Everything Old Is New Again: Credenza Reveal

I have no excuse as to why it has taken so long to get this post up other than sheer laziness. You can see the before pictures here.

I began by removing all of the hardware and the doors from the top of the cabinet. As you can see in the photo, I used a putty knife to gently pry off that thing that I am prying off in the picture. I have no idea what it is called and I am okay with that. I have tried many times over the years to figure out how to get the fabric out and replace it with something prettier, but the only way that I can see it happening is by completely removing the stereo and record player mechanisms, and I do not want to because they still work, so the fabric stayed. I used blue painters tape and paper to protect it from drips.

Next, I gave her a light sanding with 150 grit sand paper. I then gathered all of my favorite supplies and began priming.

This is after one coat of Zinsser Cover Stain Primer and a light sanding with 220 grit sandpaper....

and this is after two coats and another light sanding. I almost always use two coats of primer because I feel like (A.) I can make sure that I have not missed any spots and (B.) I like the end result better.

Time for paint. Two coats of Benjamin Moore's Aura paint in "slip" (AF-605.)
Now, let me just say this: I am in love with Benjamin Moore paint. Their color selection is outstanding and the paint itself is of great quality; however, I will not use their Aura paint when painting furniture again. It dries too fast and the label advises against using products like Floetrol. Instead they want you to use their paint extender. Benjamin Moore, I love you, but for $50 a gallon/$20 a quart, this stuff should practically put itself on. Just sayin'.

I actually poured it on the top and spread it with my brush as quickly as I could, but it still dragged and roped. Ugh. I sanded and then bit the bullet and had the Mr. pick up some of their extender when he went to the Big Town. After the final coat dried completely, I put on three coats of Minwax Polycrylic and called it a day.

Here she is....all perrrty and stuff.

I wish that the color translated on computer better. It is actually a really dreamy pinkish lavender.

I must admit that I first I was on the fence about the color on this piece, but it has grown on me, and I now love it. It has such a soft, feminine look to it, which makes me smile.

So I want to know: have you used B.M.'s Aura line, and if so, what did you think of it?

Makeover Math: Before and After

One of these lamps purchased for $1 at a garage sale:

Plus:

Plus this
spray paint in Satin Yellow Creme, and a Liberty of London for Target lampshade; both of which I do not have a before picture....

Equals:

A lovely yellow lamp for a lovely little girl!

Have a lovely day. ;)

If I Ever Win the Lottery (yummy, yummy, eye candy)

With all of the things there are to do in my life every day I always seem to have more than enough time to sit in front of my computer and drool over sites like Anthropologie and India Rose. But I would like to share a new favorite site with you to cyber-stalk with me; if you aren't already doing so: Brocade Home. I may not ever own anything from here because it is all pretty spendy, but a girl can always dream.

Brocade Home
pattern bent wood chair - high gloss black

Brocade Home

turned wood pedestal table - high gloss black

Brocade Home
crystal chandelier- black

Last but not least....the dreamiest bed that I have ever seen. Swoon.

Brocade Home
hand carved bed

Have a dreamy weekend. ;)

Makeover Math: Before and After.... Singin' the Brass Lantern Blues

One $5 second-hand brass light fixture

plus:

plus:

equals:

one pretty aqua light fixture to brighten up a dreary hallway!

What have you transformed lately?

Sneak Peek.....

My grandmother was the classic, stoic Norwegian woman. Like many people of her generation who grew up during the depression, she was frugal. However, the things that she did buy were of good quality. When she passed away, I was lucky enough to get an old Admiral credenza-style entertainment center that she had bought in the late '60's. It has a radio on one side, a turntable on the other, and it once housed a television in the middle.

When we first brought it home, we put our television on top and used it in our living room. It was literally the only piece of furniture in the room. We had no couch, no chair, nothing. So we would lie on a beanbag and watch from the floor. When we finally did get furniture, the credenza was moved to the basement.

Since we have moved, we have used it as a computer desk. Our printer is where the t.v. once was, and our laptop sits on top.


