furniture makeover | Beneath My Heart

DIY Butcher Block Vanity

January 17, 2013 AT 12:23 pm 47 Comments

January 17, 2013 By traci 47 Comments

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the sweet comments you left on my post yesterday of my bathroom reveal.

When I hit “publish” on that post, I got kind of nervous that no one would like it. I felt like an awkward junior high school girl hoping her friends would like her new outfit. Smile

When the comments started rolling in, you just made my day! It felt like I was getting a ton of “high fives,” and I was lovin’ it!

A lot of you asked me questions about the makeover in the comment section, and I will be answering them in some upcoming posts.

I had a lot of questions about how Cy made the vanity, so I am going to do my best to share it today.

We had two things in mind when building this vanity…to save space and to save money.

To save some space in the bathroom, I wanted a smaller vanity that was open underneath. I knew it would make the bathroom feel so much bigger not to have a bulky, large vanity cabinet.

To save some money, we decided to use a leftover piece of butcher block from our kitchen renovation for the vanity top and have Cy build the whole thing.

However, why Cy chose to build this vanity at about 10:30 at night, upstairs in the addition, by the light of a single lamp, I cannot recall.

It was late. He was tired.

Let’s just say this was not one of our best moments as a DIY couple.

I think Cy may have been a little bit annoyed by me and my camera. Smile

So I apologize for the lighting in these pictures. I had to use my flash because it was late and dark.

Cy started with four newel posts from Lowe’s.

This may be confusing, but he cut off the bottom of the newel posts to be the top of our vanity legs.

Then he cut off the top of the newel posts to be the bottom of our vanity legs. Smile

Next, he attached small pieces of wood with glue {PL Adhesive} and screws to be the “anchor pieces” for the wood sides of our vanity.

Once the anchors were attached, he could then nail the vanity sides into them.

Cy ALWAYS adds PL Adhesive to each wood piece before he screws or nails it to the wood.

Cy followed this same process for all four corners of the vanity legs on the top and bottom.

Here is Cy checking to make sure the sides are level.

{INSERT DRAMA}

Remember it’s late? Remember Cy’s tired?

Well, when he was about to add the butcher block top, I told him I thought the vanity may be a little too tall looking. That did not go over very well at that very moment. Smile

Cy grabbed his hand saw and went to town at sawing off some of the top of the vanity. I was afraid he was going to ruin it or that it wouldn’t look right. We may or may not have been arguing at this point. {wink}

Not a great DIY moment, but hey, it happens!

Fortunately, he was able to make the vanity shorter without shortening my life span.

Cy added some PL Adhesive to the top of the vanity before he attached the butcher block.

He measured to make sure the butcher block was centered on the vanity.

He put a few 2 inch finish nails in the butcher block to secure it to the vanity. We let that sit overnight.

Later, Cy took a piece of 1/2 inch birch plywood and cut out the corners so it would fit on the lower shelf.

We added a piece of trim around the bottom shelf of the vanity.

We also thought the sides of the top of the vanity looked a little plain, so to make it look more custom, Cy added another small piece of trim around the sides.

Trim pieces are small but can make a BIG difference on a piece of furniture!

{MISSING SOME PICTURES}

One day while I was out of the house, Cy cut a sink bowl hole in the butcher block and installed the sink. So I was not able to get any pictures of this step.

However, most sinks come with a template for the hole that you need to cut out of your vanity top. Cy just centered the sink template on the butcher block and traced around it. Then he drilled a pilot hole on the traced line with a wood bit. He put his jigsaw blade inside the pilot hole and cut out the sink hole.

If you want to see how to do this, you can check out THIS POST when Cy installed a sink in the dresser/vanity for our master bathroom.

Back to the guest bathroom…

We stained the butcher block a Dark Walnut from Minwax and sealed it with 5 coats of polyurethane in Semi Gloss. He lightly sanded in between each coat of poly.

By the way, did you notice my gorgeous Moen faucet?! It is called “Waterhill.”

Moen provided this faucet for my bathroom makeover! I am in love with it! I think the look of this faucet fits perfectly with my cottage bathroom.

