{createinspire}: March 2013

I saw this little dresser set and had to have it (even though I could barely see what it was in the pic--but that didn't stop me cuz I saw the mirror and knew it had to be good!).

I decided a few months ago I just wasn't going to be taking any more painted furniture (too time consuming!). Like I said--I couldn't see the dresser very well in the picture so when I went to pick it up I discovered it was painted! (When you see the before you are going to ask me how in the world I couldn't tell it was painted! Whatever the reason (no it is NOT senility!) I couldn't!) Ugh!

It took two days of sanding but I finally got that nasty paint off and am so happy she received a new color (even though I had a few people tell me they thought it was cute the way it was)!

Before--this was not the before pic that I saw ;) ;)

After

You'll notice the color is different in almost every one of these pictures. The color is reflecting pool by Sherwin Williams and it is a gorgeous soft turquoise (more like the next pic).

This set is for a little girl. She told her mom she didn't want it to look "old" (how cute is that?), so I went very light on the distressing and outlined the details that were there in white so you could see them, but were still subtle.

Aren't these knobs just the sweetest?

I just love an antique mirror with spindles....

...and cute little legs!

Another pretty top. This one was stained in Early American by Minwax

SOLD

This dresser was featured by Ann @ Stylish Once Again
Tanya @ twelveOeight
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule
Julie @ The Vintage Barn
Jacqueline @ Simple Home Life
and by
Nita @ Mod Vintage Life

Thank you ladies!

Linking up here:
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VMG206
DIY by Design
The DIY Dreamer
If It's Not Baroque...
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PJH Designs
The Rustic Pig
Mod Vintage Life
twelveOeight
Artsy Chicks Rule
DIY
Homemaker on a Dime
DIY Home Sweet Home
The Dedicated House
Keeping It Simple
Stylish Once Again
Three Mango Seeds
Old Red Barn
Life on Lakeshore Dr
Boogieboard Cottage
The Shabby Nest
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Jennifer Rizzo
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I've had this little bench since this summer. She was a ~~little~~ lot rough around the edges! Definitely had seen better days. I'm actually not even sure what it was used as. An end table? A piano bench? The top was so rough (I mean there were quarter inch screw heads sticking out of the top and it was cracked and gouged to the point where there was no fixing it) that I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it.

I think I might have mentioned several times ;) that I am ready for spring. Well, I was staring at it and all the sudden I knew exactly what she was meant to be in her 2nd life! I was so excited that I made poor, sweet hubby get off the couch to come to the shop with me to help me complete my "vision". :)

We {you do know when I say "we" I really mean "he" under my "supervision" ;) } used a 4 1/8" hole saw to cut 6 holes into the top. Simple as that!

*please be careful using a hole saw! It can "grab" the wood and rip your arms out of their sockets (he made me do a hole for the experience)! Even though I say this jokingly--I am not joking! CAUTION ladies!

Before

Seriously--not pretty! The picture doesn't do it justice either...

Here it is after we cut the holes and I sanded it down

After

Oh, isn't she sweet?!

Confession time. My first vision didn't work out too well. I knew WHAT she was supposed to be but I had a hard time finding what COLOR she was supposed to be.

I started out by painting it with peacock blue milk paint and using a homemade vinegar stain on the top. Although I adore that color it just didn't look right on this particular piece. The I painted over thewhole thing with my homemade green chalk paint (which happened to be the color of the inside of the gun cabinet I recently redid). Again, I love the color, but there was no contrast between the table and the plants and it looked blah.

I texted a great friend (who happens to be one of the most creative people I know) and told her I needed some color inspiration. She said she liked the color of the robin egg blue dresser I did. I knew right away it would be perfect!

Thanks Dena!!

I actually like that the other colors show through when I distressed.