Furniture Revamp: Paint Sprayer + Bookcase = Mess

Remember that Paint-Sprayer I told you about? Well, I tried it out on this old bookcase I've had for years. Of course like always I forgot the before picture (I'll do better next time ;) but I did get some primer pictures. I put the bookcase on top of two sawhorses because I thought it would make it easier to spray. It probably would have if I had gotten the sprayed to work properly, but it would spray great for a minute and then just spray globs of paint onto, which I had to then use a paintbrush to fix. Def would have been easier (and cheaper) to just hand paint it!

I must say the bookcase turned out pretty good, but I'm not sure that it will ever dry! It has been over a week and is still tacky to the touch. 

 Finished Product- I plan on using this as a TV stand in our new place. Much cheaper than a TV stand and should work just fine.

What do you think?!?

XOXO,

Annie

Furniture Revamp: Resto Chair

I <3 my new chair!! Well it's not technically a new chair and I can't really take credit for the revamp, but I love the way it turned out!!

This Restoration Hardware (similar here) chair is about ten years old as was in desperate need of a update. The black slipcover has been through a lot over the years- including being moved six times and a few years where my roommates cat loved to use it as a scratching post.

Before

After getting many estimates for a new slipcover I finally found one that I could not only afford, but was a steal! Most quotes were about $550 not including fabric. My total was $360 including fabric, which I have at least a yard of left over. Lilly at Custommade by Lilly did an amazing job on this chair, it was professionally done and looks great. All of the pieces have zippers and can easily be removed and cleaned. Not only does it look great it only took a week to do, it would have taken me at least a month to do and would not have looked anywhere near as good! The fabric was from the cheapest fabric store I have found in the area, they have great deals on fabric and rugs, Home Fabrics, Concord.

After

Do you love it?

XOXO,

Annie

Tool Time

So I may have gotten a little carried away on my last Home Depot outing! I went in for paint and brushes and came out with a new sander and paint sprayer among other thing- let's just say that my cart was rather full! On the upside they give a 10% military discount- I love my military perks <3

My new sander is awesome, it can do all sorts of cool stuff

 it has several removable attachments to get into those hard to reach areas- yup still sounds dirty as I'm typing it, but I don't know how else to put it

The one thing I will say about my new sander is that it is not anywhere near as powerful as our old Makita, but the sandpaper is so much easier to attach. The Makita takes some serious muscle and hurts my thumbs to change, the mouse paper just sticks right on. 

Our new Wagner paint sprayer on the other hand is going to take some serious practice if we ever hope to get it working properly. It was such a mess our first time out, but isn't it cute!!

 It globed paint everywhere our first time out- I know you may be thinking my semi-gloss black paint was too thick. This may very well be the case, but I assure you we thinned it down several times and it just seemed to get worse, not better! I used Floetrol, because the paint dude at Home depot said it worked great. I still think it is operator error and that we can figure the trick out... I hope so anyways. I was so excited, then so disappointed.

If anyone has paint sprayer advice I would love to hear it!!!

XOXO,

Annie

< 3 Happy Valentine's Day < 3

Since were moving in less than 5 weeks and my husband is still not home this Valentine's Day I didn't do much in the way of decorating. I did buy some hearts at Michaels and a hanker chief at Room with a Past. for a total of about $6.00.

 Here are the gorgeous flowers my husband sent me! Lillies are my favorite <3

 Valentine's Dinner with the rents

Beet salad- fresh yellow beets and canned red ones with balsamic dressing and Feta cheese

 Garlic Brussel Sprouts

First I steamed them, then put them in the pan with a little oil and a lot of garlic.

 Mashers with these mini potatoes- they came out kinda purple and were delicious

and heart shaped crab cake- courtesy of Whole Foods

served with a side of a sauce- mayo, relish, a little mustard, horseradish, and Tabasco sauce

Just a few of my Valentine's Day projects from last year

I hope you all had a very Happy Valentine's Day!!