I absolutely love the contrast of the shiny chrome against the butcher block and wood walls.

It’s amazing how you can tell that this is a well made product. It’s the nicest faucet we have ever had in any of our homes. You can tell the quality just by touching the handle. Seriously!

Thank you, Moen!

Today, I added a chrome towel bar to the side of the vanity.

The towel bar is practical because it gives me a place to hang my hand towels, but it also provides a way for me to hide the ugly plumbing beneath my vanity. Love that!

I am thrilled with how the vanity turned out!

Since we had the butcher block left over from our kitchen renovation, it helped to save us some money in this project.

The newel posts we used for the legs cost us about $120.

IF we had had more time to build this vanity, I would have probably frequented the Habitat Store to try and find 4 matching newel posts I could have used for this project. If you don’t want to use newel posts for this project, you could just use four plain, straight wood posts.

So, we could have definitely saved some more money on this project if we had had the luxury of more time to complete it.

But we only had about $150 total in this vanity {not including the sink, faucet, and towel bar.}

I still think that is a great price for a custom built vanity. I love it!

To answer more of your questions about our renovation, I will be sharing a post about our wood planked walls..

I will also be sharing more about our split bathroom shower curtain, AND we will be giving you a complete cost breakdown of our bathroom makeover.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a blessed day!

Linking to…

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Bookcase turned Yard Stick Coffee Table {DIY Wayfair Challenge!}

December 3, 2012 AT 6:00 am 29 Comments

December 3, 2012 By traci 29 Comments

I am so excited to share a fun little project I just complete for my boys!

I got an email a while back from Wayfair about participating in their first DIY Challenge. Of course, I said yes!

We had to pick one of three products to do a makeover on. I chose this bookcase.

When I first saw it, I planned on still using it as a bookcase, but then I got the idea to turn it into a coffee table for the boys’ soon-to-be playroom.

{When the boys’ move upstairs to their new rooms, we are going to turn one of their rooms downstairs into a playroom.}

So this is what I came up with!

I just LOVE it!

I took the bookcase and created a rolling, yard stick coffee table with it.

I used the pieces of bookcase that came in the box to create the base of the coffee table. I sprayed the whole piece with Kilz spray primer first, and then spray painted the whole thing with white spray paint.

Since the original backing of the bookcase was a little too flimsy, we used a piece of leftover beadboard that we already had for the bottom of the coffee table.

We applied PL Adhesive to the wood and then nailed the board to the bottom of the bookcase.

Then we cut a piece of plywood about two inches longer on each side than the bookcase.

We attached the larger piece of plywood to the top of the bookcase with door hinges.

Now the boys will be able to lift up the table top and use it for storing toys or blankets.

For the top of the coffee table, I bought a bunch of yard sticks for .69 cents a piece and stained or painted them with my favorite colors.

I spray painted some red and used Annie Sloan dark wax on them to make them look aged. I used Ebony stain on some, Walnut stain on others. I also used a gray stain, white spray paint, and green paint on some others. You can use whatever colors you want!

Then I attached the yardsticks to the top of the coffee table using more PL Adhesive and the nail gun.

I staggered my yard sticks because I didn’t want them to look all matchy-matchy.

Then we used an electric hand saw to cut the edges of the yard sticks straight.

Next, we added wheels to the bottom of the coffee table.

To cover the raw edges of the top of the table, I stained some yardsticks a little darker with the ebony stain and attached them to the sides with PL Adhesive and a nail gun.

I also added a silver handle to the front so the boys can lift the top of the coffee table easily.

I am so happy with how it turned out!

It’s such a colorful and happy table! Perfect for the boys’ soon-to-be playroom!

And I like that they will be able to easily roll it out of the way if they need more space to play games, like their Wii.

Here is another look at the before and after…

A special thanks to Wayfair for letting me participate in this challenge!! Be sure to follow Wayfair on Pinterest and/or Facebook for news and products.

