Dresser Makeover

I have been wanting to do this project for a long time.  I finally got around to it the last couple of days, and I'm so glad I waited because I changed my mind on what to do at the last minute!  Here is the little dresser before:

I got this for $5 at an estate sale a year or so ago.  It was exactly what I had been looking for, at the right price, too!!

Here it is at our last house:

This is in our entryway, and holds all our board and card games.  I will have to show in another post how we fit so many games in here.   I had originally wanted to paint it black with a black and white harlequin pattern on the front.  It would have been darling, but I suddenly wanted something lighter instead.  I wanted to keep the harlequin idea, however.  I figured it should be something fun since our fun games were inside.  Silly, I know.  :)  

So, the plan changed to a lighter version.  I also had to use what I had on hand.  First, I gave it a coat of Behr Swiss Coffee.  Then, to create the diamond pattern on the front, I put the drawers in and used a yard stick to draw a light pencil line from corner to corner.  This created an "X" that showed me where the middle of the front was.  Then, I cut out a diamond the size and shape that I wanted.  I drew more pencil lines: one going straight across the middle, and one going straight up and down through the middle. 

 I then placed the first diamond in the center of the dresser and traced it.

Then I traced a row of diamonds along the center going across and then along the vertical pencil line.  After that, I just traced them all in.  They came out pretty straight!  Keep in mind, that I wasn't going for a precise, perfect design.  I wanted a hand-painted, whimsical look.  (which means, I didn't want to be to picky about it, just get 'er done!)  :)

After all the diamonds were traced, I used a small foam brush to paint in the tan diamonds.  The color is Behr Gobi Desert that was I think 50% lightened.  

After the tan was painted, I had to go back with a small foam brush and paint the Swiss Coffee over any showing pencil lines.  Here she is with all the diamonds painted:

After it was painted, I took a sanding block and distressed the edges a bit.  Then, the FUN part...the knobs!! I went to Hobby Lobby when the knobs were all half off and picked out a few fun ones.  They were also some of the cheapest ones, so I think I spent under $15 for all of them.  That makes this whole dresser about $20!!

A close up of the knobs:

Lime green

 Black and silver

 Red glass

Now, I will let it cure for a few days and accessorize the top!!

Miscellaneous Box

OK.  Don't judge me for what I am about to show you.  Can anyone relate to the following scene?

This is a little corner in my kitchen which also serves as a little "home office" type area.  Well, I don't know if you can tell, but it wasn't working how I had imagined.  The file system was not working for us, junk piling up, etc.  Ya know.  Well, it's time this area had a makeover!  

It all began with a filing cabinet that a friend gave us.  We were able to put it in the garage, set up files in it, and file away everything that was in the pile and file box.  With that huge black file box gone, I could get to work making this corner cute!!

At our last house, we had a dedicated "junk" drawer (ok, maybe two) in the kitchen to hold pens, pencils, tape, scissors, paper clips, etc.  

Sadly, I don't have any extra drawer space at our current house.  But I still have all the little things floating around that need a home.

Enter: the green box.  I found this baby at Goodwill for around $2.  It is plastic, and an ugly green color, but I knew that could easily be fixed.  I was attracted to the cute lines and the flower detail on the front.

 My current home is very neutral colored.  I love neutrals, but have been feeling like adding more color lately with accessories.  So, I decided on a nice happy yellow for this project.  I had some spray paint left from another project that was perfect!  The Rustoleum 2X coverage is my favorite spray paint!  In order to emphasize the flower and wood grain on the box, I also pulled out some brown glaze.  I like the color "Tobacco" by Ralph Lauren.  I got it at Home Depot a few years ago.  When I bought a whole gallon of this stuff, I didn't realize how such a little bit of it goes a long way.  I will be using this gallon my whole life before I run out!  

Here is how I paint small projects:

I have some free carpet sample squares that I use to protect the ground.  They are great because they don't take up much room to store, and I can use as many or as few as I need.  

Here is the little green box gone yellow!  Lookin' good.

Even better after the glaze is applied.  I love how it brings out the details and gives it dimension.

Now the flower really stands out!!

I will be back to show this little baby in action after a couple other projects are completed.  Let the makeover begin!