One simple and affordable way to update and accent your home is to find pieces like this. They squeeze in most anywhere, plus offer storage potential. This little farmhouse wash stand is ready for a fresh update. Yay!
I found this locally and was instantly smitten. It’s just the right size, has that rustic vibe I adore, and…has casters. My fave!! However, it does have some wear that I would like to tend to.
It’s got the heat ring damage on top, chips in the edges, and mismatched hardware. In addition, it’s missing the harp – the piece where the towels would hang. Because of that, there is about a ¾” gap at the back. You can see a similar one I restored over in this post.
DIY TIME
Let’s get this DIY party started! At some point, someone saw fit to cover this whole thing in a lacquer. Over time, that lacquer has ambered giving it the pumpkin vibe it now has. In order for me to remove that damaged ring and make this cohesive, I need to bring out my sander. First, I sand it all down to the raw wood.
Then, after I sand down the top, and remove that stain, I have to take the top off completely. The cabinet is separating from the top and I need to add screws to remedy that issue.
NEXT STEPS
Meanwhile, I also begin designing a sort of backsplash for my stand. I really debated on whether or not to add the harp and rod, but I felt just a backing would suit it better. I use my jigsaw and scrap wood to make a new piece. You can see how I did the same thing to this vintage dresser.
I used the front skirt of the wash stand to replicate the design and cut it into the wood. Next, while the top is off the cabinet base, I stain the top surface with a natural reactive stain. Isn’t it this color pretty?
PAINTING TIME
Next, while the stain is curing, it’s time to paint the cabinet. I’m tellin’ ya these brushes are great for stains, paints, and polys both inside and outside the home. I chose an eggshell paint in a basic latex color called Bermuda. Fun!
Then, I use an antique white to lighten and brighten the inside. Much better!
To finish it all off, I add a hand-rubbed wax to the top, and then distress the bottom and accent with dark wax.
THE REVEAL
Finally, here is my farmhouse wash stand with a spunky new color and rustic vibe.
I’m so happy with the outcome. The damage has all been repaired, including sagging doors, loose stiles, and rails. aaaahhh…I think you can hear it say, “thank you”. Do you love it too?
The inside makes it even more fun to tuck away linens, bedside essentials…you get the idea. I found the knobs in my stash that someone had given me a while back. They make the perfect statement and contrast.
If you’d like to make this farmhouse wash stand your own, you can find it and more available in my online shop.
Magic Linen Waffle Blanket ~ $130
Likewise, help inspire others to give their furniture a fun new look. In addition, pin and share my farmhouse wash stand makeover.
Up next, I’ll be tickling your taste-buds with these seasonal goodies. Come enjoy this tasty treat HERE.
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Also, more furniture fun like this farmhouse wash stand makeover:
Hi Larissa! I love this color and the top is so pretty. Do you not have to worry about bleedthrough when you use laytex paint? I’m a chalk/clay paint girl myself. Pinned
Thanks! Any paint can have bleed-through of stains. Flat latex is no different than chalk paint – just cheaper. 🙂
It looks fantastic! Isn’t it amazing what a bit of work can to to bring a piece back to life. The brushes, stain, and know-how make the job easy! Great job. Thanks for all the give aways!
Woot! Thank you so much. Yes, so many unloved pieces, just need time and a bit of know-how.
Love this color! Beautiful job!
I love this little wash stand. Such a fun colour. The back piece you made is so pretty. I think I prefer it over the original missing harp.
It was fun to fix and dress it up. Thanks, Catherine! I just wanted it to have more of an updated feel, but yet retain the character.
Beautiful!! I have a dry sink – with a marble top – dark wood, pretty ugly – I am going to show hubby this post and say FIX IT! 🙂 I especially love that you pained the inside an off-white – love love love it!!!
Wow!!! Another amazing transformation. Your finished pieces are always so beautiful!! ? And I can smell the apples already…?
You sure know how to make my gray day brighter. Thank you!
Love it. It turned out so fantastic.
Hi Debra! I miss hearing from you. Thank you.
I love how this project turned out. Wow! I would hope to try to duplicate your efforts with the Zibra brushes should I win the giveaway.
I’m delighted to hear it. Thank you! You will love the brushes.
Love! Love! Love this!
Thanks so much! 😀
Love the color! Looks perfect with the stained top. These little wash stands have so many uses in so many places. Great makeover!
It makes a fun color statement, doesn’t it? Thank you, Kathy.
Love the color and knobs! Great job!
I love the color that you used for this piece…..and the shade of the stain that you used on the top. Great job!?
Thank you, Dale. It made me smile and smiles are great these days. 😀
The refinished top is lovely and the new backsplash is the perfect finishing touch!
I was so excited to get it to work all together. Thank you, Amanda!
Wow, it turned out beautiful! It’s a piece that is so versatile and can be used in any room. At first, I was shocked that you would paint it but seeing it all finished, that was the perfect decision. I love that blue color with the stained top and back splash. You did such a good job mimicking the shape of the top in the back splash that no one would ever know it’s not original to piece. Great job!
Thank you. It was one of those things I had to really debate on, but am glad I went for it for various reasons.
Love the color combined with the stained top!
Thank you. I envisioned it for something similar and felt it suited it wonderfully.
That is Gorgeous and love the color. Really like the back splash you added. Just gives it that little extra touch.
At the moment I don’t have anything to paint so guess I will need to be hitting the thrift stores seeing I haven’t been for awhile.
‘Smile & the world will smile back.’
Thank you. The gap would have collected dirt and grime, plus the backsplash keeps things from falling off the back and into that gap too.
That is real pretty. I love the color.
Thank you so much, Joann.
I love the color! those brushes would work well when I redo my dining room table that my ex husband made me years ago.
