Stenciled Furniture

This inexpensive, very large,  and very 80's 'esque' dresser was begging for a makeover. 

Unfortunately, this was my nightmare come to life in the shape of wood.

While this piece was hideous at best and was priced at $30.00 so it could not be passed up. It had tons of storage and the size was perfect.

The details on the drawers made this ugly dresser somewhat unique so a little love could transform this dusty old relic to glammed up tween bureau.

I'm baaaack... and a Nautical Dresser

Hi friends!!!  I am so happy to be posting this morning. I am finally finished with my pressing commitment. I had a deadline and got it done literally in the nick of time. I did not realize how much this was weighing on me and I feel like such a huge burden is lifted. Work is going good and the kids are super happy so I am definitely feeling more balanced.

Before I get into my latest revamp I have to say that I while I love you guys for not wanting to embarrass me, the next time I call Mod Podge Modge Podge, over and over again, please correct me.  I have been an avid user of M.P. for at least two years and I cannot believe in all the posts I have written and all the posts I have read, I was calling it MODGE PODGE. I changed my latest post, but I know there are several previous posts that I need the change. I might leave them as a reminder when my head gets momentarily too big that I am a complete idiot.

Ok... so back to furniture. While I have been away from blogland I have still been working on some projects. I am almost done with the Max and Emerson's room and they are loving it. Honestly, I love it too. We read to them at night and sometimes I just like to hang out in there longer than need be. It is fresh, crisp, and peaceful. It really makes me want to paint my whole house that fresh gray color.

One of my last projects for the new room is a new dresser for Max. I found this one online and thought it would perfect for an Anthro makeover.

I wanted to turn that into this ...

I looove this dresser from Anthropologie, but at almost $1000.00 I would have to make it myself. After starting the sanding portion, I realized that this was not going to happen, and if it were, it was going to take a lot more time and materials. Since Max was literally picking his clothes up off the floor for several weeks at this point, time was not a luxury I had. So I thought I would proceed with the nautical theme... and this is what I ended up with this...

I wanted the top to be a deep dark blue so I mixed some of the navy blue I had from the nautical desk with some black acrylic paint and it came out to be the perfect color for the top.

I used primer and then followed with a homemade white chalk paint all over.  I added some red stripes down the drawer fronts using the red from the desk makeover.

I distressed it with a 60 grit sandpaper, smoothed it with a 200 grit, then added a clear glaze spray. I knew that if I didn't apply some gloss those fronts by the handles would end up being a grimy mess after a few weeks of dirty fingers. Plus I wanted the top to be rich and shiny, which usually I don't like but I thought it was right for this.

Max loves it of course, I don't know if they would actually tell me if they hated a piece but so far they seemed to love everything.

Have you guys ever started a project with one thing in mind and ended up with something totally different?

Linked to:
Between Naps on the Porch
Classy Clutter

DIY Showoff
Domestically Speaking
Embracing Change
It's Overflowing
My Repurposed Life
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Organize & Decorate Everything
Primitive & Proper
Savvy Southern Style
Shabby Creek Cottage
Southern Lovely
Tatertots & Jello
Twigg Studios
Under the Table & Dreaming
You're Talking Too Much

Mod Podge Pedestal Table

Are you guys missing me??  I haven't really given you the opportunity huh? Not having the pressures of blogging has been nice, but I have been missing my more regular blogging schedule, fortunately I haven't had to stay too far away. In the midst of finishing up this prior commitment and trying to find balance with the family I have been completing a few small projects here and there.

I got a small table that was perfect for my small living room last year. We needed a table to fit in between our sofa and chair just for books and maybe a random cup of coffee. Nothing much bigger than this would fit, so it was a perfect... well... fit. It was a not so pretty wood finish when I got it so I brought it home, painted it white, and dry brushed it blue. I thought it was super cool at the time... now... not so much. This is the only old picture I could find of it.  I did not take before's because... well because I still have yet to learn my lesson.

Not a great picture, hard to see the dry brushing, but you get my drift. I wanted to do something different but I seem to have all these competing fabrics and colors going on in my living room so I did not want to veer too far from white. Since I had the idea to Mod Podge a map onto the twins nautical desk, I have been dying to Mod Podge a map on SOMETHING.  I thought this would be the perfect project.

At first I couldn't decide if I liked it, but after I set it all up in the room, I think its perfect. Especially since we used the good ole' state of Michigan and Lake Michigan is displayed loud and proud on there. The kids love to point out St. Joe and other places they know. The blue on the map goes perfect with the blue in the room.

I slapped the map onto the top after painting the table a crisp white. I put a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the table and placed the precut map on top. Then after a few hours of drying time, I put another layer of MP on top of the map and lightly smoothed out any bubbles- be careful when doing this, if its too wet or you press too hard the paper will tear and come off on your fingers.

