{"id":42,"date":"2016-03-24T03:28:15","date_gmt":"2016-03-24T03:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/?p=42"},"modified":"2016-07-31T23:17:58","modified_gmt":"2016-07-31T23:17:58","slug":"rv-window-valence-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/2016\/03\/24\/rv-window-valence-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"RV Window Valence Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Recovering our RV valences turned out to be a very worthwhile project, and nothing says &#8220;good times&#8221; like a little DIY project. And nothing screams DIY like owning an RV. \u00a0Like any home purchased, there is no lack of decorating items that need to go when the new owners move in. Being a trailer from 2005, it is astonishing how much of the interior felt like it was stuck in a time warp from another decade or two earlier.<\/p>\n<p>For us, the most noticeable things inside our\u00a0RV that made\u00a0it feel dated are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">The upholstery fabric style &#8211; some of that is tackled in this post.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Counter top finishes &#8211; one day soon<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Master Bedroom headboard &#8211; it&#8217;s as dated as the valences, only worse.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Flooring &#8211; maybe next season or as a winter-time project.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">General color scheme.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Over time, we&#8217;ll be addressing\u00a0all of them<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_147\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-147\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-147 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/00Z0Z_iVS4YzBBttI_600x450-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"RV valence recover - before\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/00Z0Z_iVS4YzBBttI_600x450-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/00Z0Z_iVS4YzBBttI_600x450.jpg 337w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-147\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">These &#8220;lovely&#8221; maroon valences have to go.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This particular DIY was selected\u00a0because like picking low hanging fruit, \u00a0we would get the\u00a0greatest yield for the lowest investment in resources. Like many DIY projects, the idea\u00a0<em>sounded<\/em> like it should\u00a0be fast and easy. When the proverbial rubber met the proverbial road, the &#8220;fast&#8221; part was clearly not in the cards. \u00a0But with a little planning it <em>was<\/em>\u00a0indeed easy, just not speedy. Coming in at a minimum of one-hour for each RV valence, they were <em>completely<\/em> worth the effort. The change to the feel of the RV\u00a0was unbelievable and a big success. Because we have so many windows, the valences play a pretty big role in the overall feel of the interior design of this RV.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily, I&#8217;m married to an amazing and creative woman who did a fine job of selecting the right and perfect fabrics to compliment the direction we&#8217;re heading in design as well as representing who we are and what we like. The RV\u00a0had\u00a0WAY too much maroon, and nearly all of it will be replaced to work with our planned denim and stars based\u00a0Americana theme. While I tackled the valence project, dear wife wrangled the RV&#8217;s seat covers into submission. You go girl!<\/p>\n<p>The first step for me was to remove the valences so they could be dis-assembled and stripped of the solid maroon fabric on the privacy shields.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-50 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-03-13-15.26.51-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-03-13 15.26.51\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/>Once removed from the trailer, I used a small pry bar to <em>gently<\/em> separate the privacy shields from the valence top. Take your time on this, you don&#8217;t want to crack any parts. Ours were made from Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and MDF so cracking was not a major risk, but your mileage may vary. To keep things simple and the clutter at a minimum, I worked on one valence at a time, from start to finish. This also allowed us to see how a completed unit would look in the RV\u00a0before committing to recovering all of them.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"10\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"300px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-43 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-02-14-16.30.40-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-02-14 16.30.40\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Next up I took photos and careful notes on how the fabric was wrapped on the pieces before stripping them bare. I payed careful attention to how the rounded corners and all the tucks and folds were handled. \u00a0I pulled a few staples, took notes, snapped a pic and pulled a few more until I ran into something worth noting.<\/p>\n<p>With the fabric off, it was measured for size so\u00a0new fabric could be cut to match.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-51 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-03-13-15.28.10-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-03-13 15.28.10\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/td>\n<td>I swear to you that the RV builders have stock in staple manufacturing companies. They are a staple-happy bunch!\u00a0To get these out and avoid damaging the wood by digging at them, I pulled them from the pokey side of the staples. I started with the staples that used to hold the parts together. What you see here are the legs of the staples poking through. The simple approach is to grab ONE leg of a staple with a <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2ae6pkG\">vice-grip<\/a> and pry it out with the same motion you would use when using a claw hammer to pry out a nail. When you pull the one leg, the other will suck down and the whole staple will pull out like a little wire.<\/p>\n<p>I kept track of these for disposal in a little container; mostly because pulling them out of my feet if I stepped on them didn&#8217;t sound like fun<br \/>\nand the one I pulled out of me knee was a clear reminder to keep them corralled.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-44 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-02-14-16.37.21-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-02-14 16.37.21\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/td>\n<td>When pulling, they will often break and leave\u00a0one leg hanging. If you can&#8217;t quite get it with the vice-grips, you can grip(not cut) the little bugger with wire cutters and gently pry it out.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-45 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-03-11-07.55.41-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-03-11 07.55.41\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Bumps, bumps and bumps. After all the fabric and staples were removed, the little zits left in the wood need to be removed. \u00a0I learned from experience that leaving them behind was a bad idea. They showed through the smoother fabric we chose and that piece had to be done again. The multitudes of sins hidden by the busy pattern of the original ugly fabric\u00a0was surprising. I&#8217;m amazed at what can be disguised if the pattern is distracting enough. Like\u00a0that old saying:\u00a0<em>&#8220;If you can&#8217;t dazzle them with brilliance &#8211; baffle them with B.S.!