Disclaimer—Wayfair provided the bookcase and Giftcards.com provided a giftcard to go toward the supplies for this project. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Filed Under boys' room, DIY projects, furniture makeover, Uncategorized 29 Comments

How I Painted my Vanity with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

September 4, 2012 AT 9:36 am 47 Comments

September 4, 2012 By traci 47 Comments

Hey, friends!

I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Today, I wanted to show you how I painted the vanity in yesterday’s post.

Warning: I am not a professional painter and never will be. Smile

There is no special or secret method that I use.

Basically, I paint, I sand, I seal.

For this project, I decided to use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I have attended one of Annie Sloan’s workshops on her American tour, but I have never painted a piece of furniture with her paint.

source

Although I have wanted to for a long time.

I have heard GREAT things about ASCP. The qualities I am most attracted to is that you don’t have to prime or sand a piece of furniture before painting with ASCP, and it distresses beautifully.

source

If you want to know more about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, I highly suggest you reading about it HERE, from Shaunna at Imperfectly Perfect. She also sells ASCP, so if you want to purchase some, go HERE.

The color of ASCP I chose is called French Linen.

Product Image 3

source

Since I didn’t have to prime or sand, I just began painting with my regular paint brush.

When the paint is wet, it is several shades lighter than the finished color. It will dry into a deep, warm, beautiful gray.

It dries fairly quick. I painted two coats.

Then I sanded the dresser with a sanding sponge on all the raised areas.

It was late at night when I took the next two pictures, so I used a flash. That is why the paint looks like a different color.

After I sanded the raised areas, it was ready to wax.

Before you wax it, the paint looks dry and chalky.

But when you apply the Annie Sloan Clear Wax, that is when the REAL beauty of the paint comes out!

source

(For a great video on how to apply ASCP wax, watch Shaunna’s video HERE.)

Annie Sloan has awesome brushes to apply the wax, but I don’t own one. Sad smile So I just used a cheese cloth. I am hoping to buy one of her brushes soon, but they are a little bit pricey.

I was smiling from ear to ear and filling pretty giddy when I was waxing this piece.

Girls, I was falling in love. Ooh-la-la!

I cannot tell you how much I love this color of paint!

The original hardware looks amazing on this piece. It’s old tarnished brass, I believe.

Painting this vanity was exactly what this bathroom needed.

I’m gonna see how the wax holds up to water drops around the sink. I talked to Shaunna, and she said it should be fine. But if I need to, I will apply Minwax Wipe-on Poly.

That’s it!

SUPER easy.

I love ASCP! It’s pretty pricey, though. Over $30 for a quart. But you don’t have to buy primer, which is nice. It was definitely worth the extra splurge on this piece.

If you have any questions, just let me know. I’ll try my best to answer them.

Have you ever used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

What did you think of it?

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Filed Under bathrooms, furniture makeover, makeover, makeovers, paint, Paint Colors 47 Comments

Dresser turned Vanity Makeover

September 2, 2012 AT 10:19 pm 62 Comments

September 2, 2012 By traci 62 Comments

I am soooo very excited to show you this project!

I gave you a sneak peek of something I was painting last week.

It was our bathroom vanity! You know…the one that we just re-did?

Yep! We re-did it again!

(I just started singing Brittany Spears’ “Oops, I did it again” in my head.) Smile

The second makeover turned out WAY better than the first.

Let’s take a look back shall we?

We bought this dresser at a thrift store last fall for $50.

I immediately knew that I wanted to turn it into a vanity for our master bathroom.

I was picturing something beautiful in my head. Like this…

4116784323_67f4631d69

Cy worked really hard on sanding and staining our dresser…

He added a drop in sink…

It really was beautiful. I loved it.

But as we continued to work on the bathroom, something wasn’t jivin’ and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I loved the hard wood floors…

I loved the faux wood beams and white washed brick…

I loved the claw foot tub….

But there was something about that vanity that wasn’t sitting well with me.

I think I was having trouble with the dark cherry stain. It just wasn’t working with the walnut floor and beams.

I started thinking about painting it, but I didn’t want to tell Cy.

He was going to kill me.

But it kept bugging me.

And bugging me.

