Pondered Primed Perfected: before and after

Showing posts with label before and after. Show all posts

7/28/13

How this pair of washed out, homeless, 'down on their luck' nightstands got a second chance at life. A tutorial.

These nightstands have been waiting for a second chance at life.

...and waiting...

But I started a new job just a few weeks ago and everything changed. I haven't had any spare time for makeovers or ANYTHING extra really.

Then something amazing happened this weekend ~ we didn't have ANYWHERE to be so I got to stay up late...

...and sleep in...

...and work on these beauties!

Hurray!

They've come a long way.

But you need to know haw far they've come to appreciate their journey.

They were sad little boxy nightstands left abandoned on a Portland side street when we found them. They had NO LEGS.

One of them had a sticker on the back that said 'Pair of oak nightstands $640.00' so apparently they were something special back in the day. But when we found them they just had a crooked piece of lined notebook paper taped to the front of one aged door reading 'FREE'.

Seemed like a good challenge to me.

It never ceases to amaze me what a little paint and elbow grease can do to transform old furniture. For this little duo I went with a Dutch Boy paint & primer in Cathedral Grey.

First I removed the hardware and doors then sanded them down inside and out. Then I gave them a good wipe down with a damp cloth to remove all dirt and sawdust. I applied a couple coats of Cathedral Grey with a paint brush, letting them dry completely between coats.

I'd found these wooden legs at Goodwill and bought them when I was planning to make an ottoman but then I didn't need them (you can see how I made that ottoman HERE) so they came in handy for one of the tables. We just went to our local Builder's Supply store and bought four more. There were other types of legs but I like the 'retro' look of these to go with the older nightstands.

We also bought the metal pieces that attach the legs to the base of the nightstands...

The metal brackets get screwed to the table and the legs screw into the brackets. Easy!

They were looking good with the new paint color but they certainly couldn't go around with those bare legs showing. How inappropriate!

I taped over the brass ends before painting then stuck the legs upside down in a cardboard Nike box to dry. The same box was used to hold the hardware while being painted.

The shiny white hardware may be my favorite part about this duo.

Then again the way the white glaze brings out the detail on the doors is pretty nice too.

The glazing gave them so much more depth...and the cute little legs gave them the height they needed to work in our space.

And WOW do they work in our space!

Free Nightstands

$1.00 jar of paint from Habitat for Humanity.

$20.00 wooden legs and metal attachments.

Glaze, white paint and white enamel spray from our stock.

That's $21 dollars to beautiful!!!

Have you ever found furniture on the side of the road that was just begging to go home with you? I would love to hear about it if you did.

5/20/13

When that little voice inside your head says "paint the bed"...you paint!

My parents gave us a King Sized Sleep Number adjustable mattress. They decided they would be better off with another type of mattress and so they generously brought their sleep number up and delivered it to us. Many thanks to my wonderful parents! We also got brand new memory foam components from the Sleep Number company.

You have no idea how much we appreciate you and your generosity, Mom and Dad!!!

So here is how our Master bedroom looked on Friday night. How's that for red and dated? (below)

We were so excited to be getting a dual adjustable bed, especially because Scott likes his bed FIRM and I like my bed SOFT. Can you believe it? On another note, it is our 13th wedding anniversary today! And that's about how long we've had this knotty wooden bedroom set. Actually, I think we bought it when I was pregnant with Alex so we would have room in our bed for Scott, Myself and my big belly!

