Easy Makeovers, A Desk, A Nightstand and A Chest
Easy Makeovers, A Desk, A Nightstand and A Chest
Today I’m bringing you three easy furniture makeovers, a desk, a blanket chest and a pair of nightstands.
I’m doing all three of these projects for my oldest son and his wife who just purchased an investment property. I’m not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing but the house came filled with furniture, not all of it to their taste, or in the best condition but I have every confidence that they’ll make it work.
I knew they’ve been looking for a property for quite a while, so I’ve been stashing away a lot of my own projects for the past year and I was more than happy to load up my car and share. Some of my pieces didn’t work, so they came back home with me. As for the pieces that did make the cut, hopefully I’ll show you their new home next week.
Today, I’m working with 3 of the pieces that were left in the home.
Project 1, Worn Out Desk
The first project I’m tackling today is this heavily used and abused desk. This was the actual condition of the top, I haven’t started sanding yet.
I am taking my orbital sander to the top of the desk with a fine grit sandpaper. With hardly any effort at all the finish came right off.
I could have sanded more, but even with the dust collector on the back of the sander, I was already creating a cloud of dust in the bedroom.
Wiped on a quick coat of Restor a Finish. and 10 minutes later I was finished. I don’t even mean 10 minutes to wipe on the finish, I mean 10 minutes for the entire project.
You can see the color change on the desk in the lower right hand corner of the picture.
I’m using the natural color of the Restor a Finish but it does come in a myriad of colors to fit just about any project, nine colors in all.
When I have more time, I would like to seal the top of the desk with wax or varnish but for now, it looks pretty darn good.
Project 2, Pair of Matching Nightstands
They also found a matching pair of light wood nightstands. Unlike the desk, the finish on these was terrific, just not their color.
They sort of reminded me of the pair of nightstands I redid for my bedroom a couple years ago. Whereas mine were painted and given a modpodge letter treatment…hard to describe, you’ll just have to see them for yourself,,, these will just be given a simple chalk paint finish.
A lot of times you can get away with painting chalk paint furniture with little or no prep, but I am sanding these 2 nightstands since they have a very slick finish. The sanding will give a little tooth for the paint to grab on to.
I also sanded the drawers.
A coat (or 2 if needed) of grey chalk paint.
I was able to reuse the knob hardware but gave them a different look with a coat of black spray paint.
Lastly, I gave the nightstands a coat of clear wax to finish.
This bedroom is getting there. Could still use a pair of matching or coordinating lamps, a couple decorative pillows, artwork? Maybe even pull up the rug, I know there is hardwood under there because I peeked 🙄
Project 3, Decorative Blanket Chest
Project 3, was this decorative blanket chest. The flowers had the appearance of being hand painted, but upon closer inspection they had just been printed on. I liked them OK, but the happy homeowners insisted they had to go.
If I painted over the flowers there would be absolutely no relief on the front panel. It was easy enough to add a couple strips of wood. The middle box uses the same width wood as the top of the chest and the side pieces are a little narrower to follow the line of the top side pieces down to the front.
This is the same grey paint I used in the prior project but this one has a couple drop of black mixed in with the grey and finishing with white wax, not clear.
Still need artwork for this corner of the room but the chest would make a nice luggage rack.
This is the other side of the same room. The room is warm and welcoming. It too is not quite done…the chest of drawers squishing the window curtains is about to leave the room. I would have moved it myself for the picture but it has a broken leg, so for now it can just photo bomb my shot. 😀
Until next time, stay inspired.
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Good job Joan, glad you could help out and make things look nice.