Thanks! Fun for me. You will LOVE them! 😀
That’s beautiful!
aww…thank you! I needed a smile. 😀
This piece turned out great! Love the color and stained top. It must be hard to part with these pieces after you love them up!
So fun to hear, Deanna. Thank you!
I really want to paint my dining room set and woodwork a fun color!
I’m digging this color. Great repair too!
Sweet! It is fun and one of those colors that spans decades.
So pretty! I love the contrast of the blue with the wood. It’s a lovely combination.
Thank you. It made a fun mix of wood and paint.
I like the blue color but, that would have been a hard piece to decide to paint.
It was. Between the repairs and matching a new (different) species wood, this was the make-sense way to go.
Sure do love that blue color!
Me too! Thank you, Dianne.
I love your blog and the wash stand is an example why……I love it. You made all the steps looks so easy.
If I won the Zibra paint brushes, the first thing I would paint would be an armoire that has been setting
in my garage for a few years. I’ll cross my fingers and if I win, I will send you a picture when I paint the my
armoire. Thank you for all your great ideas and showing that women can do these projects, too!!
You just made my sort of gray day brighter, Glenda. Thank you! I would love to see it and also know you’ll love the brushes as I do.
What a great makeover!
Thank you bunches, Toni!
I love what you did with this cabinet. Thank you for sharing.
My absolute pleasure in sharing, Becky. Thank you for your kind words. 😀
With your vision you always produce pieces that are just fun. I’m in the process of painting kitchen cabinets. I would be excited to use some new Zibra brushes to paint a built into wall desk that will look very out of place with the new cabinet paint job if I don’t help them out of the 80’s.
Happy dance! That made my heart happy to hear, Sonja. Thanks! Kitchen cabinets are NOT my fave thing to paint because back when I worked on paint crew that was your newbie job to do. haha.
This looks so good! I would love to paint my old side table with these brushes.
Thank you, Lisa. Sounds like fun!
I have one of these without the back, as well. I had wondered about making a piece and was so glad to know it’s a feasible idea! Yours looks lovely!
You can do it, Brandy! 😀
What a transformation! I’d paint an old dresser that needs a little love
Woot! Thank you! That sounds like fun. 😉
Ilove what you did to the wash stand, I have an old wooden WWII army trunk of my grandfathers that I would love to redo
Oooh…love that kind of treasure!
How beautiful! I love the Bermuda color with the pretty surprise pop of paper in the drawers. I’m always excited to get your email so I can see what kinda magic you have worked!
You are so fun, Michele. Thanks so much for making my day!
Another fantastic makeover. I have a pressed back stool with spindles, I would love to paint it… but those spindles??? You are always an inspiration! Thank you.
Sweet! Those are some of my favorite kind of chairs. The Round Brush would make short order of those spindles for sure.
My favorite color looks great on the wash stand. Wash stands are so functional. I have a dresser that needs painted.
That’s fun to hear, Frances. Thanks!
So pretty!
Thanks so much, Kim.
Beautiful as always! I had a run in with varnish yesterday, but I won hehe Thank you for sharing your talent & often your ❤ have a blessed happy day!
tee hee hee! Yay for you! 😀 It’s my pleasure to share. Keeps me going.
Larissa, you did a beautiful job! You are a wonder!
Smiles, Alice
I’m so glad you think so, Alice. Thank you
Love your makeovers! You have inspired me to start this as a new hobby & I am loving it!
How wonderful to hear, Erin! That’s the spirit!
I’ve been meaning to redo my dining chairs for a while.
I love how the wash stand turned out. Color is so pretty!
That blue just made me smile. It was meant to be! 😀
pretty
thank you
Ohhhh I love that color! The first thing I would paint with new brushes is an old phone table I recently acquired!!!
Isn’t it fun?! That sounds like a fun project. 😀
What a beautiful color. I am drawn to the two tone look myself. The working surface is so much more durable with stain than paint when done this way too. Great Job!
Yes, absolutely. Thanks so much!
I love the color on this piece. You always inspire me. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! So fun for me.
Very nice.
Thank you.
I never miss your blog. It is an amazing treat to watch your redo’s. They never miss!
That totally makes what I do even more fun. Thank you!
Quality brushes always makes a difference in how a project turns out. Thank you for a chance to win this awesome prize.
You are so right. I am a brush snob and only want the best for my hard work.
I’d paint my daughter’s dresser!
You did a fantastic job replacing the missing back piece there! I love the color of the wood, and the blue you chose.
I really need to paint (again!) a sideboard in my dining room. It’s pretty sad, but some paint and new brushes would make it happy again, haha!
Thank you, Becky. It wouldn’t be complete without it. Sounds like a fun challenge!
Love your work Larissa!!! You are an inspiration. Inspiring me to projects I’m not quite qualified to do, lol…….like the dresser I have that is in desperate need of a makeover!
You are sweet to say so, Felecia. You sure can do it! 😀
What a transformation! Lovely!
Thank you for the smile, Sandi. 😀
Beautiful job Larissa! That color is AWESOME. I would love to win the brushes. I have finally started on the dining set my Mother left me. I told you a couple of months ago that even after 3 years it was so hard to start working on it. Well, you inspired me to start. Things are going fairly smooth. The only bumps so far is wiping the tears out of my eyes. I get really emotional when I start wondering if she would like it. Also, I can’t wait to make your apple recipe. Take care and God bless you and your beautiful family.
Thank you bunches, Kim. Congratulations on making that step to start…it’s so hard. I’m sure she is proud of you for honoring her in every way. Sending you huge hugs {{HUGS}}
Its a beauty, Larissa, loving the Bermuda color and the way you aged it with dark wax!!
You are sweet to say so, Marie. I had to have a hurrah to summer skies. Fall is here to stay! 😀