I mentioned to Cy that I sort of wanted to paint it. And guess what? I’m still livin’!

I guess after being married to me for 15 years, nothing really surprises him any more. Smile

So then I started rolling around in my head, “What color do I want to paint it?”

And here is what I decided on…

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen.

Perfection!

(If I do say so myself!)

I was able to add the original hardware back on the vanity, and it looks great.

It is the exact contrast I need between the vanity and the flooring. I was probably more giddy about this project than any other that I have done during our renovation.

I was DYING to show you guys last week! It is EXACTLY what I was envisioning for my bathroom, and I am SOOOO glad I painted it!

So here is my advice to you for what it is worth.

If something isn’t jivin’ in your décor…change it!

Trust your gut!

Just do it!

You’ll be so glad you did. I know I am. Smile

Let’s look back and the transformation of this $50 dresser…

Tomorrow, I will show you how I painted the dresser. It was super easy.

I will also give you a breakdown of the total cost of this dresser turned vanity.

So what do you think?

Do you like it better stained or painted?

Linking this project to…

and

“Show me What You’ve Got” at Not Just a Housewife

“Furniture Feature Friday” at Miss Mustard Seed

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Filed Under bathrooms, furniture makeover, makeover, makeovers, New Home, paint, Uncategorized 62 Comments

Drop Cloth Skirted Wood Desk {a creative storage solution for my office}

August 10, 2011 AT 10:15 am 36 Comments

August 10, 2011 By traci 36 Comments

Last week, I shared my new skirted desk in my guest post over at Shanty2Chic.

I am so excited with how it turned out!

(I am going to paint the walls a different color. This is the color that was already on the walls when we bought the house two months ago. I think a lighter paint color will help the desk stand out even more!)

I love this desk/table because there is sooooo much room to work! And I love the way the drop cloth skirt hides all my “uglies”…

I bought those storage bins at Walmart, and I am going to buy two more for the other side of my desk when I have the money.

It was so much fun organizing all of my crafty stuff!

Now just in case ya’ll go thinkin’ that I’ve got it all together, and my room is so neat and organized now, here’s what the other side of my room looks like….

See why I need more storage bins?

I am DETERMINED TO GET ORGANIZED now that the boys are back in school!!

If you missed my guest post over at Shanty2Chic, and you want to know how to make this desk yourself, here is the tutorial.

(Believe me… if I can do it, you can do it too!)

I purchase three 2x10x8′s from Lowe’s and place them on our saw horses…

Then I cut each board 82 inches long. (You could cut them as long or as short as you need them.)

Then I cut 2×4′s to make a frame smaller than the top of the table.

I used PL adhesive caulk at the end of each 2×4 before I used my nail gun to nail them together.

I also used PL adhesive caulk on the frame before I nailed it to the top of the table…

I place the three 2×10′s on top of my 2×4 frame and nailed them together.

Next, I cut some 2×4′s for the legs of the table and nailed them to the frame. It didn’t matter if my table had ugly legs because I knew I would be covering them with a skirt.

I made my table 30 inches high.

Then I used a clean cloth to wipe on the stain…

It is called Provencial from Minwax.

For the skirt, I cut strips from some drop cloths 31 inches long…

I LOVE drop cloths! I especially love that they are already hemmed on one side, so I didn’t even have to break out my sewing machine for this project!

Next, I stapled the drop cloth to a 1×2 board that was cut 82 inches long (the length of the front of the table.) I gathered the material every couple of inches to create my skirt.

Then I attached the skirt to the table by screwing the 1×2 into the table top. (I used 2 inch wood screws.)

drop cloths

Then the material lays nicely between the 1×2 and the table top!

I did the same thing to the sides of the table too!

This skirt is perfect for hiding my craft supplies in my office.

I grabbed some accessories from around my house to decorate it for now. Of course, I may change it around a bit still.

But for now, I am really going to enjoy this roomy desk!

If you have any questions about my desk, just let me know! :)

And don’t forget that tickets for Haven 2012 go on sale Monday, August 15th!!

I hope to see you there!

I’m linking this project to….