Then I lightly distressed it with a sanding block and applied a thin layer of clear coat spray on in hopes of it being a protectant if something gets spilled. So far its held up really well.

The more I see it, the more I love it. Usually when I am not in love with a piece right away I change it, but this one time I'm glad I gave myself the chance to get used it. Have you ever finished a project and did not like it right away?

OH and dont forget to like my new Facebook page!!

Linked To:
At the Picket Fence
Cowgirl Up- Cedar Hill Ranch
Days of Chalk & Chocolate
DIY Show off
Domestically Speaking
French Country Cottage 
Funky Junk Interiors
Homemaker on a Dime
It's Overflowing
Liz Marie Blog
Miss Mustard Seed
My Simple Home Life
My Romantic Home
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Organize & Decorate Everything
PJH Designs

Primitive & Proper
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The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Shabby Nest
You're Talking Too Much

Creating Character- Fabric Backed Cubby Shelves

Recently I shared a post at my B.F.F's sisters page over at Created by DonnaK {P.S.- if you don't have a sister that is a B.F.F, get one immediately. If that is not possible grab a B.F.F and make her your sister}. I am sure my awesome readers went on over there to check it out and gave her some blog love, but if not... check it out here...

One of my main goals in decorating is building character using easy and cheap methods. I live in a home that severely lacks character, charm, coziness... or anything else that may start with a 'C'. It is very builder grade and fairly new so I have been trying to learn how to create my own charm. Since we moved into our home I have learned that there are many inexpensive ways to add character to your home without breaking your budget. Some little tricks I have found along the way are...

Adding quarter round to your base boards to create a customized look.

Using punches of color throughout your home for added warmth.

Decorating with hints of your personal style or things that represent you and your family.

Mounting board and batten or bead board for added dimension.

Another way to build character is by making changes to basic things you may have laying around your home. Adding fabric to the back of cubby shelves {circa 1999} is a super easy and inexpensive way to shake things up and add some color. What you will need for the project is...

*Different sized cubby shelves {I know they sell they at Target and Wal Mart for a decent price, but since these things hit their peak a few years back I see them all over at thrift stores and garage sales}

*Thumb tacks

*Different colored and patterned fabric pieces {I had some leftover from another project and I bought some of the fabric squares from Jo Ann Fabrics They are about $2 smackers for a 12 x 12 piece}

*Hammer

*Pencil

*Measuring tape

First, measure your cubbies and cut out your pieces of fabric. I actually just traced around the cubby with a pencil and cut along my pencil line.

Pull the fabric taut and inset a thumb tack in a corner... you may need to tap it with the hammer. Place a tack in each of the four corners using proper spacing as to not split the wood or let the tack show. Then as you pull your fabric taut place more tacks at halfway points in between each set of tacks. Depending on your fabric you may need to insert more tacks all the way around the square.

Last, You will need to trim off any excess fabric that may hang out of the edges- that is if you are terrible at measuring like I am! Finally, cut out notches out where your screws will go and you are ready to hang.

Mount your freshened up shelves and display all the fun things that encapsulate the room, you, and your family. These went into the twins new room so I threw in some things they like and some nauticaly looking things. And YES! Nauticaly is a word... 

nau-ti-cal-y /nôtikəly/- Decor consisting of or concerning sailors or navigation {frequently used in the world of blogging where they tend to make up their own words as they see fit}.

synonyms- martimey,  mariney, or sailorish

 

Oh- and I also finally created a new Facebook page. Be sure to check it out via the button on my sidebar.

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36th Avenue

At the Picket Fence

Between Naps on the Porch

Boogieboard Cottage

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French Country Cottage

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Naptime Review

No Minimalist Here

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Twigg Studios

Under the Table and Dreaming

You're Talking Too Much

Master Bedroom Makeover Reveal

Before we get started, I am warning you now this is going to be a very photo intensive post. Here is your opportunity to click away. If you choose to continue don't say I didn't warn you.

We finally did it, we completed the mater bedroom major makeover... well as complete as its going to get this time around anyways. Of course, there are still things I would like to do, like add crown molding and maybe a reading nook, but this will have to do for now...

But before I go any further we must look at a few before's...

As I said before in my many, many, many posts about this makeover, it is not a bad room. But the dark colors and dark furniture made it feel... well... dark, and cluster phobic. Now the room feels open, airy, and fresh.

I am definitely not a gold/ yellow type gal but I got this bedding from Pottery Barn a year or two ago and I loved it. It was not typically my style but I thought it looked adult and fresh... and who doesn't love toile? So I used the bedding as inspiration for the room which lead me to creams, whites, and rich golds. I love the hint of blue. No more lattes and espressos for my {well on the bedroom walls anyways}.

