Coral Striped Headboard

This is a simple headboard that I painted grey with a coral stripe down the center.

I've never used stripes on furniture before and I was a little hesitant to try. I just used regular blue painter's tape (not the expensive stuff). I painted the coral in the middle. Taped off the sides. Sealed the tape with the coral color and then painted the grey. After a few coats and a couple of days I peeled off the tape and I had a perfectly crisp line.  Easy Peasy!

The paint colors are Behr's Creek Bend and Youthful Coral. I just purchased the testers for $3 at Home Depot. 

You can find this piece for sale in my Etsy Shop. 

Almost Navy & Vintage Gold Side Table

My husband found this table abandoned next to a dumpster. It was in good condition and it had great curves so he brought it home to me. I sanded it down and originally started to paint it grey but after the first coat I didn't like how the grey was turning out. I found this deep blue green paint that reminds me of navy blue but is too green to be navy. It's Valspar's Farimont Penthouse Mosaic Blue.

The original finish on the top was a sandy orange stain and I liked how the tone looked with the blue. However, the top of the table had a lot of dents and scratches in it and I would've had to put a lot of elbow grease in it to sand it out. So I decided to paint it Vintage Gold Metallic by Martha Stewart. 

I put 2 coats on the top and then distressed the edges. I buffed the whole top with a fine sanding block and it created an aged look. As if I had glazed it. 

I liked the effect so I left it.

I'm going to be working on a kitchen island soon. We're moving into a house and it comes with a really awful kitchen island that the last tenants left. The landlord says I can do whatever I like with it, so I've been pinning for inspirations. I'll post pics when it's all done.

Don't Be So Beachy

 I'm not a fan of beach inspired decor. With that said this little nightstand is looking a little 'beachy' and I happen to like it. I guess a little beachy-ness in small doses suits me fine.

I painted this nightstand in Hallowed Hush by Behr. It's kind of greyish green aqua. It's an interesting color.

Psst! You see the frame with the pressed flowers? My husband picked those for me on a hike while he was in San Diego last month. How sweet is he?!

A little distressing goes a long way.

Less is more.

Unless its diamonds.

Floral Headboard and Footboard

It's finished! I had a few roadblocks with this piece but I'm happy with the finished look. Can you believe this is the same headboard and footboard I found while dumpster diving? Have a look~see. 

Smokey Blue Dresser

This was a display piece that had only a few nicks and dents. I lightly sanded it and then used Behr paint and primer in Smokey Blue with an extra shot of white to lighten it a shade.

This was the original finish.

Eh, not terrible just a little boring.

I applied two coats of the paint and primer in one.

I used a foam roller and a smaller brush for the details.

When it was dry I lightly sanded the edges of the drawers and the details on the sides. I used 100 grit sandpaper and a 3m  rubber sanding block (makes sanding so much more fun).

I used 2 silver and white circle drawer knobs for the top drawer and 4 brushed silver drawer knobs from Lowes.

I left the top and bottom in the original state since they were in good condition and had a nice stain.

It is protected with a coat of paste wax. This was my first time trying the wax and it was pretty simple. Apply, let dry and wipe off. I used SC Johnson Paste Wax and I tested it by scraping a screw along a hidden side and it didn't even leave the tiniest mark.

This is the finished look:

Oh, I haven't forgotten about the dumpster find headboard and footboard. I'm still working on it. I recently found some antique finials at Victoria's Antique Warehouse. It's a really beautiful shop with a warehouse filled with wonderful architectural pieces. I'm going to Joann's tomorrow to use my 50% off coupon for some fabric because I've decided  to upholster the headboard. Once it's completed I'll post pics.

I'm linking with...

Dumpster Finds

Another dumpster find! No kidding. Seriously, if you want to find some free furniture that needs a little TLC check at your local apartment complex's dumpster at the first of the month. You'll be surprised what people throw away just because they don't want to lug it up and down stairs, into a moving truck and into their new place.

I found this twin headboard and footboard. They had a few nicks and dents and needed a lot of sanding but after the first coat of paint they are already looking brand spankin' new.

I'm on the hunt for some finials to top off the posts and I'm painting them in Martha Stewart's Aegean Blue.

I will post pictures once they're completed.

What's your best dumpster find?

A Very Turquoise Headboard

Thanks to everyone who helped me pick the color.

Visions in My Head

The past couple of weeks I've been on a mission to find a buffet. I wanted to use it as our T.V. console, entertainment center or whatever it is that you want to call it. Well, I found one for $50. Bargain!