XOXO,

Annie

Things I Crave

Currently sitting in my Nordies shopping cart are three very adorable shoes. I need some new work shoes, this time with much smaller heels! I just < 3 shoes.. I may have a shoe addiction, I'd like to think that it's no worse than the next girls, but my husband does not agree (maybe because he had to carry all the boxes of shoes up three flights of stairs last time I moved- they were quite heavy!). 

 These are my favorite- and I think they would add a little something to my basic black suits!

Bass Glenbrook Oxford 

BP Gabby Suede Pump

These babies have a 3 1/2 inch heel, which may be too high, but were so cute I have to give them a try!

Steve Madden Ultra Pump

and a nude pair is always necessary, I have a pair I love, but with their 4 inch heel they aren't really work appropriate!

I almost always have something in my Nordies cart!

XOXO,

Annie

I < 3 The Alameda Antique Faire

Like the first Sunday of every month (even Super Bowl Sunday) we were off to the old Alameda Naval Weapons Station, before the sun even comes up! If your not willing to get there early then don't bother showing up!

Things you can't live without

Prince Albert in a Can

 A Priest on Call

 Creepy random doll pieces

tons of Alf Dolls- maybe this isn't that weird I mean I had a bunch of these too... 

OK maybe I'm just weird!

 A GIANT Green Giant

 and Propaganda Marihuana posters- what every college dorm room needs

 They also have tons of gorgeous vintage Chandeliers

 and unique handmade items- these were really cool, but $1500 

 A Breakfast at Tiffany Tiara

 and my dad bought this

My moms new obsession- Jadite, or reproductions. These were real and well out of the price-range!

and if I didn't kill any plant I've ever owned (seriously I've killed several Bamboo plants) I would have bought these for all around the house. What a great way to re-use old silver

  Then Lunch at Scott's

 MY PURCHASES

 My Grandma made one of these when I was little, so I just had to have one ($20.00)

This months obsession: Bracelets- these were $5 and three are stamped silver

This is a old drawer pull- I just love it! Not super comfortable, but I think if I put some mole skin inside it will feel much better. ($18)

And I finally bought some BAKELITE!! OK well my mom bought it for me, that stuff is ridiculously expensive, but oh so pretty!

Happy Antiquing!

XOXO,

Annie

Furniture Revamp: $20 Garage Sale Nightstands

My cheapest piece of furniture so far....

These were pretty ugly nightstands when I started, but when I saw them at a garage sale  several months ago I knew they had potential... OK so it may have been there $20 price tag that really drew me in! After hours of work, I have to say they turned out better than I though.

BEFORE

DURING

 The drawers on the dresser were solid wood, but part of the frame was particle board so I had to be pretty careful. I started by lightly sanding off the brown- it came of very easily I think it must have been craft paint or something similar. So I used a little but of orange cleaner and then a little paint thinner. As everything was coming off I noticed that the bottom had a little water damage, so I made sure to use extra primer to try and prevent an more damage. They were in pretty bad shape, but I carried on.

I spray paint primered the handles and the dressers- I love Rustoleum 2x primer- Then I sprayed the handles with Black Krylon spray paint.

AFTER

 Then I painted the dressers with white paint, two coats of Verathane brand Polyurethane- make sure not to use too much or it will yellow. At the Alameda Antique Faire this weekend I bought some Velvet cord $15 for 7 1/2 yards ( I still have about half left) and I used my glue gun to adhere it into the creases.

 and of course I had to use my wrapping paper drawer liner! Wrapping paper- Mod Podge underneath and then two coats on top, then two coats of Poly and its not going anywhere and can be cleaned easily with Windex. It def took a while, but I'm very happy with the result!

PROJECT TOTAL

2 Nightstands- $20

Rustoleum Spray Paint Primer- 2 cans $3.50 Each (I get them cheaper by buying a case)

Can of White Ace Hardware Paint- $15.00 a can, I also painted the trunk and vanity with a small can

Velvet Cord - $7.00, since I only used half 

wrapping paper- $4.00 roll (I used the same roll for two other nightstands)

- all in all I spent about $40, since some of my supplies have been used on other projects

XOXO,

Annie