&#8221;<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-46 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-03-11-07.57.57-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-03-11 07.57.57\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/td>\n<td>I used this<a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2aJcAPO\"> super handy DIY multi-tasker<\/a> to carefully scrape the bumps off the top. \u00a0Any sharp wood chisel will do, or sand paper, though it would take more time. Be careful and take the time to do it well. You&#8217;ll be living with the results much longer\u00a0than the short time it will take to scrape.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-388 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-02-14-16.30.46-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-02-14 16.30.46\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Referring back to my phone pics like this one, and notes on the original wrapping techniques used, the denim fabric was cut to size and the assembly began. \u00a0Wrapping the rounded corners was the most challenging part. \u00a0After completing\u00a0three or four of them\u00a0I finally felt like I was beginning to\u00a0get the hang of it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-47 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-03-11-08.01.33-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-03-11 08.01.33\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/td>\n<td>Be sure that your new staples go into the OSB, and NOT the MDF! They grip much better in the OSB and won&#8217;t cause the bumps that you will get on the MDF. \u00a0Continue to wrap the piece following your notes and pics for reference. \u00a0Since I was putting my staples in a different spot than the factory, I had to modify my wrap a tiny bit.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-102 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/20160305_142037-1-e1460835794370-169x300.jpg\" alt=\"valance 14\" width=\"169\" height=\"300\" \/><\/td>\n<td>For the tops of the valences I chose to leave the original fabric in place and just cover over it. Mostly because I was quite done with pulling staples ( did I mention the thousands of staples used by the Dutchmen factory?), But\u00a0after doing one valence as a test without the old fabric and comparing results, I preferred the more &#8220;padded&#8221; appearance of leaving the old stuff in place.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-101 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/20160305_142052-1-e1460835825531-169x300.jpg\" alt=\"valance 15\" width=\"169\" height=\"300\" \/><\/td>\n<td>The shorter valences could be covered with one piece of the ticking material, but the longer units required some\u00a0seam matching of two pieces of material.<br \/>\nRather than sewing them together ( my sewing skills are non-existent) , <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-49 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/2016-03-13-12.24.42-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"2016-03-13 12.24.42\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/>I stapled the first half in place then for the second, I folded the edge under and carefully aligned things to make the seam blend as nicely as possible. \u00a0For the finishing touch, I pushed an awl through the fabric and wood, threaded a machine screw through the back and using a metal stand-off, attached these old weathered iron stars we&#8217;ve been hoarding for years. \u00a0We love the look with these embellishments!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figure id=\"attachment_184\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-184\" style=\"width: 169px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-184 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/2016-03-20-10.21.57-1-169x300.jpg\" alt=\"Banquette- 2016-03-20 10.21.57\" width=\"169\" height=\"300\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-184\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The after shot with the new seat covers too. Much calmer looking\u00a0than the before.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_147\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-147\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-147 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/00Z0Z_iVS4YzBBttI_600x450-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"RV valence recover - before\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/00Z0Z_iVS4YzBBttI_600x450-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/00Z0Z_iVS4YzBBttI_600x450.jpg 337w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-147\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pattern and colors of the old RV upholstery was neither pleasing to our eyes, nor did it feel anything like a home to us.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Looking back, I might do a few things differently when re-upholstering the valences.<\/h3>\n<p>Being handy with power tools, I think I would have torn down two to use as templates and just cut new pieces from OSB and build from scratch. This would have been faster and less hassle than pulling 18 pounds of staples. Okay, so I exaggerated a bit&#8212; 16 pounds of staples.;-)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The factory method for hanging these is L-brackets on the sides, and screws into the cabinets when possible. When no cabinets were available, more L-brackets. \u00a0If we do this project again I would eliminate the L-brackets and use molding as cleats behind the valence for a more attractive and secure attachment to the wall.<\/p>\n<h3>Here&#8217;s a tip for your RV valence recovering project:<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">While the old school staple guns will work, do yourself a favor and get one with the handle reversed like this one. I was only part way through the second valence before I was fed up with trying to use both hands and all my body weight to keep enough pressure on the front of my old staple gun to get the staples to hold. \u00a0This type allowed me to use one hand to staple, one to hold the fabric and time and effort cut in half!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=grynncom-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B003ZMBUBS&amp;asins=B003ZMBUBS&amp;linkId=268c74b73d1fdf179017e89cf06003ec&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recovering our RV valences turned out to be a very worthwhile project, and nothing says &#8220;good times&#8221; like a little DIY project. And nothing screams DIY like owning an RV. \u00a0Like any home purchased, there is no lack of decorating items that need to go when the new owners move in. Being a trailer from 2005, it is astonishing how much of the interior felt like it was stuck in a time warp from another decade or two earlier. For us, the most noticeable things inside our\u00a0RV that made\u00a0it feel&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[7,6,8,9],"class_list":["post-42","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interior-decorating","tag-decorating","tag-interior-design","tag-rv-diy","tag-upholstery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":555,"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42\/revisions\/555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/littlehouseofbig.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}