Thursday, May 16, 2013

Mirror mirror on the wall....almost.



I picked up this old dresser mirror last summer, loving the look of the top, with the plan to refinish it and convert it to a wall hanging mirror.   



I was a little disappointed when I went to see it and realized it wasn’t wood at all, but some sort of thick plastic with a hollow back.   


I knew I could still paint it, but I wasn’t sure if I could hang it on the wall.  I decided to buy it anyway and when I got home, propped it against the wall on our front deck.  And there it sat...and sat...and sat a little more.   After a few months letting it sit on our front deck for longer than it should have, I decided it was time to try SOMETHING with it, so I mixed up another batch of DIY chalk paint.  



 I love the soft blue/green color.  It’s the same color I used on this little chair I recently refinished.  After the paint, I dry brushed on a little bit of gold paint for some added color.

To seal it, I decided to try a new soft clear wax.  While I loved the look of the subtle sheen the wax left, I think I may stick to spraying on my finishes...so much easier on my hands and arms. ;) 

The original “legs” that would have attached it to the dresser had to be removed.  Because the frame is only plastic and the backing material is a thin pressboard-type material, there was nothing for me to attach any sort of heavy duty hanging system to.  So, for now I’ve got it propped up on our tile tub surround in our master bathroom.  I’d still like to attempt to come up with a way to hang it on the wall, but for now, I’m happy with it just leaning.






 I think the soft gold dry brushing works perfectly with the artwork on the wall.




Now, before you start questioning my sanity and wonder why in the world I would think of placing such a large mirror next to a bathtub, let me explain. ;)  Other than a small skylight, our ensuite doesn’t have any windows.  Mirrors are a great way to make a small space feel more spacious and reflect light to make a space brighter.  With the door on the opposite wall, the mirror helps to reflect the light that comes in from the bedroom window.

So there you go...an old and dated dresser mirror has been given a new lease on life and is the perfect addition in our bathroom.

 
Thanks for stopping by!


Monday, May 6, 2013

DIY Campout (Pottery Barn hack)



Here’s another DIY build I just finished.   


Our youngest son has been needing a bedside table since, well, he’s never had one, so forever!  Just for fun I decided to check out the Pottery Barn Kids furniture line.  I loved the look of their Camp Nightstand, but at $318 PER TABLE, I knew this would be another DIY project in the making.

Using the Pottery Barn table as my inspiration, I built a custom size one to fit our sons room.  Using my Kreg Jig to drill the pocket holes made assembly fairly quick and simple.  I glued/nailed some thin trim on the sides to match the inspiration pic.




Because he has a natural color wood bed in his room, I chose to build a wood top, routered a decorative profile along the edge and stained it to match.  I took the following picture at night and the flash is making the color look too red. I used the same router bit along the edge of the drawer front as well.


The rest of the table got a coat of primer, a couple coats of a custom mix blue latex and then a couple clear coats.   



I had an extra drawer pull in the garage and I think it works well on this side table.







 
I know this table will work perfectly in his room for his little clock, a small lamp and a few books.



And, another project complete!  

Thanks for popping by!