Table & chairs made trendy!

I sold this table and chair set a couple of weeks ago (on Craigslist) to the most sweet young woman, a local university student who has her first apartment all to herself. After my hubs put the set into his truck, I followed her to her place and we carried it in and set it up by a big, old bay window. She was so excited and I was so happy to have the set go to her! I purchased the table for twenty bucks from a yard sale this summer. It is solid wood & sturdy. I chose to sand and restain the top and paint the bottom. I wanted a color that would pop and be different - so I chose "Mariner" by Sherwin-Williams (after seeing it in an HGTV magazine). Once painted, I then wiped on a walnut stain, waited a minute or so, and wiped off w/cotton rag. I love how this set turned out - trendy color w/country sort of old fashioned appeal. Just what I was going for. :) Befores...

{This pic was taken after I had sanded the top of the table. I needed to buy wooden filler buttons to cover base screws - found them at a local hardware store and glued them in.}

{These chairs were purchased for $3.99 each, from local Good Will store. Not exactly what I was looking for to match w/the table, but they were stury and cheap - and although incredibly filthy - I thought I could make them work w/table.} Afters...

Linking to the Link Party Palooza at Tater Tots & Jello.

Piano Bench Redesign

This neglected piano bench {purchased for five bucks at a yard sale this summer} got a make-over using Annie Sloan emperor's red chalk paint and some chevron fabric, purchased at fabric.com. After cleaning the bench, I removed the hinged top to paint the base. Next, that old fabric had to go. The top was covered w/new foam and wrapped with fresh batting. Using a heavy duty staple gun, I attached the ironed new zig zag fabric to the inside top of the bench. Re-attached the hinges, and it's better than new!

I'm linking up (for the first time in almost a year!) to Kammy's Korner - Trash to Treasure. Thanks, Kammy, for the inspiration! p.s. This bench is featured in the October issue of HGTV Magazine - You Showed Us! (page 18). So fun! :)

entertainment center transformation!

Hello blog friends! :) Everything has changed @blogger since my last post...hope I can navigate the new look and successfully share a project the hubs helped me to finish this morning. We bought this oak entertainment center about 20 years ago. As you can see, it held a big ass t.v. and lots of gaming systems (all neglected for a few years now). Housed in the basement, feeling very dusty & lonely...I thought this piece would appreciate a make-over.

Last week-end, our youngest son moved into a new apartment. Both of our sons apartments have so little storage space - our oldest son doesn't even have a closet in his bedroom! Anyway, after seeing Matt's new place last Saturday, I thought "geez, I wish I could help this kid w/some storage options." Driving home, I thought about what pieces I had in the basement that could be repurposed. Arriving home, I asked the hubs to come down to the basement w/me. "Can you take that t.v. out of there?" "I want to make this into a mobile closet for Matthew." One week later and we have a modern, very sturdy piece that will give our son some much needed clothes storage (since seriously, this guy has more clothing than 3 teenage girls, no joke.) I first cleaned the entire piece w/soap and water. I know. It was dirty. I don't dust in the basement on the regular. Next, I sanded, filled the holes left by the hardware and shelves I removed, and cleaned up again. I primed w/Zinsser 1*2*3 primer and then painted w/2 coats of Sherwin-Williams "retreat", satin finish paint. IRL, it's a sharp gray/blue, perfect for a young man. Here it is primed.

Now I was ready for some help from the hubs. He installed wood sockets and rod on the left side.

The right side originally had a slide out drawer above the television opening. He installed that back into the unit, but moved it down a foot.

Lastly, he put 4 swivel wheels on the bottom of the now closet to make it mobile.

Tomorrow the hubs and I will drive the closet up north to our son's new place. Can't wait for him to see it!

Linking up to Tatertots & Jello's week-end wrap up party. Thanks for coming by! Stay warm, patti