Green with Envy

I have to say I am pretty pleased with how this dresser turned out! I love the color and I have started to adore the heavy distressing. If you want to see the before click { here }



AFTER

So much better than the before!

A view from the top

I stripped this dresser, painted with a white chalk paint (so there would be white showing once I distressed), and then painted it with a homemade chalk recipe.

I used 1 cup of paint and 1 Tbsp of unsanded grout.
I doubled the amounts and added water when it became too clumpy. My paint was still a little clumpy but it worked fine.There is no exact science and it turned out great. I have read that chalk paint will dry out within a day or two. (I keep mine in a sealed container and it is still use able after three weeks and counting).

To get this color I mixed a dark sage color with a white satin paint I had. Again, there is no exact science. I mixed the colors until I was pleased with the end result.

Then I painted, and distressed with a sander. I am too impatient and I wish I would have taken my time and used a different grit sandpaper. In my opinion, 220 grit is best to use with chalk paint and it actually saves time when sanding. I took a timeout and became as patient as I can and started sanding with the 220 paper....what a difference!!!

I put on one coat of wax, added the hardware and called it a day. 

I asked you guys what color knobs and the consensus was white but I really wanted to use the black.

Since I was torn I decided a trip to Hobby Lobby would help me decide! Surprise, surprise it did help!

I found these pulls and they actually had enough for the dresser....is it just me or does HL never have enough knobs?

Here is one more look at this gorgeous dresser. I can't stop looking at it!





Linking up to these parties

Savvy Southern Style

The Shabby Nest

Alchemy Fine Living

From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursdays

Sneak Peek

I have been working on this beast of a dresser for almost a month now. The holidays and life have gotten in the way but I finally found some time to work on it last night.

This dresser was so unloved before I snagged it. The previous owner painted the dresser black, added black knobs, didn't fill the original holes (look close you will see what I'm talking about), and also painted the sides of the drawers. What were these people thinking?

BEFORE

Under the black there was blue and under the blue there was white...sigh.

I don't want to give away too much plus this post is just a sneak peek!

I painted the dresser green and I distressed it more than I usually do.
Do you think it's too much?

The dresser came with black glass knobs.  I like the the black but I can't decide what looks better.

The black pulls or the white pulls?

Let's take a vote shall we? I would love to hear YOUR opinion!!!

Stay tuned for the final product. This piece will also be FOR SALE!

My Version of an Ombre Dresser

My sister-in-law was looking for a little dresser to put in her son's room. We found this one on Craigslist and I told her I would paint it for her...seeing how I like to paint things and all!

BEFORE

This dresser is great for a little boy. It's a dresser that can be used for years to come.

I have seen a few Ombre dressers in blog land and I wanted to try my hand at it.

First of all, I'm my worst critic and I always point out all of my mistakes (even to clients). So in keeping with my true self, here we go!

The more I look at the dresser the more I see a tall Lego. Do you see it?

The first and second drawer are very close in color and I mixed the knobs up and didn't notice until I was editing the pictures. (Easy fix though).

After taking the photos (which was kinda rushed) I noticed that the last 2 drawers might possibly be switched (another easy fix).

I'm sure there are other flaws but the dresser will serve its purpose and that's all that matters.

AFTER



I lined all the drawers with some left over microfiber material I had. 

I used paint I had and mixed the colors until I made graduated shades. If I ever do another piece of furniture like this I will probably pick a color swatch and buy each individual color in sample sizes. I made the mistake of not mixing enough of one color (for touch-ups) and trying to duplicate the color and failing horribly only to start all over. Lesson learned!

There was no distressing on this dresser which was kind of hard for me. Distressing is a great way to hide my mistakes but the in-laws aren't really into the distressed stuff ...yet (*wink *wink, Carrie).

I do love this dresser though and it's going to quite a special little guy if I do say so!


What do you think of the Ombre trend?


Linking up to:

Delicate Construction
Treasure Hunt Thursdays

Vintage Book Prints

I have seen some great art on Etsy! I like things that are different and can't be found in every house you visit....if you like the same thing then check out some shops on Etsy.

I was looking for nautical themed ideas for a desk I am working on and I came across ideas from an Etsy shop called Stay Gold Media .

This one is my favorite and it is now hanging on my wall (please ignore the horrible glare...but you get the idea)!

They use recycled dictionary paper and have over a hundred images to choose from. I got lucky and bought some prints when they had a buy two get one free offer....don't mind if I do!


Here are a few more of my favorites:

these photos are copyrighted by StayGoldMedia

Would you put something like this on your wall? I sure would!

Revamped Dresser

This dresser was picked up off of Craigslist and it had potential. After getting it home, I realized that it was a homemade dresser (i.e., it needed a lot of work). The bottoms of each drawer needed to be reglued and clamped. There were rusty old nails holding the drawers together...yuck!


Just to refresh your memory this is what it looked like when it came home with me.

BEFORE



AFTER

just making her pretty for Christmas



If you remember I did a pair of nightstands that you can read about {here} and this dresser will be joining them. I like the blue/gray color I have been doing but I'm itching to do something different and something bold. I have green on the brain...oooh, or maybe a yellow!

Any color suggestions for future pieces?

Linking up to:

http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com/

Old Ugly Chair

I found this chair sitting on the side of the road.

First of all, I NEVER find cool things that people throw out. Second, I was super excited because it was sturdy, didn't need much work and was FREE!

I can't wait to start working on this chair!

I am thinking of doing something like this

(Note: I know I have seen this in blog land...somewhere, but I can't recall exactly what blog. Therefore, I cannot give credit to where credit is due.

I found this on Pinterest so I can only give credit to Pinterest).

If you know where this chair is from please let me know!

I love the pop of color and how the two different patterns somehow make it less busy.

I'm hoping to start working on the chair before Christmas so check back for after pictures!

Changing Table

I feel so lucky to have met Elizabeth. I mean seriously, this lady is keeping me busy with work!

Now that her nightstands are finished I was able to work on the changing table for her sweet baby boy.

I had this dresser that I was wanting to eventually turn into a vanity/dry sink.

But when Elizabeth said she was looking for a changing table I had to let her have it.

Look at how pretty it is.

BEFORE

I loved the legs and the shape of this piece.

Oh, and the drawers were so deep they could hold a lot of diapers and baby clothes!

Now the dirty work....

I had to strip this piece since I wanted to distress it.

I used  CitriStrip and the original paint and glaze literally came off in strips.

This was the easiest piece of furniture I have stripped.

I used two coats of primer and then I painted.

It's too cold to paint in my garage so I have to bring my work inside.

I really don't like working inside....

Notice that the legs are on my rug so this has to be an after paint picture....

there is NO way I paint on my floor. I really shouldn't be painting in my house.

I'm too messy and I always seem to step in paint.

Anyway, back to what I was saying....two coats of paint

If you look really hard you can see 49 stamped into the wood.

 There were numerous 49 stamps on this piece

so I am thinking it was made in 1949.

I think it makes this dresser even cooler!

After two coats of paint (Lynchburg Estate Cream by Valspar)

I started distressing.

After distressing I sealed the changing table with two coats of poly

and I added some pretty green drawer pulls.

Once again, I had a huge brain fart and didn't take pictures

before I delivered it to Elizabeth...but you get the idea!

AFTER

I think it turned out amazing and I hope Baby W has it for years to come!

What do you think?