The hubs and I carried that 70 pounder up two flights of stairs because oh yeah we couldn't live on the first floor.  It's $200 more  a month for the same apartment that just happens to be on the first floor. The bargain shoppers that we are, we just couldn't justify paying $200 more. So, back to the point. Yes, we carried this 70 pound buffet up 2 flights of stairs.

It was quite comical. The hubs is 6'5" and I'm 5'5" and I'm not necessarily what you would call strong in the physical sense. Up the first flight we tried flipping it over and over again until we reached the second floor landing. Then the second flight of stairs we did a little by little, inch by inch, pick up put down method. Anyways, we made it to the third floor and into our apartment exhausted but no injuries.

I was so excited about this buffet that I couldn't wait to tackle it. I started sanding it the very next day. The second day I put 2 coats of paint on it. The third day a third coat and 2 coats of stain. By the fourth day it was finished and I stood, head cocked sideways, staring and thinking, I'm not sure this is what I envisioned.

Convinced, however, that once we got it inside and the T.V. on it and the decor around it I would see that it was in fact what I had envisioned in my head.

Wrong!

The hubs and I lugged it into our living room and he put the T.V. on top of it. Again, I stood, head cocked sideways, staring and thinking, No, this is definitely NOT what I envisioned! Darn it!

It was all wrong. All wrong! Ugh! I just spent 3 days making it into what I thought I wanted and it was not at all what I wanted.

First, lets start with the paint choice. I chose white because I recently added some white decor to the living room and I thought it would tie in nicely with that. Also, I thought it would brighten up the space. Next, I chose a mahogany stain. What you need to know about me is that I've never stained before. This was my first go at it. I don't know a lot about staining except what I read on the back of the can. However, it was relatively very easy and it seems like it would be difficult to really mess up. My only problem with this particular stain was that it was way more red than brown. I was looking for brown. Even though on the can it had a picture of the color it was and it looked like a dark brown with a hint of red which is what my coffee table and end tables are. Needless to say, this red wood was not matching with my  space at all.

Still determined to try to make it work I decorated it. Put all our DVDs and games in it. And, as the hubs told me to do, I let it marinade for the night.

As I was watching T.V. I knew that it was just wrong for our living room. It didn't fit. It didn't work and I could try to force it but I was not going to be happy with it.

So, the next day, the hubs and I AGAIN moved it and brought our old entertainment center back to its spot.

I was disappointed. I really thought it would be awesome but it wasn't.

Here's where this story takes a turn. I decided to put it in my Etsy Shop. Within the first hour it already had 21 views. Which, for me, is a lot. Some items can take days to get 21 views. Anyways, within 2 hours someone was emailing me telling me it was exactly what they were looking for and really wanted to buy it. I was ecstatic! This would be the first time I sold a piece of furniture on Etsy. Yes, I've sold a few things on Craigslist but not furniture that I put a lot of time and love into like this one.

Now, time to ship this 70 pounder! Uh oh...

Here are before and after shots and a link to my inspiration which was by Perfectly Imperfect (Awesome!). Have a look~see!

Before... Bleh!

After

Paint It This Not That Results

And the winner is...    drum roll, please...    Turquoise!

Ayyo! (exclamation courtesy of Andy Bernard from The Office)

Which makes me very happy since it's always my favorite. I'll be working on sanding the headboard this weekend and I will get pictures up as soon as it's painted.

Happy Weekend!

Paint It This Not That

Can you believe the hubs found this headboard by a dumpster? Someone was going to throw it away. *Gasp*

It has a great shape and it's very solid. It does have some water damage that hopefully will disappear after some sanding.

I'm going to paint it but I need your help picking a color. See the poll below and let me know what color you would like to see it painted. Feel free to add your own color.

[polldaddy poll=4689499]

Tickle Me Turquoise

I recently accepted a job where I get to work from home. Yay! My parents gave me this armoire that is actually a computer desk armoire.

Since I need to fit a home office in my one bedroom apartment and still have room for my husband this was perfect. And I can simply close the doors at the end of the day and I don't have to stare at my work while eating dinner.

All it needed was a splash of turquoise.

Topped off with some chocolate brown glaze. Voila! Home office complete!

If you want to do-it-yourself only a few items are needed:

1. Paint - Norway Aqua by ColorPlace (Wal-Mart, $10)

2. Glaze - Chocolate Brown by Valspar (Lowes, $17)

3. Paintbrush

4. Dishcloth

5. Something to paint

This is a very simple project. You don't have to have a lot of experience. Glaze is ever so easy and it gives any item that aged vintage finish we're all looking for. You simple apply it with a brush and wipe it off. If you are painting it on a flat surface like I did, then you do have to pay close attention to your brush strokes. Be sure to keep them even and going in the same direction. Also, a little goes a long way.