I think there should be sweet music playing when I write for our Themed Furniture Makeover Day because it is my favorite time each month. Do you blame me? I don’t have local friends and neighbors, even family, who enjoy doing what I do, so having some peeps to share in the goodness is fantastic! Not only that, but they challenge me as well. Be sure to stop by the linkup at the bottom and check out all their hard work. This month’s project was all about RUSTIC furniture. tsk. Now you know that got me excited. Yay! Love me some rustic chic. ♥
A few weeks ago I was on Craigslist (like I’m never on there – right.), and was relisting some of my items. I make a habit of always checking the free section because you just never know. Here is what I saw when I clicked…
Seriously, my jaw hit my desk and I grabbed my phone lightning-fast. (You know, I seriously wish I could see what my face looks like when this stuff happens. I’d laugh my rear off!) Missing a few drawers, casters, and mirrors, but it’s already stripped!!
THE BACKSTORY
Story goes like this: Lady tries to strip this set herself and finds out she took on more than she could handle. She damages it beyond repair (in her mind) and lets it sit in a friends’ barn (Man) for over a year. Man asks her what she’d like done with it because he’d like it gone, to which she replies, burn it. {{gasp}} Man says he can’t do that (good, Man!) and puts them on Craigslist thinking someone could do something with them. Enter in me…and the rest is history.
Now, would you drive straight over to grab them before somebody else? I would have, but couldn’t because you can’t fit 6 kids and bedroom set in a suburban, now can you? I asked the gentleman if we could come later that evening and thank the good Lord he said he would wait. He said it sounded like I was a nice lady. So, thank you, awesome hubby for driving an hour one way to get them, and thank you kind man for not giving them away before he got there!!
FREE?
Funny thing though, sometimes the word free doesn’t totally mean free. There’s usually a trade. Gas to go get said items, etc. In this case, I knew that the man said they were a mess, but how bad could they be, right? What came to mind, was Maria on The Sound of Music asking the Mother of the Abby , “What’s wrong with the children?” when she found out they had trouble keeping governesses. So, what was so wrong with these pieces?
That man wasn’t kidding that the previous owner didn’t know what she was doing. Bless her heart she tried and here is the result…
Snaggle teeth everywhere…the whole set was, well…fuzzy! I have lovingly named this set my “Fuzzy Duo”.
The veneer was coming off and it was dry as a bone from sitting naked for so long.
DIY TIME
I used my towel-soak method to get two layers of veneer off the top of the chest, and it came off like butter on hot toast.
One problem. Remember I told you my life’s motto is, “Haste makes waste”? Well, I knew the wood was parched, and when I soaked it good, it sucked up that water like a dehydrated elephant. It warped that top right into a rainbow and deemed it no good. I knew better than to do that method on dry pieces, but was in a rush to get it soaked overnight. grrrrr….
See…even the dresser is smiling at my foolishness, but is still excited to get a new look. Some rustic chic lovin’.
NEXT STEPS
So, not only did the vanity need new drawers, now the dresser needed a new top. Ah well, live and learn. So with my newest gift-to-self, my Kreg pocket screw jig, my husband built new drawers while I worked on the rest.
The theme is rustic, right? My goal is rustic chic since this is an ornate set that is just aching for some styling. My base coat is done in one of my favorite go-to stains, Sunbleached, that we used in our master bedroom, my DIY bathtub tray, and also on this coffee table.
Like I said, I knew these babies were dry, but my goodness! They sucked up a near full can of stain. I knew that staining would lift the grain even more, so I didn’t start to sand until after the stain was applied. That is not normal in most cases.
MORE DIY
In those crevices, my handy-dandy Dremel is a big help on saving my hands all the work. I seriously love the versatility of that tool.
TIP: When you’re getting ready to stain any wood, it’s always a good idea to lightly dampen it so that the grain does lift up and open, and that allows the stain to penetrate deeply, giving a rich color.
To add a touch of color, I decided to use a bright blue to accent the details. This specific color is Marine Blue by Glidden. Isn’t it purdy?
Because I wanted a quicker painting method for some of the details, I used a Rust-Oleum spray paint, called Seaside, for the chair and accessories. It matched my Glidden paint perfectly.
PAINT TIME
Once the stain dries, I add a wash of the blue on all the details I want to highlight. To do that, just brush over the part you want highlighted, and then wipe off quickly after with a rag, leaving the color behind.
Now, I want to create even more texture, so with a dark, smoky gray paint thinned to about 1 cup paint with 1 tablespoon water (the color I used was a seconds paint and I don’t know the name – sorry!) and you can see more of my method on my garage door here. I brush it over everything, working in small patches. Quickly wipe off with a slightly damp cloth, again, allowing it to fill in the nooks and crannies creating dimension.
