February 23, 2013

Custom Desk in Winter Surf

I recently finished a custom desk for a new client. I love how this desk turned out and the color is so bright and cheerful. I'm looking at a snow covered yard as I type this and this desk really makes me look forward to warmer weather.
BEFORE

AFTER  




I really missed the color blue. I feel like I haven't painted anything blue in a long time and this piece came out great. 
The color is Winter Surf by Behr and I used a black glaze to darken the color a little. Before I glazed the color was more of a Tiffany blue. 
I used homemade chalk paint, distressed around the edges, glazed, sprayed the pulls that were on there and sealed with wax. 
I also sanded the top and stained it (in the before picture the top had already been sanded). 

My client is also having an old dresser re-purposed into a TV stand that will be a few shades darker than the desk. I hope to share that piece with you guys in the next few weeks. 



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February 14, 2013

Pink Ombre Dresser

Happy Valentine's Day! I painted a sweet little dresser in three shades of pink and white for my little girl and I think it is a great piece to share on Valentine's day. I have had this dresser for a while now but I don't think it ever sold because it's so short. This dresser is perfect for a four year old!

BEFORE
 Seriously, does this thing have enough knobs???

AFTER



 I distressed the edges because I know it will get a lot of wear over the years and having it distressed will lessen the blow when it gets beat up. 
I used Swiss Coffee for the white and I found a color sample with three graduating colors so it would be easier to make a color selection. I also used homemade chalk paint with each color. I use chalk paint more for the durability and less for the look. 
I filled a few extra holes (from the gazillion original knobs) and used clear glass pulls. 

Here are the names of the different shades I pink I used. 

I love this little dresser and I'm so glad I finally found a use for it. You wouldn't believe it, but my house only has about three pieces of painted furniture. I never have time to paint anything for the house or my family. I'm glad I finally get to do something for my daughter. 




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February 10, 2013

The Beginnings of a Big Girl Room & DIY Toy Storage

I don't talk about my family too much on my blog but the time has finally come. This weekend was spent prepping our third bedroom/playroom into a big girl room for our daughter Elise. She is almost four and is currently in a toddler bed. I hate to admit that she is growing up but it's time to face the truth.

What the playroom looked like before....YIKES!
This gives you a 360 view of the room and what I am working with.
Look past the mess. I was actually in the process of getting rid of baby toys and keeping the stuff she likes to play with now. 

When I was a teenager my mom refinished a cast iron bed for my birthday. The bed has stayed with me over the years and I am beyond happy that I kept it. It was painted white, then black and then white again. Elise said she wanted it to be pink so the bed got another coat of paint.


Since the wall is a light blue, I wanted to use soft pink's, green's and yellow's. 

The bedding is picked but there is still more to do. 
I do not sew (as in, I'm not sure I could turn on a sewing machine) but I am planning on making some no-sew curtains with hem tape, adding a rug, some prints on the walls, and painting a dresser nightstand and mirror. 


So where did all of those toys go, you ask? Everything is now in the basement and I have to advert my eyes every time I go down there. 
I need cabinet storage ASAP! 

After searching blog land I came across a lot of DIY storage cabinets for playrooms. Ana White is an amazing site for FREE building plans, cut list's, and overall DIY ideas. She basically does everything for you except built it.
I can use power tools but I purposely limit my skill level because I am horrible with math (instant headache thinking about numbers) and I refuse to follow the "measure twice, cut once" rule. I'm more of a, let's just wing-it and hope it works, kind of gal. Plus, that's what my husband is for : )

We are working on building a storage cabinet like this for all of the toys that have taken over the basement.

 source
Ours will look like this but without the middle section.

Stay tuned for updates on the room and storage cabinet progress.