Tag Archives: before and after

diy: ikea rast dresser to bedside table …

March 15, 2011

I have seen a lot of great Ikea hacks with the Ikea rast small dresser turned bedside table or nightstand.  After i saw this one, i kept it in my “to do” files and i knew it would be a great option for some new bedside tables / nightstands we were in desperate need of.

It really is the perfect size and offers some great storage.  It is also nice that it comes un-painted so that you can customize your piece to any color you would like.
So, we started out with two ikea rast dressers.
This is what they looked like before:
And, here’s the after, painted white with new hardware:
I’ve had a lot of questions about my painting process, so here’s a little rundown of how i usually paint or re-paint any kind of furniture.
How to paint furniture:
1.  Clean/ wipe down the furniture really well, especially if it is used.  i usually just use baby wipes or clorox wipes, but just make sure there aren’t any fibers hanging around.
2.  Apply two coats of kiltz primer (i prefer the latex kind) with a good quality foam brush from a good paint or hardware store, not the craft store kind.  the foam brush is key, it is what makes the end result nice and smooth.  this dries really fast, so i usually wait about 20 minutes or so between coats if i am in a hurry.  and, no i do not sand.  i feel like it is a waste of time and i don’t want to inhale all those weird bits of paint.  so, i just use primer over everything and it has worked very well.  even for veneer finishes, like on the ikea malm bed i just painted.  the primer helps the paint stick to pretty much anything i’ve tried.
3. Next, apply two to three coats of the color of your choice with a foam brush (i usually wait at least an hour between coats, or until it is dry)  but, look at the instructions on your paint.  i like the furniture paint found locally at four chairs furniture, they use old village paint, but i have also used stuff from lowes or home depot, and it has been fine too.  also, since the foam brushes are pretty cheap, i just throw them out each coat and use a new one.

4. Next, i let the piece dry at least over night before putting on the two to three coats* (depending on how shiny you want it) of the top coat.  i prefer to used the water based minwax polyurethane finish. i usually let it dry at least an hour or more between coats.  *for the top finish, i don’t use the foam brushes, because it sucks up the finish.  i use a synthetic brush like this one, i think it’s made of nylon or polyester.  i paint it on quickly with nice long strokes.  it seems the more you go back over a layer, the more it seems to add a weird texture, so i try to work fast.  if you do find some clumpy-ness then just let it dry and sand it with a very very fine sand paper then re-apply.  when finished with each coat make sure to clean the brush really well with really, really hot water between coats, or you can get some stickiness and build up on your piece.
5.  Let it dry a day, then add the hardware!
Hopefully this helps!  I have painted a lot of stuff the last little while, and this process is what has worked best for me!
I found the hardware for my nightstands here.  size 51 mm x 43 mm in burnished bronze.

DIY // before and after: ikea hack malm bed

March 14, 2011

so, we finally settled on an ikea malm twin bed for my little ezra for his new big boy bed.
of course, i had to complicate things and want to paint it to match the rest of the furniture in his room that we recently painted gray.

but, i am so glad we did.  it gives it a custom look, but without the huge price tag.
so, as you can see, it was white before, shown above.

and, here is the after:

i still haven’t had a chance to decorate his room at all, but i am feeling good that the main pieces are in there.
i’ll share soon on the progress.  i have some prints ordered, and a quilt ready to make and the rest of the trimmings.  so, stay tuned.

and, hopefully throughout the next little bit, i’ll share a few house projects we’ve been working on around here.
let’s just say my husband is sick of painting stuff.
oh the joys of nesting.

**update:  the gray paint color i used is called- mark twain house ombra gray by valspar from lowes.
also, for more full instructions on my painting process click here.

my studio: before and after armoire …

November 2, 2010

so, this beast of an armoire was my in laws.  they have had it for years in their dining room.  we inherited it about 2-3 years ago, because i knew the one day when my studio was done, i would want it to store all my goodies. 
so, there it sat in our third car garage for years, until our basement was done.  then i lacked the motivation to actually paint the sucker.  i mean it’s huge, plus, you not only have to paint the outside, but also the inside.  needless to say, it was quite the project.  but, i am SO happy that it is finally finished and has found it’s new home in my studio.
as you can tell, the above picture is the before.  lots of fun off white, faux gold finish with chicken wire in the glass, and some interesting brass hardware.
and, here she is today…. the after.

 i painted it all white, with the inside back wall a nice robin’s egg blue to match my stained floors.  i thought that was a nice touch, plus i had the extra paint already from norah’s nursery.

here is a little peek at one of my desks and my new cabinets i just got hung over the weekend.  i am thrilled to see all my plans finally coming together.  i’ll share more soon!
a detailed shot of the inside.  the shelves aren’t styled yet whatsoever, i just threw a few things in there.  but, it’s been so great to get all my stuff organized!  i had a goal to have my studio organized and put together by the end of october so i could work on my jewelry for my upcoming shows.  i barely made the cut!  now, i just have the finishing details to work on.
and, can i tell you how productive it has been for me to have things somewhat organized?  i have even been able to design and make a few things.  here’s a little peek of a few necklaces i’ve been working on.
i’m loving the simple geometric shape ones! 

well, back to work i suppose! 

p.s. i’ll post these in my armelle jewelry shop soon.  if you just can’t wait, let me know which one you are interested in, and i will make a listing for you right away.