Home Stories A2Z Tips and Tutorial Tuesday

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Filed Under drop cloth projects, furniture makeover, home office, organization 36 Comments

My Trip to Sarah’s {Thrifty Decor Chick} for a Chair Re-do!

August 4, 2011 AT 8:17 pm 17 Comments

August 4, 2011 By traci 17 Comments

I hope you are having wonderful week!

I went to my oldest son’s Middle School Open House tonight, and I am still trying to recover. :)
Am I seriously old enough to have a child in middle school? (Do NOT answer that!)

Today, I put together a little video of my trip to Sarah’s {Thrifty Decor Chick} house. I went up to see her about a month ago to help her with a chair she wanted to re-do in her office. You can read her post about it HERE.

There is NO way she could have done it without me. {wink}

Actually, we only finished about half the chair while I was there, and she completed it by herself. I think she did an awesome job!

So here’s my little silly video.

(If you are reading this in a reader, you will need to click on the title of this post and view the video on my blog.) Please do!

My Trip to Sarah’s from Beneath My Heart on Vimeo.

See ya soon!

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Slipcover Video Tutorial- Part One

May 18, 2011 AT 9:25 am 4 Comments

May 18, 2011 By traci 4 Comments

I shared with you on Monday how I slipcovered my office chair.

Today, I want to share with you a little video I made of the process.

(If you are reading this through a reader or email, you will need to click on the title of this post to view the video on my website.)

Slipcover Video -Part One from Beneath My Heart on Vimeo.

A Table Makeover with my New Favorite Paint Color!

March 20, 2011 AT 11:00 am 42 Comments

March 20, 2011 By traci 42 Comments

Do you have a piece of furniture in your home that you “like”, but you don’t “love”?

Is there a piece of furniture you own that has great lines or may be very functional, but it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the decor in your home?

Well, you don’t have to settle with just “liking” that piece of furniture anymore.

Turn it into something you love!!!

That is exactly what I did.

Today, I am going to share with you a little table makeover I have just completed.

I have had this little cherry table for 6 or 7 years. My mom gave it to me because she wasn’t using it anymore.

I have used it in several places around the home, but I have never been really happy with it. It didn’t quite fit in with the rest of my decor.

So I finally decided to make it look a little more like “me”.

Here are the supplies I used:

*Valspar Antiquing Glaze

*Minwax Wipe-On Poly

*Sample Valspar paint in Eucalyptus Tree (blue).

*Sample Valspar paint in Light French Gray (Behr’s)

*Minwax Provencial Stain

*Wooden embellishments

I already had all of these supplies on hand, except for the sample size of blue paint.

I bought two wooden embellishments from Lowe’s for about 5 bucks…

(I had already taken one out of the package.)

First, I sanded a spot on the table where I wanted to attach the wooden embellishments. This would give the wood glue something to adhere to.

Then, I put a little Gorilla Glue on the back of each embellishment…

My hubby helped me nail the decorative piece to the table. We had to nail it on because of the curve of the table.

I let those pieces dry, and then I was ready to paint!

Since the embellishments were plain wood, I used some “Provencial” Mixwax stain that I already had to darken them a bit. I just used a paper towel to apply the stain. If I were doing a whole piece of furniture, I would have used a cloth.

Then I sanded the whole table with a sanding sponge to help the paint adhere to the surface.

I was so stressed about finding the right color blue for this table. I was in Lowe’s for a long time looking at all of the paint swatches. I wanted a grayish/greenish blue.

And guess what…I found it!

It turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

It is called Eucalyptus Tree.

I got a sample size of it because it was more than enough for this table.

Cost=$3.00

I just applied the paint with a brush.

I wanted to be able to see the brush strokes in the paint, and I love leaving a little bit of wood showing too.

Then I painted the embellishment with the Light French Gray.

After the entire table was completely dry, I used my sanding sponge to sand around the edges of the table to make it look “worn”.

Then I applied the Valspar Antiquing Glaze with a paper towel. It looks black when going on the table. Just wipe it on until you get the look you are after. If it is too dark, just wipe a little off with a damp paper towel. If it is not dark enough, apply some more.

