dresser and chest renovation

We've been expanding our furniture collection the past few weeks, in hopes of jump starting the furniture business. :)

I snagged a dresser with mirror and chest of drawers for TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS!! Upon inspection it was cheap particle board and nasty drawers. But I knew we could make it see better days. Much better days.

Marshall says, "Oh yeah! Booty shot, booty shot!"

It was white white. I know this picture isn't the best example, but it was rough. With lots of stains, goo, stickers, and beads. The handles and pulls were gold bronze.

The drawers were literally coming apart at the seams. Fortunately, Marshall has all the know-how with wood glue and clamps. And I can paint.

After some primer and a few coats of our favorite creamy white paint (it's custom that matches our trim.. so we have no idea what it's called), it was looking more polished!

I lined the drawers with wrapping paper, red stripes. I really wanted to find a cute gray chevron print, but no such luck..

The knobs and pulls were sprayed with oil-rubbed bronze. And I love them!!

 

While the spray paint was out, I found a few things I thought needed some ORB loving...

The exterior lights were a faded burgundy color. Very faded. Marshall detached them from the wall, cleaned them up and sprayed them off.

Hartley wanted her picture taken, too.

And here she is. This will be going in the.. blank room.. that will hopefully be a nursery. Probably not this year.

meanwhile..

Hello, I hate my front door.

Well, I once hated my front door. It had a horrible, faux-wood grain. I covered up the hideousness with wreaths.

We decided long ago that we would paint it. What color, we weren't sure. I really wanted to go with a very dull gray/blue. But we were hesitant. Very hesitant. Until Marshall painted the wardrobe a few weeks ago. It started out gray and after it was glazed- it was the color. The color for our front door.

We started with a primer. Of course, realizing midway through we never took a before picture of the door..

And then one coat of the mistinted/clearance gray. Again, no full gray door picture. After Hartley went to bed we distressed it lightly and Marshall wiped on a wood stain.

And the after?? 

 Gorgeousness.

Simply gawgeous.

at it again!

After finishing the kitchen playset for Hartley, we started scheming more furniture renovations. Up first, a wardrobe I inherited from an aunt many years ago.

It really wasn't pretty. Eyeball knobs.. shaky.. You could say it needed some Prozac.

I had been using it to stash all my gift wrapping necessities. I would spend a good day organizing all the gift bags, bows, boxes, and ribbon. Only to mess it up the next time I wrapped gifts.. and then throw everything back in and close the doors as quickly as possibly so nothing would fall out.

But now it has a new home in our living room. Marshall did pretty much everything. I picked out new knobs and reassured him it looked good.

He knocked out the faux panels and put in wire. Painted it a gray, distressed it (very heavily.. lesson learned), and put a glaze on top.

It makes me smile. I think one day we'll have it in a bathroom, displaying pretty towels and soaps.

This project helped me come to grips with my OCD. After deciding it looked good in the living room, I felt the urge to rearrange our living room.. again.

I've identified a cycle. A horrible, vicious cycle.

The one that comes every month. It prompts strong feelings to control other aspects of my life- like where I place my furniture. Since I can't control having a baby, I find other ways to control my environment. Classic OCD.

Anyway..

We purchased some furniture (dresser, chest and mirror for $25) this week to restore. And Marshall is going to pick up some more (dresser and chest for $40) tomorrow morning. I'm finding really good deals on our local Facebook sales site!

Ohmygosh! I have another problem- HOARDING!