After all has had an hour or so to dry, I added my topcoat. I wanted a subtle layer, so I used my paste wax to rub on one coat to the sides, and two coats to the top surfaces.
BUILDING
Thankfully, my hubby could help me whip up a dresser top from our stock, which made the dresser good as new.
Now, the vanity also isn’t much of a vanity without a mirror. A few years ago I snatched up a busted up vanity found curbside that was in pretty bad shape. It really had been glorious at one time and I didn’t want to fuss with the expense of replacing the mirror, so I gave away the base and kept some parts. One of which was the center mirror backboard. I had planned to use this for myself in our living room remodel, but I needed a mirror…now.
With a little dismantling, and a good shaving down with a jigsaw, that backboard was ready for my vanity. I also had a mirror that would fit this backboard perfectly from replacing the original 1930’s mirror off of this vanity for a client a few months back.
The mirror was raw edged, but I took it to my guy at a local glass shop and he sanded it down on the spot for free. I love small businesses.
FINE DETAILS
Since I had a remnant piece of that tore up vanity, I decided to use it as a stencil to create some mirror supports that would add length to my mirror stance.
The parts are cut out with my jigsaw and then I attach using our Kreg jig. (tools over jewels, I say!)
It seems like the whole mirror is missing intricate details like the rest of the set. To remedy that, I add a bit of wood carvings to the front.
Since I wanted to tie in the mirror with the rest of the piece. It also has a touch of that smoky gray.
It’s time to show you how it all comes together! I’m super-excited and hope you are too.
THE REVEAL
Thanks to my dad’s farm, I was able to take my rustic chic pieces out there to stage them in a farm setting. It’s so wonderful to be able to be outside and I just stopped and smelled the wonderful scents of summer.
See, now that chest is smiling. Can’t say that I blame it. Sitting unloved for over a year all hairy and unloved.
Now how about those pulls! {{swoon}} Those mercury glass pulls are gorgeous and I can’t wait to use their goodies on more pieces to come!
Thank you to my hubby for the fantastic drawer work and building a new top at a moment’s notice.
That vanity is so chic and lovely, don’t you think?
The entire set came out just as I had planned, even amidst the little hangups. I’m happy with this rustic chic finish and hope to do it again…soon.
Those soft tones are so soothing to me and I could say it a thousand times…I wish I could keep it, but alas, it is now available (SOLD) in my shop.
WRAP-UP
Hard to believe this is the same set that was going to be burned.
You know you want to try this rustic chic finish. tee hee. Be sure to pin it so you can find it again! And by all means, ask questions if you have any – I’d love to help.
Here are a couple past themed makeovers:
Now take a minute to visit these fine ladies and see their rustic goodness!
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Oh. my. goodness. Larissa, those pieces are GORGEOUS. I am always so amazed at your talent, and I think these are my favorite yet. Just wow. I might have to try some of that sunbleached stain, so pretty, and I always have a can of Seaside around. 🙂
Hahaha…you made me blush, Kimm! You have to try that sunbleached stain, it wonderful and another favorite is Weather Wood Stains too. I think I’ll be using Seaside regularly, my girls love it!
These pieces look gorgeous, Larissa! I love the colors that you used in your makeover and also how you were able to use pieces from your stash to make the mirror to complete the set. I’ve got bunches of tabs open on my computer after reading this post!
Love it, Paula! Thank you for your compliments. I think I’m stuck on any kind of blue and this set proves it! 🙂
You are amazing and I adore your can-do attitude! You were lucky to find these pieces, but I think we all can agree that they were even luckier that you found them! Gorgeous, my friend!
You are my twin, Christy. 😉 You and I both love a challenge and I’m so happy that I didn’t make this set worse!
Don’t you just love when you find the perfect piece on Craigslist and you’re the one to get it?! Sounds like these guys had lots of problems to fix but you turned them into such a beautiful set! Love all the dimension and texture they have 🙂
Thank you, Bre! Yes, absolutely get those Craigslist goosebumps for sure. 🙂
Girl, you made me tired just reading this! All your work paid off. What you were able to achieve is just absolutely amazing! Those pieces are everything they were meant to be thanks to your wonderful vision!
great job!
Hugs,
Karin
Ha! Yes, we both were worn out, but feeling satisfied. Thanks for stopping by!
So pretty Larissa! I’m glad you worked your magic on it… I think a lot of people would have passed up the fuzzy set haha! Also, have you used wood conditioner before? It helps the wood not soak up too much stain because it basically solves that dry wood issue and the conditioning also strengthens the wood I’ve heard, because dry wood is often more brittle… But it seriously looks awesome just the way you did it! Great job!
