Elegant DIY
Author shares ideas and tips for unique French vintage décor projects
For Jamie Lundstrom, tackling do-it-yourself projects provided a much-needed release from a stressful career in the medical field, which she worked in for 14 years.
“I didn’t think I was a creative person,” she admits, referencing those initial after-hours efforts. “But I spent my time in the evenings and weekends doing projects around the house and I always felt good after painting a piece of furniture or sewing some pillows.”
Lundstrom says the hands-on activities called for a level of creativity that she wasn’t experiencing at her job.
“When you work on a computer all day, it’s nice to be able to work with your hands on a project,” she says.
While she shies away from the idea of calling herself an artist, she says the DIY endeavours reminded her of how much she enjoyed painting and refinishing furniture pieces as a teen. It was an interest she picked up from her parents at a young age.
“Both my parents are DIY-ers and they just did stuff because they had to, there was never a thought of calling someone to repair something,” she says. “I’ve seen my dad and grandpa fix and build just about everything in our house and on our hobby farm and my dad was also a welder. He made these extravagant play structures for our goats. My mom and sister are seamstresses and my mom once owned a children’s clothing boutique and even my birth mother (I was adopted) is an artist.
“Growing up around all of this naturally influenced me to want to ‘do it myself.’ “
So, with DIY practically in her blood, it’s little surprise that Lundstrom eventually turned her interest into a career.
Now, the Vancouver-based creator manages her own website, So Much Better with Age.
The site, which highlights decor ideas and projects, has been the launch pad for Lundstrom to partner with companies and appear on TV.
And, now, she’s also written a book.
Titled French Vintage Décor: Easy and Elegant DIY Projects for Any Home, the book sees Lundstrom present 70 ideas and tutorials for projects, each taking inspiration from classic French design — an esthetic she ascribes to with most of her design projects.
“I call my style French Vintage,” she says.
“It’s a combination of my love of French/European furniture and decor, and my love of vintage stuff. The French just know how to do any style well, whether it’s fashion or home decor. I love their architecture and ornate detailing. It’s amazing how much thought and technique went into decorating just one room.”
Lundstrom says the French design style appeals to both her love of all things old, while also allowing her to incorporate that vintage vibe into decidedly more modern spaces.
“I love incorporating something French, like a curvy piece of furniture and a chandelier, in a modern space and also adding a touch of something old or rustic,” she says. “It makes the space unique with lots of texture.”
Through DIY, she says people can differentiate their living spaces from the similar, picture-perfect places that are often shared on social platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest as “It” home-decor options.
“Nowadays people can copy a room they see in a magazine and go out and buy everything they see,” she says. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but you’re not getting something that is truly unique and individual. When you add pieces that took some time to collect (or create), you’ll see your home becomes uniquely you.”
But differentiating one’s home from the Pinterest board-making set isn’t always easy to do. Especially if you’re on a budget.
And that’s one reason Lundstrom says people looking to redecorate should at least consider DIY as an option.
“Finding items that are French or vintage can be challenging — they can be hard to find and if you do find them, they can be very expensive,” she says. “DIY-ing your own projects is a great alternative for a fraction of the price.”
The DIY pro says she’s happy to share her passion for crafting creations with her kids — and her growing audience who are eager to learn new skills.
“DIY skills are trendy now because not everyone knows how to do these things anymore and I feel people want to get back to basics as a way of reconnecting to their world and disconnecting from their technology,” she says. “I hear a lot of women say that they can’t or don’t know how to use tools ... And I also hear people say that they’re not crafty.
“I think everyone is crafty. You may not be a chef, but you know how to cook a few things, right? It’s no different with DIY. Learning a few basic skills will go a long way.”
So, which piece among the 70 projects is Lundstrom most proud of having created?
“I think it would have to be the Trumeau Mirror,” she says of the design that she crafted with the help of her boyfriend, Aaron. “It’s a quintessential French home-décor item and it combines so many different DIY skills.
“We came up with the dimensions, how to make the crown header and I used some techniques I’ve never done before but always wanted to do. I piped a design on the front using drywall mud in an icing bag. It’s an idea I’ve had for years but was too afraid to show people such a weird idea but I had to follow my own advice and just try it.”
Despite the results being not exactly “perfect” in her own words, the mirror is still a favourite for the designer.
“It’s not perfect, but I think that’s why I love it so much,” she says. “I took a risk and it’s unique.”