It’s really up to you!

The glaze darkened the color of blue to perfection!

I LOVE the look of the antiquing glaze!!!

When the glaze is dry, the last step is to apply the Wipe-On Poly with a lint-free cloth.

And you are finished! Let the courtship begin!

Here is my new love…

See how the glaze gives it an “aged” look?

I really do love this color of blue. I am now looking for another piece of furniture in my home to do the same treatment on.

Now this piece of furniture looks like “me”, and it adds a touch of color to my home.

I no longer “like” this piece of furniture…I LOVE it!

One more look at the before and after…

What piece of furniture in your home would you like to fall in love with?

Linking to….

Nester’s National Take a Risk Day!

Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Show & Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design

Transformation Thursdays at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

Weekend Wrap-Up Party at Tatertots & Jello

Sunday Showcase Party at Under The Table & Dreaming

The Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime

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Furniture Re-do for the Patio

August 9, 2010 AT 11:57 pm 43 Comments

August 9, 2010 By traci 43 Comments

I am linking this project to…

I wanted to show you a table that I painted for my back patio.

It used to be my mom’s, and she gave it to me several years ago to use in my home. Originally, it was cherry, but Mom suggested that I paint it black. Mom was the Queen of painting furniture!

So I painted it black and put silver drawer pulls on it. (The original pulls used to be brass.)

It was in my kitchen for several years.

After re-doing my kitchen, I didn’t have the space for it anymore, so I moved it outside to our patio.

I also painted the mirror above the table to put on the brick wall. I was hoping to reflect the beautiful scenery in our back yard. I’m not crazy about the black mirror. It’s not exactly what I was looking for, but it is good enough for now.

I decided that the table would show up better on the wall if it were painted white. I thought it might look a little like this table from my favorite inspiration spot, Ballard Designs catalog…(which costs over $300.00 by the way)….

So I grabbed some cans of white Krylon spray paint and went to town on the table.

Now, you need to know that I skipped many steps that should have been followed at this point.

I probably should have sanded the table with a sponge or liquid sandpaper, but I didn’t.

I should have also painted a base coat of KILZ primer to help the new coat of paint to adhere correctly, but I didn’t.

Why, you ask?

Two reasons: exhaustion and lack of time

I’ve been so busy working this summer, that I haven’t had time for many projects. So when I finally had a few minutes to work on a project, I skipped a few steps and went right to the final coat of paint.

I wasn’t really worried if it didn’t turn out perfectly because I like the “old” look and because I know that it is a piece of furniture that I will probably replace down the road.

The table had previously been painted black with a latex paint. The white spray paint I used was oil-based. Not a good combo.

A weird reaction occurred and the paint did not go on smoothly.

But frankly girls, I just didn’t care.

I did grab one of my sanding sponges and sanded over the rougher patches, and then I added another coat of spray paint.

After all the pieces were dry, I used a medium coarse sanding sponge to sand down the edges.

You might be able to see in the next picture how the white paint did not adhere to the black paint and left sort of a “crackle” finish. I just figured I would use my mistake to my advantage. I knew that when I added the glaze, the “crackle” patches would give the furniture an aged look.

Next, I added a layer of my very favorite glaze, Valspar Mocha, to the top of the furniture. You can get this at Lowe’s. I bought it last year, and I believe it was around 15 dollars. It has definitely been worth every penny! I have used it on a ton of projects and I still have a lot left!

I just apply the glaze with a dry paper towel. You have several minutes to “play” with the glaze to get it to look like you want it to. I put it on a little thicker than I did on previous projects because I thought the brown would go well with the brown stain on our concrete.

You can make the glaze as dark or light as you want. I usually use a wet paper towel to wipe down the glaze even more, but I didn’t with this project.

I know it is hard to tell by this picture, but the table now definitely has an “aged” look.

