Friday, August 13, 2010

Night stand Makeover


Around here we're all about finely finished wood. My husband spends hours planing, sanding, jointing to create beautiful pieces of furniture. Painting his work is a BIG no-no. So my love of slightly shabby white painted furniture is "love-at-a-distance."

However, we've had this piece of furniture around for about 10 years. It's a night table our son made in shop class. Constructed mostly of plywood, with a few rough edges from hauling it from Ecuador to Canada, I thought that perhaps I could indulge my love of white paint with this small project.


I didn't remember to take a "before" photo. But here is an "in process" one taken while waiting for the paint to dry. Painting was done outside, on the deck but brought in for the night.


Then, I found an old French Harlequin romance and decoupaged the top, the drawer front, and the back of the open shelf, adding a bit of music paper for contrast. A new black handle and voilĂ , my first piece of shabby chic vintagey style furniture. It's gracing one of the downstairs bedrooms where I've been painting walls and trim, cleaning, and generally getting organized.

I'm linking to Frugal Fridays at The Shabby Nest. Click on over there for more fun and frugal do-it-yourself ideas.

12 comments:

  1. That is sweet and the perfect answer to your dilemma. My hubby far prefers to refinish wood, but sometimes he lets me paint it. I'm so glad. A lot of the wood around here is nothing to stand up and cheer about. Course I know your hubby is using quality!

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  2. I love it! Great idea.

    I see that you lived in Ecuador...I have been there several times. My parents go at least once a year to teach Bible classes. It is a beautiful country and we have fallen in love with the Quichua people!

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  3. I love it. I love the book you used for decoupage. I'll bet it will be the topic of conversation when people stay in that room.

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  4. Would is sacred here too - is it a 'guy' thing?
    Very pretty, Lorrie - and I'll bet it was fun to do too!

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  5. Great idea on the decoupage! I might have to give that a try sometime. My friends brother is a wood worker and has to plug his ears when I talk about painting my furniture. It's not for everyone but I love it :)

    Jessica

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  6. what is it about men and wood..my hubby cringes when i talk about painting wood...friends and i were just talking about that the other day,esp, here in canada,,,,but i like your after project...

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  7. How fun! I don't know where you find time for 'projects' with all you have happening there this summer.

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  8. If that's shabby, I'll have some of it, please.

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  9. Anonymous2:24 PM

    I'm smiling over the romance novel adorning a nightstand; clever and cute!

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  10. This looks cool. I love playing with paper like that. I made a wreath out of a torn up book that I loved...did a water color wash on it. I never thought about applying the principal to furniture, though, but now I will. Thanks for the great idea.

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