I love knobs… sometimes all you need is bling

The key to increasing traffic to your website is in the choice of title and key words for SEO, right? (I like to pretend I understand geek language). Knobs, check. Bling, check…I have a feeling this may backfire. Oh well, live and learn.

Adding new hardware to a simple IKEA dresser or thrift shop find can really turn drab furniture into an showcase piece in your home.

I’m obsessed with the US-store Anthropologie (they also own Urban Outfitters).  They have 3 stores in Canada (yeah, eh!), but they’re all in Toronto… What about Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver? Seriously, couldn’t they share? They ship up North for a $20 flat fee (duty fees apply).

Great selection of knobs (check it out here.)

Alternatively, you can try visiting your nearest Pier 1 – Some of their stores carry a few different kinds. Hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes are great if you’re seeking a more traditional look (chrome, brushed bronze, stainless). For an eclectic look; www.etsy.com has thousands of handmade knobs sold through different retailers.

Vintage dresser + Paint + Bling = BAM!

Credit for before and after pictures from Design*Sponge (original post here)

For my recent dresser transformation I spray painted the original hardware. (More $$ in my pocket!) 

Before

After

Thanks for stopping by my blog, until next time!

DIY – Painting furniture

The key to a healthy relationship is having a king size bed. Especially when both dogs sleep in the bed with us. I share my bed with a 7 lbs dog, a grumpy 65 lbs (post diet) dog and a 6’2” human furnace (really is, it’s ridiculous!).

Spoiled? I think so.

So big bed = decreased floor space for a dresser. We needed a dresser that would be as tall as possible, but keeping within a max of 18” depth. After walking through the aisles of multiple big box stores without finding the perfect piece, I decided to create it!

I went to a local auction house and found a vintage solid oak dresser for under $150. Yeah!

Found the perfect vintage dresser for under $150

Step 1. After removing the handles, sand the surface you’re looking to paint to allow primer to stick to the wood. My dresser didn’t have a heavy coat of varnish, so this step was pretty quick. I used a small hand sander for the large surfaces and fine grit sandpaper for the corners and areas around the hardware.

Step 2. Clean the surface with a soap and water to remove dust and sand debris. Allow to dry. 

Step 3. Cover the edges you don’t want painted with tape. I framed the inside of the drawers and main unit to show the original wood in the drawers. You could also line the drawers with a patterned fabric to “pretty it up”. I decided to add a decal of a branch by creating a voided area (you’ll see later).

I covered the edges with painters tape.

Step 4. Apply primer and allow to dry completely. You may need a second coat. In my case I put two coats on to make sure the wood  din’t show through once I painted on the colour. I used the 1-2-3 Bulls Eye Zinsser Stain Killer primer. I recommend going with a water based primer instead of oil based – it cleans off with soap and water if you get it on your hands. Oil-based paints/primers require paint thinner and are not as eco-friendly.

What I used

Step 5. While the primer dried, I spray painted the handles with oiled-rubbed bronze (to give my dresser an antique feel). It didn’t take very long to dry. After 20 minutes, I put a second coat on.

Make sure you spray paint outside!

will need a 2nd coat

Step 5. Paint on your first coat of colour. Took me a bit of time to convince Mr. Skeptic (Fender) to go with a beautiful coral (not pink) colour called Celebration. Our bedroom is heavy on the cool colours (white, grey and blueish grey), so a punch of warmth is just what it needed.

first coat of paint (will lighten once it dries)

Step 6. Allow at the first coat to dry completely before adding a second. Mine took about 8 hours.

painters tape applied to create my branch decal (to be removed after)

Step 7. Remove tape and add hardware. For under $200, including paint supplies I achieved this look! 

Perfect piece in our bedroom!

Decal on the inside

Such a simple way to spruce up ugly hardware!

Hope you enjoyed my DIY furniture painting tutorial. Feel free to share your ideas and projects with me!