Of course getting a new mattress fueled the fire to change our bedroom. It was long overdue. I've had the paint for months...many months. Sometimes I get all 'painted out' for awhile. But it was time for that decade old, dated red TO GO! It sucked all the light out of our room. Great for sleeping but not so good for anything else. We needed calm and peaceful, BUT we also wanted light and cheerful. And so I pulled out all the painting supplies and got busy Friday night after work painting the walls with my helper, Alex. Best to get the walls painted while the old mattresses were off the bed and it would be easier to move, right? So I pulled the bed out from the wall and got to painting. But that little inner voice in my head just kept at me, saying "You know you want to paint the bed...you've wanted to for a long time." And I knew it was true but darn, painting the entire room: the walls, the trim, PLUS the bed, was a lot of work in one busy weekend! And I really did not want to take that bed frame apart and carry it downstairs by myself while Scott was away at tennis championships. NO WAY! And the thought of not finishing and being left without a bed for any number of nights...NOT GOOD. It is our anniversary today...did I mention that!? ;)

But late Friday night while Alex was sleeping and Scott was away, that inner voice started whispering to me again..."Now's your chance! There's no mattress in the way, you've cleared the room and you've already got all of the painting supplies up here." And so I grabbed a little roller and started painting the bed with some white paint...right there in the middle of the night...in the middle of the room...

Turns out a bed CAN be painted right where it sits. Some cardboard under each leg so I could paint all the way down without getting paint on the floor was all it took. Being extra careful not to paint the carpet or anything else in the room was important. I just went with white because that's what I had and I'm very happy with the decision. Even Alex and Scott like the white. Yes, those men that are forever teasing me that I paint EVERYTHING white, said they really like it. And so do I. It is a nice, subtle contrast with the soft blue/grey of the walls. And I like that the wall color makes it feel like we are floating on a cloud.

And the bed can be set to the perfect firmness for Scott AND me. We feel like we are in heaven! Thanks again Mom & Dad.

There's still much left to be done in this room, but for now we are loving the changes and taking our time deciding what color to paint the other furniture in the room. If we decide to paint it. Although the changes feel pretty good.

We still have an end table...

A big dresser with a mirror...

And the secretary desk (that came from my sweet grandma) I use as a side table to possibly paint....

A few more details and we might have an entire room makeover to share. I think I just wore myself out thinking about all the things that still need to be finished...shwew...it may be awhile now! Haha. Let's hope not. :)

Thanks for stopping by today to see what we've been up to!

We love that you are here! Please take the time to click on your favorite method to follow (on the sidebar or that little purple bar conveniently located at the bottom of the page). THANKS!

Sherry

Sharing With:
http://www.redflycreations.com/
http://www.lizmarieblog.com
http://www.504main.com/
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com

3/28/13

Painted End Table ~ a Makeover ~ 3rd Time's a Charm(er)

Here's our little roadside rescue end table.

It came home with us looking like this:

but it had so much potential...

I thought I would give it some color and try my hand at spray painting.

So it became this:

And we loved the rich blue. For a time.

Eventually I wanted to use it in another space and the blue just wouldn't work.

So I gave it a couple coats of white paint,

then added in some Maison Blanche in Cobblestone giving it an entirely new look...

A quick coating of wax with a bit of dark stain mixed in gave it a little bit of aged character:

It's neutral enough now to go in almost any room in my home.

This is good because if you know me you know I love to move things around...a lot. :)

For now it finishes off this space nicely.

It definitely needs some oil rubbed bronze on those little knobs for some contrast.

I'm trying to decide if I want to give it a monogram on the door front.

The white raised panel seems to be asking for something but I ran out of the Cobblestone color so I couldn't finish it with that even if I'd wanted.

What do you think? Gold on the edges of the door panel?

A Monogrammed Letter for our last name? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

Sharing With:

http://thefrugalgirls.com/2013/03/chic-and-crafty-party-328.html

http://www.createcraftlove.com

http://networkedblogs.com/JJZzN

http://www.craftberrybush.com

http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com

http://www.504main.com/2013/03/tickled-pink-139.html

http://www.settingforfour.com/2013/03/project-inspired-no-7-linky-partywelcome_25.html

http://www.myturnforus.com/2013/03/freedom-fridays-47.html

http://romantichome.blogspot.com

http://thebestblogrecipes.blogspot.com/

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/

2/21/13

Chevron Stripe Table Makeover ~ a.k.a. Folding TV Tables

Our new coffee table slash folding tables a.k.a. tv trays, being presented to you by the beautiful Miss Sadie!

