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

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

Nautical Childs Desk... and a Poll!!!

I purchased this desk for the twin's new room. It was the perfect size for their room, it has great lines, and would hold a major distressing well.  Here is what it looked like before...

Don't you love that hardware??

And here it is after...

Those are all the parts that I loooove. It was exactly what I had in mind for their room, don't you love it when that happens??

Now for the parts I don't love so much....

So in world of DIY, restyling, and refurbishing if you don't love it right away it probably means you will end up hating it right?

I can't seem to decide. So here is where the poll comes in... and I REALLY need your help here. Spread the word and have EVERYone you know and in the blogosphere vote so I can pick one. The choices are...

 Leave it as is... 

Remove all paint and repaint one color...

Source

Modge Podge something awesome like a map on the top....

Source

Take it down to the bare wood with a hint of color

Source

Add some stripes or a stencil to top only...

Source

So check out my poll thats over to the right of the page and vote vote vote so you can help me decide... because I can't!!!

Red Shabby Headboard

Well here I am, not even finished with my room, and already working on the twins' room makeover. Pretty typical of me  I guess, I am sure no one is surprised. My decorating disorder is full force. A week or so ago I purchased a few thrift shop goodies that I shared with you guys. This is one of those goodies officially made over. Get ready for photo overload. I think it will be perfect for the nautical theme I am going for in their room. Max really wanted red so I found the perfect red color from out local hardware store, whipped up some homemade chalk paint and went to work. This one is for Max and he loves it and so do I. I wasn't sure about the heavy distressing at first, but now I am thinking it needs more. It reminds me of a piece on an old boat. I sanded down the original finish, and layered it with white and grey a finished with my red and some wax. I am thinking it still needs a monogram. What do you guys think?

And for a reminder of the original... yep, looks much better now.

Linked to:

At the Picket Fence

Classy Clutter

Domestically Speaking

DIY Showoff

Homemaker on a Dime

Liz Marie Blog

Miss Mustard Seed

My Romantic Home

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Organize and Decorate Everything

Primitive and Proper

Savvy Southern Style

Shabby Creek Cottage

Simple Home Life

Simply Klassic Home

Hutch Makeover

Being new to the game of furniture makeovers I was a little freaked out about my first refurbishment.  Looking for the perfect piece while scouring the pages of Craigslist seemed daunting.  I wanted to find something sturdy yet cheap in case I completely ruined it.  When I came across this antique hutch that I got for $45.00 I knew I found the perfect piece to practice on.  Until I got it home for a better look...

Upon closer inspection I became completely overwhelmed.  I need to remove paint, sand, repair damage, prime, repaint, poly, apply bead board, find new hardware, line the insides, and fix the doors that go on the top. UGHHH... nothing like taking on a huge project right around the holidays!!!

After much time spent on applying paint thinner and scraping, scraping, and more scraping- I busted out my handy little sander and sanded, sanded, and sanded some more.  I had to repair some dents and places that were missing chunks of wood but there were some that I left to keep the distressed look authentic.  Finally, I started painting.  I started with a few coats of primer.  Then after researching I found a recipe for homemade chalk paint.  I used some white paint I found laying and mixed it with unsanded grout.  Painted a few coats of that on.  Did a light sand and distress, and then applied a light coat of poly.  I found some beautiful glass knobs in our garage that I was going to use for something else and never returned.

The toughest part was applying the bead board to the sides and back area.  Thank God for my dear hubby that worked with me on that.  I painted the board with a mix of white and blue that I had leftover from painting the kids' bathroom and voila!!  I still need to repair the inside of the drawer, line the inside, and fix the doors for the top... but that is a project for after the holidays.

 

Linked to:

Between Naps on the Porch

Primitive and Proper Piece of Work Furniture Party

Domestically Speaking Power of Paint Party

Homemaker on a Dime Creative Bloggers party

You're Talking Too Much

At the Picket Fence

Simple Home Life

Days of Chalk and Chocolate

Savvy Southern Style
Remodelholic
Vintage Farmhouse