This is actually my first "completed" room. Right now the twins room is a disaster area because of my renovation plans, Addison is out growing hers now and is ready for some changes, and the rest of the house is in a constant state of chaos, and lets not even mention my hoarder station garage. My room, however, is my cozy retreat.

I love that I love my room now. Before I never wanted to go into my room let alone STAY in it for moments at a time. Now I cannot wait for bedtime and am welcoming the next bout of the flu {juuust kidding}. All I want to do is lounge on my cozy bed linens....

stare at my pretty prints from Paris...

gaze at my pretty dress form girlfriend...

and read my books...

Another awesome thing about the makeover is that since I have done this I have actually been keeping my room somewhat clean!

This room makeover has been a lot of work between terrible paint choices and nightmare pieces of furniture, but we are finally finished and it was well worth it. Every woman and every married couple should have their own space that defines them and gives them some peace. I started this project in January- hello! I said JANUARY people and I am finally done 5 months later {and yes, I had to go back and check because it has been that long}. I think this was the longest makeover in blogger history. Do I get an award for that??

Linked to:
At the Picket Fence
Between Naps on the Porch
Classy Clutter
Days of Chalk & Chocolate
DIY Showoff
Domestically Speaking
Embracing Change
French Country Cottage
Funky Junk Interiors
Homemaker on a Dime
Its Overflowing
Liz Marie
Lolly Jane
My Repurposed Life
My Romantic Home

My Simple Home Life
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
One Project Closer
Organize & Decorate Everything
Shabby Creek Cottage
Shabby Nest
Southern Savvy Style
Tatertots & Jello
Thrifty Decorating
Today's Creative Blog
The Farmhouse Porch
Under the Table & Dreaming
You're Talking too Much

Kids Nautical Desk- Revised

Hey bloggy world friends! The desk poll is now closed and thanks SO much to everyone who voted. It truly was a huge help in my final decision making process. The winning choice was to take the desktop to the bare wood, with only a hint of color. I have to be honest, this was one of my favorite choices, I was glad it won, especially after seeing good ole' Martha's example. The second place was also one of favorites, which was add a design like stripes or a stencil.

Since the "bare wood" won, and I loved the idea it was a no brainer and I got to work right away. Unfortunately, once I started it was not working out well. The wood was very orange no matter how much I sanded, and the more I sanded, the worse it got. It just was not the picture I had in my head {don't you hate it when that happens?}. So onto winner number two it was, and I am so glad it worked out the way it did. Isn't that the great part of D.I.Y... accidents and mistakes becoming something amazing.

So here is my final product....

I used the white homemade chalk paint that I used for the bulk of the piece and some painters tape to add the stripes. The first stripe was about an inch. Then I left an inch between the original stripe and the next one. The second stripe was close to two and half inches wide.

Then I used some number stencils that I got from Lowe's to add the number five. They are a basic set that you can find at pretty much any hardware store.

Then I used a 60 grit sandpaper  to distress it up, and went back over it with a 220 grit to smooth it out.

How cute is that little banner? Goes perfect with the motif of the room, dontcha' think? I found that little guy on Esty. Thank the Lord for Etsy am I right?! I probably could have made my own, but I just did not have the energy and this one is so cute and well made. There are a ton of nautical banners out there, but this one is adorable and at a great price. You can find it at Betty & Barclay.

After I let the desk dry completely, I used a clear spray coating to seal everything up. I wanted to use something that would protect the desk and that would let me easily wipe up after messes and the abuse this desk will take. However, I did not want it to be too shiny and take away from that vintage chippy look, and the spray worked great for all that. I finished up by using a a high grit sanding block to smooth it out and take away some sheen.

I lined the drawers by using my Modge Podge/ scrap book paper method that I used on my nightstand makeover.

And the kiddos seem to love it already.

Lets check out a before in case y'all forgot.

Thanks again for all the votes and great advice!!! 

Linked to:
At the Picket Fence
Between Naps on the Porch
Boogie Board Cottage 
Classy Clutter
Days of Chalk and Chocolate
Domestically Speaking
DIY Showoff
Homemaker on a Dime
Farmhouse Porch
Funk Junk Interiors
Embracing Change
Liz Marie Blog
Lolly Jane
Miss Mustard Seed
My Romantic Home
My Simple Home Life
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Primitive and Proper
Savvy Southern Style

Shabby Creek Cottage
Tatertots and Jello
The 36th Avenue
The Shabby Nest
The Vintage Farmhouse
Under the Table and Dreaming
You're Talking too Much