Thank you, Rachel! Yes, wood conditioner may helped, but I guess I didn’t think it was that brittle since I could flex the veneer without snapping it. Ah well… the top under that veneer wasn’t very pretty anyway. I know better next time. 😉
Did you say FREE! I would’ve had the kids on the roof rack in order to fit those pieces in the suburban (just kidding). You and your hubby are quite the DIY team – so talented. Love love love the makeover you gave these two pieces. Wouldn’t you just love to see the look on the original owner’s face along with her friends? Talk about a trash to treasure story!
I thought about emailing them the pictures, but didn’t want to make them mad…ha! Thank you, Marie, for all your love and support.
Amazing Rescue story with a Happy Rustic ending! What did hubby make the dresser top and vanity drawers from -something like Purebond plywood? I would love to see a tutorial on how hubby made the top and those drawers to fit an existing piece…this could be like an act of humanity in a furniture way, savings countless pieces from the dumpster or in this case the burn pile! Not sure if you would convince hubby to do a re-enactment, if not keep your eyes peeled on Craig’s list for items missing drawers and snap them up (as if you needed encouragement lol) !
Hahaha…the drawers are very simple with any cabinet grade ply or hardwood, if you choose. So easy with that Kreg jig (I love that thing!!) Hubby has told me maybe he should guest post sometime, to which I replied, “Absolutely!” 🙂
A guest post from Mr. Prodigal Pieces on this would be so cool! Remind him to dummy it down for amateur DIY’ers like me – he will be used to your wealth of knowledge and experience that all of us do not have…yet! Examples of Q’s from my side of the fence – did he router the dresser top and if so how do you do the corners, what router brand do you use? On the drawers I don’t even know where to begin – I think if the piece already had wooden drawer runners I would be tempted to chuck them as it would just make the task harder for me. How you get the groove in to hold the drawer bottom, what type of wood do you use for the bottom like a thin lauan for something small like that. How do you measure so it fits well but not too tight and the order of putting to all together – there is just so much to learn! Is he ready to be a Blog movie star and show us in a video or would that just go to his head ? haha! 😉
Speaking of drawers I just noticed the dovetailing on the Dresser – thank goodness you saved this set from it’s otherwise doom!
Fabulous, las usual!
Thank you so much, Ellen!
The set is just lovely. You are so talented.
You are so sweet. Thank you, Debra! 😀
Seriously you outdid yourself on this makeover my friend! You know, like the phrase about turning a sows ear into a silk purse! Love the finish, love your vision…and the staging! Congrats on your new present to your self as well… a Kreg Jig opens up so many possibilities in building:)
Oh how I love a great save story! These turned out gorgeous Larissa, love the color choices and nothing’s better than free, especially vintage pieces like these… Sweet find, and sweeter refurbish! love it…
You have an amazing talent! These pieces are beautiful.
Thank you so much, Laurie!
Larissa…you have left me speechless! And that’s not easy to do! These pieces were so lucky to have found you. I’m impressed by your vision and all the loopholes you had to work through to get to the end results. Simply stunning! Oh, I too live in an area that others don’t do what I do. I’m proud to be a part of this creative group. ~Jeanette
It would have been really sad if those two pieces had been burned. Lucky for them, you came along to save them! They both came out great, and those knobs really are a lovely finishing touch.
Thank you so much! Yes, I wouldn’t have been able to watch for sure. The knobs are just gorgeous and I’m happy to have found Rustic Brands. 🙂
Free…really! Both pieces are gorgeous Larissa!
Crazy, huh? I still can’t believe it. Thanks for the love, Kathy!
Lovely pieces. I wonder what they’d have looked like using pale duck egg blue. I LOVE what you’ve done with these. sharing these w/my mom.. she will have a fit over these. They are stunning.
I hope she likes them, thank you! If I ever get another like it, it will be a miracle. 🙂
I like this set very detailed.I just painted my patio bench Seaside.So funny great minds think alike.
hahaha…yay! That is a super-fun color. Enjoy!
How did you fix the cracked sides of the vanity ?
Used wood filler mostly.
What a transformation! Great work. Side comment: Our son had a foreign exchange student friend from Japan. One night he talked our son in to going with him to a “free” movie. Well, it was a good movie, but they spent a very long intermission listening to a promotion. Leaving, his friend said, “In Japan we have a saying that free isn’t always cheap.” You made a good decision to rescue those pieces.
haha…that’s so true! Nothing that is free is truly free except the saving grace of Jesus. Thank you for the love, Sonja.
So beautiful! Love the blue and thrilled that you saved them!
Yahoo!! This was so fun for me. Thank you!
My goodness! They are fabulous!
Janet, how fun to hear. Thank you for the smile! 😀
I LOVE what you done to those pieces!!!
You’ve made my day, Donna. Thanks!
So, so lovely. What a great save. It breaks my heart to hear they were about to be burned. Thank God for you.
XO,
Susie from Chelsea Project
I could totally feel the lady’s desperation though. Poor gal! 😀 Thank you, Susie.