. I painted my small foyer with bold stripes. Enjoy!
http://bread-n-chocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/paint-by-numbers.html
I have never seen that before...super cute. Check out my pinterest challenge project:
http://www.fortheloveofpainting.com/2011/08/my-pinterest-challenge/
I love it. You are so lucky to have help. I could've used some cutting out the 765 circles for my project (I kid you not). You must see it http://jandjhome.blogspot.com/2011/08/felt-flower-pouf.html
Closet doors look great! I'm with Kate, I need some interns! I would love to DIY more but time is not always on my side.
Here's my little Pinterest Challenge project :)
http://thelilhousethatcould.com/2011/08/01/a-picture-is-worth-1000-words/
I think all the pics are screwed up here?
Ha ha. That's great. I should get some assistants to help me in my DIY endeavors. I would get so much more accomplished. Both of the chain ideas have great potential. I hope you come back to them. And the nailheads really dress up those doors. I created a TV/Pinterest inspired project.
LOVE the closet doors just awesome!! Way cool pendant, great job. P.S. I'm totally in love with your show/style everything :)
Thank you for the Pinterest challenge. Your doors turned out amazing. Very meticulous. We made a piece of framed Scrabble art to add to our frame wall.
http://www.weheartminnesota.com/2011/08/01/a-pinterest-challenge-whyyes-we-accept/
The pics are really messed up. The one of someone holding the gold chain circle is in there at least 8 times and there are other multiples too. It made it really confusing to figure out what project was what. :( I'm using Chrome. The finished nail head looks great though!
Clarification: I'm using Chrome as my browser. I don't know if that's factoring into the images being shown multiple times and out of order.
whats wrong with all your pictures???
The doors look amazing, Emily! I need to borrow your interns! Beautiful job!
The lamp was a great idea and can't wait to see how you get it to work out! Looking forward to it!
I love that the Pinterest Challenge did make me choose from the ideas I've been collecting and make it a reality! My daughter and I created a fun lawn Twister game for an outdoor party. Huge hit and lots of fun!
http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/08/summer-pinterest-challenge-and-diy-grad.html
Emily, what a tease with the chain link wall installation via Kelly Wearstler! I guess this means we will have to have another Pinterest Challenge next year once you move! That is beautiful and I am sure no one can pull it off better than you, so I can't wait to see! The doors are fabulous as well, a great way to spruce up plain closet doors.
I too have the patience of a four year old and it does get in the way of DIY project often! Check out my finished project, a coffee filter lamp pendant and let me know what you think!
http://agirlandakey.blogspot.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge-reveal.html
I think it looks good?? It's hard to tell because your photos are so confusing. Maybe proof read before publishing?
I love this challenge and went a little Amy on it. In our house Amy is sometimes used as an adjective meaning obsessive. I ended up doing a few projects and have blogged two of them. The rest will be coming later this week :) Here are the links for the two I've already blogged: http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/my-bathroom-smells-like-smores/ and http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/challenge-i-brought-it/.
Such a great idea from Miss Katie and I LOVE your doors!!!
The pictures seem a little goofy in Internet Explorer, but I still got the gist. Very pretty in the end! I tried to do a chalkboard project at first and it was also a big ol' fail, so I get where you're commin' from.
I ended up revamping a shirt: http://finalclothesout.blogspot.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge-results.html
Love the closet doors. But I think the repeating blurry crotch shot with the chains is hilarious. Of all pictures!
this post is a mess.
OMG. You are soooo my favorite designer for reasons such as this! I totally would have kept on the chain idea until it literally killed me. LMAO. Great idea on the doors, though! I would look online and see if you could buy them in bulk to get enough for all four doors. Hate waiting, but it's better than running all over the place. I'd be a crazy lady if I did that. lol. I did a project of my own for the challenge! http://www.livingonthechic.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge.html I hope you check it out!! :) I'd love any advice from you, cause I definitely admire you a ton (You're on my tivo, stored for the next two years. FYI) and would love any tips you could give any aspiring designer/stylist!
Much Love,
Trissta Lyman
Love the nailhead and the great potential in the lamp idea! Would love to see it all finished. =) The chain wall inspiration looks absolutely fabulous too!
I had so much fun with this challenge. Thanks for sharing it!
http://smileymelly.blogspot.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge.html
love the closet doors. i'm going to attempt to add nailhead trimto some of my existing furniture pieces, and this is something to add to the inspiration files. though i would like some interns to help me out since i have so many other projects to do too! maybe another pinterest challenge to motivate me? i created my own lyrics artwork: http://youresomartha.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/pinterest-challenge/