I tried to find new handles that would fit the drawers, but they didn’t have the size I needed at Lowe’s. It’s hard to tell by the picture below, but the holes on the handle are wider than the holes on the drawer. (That is my sweet Luke helping hold the handle up for the picture.) ;)

I didn’t have any wood putty to fill in the old holes, so my hubby gave me this weird “fix-it stick” to fill in the holes. I had to pinch off a piece of the “playdough-like” putty and kneed it in my fingers for a few minutes. Then I filled up the holes in the drawers and let them dry for about 15 minutes. After it was dry, I painted over the putty with white paint, and then I used a drill to make new holes in the drawer.

I added the new handles to the drawers, and I think it looks great!

By the time I finished this project, it was about 9:00 p.m., so I had to turn on the lights on the patio to take these pictures. Sorry for the poor quality.

I love the way the table “pops” off the brick wall. It shows up so much better.

Now I need to accessorize the table, but I am stuck right there.

I’ll worry about that tomorrow! :)

Just to keep it real, I wanted to show you how I “butchered” the drawers with the drill bit and messed up the holes. The handle does not cover the old holes, but I don’t think anyone will ever notice it. I may fix the holes later, but I doubt it.

It’s good enough for me!

I will be working on accessorizing the table by Thursday. That is the day I am hoping to show you some more accessories I have added to the patio as well.

But for now, I am just enjoying the look of my “new” table!

UPDATED: AUGUST 18, 2010

Here’s a picture of my table accessorized…

outdoor furniture

Have a blessed day!

P.S. I would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment. It makes my day! :)

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Filed Under back patio, furniture makeover, makeovers 43 Comments

I found a side table that I love!!!!

April 18, 2010 AT 11:45 pm 49 Comments

April 18, 2010 By cyndi 49 Comments

Okay, I am feeling really brave today because I am sharing a video of me with you.

I found such a great deal that I had to share it with you “in person”.

(I took this video from my phone, in my son’s room, late at night, and I’m looking pretty rough. I must really love you guys!) :)

Here is what the vanity looked like when I walked into the Antique Mall…(insert bright light from heaven and choir of angels singing)…

Here is what the top looked like when we brought it home. I loved it despite it’s flaws…(we had started sanding it a little already)…

My hubby helped me sand it with 80 grit (coarse) sand paper to get some serious work done on top…

Then he sanded the whole top with 120 grit sand paper, and then smoothed it out with a 220 grit sand paper.

Now, I apologize for not taking pictures of the next steps. I was so excited about this project that I truly forgot. But I will tell you what we did.

I wiped the dust off the top and applied two coats of Miniwax “Dark Walnut” stain with a clean cloth. (Be sure to let it dry in between coats.)

Then I cleaned the bottom half of the piece with a wet cloth and a little bit of Murphy’s Wood cleaner.

Then I put a coat of Minwax Polyurethane (satin finish) all over the entire piece with a large sponge brush. Be sure to put on a thin layer.

When it was completely dry, I lightly sanded the top of the vanity and applied a second coat just to the top.

And here it is….(It looks orange-y out in the sun, but it is really a dark brown.)

The drawers work perfectly even though they have some big scratches on them, and I love the way they look. The scratches give the piece so much character…like there is a story behind every scratch.

And here it is in its new home…aaaahhhh….

Doesn’t it fit just perfectly?

I may put a mirror over the vanity…I haven’t decided yet.

The top turned out silky-smooth! I got that mirror picture frame at the Antique Mall too for just $4.99. I thought it would add some more “bling” to the room.

I love the details on this piece….the engravings, the cute little round feet…

One more reminder…$25.00!!!!!

Seriously? You can’t beat that with a stick!

So can you tell I love this piece? Hope so!

I am sooooo close to having this room finished. I am mostly looking for some lamps and some material for pillows.

The “big reveal” will be coming soon….

I am linking this party to DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land!

And Home is….@Reluctant Entertainer!

Be sure to mark you calendars for my next linky party.

All you have to do is link your favorite DIY project (related to home decor or home improvement) that you have completed in the month of April. One entry per person please.

If you don’t have a project to post, then just come and hang ou
t at the party and check out everyone else’s great projects. :)

I will be posting more details about the party this week.

Have a blessed day!

Traci

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