Make-over of a Make-over

I posted about this antique dresser several months ago.  I wanted to do something with a little color, and I love how it turned out, but it just isn't selling.  I realized maybe not everyone has a spot for a blue dresser??   ;)   So, I decided to go with something more neutral.  I do like it better white. 

Here's her journey....

 Before

First time around.... (just for the record, I still love the french blue) 

And now....

(next project--do something about that seriously ugly outlet!!!)

 I think I like the hardware even better on the white.

 Same top.  You already know how I feel about the dark wood top with white.  

 Still love the nail holes

 I didn't paint the insides of the drawers before-I have no idea why because they weren't good.  She's got a clean look now, though. :)

I did keep the mirror even though I thought it was ruined (from sand blasting it).  I painted it and will put it together tomorrow (maybe I'll decide to keep it, maybe not).

SOLD
42" W x 19.5" D x 32.5" H

Buffet/TV console

This has been dubbed the million dollar cabinet. :)  The lady who was selling it said it was appraised at $1200.  She said she tried selling it for $600, but it just wouldn't sell.  Bless her heart.  It's actually an old sewing cabinet.  I thought it could be used as a buffet, a tv console, a craft cabinet, a desk, or just a storage piece.  It's solid wood (I'm so excited when I find something that doesn't have a veneer on it!) and in great shape.

Before

 After

 I took off the back plates and just put the original pulls (spray painted black) back on. 

 I like the subtle rub through on this.

 The inside has great storage

The top also lays down, so it could be used as a desk as well. 

 color = Enamel in stock black SW
poly = Wood Classics in gloss SW

SOLD

41W x 20.5D x 31.5H

Dining Set

This table is actually my friend's grandmother's.  One of my favorite things about doing furniture is being able to update family pieces so people want to use them again.  Sometimes people are afraid to paint an old piece of furniture, especially if it's been in the family for a long time.  But, if you don't love it and don't want to look at it (or if it's pretty rough) then I think it makes more sense to fix it so you're proud to display it in your home.  Just my opinion. ;)  

 The table came to my shop in pieces so the "before"s aren't great but you can get an idea of what  it looked like. The chairs were just a light wood with a clear coat, and the bench was actually her son's shop project (which he did a great job on!). I told you I have a thing for pine, which the top was, so I was happy to just stain and poly it. The bottom of the bench was made of 2X4's, so I filled in the screw holes and cracks and then painted.

 Before

After

None of these pieces matched before.  The table, bench, and chairs were all different wood tones and came from different places.  She wanted it all to fit together, so we stained the tops dark and painted the pedestal, bench bottom, and chairs white.  I love how painting the chairs white added a traditional touch to their modern shape.

The tables on the right are from this post.

I just love that her new furniture inspired a DIY project at home!  Her and her courageous hubby tackled their banister.  I think it looks great!!  (I would have hated to paint all those spindles! lol)

Good job Tere!!

color = Westhighland White SW
stain = Red Mahogany Minwax
poly = Wood Classics in Gloss SW

What's next and a THANK YOU!

I didn't post anything last week and some of you have been asking me why. :)  I haven't been slacking, I promise! Last week I worked on (and finished) a dining room set for one of my friends.  I didn't post pics because the table was too big to fit in my "room" and I wasn't about to take "after" shots in my workshop--cuz it's ugly!  May have pics later.  I did finish another buffet/tv console/whatever-you-want-it-to be yesterday, but can't take pics until tonight, so I'll give you a sneak peek... ;)

In the meantime, I just wanted to tell all of you thank you!  This past year was a little rough and redoing furniture has been a great creative outlet for me.  I love doing it, I (usually) love the results, but most of all I love the feedback I get from all of you.  It's so great to see people excited about redoing their own furniture and that they're excited about looking at mine!  I love all the questions, comments, and proddings I get to continue (and hurry up about it!). :)  So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this such a great experience for me!

What's next:

Accent Table

Love this little table a friend found buried in the same garage as this cabinet.  We had talked about doing it black, but when I went to sand it I wasn't feelin' it.  Sanded through the varnish on the top and it had a beautiful wood grain, so decided to leave the top natural--with approval, of course :) --and do the legs white. 

Before

After

I like the contrast of the white with the dark top--still one of my favorite combos.

She has great legs! :)

Had to include this shot just because I like it.

I like how feminine this looks--think that would have been totally lost if I had done it black. 

color = Westhighland White SW

stain = Red Mahogony Minwax

poly = Varathane Semi-gloss

cabinet

Found this little cabinet in a garage full of treasures.  The before pic doesn't quite do justice to its hideousness.  It was pea (like canned peas) green with a brown stain over the top and then lacquered, and the inside was covered in orange, wood-grain contact paper.  Not good. (But, I still loved the shape of it.)

 Before

 It's washed out in this pic...it was bright orange!

 I knew I wanted to distress this piece and I didn't want all that yummy green showing so I decided the only option was to strip it (cuz I didn't want to use an entire roll of sand paper and a week of my life sanding through that lacquer!).  It took 3 applications of stripper to get through the top coat and paint. (I actually liked it like this better than I did the original!)

Here she is 8 hours later.....

I just had to get this out of my system.  I love heavy distressing....but, since I'm trying to sell it I don't always do what I want to ;).  This cabinet was the perfect shape for the look I wanted.  So, even if this never sells I had so much fun doing it and my first thought when I was done was, "Yeup, I like it." :)

 After

 I actually really liked the original pulls-just sprayed them white and distressed.

 I told Craig I just wanted to get done painting this one so I could put the knobs on. I'm in love with them--so sweet.

Inside of the drawer.

Primer = Painter's Touch in white

Undercoat = Gris SW

Topcoat = Snowbound SW

Clear coat = Varathane semi-gloss

Vanity

Another great find.  What I love about it?  Everything!  The detail, the shape, the feet, the mirror... I really like the look of a few pieces of furniture I've seen at Hobby Lobby-black with a pretty heavy rub through. I've been waiting for the right piece to try it on and when I saw this I couldn't pass it up.   

Before

After

There are tutorials all over the internet on how to do a rub through.  I used denatured alcohol and 0000 steel wool.  I really like how it turned out and it was a lot less labor intensive then distressing with a sanding block (which also has a tendency to go all the way down to the bare wood, which I didn't want).  I loved the tone of the wood on this before I painted and wanted that to show.  Tip:  don't rub too long in one spot, because once you break the surface of the paint it comes off fast.  

 Did I mention my foot fetish?

I was afraid if I painted this black I would lose some of the detailing, but I love how some of it is subtle but still noticable, and then other parts just pop.

This really is a beautiful piece of furniture.  Pics don't do it justice (it's either the camera, the lighting, or the photographer!).

color = stock black in enamel from SW

clear coat = varathane in semi-gloss

46" W x 18" D x 71" H

SOLD

Pedestal Desk

Was so excited to find this great pedestal desk.  It was in almost perfect condition, just needed a little updating--in my opinion. ;)

Before

After

I usually like the contrast of dark hardware on a light colored piece, but I love how replacing the pulls with knobs and painting them all white gives it a soft, clean look.

Tip for a great finish:  Sand, sand, sand....between every coat....yup, every one (sometimes that's a lot of sanding, but it's totally worth it!).  220 btwn coats is good, and then I like 320  or finer for final coat.

Primed with an oil based primer (SW) and painted Westlhighland White (SW).

SOLD