3.30.2011

Our First DIY!

So I mentioned a couple of days ago that Michael and I have tried a couple of DIY projects. And I must say, I am very excited about the success we have had! Usually if something gets too tricky or expensive (yikes!) I tend to give up. But these projects were simple and cheap. And that I love!

Last Fourth of July we were riding to a friends house to celebrate the holiday and on the side of the road was this beauty.


Seriously, just sitting there!


With plenty of space for Michael's junk inside.


And a broken drawer.


We turned around to check it out and decided it was a keeper. Then we went and asked a friend to help pick it up because BOY is it heavy. It's had a lovely home on our back porch since then.

After being tired of looking at it, Michael got the project started. He rebuilt the draw at the bottom, sanded the entire piece, and primed it. Because he had been doing all of the hard work, he got to choose the paint color. Although he wanted a dark green (what does that mean anyways?) I convinced him to lighten it up a bit and we chose a more acceptable color (I just tried to check the color and can't find the paint can.). After giving it two coats we stood back and took a look. Ahhhh! We had made a mistake. It was an awful army green that looked like it belonged more on a camo jacket than our guest room.

Solution time -- I had recently come across Kristi's blogpost over at Addicted 2 Decorating that explained how to antique a piece of furniture. It completely changed the look of it. Although we didn't use the neutral eggshell color that she chose, we decided to give it a try. We headed back to Lowe's and bought a can of Minwax Wood Finish Stain in Dark Walnut. I distressed it with the sander, brushed on the stain, and wiped it away with a cloth.

Proof of my labor.


Thank goodness for the Internet! That saved us from having to sand, prime, and paint again. It looks fabulous! And although I found others who said using an oil stain over latex paint would be a mess, it worked perfectly! But -- DO let the stain dry for at least 24 hours before using a polyurethane. We bought a spray so that it would be quick and easy. Then, a few hardware changes and...

Voila!


We just love how it turned out! It's the first finished piece for the guest room so I guess we will have to work the other projects around it. We are both just so happy that it turned out so well after being skeptical of the yucky green color. Michael loved it so much that he even refinished a side table for our patio the same way.



I'll update with finished pictures of the patio this weekend after we remove the flowers that I talked about earlier in the week.

Linked Up at The DIY Show Off

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, Tesa...it is beautiful!! You and Michael did a great job.

Vickie Jernigan

Wendy S. said...

Wow...that did turn out great!! You and Michael have turned into pros :) Great job!!

michelle@decorandthedog said...

This is beautiful!! Painting furniture is an addiction...consider yourself warned. :)

Jamie @ DIY Home Sweet Home said...

That is beautiful. I would love for you to share it on More The Merrier Monday's Link Party!!

http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

c.w.frosting said...

congrats on your 1st DIY, came out beautifully! i love green for spring! i have yet to venture into furniture painting. visiting from the DIY showoff =)

-caroline
http://cwfrosting.blogspot.com

BeingBrook said...

So pretty!! Congrats on your 1st (and 2nd counting the cute table!) DIY projects!

John and Christina said...

You've got a keen eye to have picked that big-boy off the street. I would have been deterred by how giant it looked, but after your snazzy paint treatment, it really is transformed. Terrific work!

Deanna said...

Congrats! Beautiful color and great job!

Deanna

http://deelitefulcreations.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Thats a great color! Wonderful Job i love love DIY projects im sorta addicted!

Following you!
Amanda
http://amandamaysstudio.blogspot.com/

Carol-Anne said...

Visiting from Addicted2Decorating's link party! LOVE your furniture re-do and will now go join as a follower! Great job!

Christy said...

Beautiful work! Love it... visiting from A2D, too.

Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating said...

Just now making it over here to see your first DIY, and wow!! It looks FANTASTIC!! I'm so glad the antiquing worked out for you. And how fun that you found that piece. It's always such a thrill (for me, at least) to find some discarded piece and turn it into something really special.