From 1 Beauty to Another.. End Table Makeover

Yet another Craigslist’n find!  I ran across this beautiful end table and I had to have her. It took yet another short trip but this to "Sweet Home Alabama"! I just cannot say that without singing the tune but, you can resist really? The girls and I love short road trips and it was bunchies of fun for us all. We got to pick out snacks, sing Disney songs, see a space shuttle, and play a couple road trip games too. "I Spy" is one of our favs! The transaction went well also. The seller was very pleasant, agreeing to meet me near the interstate so I didn’t even get a chance to get lost. Wohoo!

So, here’s another interesting lil’ tid-bit, months later, after the makeover, while Google’n DIY chalk paint, I found this blog, ThriftyInspirations and it looks to be the same table.

 Rachel’s rendition is actually more of a greenish, aqua color. I actually thought the base of the piece was a cream color which would have worked had I stuck with my theme's earlier color choice of gold but as beautiful as she was it just wasn't cutting it. So, I tried my hand at a makeover..

First, I did some light sanding on the table and sprayed it with Kilz Original interior aerosol primer and let it dry. Then, I spray painted the table with Valspar Metallic Spray Paint in silver. I let it dry and followed with a second coat.

I’d been dying to try my hand at the antiquing effect for awhile. I simply applied the Valspar’s Signature Antiquing Glaze by following the instruction on the bottle to the entire piece, wiping off excess. I had to use a little more product when it can to the details of the piece. It was a piece of cake!
 

 I did not seal the piece because it’s in a low traffic area in my home and I don’t have to worry about it being scratched or worn.

 

I think it turned out pretty nice. Let me know what you think!

DIY: Detailed Chest of Drawers Makeover

I found this beauty on Craigslist for $100 a year and a half ago. It was originally $150 but was discounted. It was a little pricey for a me but, I fell in love with the detail and said what the heck! However, picking it up was not ideal. I drove about an hour and a half to the middle of nowhere, where street signs and cellular service was slim to none and I got totally lost due to GPS failure. I eventually found a signal and the seller guided me and from there everything was smooth sailing. 

 

I liked the piece as is but, the hardware needed some love. So, I removed and cleaned the handles and back-plates. Then, sprayed  2 coats of Kilz Primer Spray (I literally swear by this stuff). I was undecided on what color to paint it so I left it there. 

The piece is currently used in my bedroom but, once I changed my color scheme the piece stuck out like a sore thumb.  So, I lightly sanded the small nicks and scraps and coated it with 2 coats of the Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Paris Grey (BTW: I have an unhealthy infatuation with grey at the moment so you've been warned) which took no time to dry. I'm obsessed matte finished things but, this simply wasn't going to cut it. I needed to accentuate it's curves.

  Then, magic happened. I discovered Modern Master's Metallic paints. Using their opaque metallic paint in silver, I carefully painted the carved detailing of each drawer with an old, small make-up brush and it only took 1 coat. It didn't take long to do at all either and did the same for the hardware.

 

Just look at how she shines now. I'm pretty amazed with the outcome and I really wish I'd done it sooner.

  

So, what do you think of this makeover?

In the Beginning...

Welcome! I’m Dominique and thank you for stopping by! 

I’m not the best with introductions so let’s jump right into the good stuff.

Having a love for fashion and glamor doesn’t stop at your physical appearance. It usually spills into every aspect of your life and I am no exception to that rule. Especially, when it comes to decorating, I simply LOVE everything about it.

So, it all started a few years ago when we were preparing to move into our town-home.  I was fine with the traditional warm and soothing influence of the Mediterranean regions.  I received many compliments from guests but, I wanted something that better reflected my personality, something with a little more oomph (like me lol). If you know me it’s no secret that I like elegance, sophistication, things that shimmer and sparkle. So, it’s no shocker that I’m goo-goo eyes over the glam of old Hollywood.  Really the theme was set without even giving it much thought.

Just look at the beautiful inspiration photos I found while researching. How could you not love this look?

As you’ve probably guessed, these photos are oozing money, and my budget simply cannot deal. So, at first I was a lil’ discouraged but, never fear Google is here (using my best superhero narrator voice). Through searching the world-wide-web I have stumbled across many like-minded individuals that have given me more than enough inspiration to achieve the look without breaking the bank. I simply plan to share it all with you because sharing is caring! J

 “How,” do you ask? It’s simple, by DIYing, upcycling, bargain-hunting, and using a little elbow grease (lol). Just kidding on the elbow grease but some of these projects requires patience and effort but, if you can do that you will be fine. So stay tuned for more….