One day when I was fixing some nail pops, my then three year old got ahold of a 5-in-1 putty knife. He then began to carve into my brand new t.v. console, and before I could catch him, he dragged it across Grandma's credenza. I have left it that way for two years, not quite knowing what to do with it. That all changed this weekend when I was looking at paint swatches at my favorite Benjamin Moore dealer, Lamotte's Paint and Glass. Now as the post title suggests, this is only a sneak peek; so here is the before:

and I can't wait to show you the after!

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Yesterday marked ten years of wedded bliss to my husband, Jared. In the past 10 years we have lived in 3 towns, had 2 lovely children, and gone through more than a half-dozen cars. In 10 years I lost my mother, and my grandmother, and we lost a pregnancy; and he was my best friend through it all. Thank you, Jerry.

Now, today I worked on an entertainment center that will soon be a kitchen for Simon and Sophie. I have stalked many, many blogs getting ideas and will throw in a few of my own, too. It has been a labor of love, and I can't wait to show it to all of you!

Tomorrow I will be going to my very first auction sale. Not only will it be a first for me, it will hopefully be an opportunity to "win" back some pieces that have ties to my husband's family. Apparently, the owner of the estate had purchased a booth and a table at auction that had been in a bar/cafe run by Jared's paternal grandparents.

Wish us luck! (And have a wonderful weekend!)

Craft Fail: Yellow Knit Sweater

For every one thing that I make that turns out great, there seems to be one that, well, just does not. This yellow knit (Anthropologie inspired) sweater is one of them. It is a crooked, horrible, mess. And it is being modeled today by my handsome son, Simon. Enjoy.

Makeover Math: Before and After....New Life for an Old Mirror

Mirror purchased for $7 at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

Plus:

Plus:

Equals:

A sweet pea-pink mirror for my little sweet pea. ;)

Have a sweet day!

A Leap and a Prayer (And a Revamp, Too)

I have been contemplating starting a blog to document and share my craftiness for some time now, but working up the nerve (i.e. confidence) has been a major stumbling block for me. I have been "blurking" (blog lurking) around on blogs run by such amazingly talented people, like Centsational Girl, and Prudent Baby, and A Penny Saved, and while I felt so very inspired, I also began to feel so very inadequate. Especially when I would see posts like this, and this, and this one; which nearly made me hyperventilate and pass out.

But today I am taking the plunge into the world of blogging. I may not be the best at this, but I don't think that I will be the worst either. So............without further ado:

My $45-Buffet Makeover.

The doors were warped, so they had to come out. I filled in all of the holes left by the hardware with plain old spackling compound because I was just going to paint it anyway. If it were going to be stained, I would have used wood filler. Anyway...

I gave her a good sanding with my belt sander. I hate sanding, so any tool that makes this step as quick as possible is perfect for me.

Next, I primed all of the surfaces that would be painted and when that was dry, I painted the interior a nice turquoise that I found on the "oops" shelf at Home Depot. I used Zinsser Cover Stain Primer (oil based.) When it comes to adding durability to a piece this stuff can't be beat, in my humble opinion. Plus, the short dry time means that I was able to get 2 coats of primer on in one day. Centsational Girl has a great post on the topic of primers here.

After a light sanding with 220 grit sandpaper, I put on two coats of latex paint. I used Floetrol, a paint conditioner that truly does help to keep brush strokes to a minimum. Because latex paint can take up to two weeks to cure completely, I put on three coats of Minwax Polycrylic - a water-based polyurethane that will protect latex paint from chips and scrapes.

And finally, I sewed some quick pleated curtains from unbleached cotton and hung them with inexpensive sash rods where the doors once were. Ta-da! A great find and a truly useful piece in my very short-on-storage kitchen.

The shelves were not in yet when I took this photo. As the title states, I purchased the buffet from a thrift store for $45, and I spent about $20 on supplies.

There it is; my first real post!

So tell me, do you have any painting projects on your to-do list?