These tables were passed on to Scott and our family by an amazing relative who was fondly called Grandpa Chuck. He was grandpa by marriage but that didn't matter to us. He was the greatest. He was always tinkering away in his wood shop. He made all kinds of toys and furniture for the family. It was a privilege to receive something made by Chuck. When he wasn't in the wood shop he was in the garden growing some gorgeous flowers and veggies while Helen was in the kitchen canning and preserving. We used to go visit them at their home near the beach and play Pinochle with them for hours. Then we would pig out on sugar free ice cream (because Helen was diabetic) and sit and talk until bedtime. They were always bantering back and forth...so cute. Such great memories of the good times we had together. They were so fun. They taught us so much. Miss them bunches!

So these folding tables carry with them a lot of fond memories.

We wouldn't want to part with them.

BUT...I did want to lighten them up a bit. Give them a little bit of fun personality to go with our space. I don't think Grandpa Chuck would mind. I hope not!

First I painted them with a crisp white.

Then, as you see in the picture above, I taped off a large chevron stripe

(or arrow) on each table. I used Maison Blanche paint in Cobblestone to add the stripe detail. I wanted the stripe to be somewhat subtle and not overpower the rest of the room, but still add interest.

(Maison Blanche paint is available at Fox Hollow Cottage if you are interested)

Once the chevron stripe was completed I removed the masking tape:

Much better!

They just needed a couple of touch ups where the white paint had chipped and they were done.

Now they look good enough to use as a coffee table in this room.

Perfect for setting a steaming mug of coffee on, or holding a laptop. Easily moved out of the way and folded up for when I exercise in here.

They can even be pulled apart and used as "t.v. trays" from time to time. ;)

Although we don't have a television in this room.

My orchid (minus blooms!) looks great here too. (Anyone have any orchid care or advice for me - I'm open to hear it. Poor little thing just won't bloom.)

(Let's just pretend you don't see the primed end table in these pics...it's mid makeover :)

What do you think about the new look?

Better, right!?

Partying with Liz Marie :)
and Miss Mustard Seed
Roeshel at DIY Showoff
Diana's Pin Me Party
and Chic on a Shoestring
Oh and Courtney at French Country Cottage!
Alderberry Hill
I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Monday Funday
The Rustic Pig
The DIYers Link Party
The Dedicated House
http://makingtheworldcuter.com

1/12/13

Cottage Style ~ Ladderback Chair Makeover

Over the years my personal style has developed and matured into a definite Cottage Style. I don't know if it's the reminiscence of summer getaways to sunny Pacific beaches, or the natural ease and comfort that is an innate quality of Cottage Style.

Cottage Style can be a combination of many other decor styles.

What you are likely to find in a Cottage Style home are rooms with muted blues, greens and neutrals combined with lots of white. You might find chippy painted furniture or industrial pieces that have been re-purposed. Design elements can be whimsical and functional, like interesting collected items displayed alongside everyday dishes on open shelving in the kitchen.

My Cottage Style is:

Light, bright and cheerful.
Chippy and worn by default.
Put your feet up comfortable.
Unconcerned with a bit of clutter from everyday living.
A place where kids can play without worrying they'll ruin anything.

Cottage Style allows me to add my personality to my space without spending a lot of money. By taking acquired items and re-purposing them or giving them new life with a bit of paint or elbow grease.

Like this ladder back chair...

Found on the side of the road with a "FREE" sign when the neighbors were moving. Never one to pass up a good freebie, it came home with me.

After hanging out for a bit with no real purpose (only a year or so) it finally spoke to me and I knew what I needed to do to give it some cottage personality.

A couple coats of crisp white paint on all surfaces except the rush seat.

A bit of distressing with my sanding sponge.

Some green acrylic paint mixed with some Glazing liquid (1/1 ratio).

I taped off the bottom of each leg and painted them with the green paint/glaze mixture.

I also painted one of the bars on the chair back green. Just for fun! Once they'd dried completely, I gave the green sections another quick distressing with the sanding sponge.