*This blog is no longer active. For all these posts and more please visit my new blog Maggie Muggins Designs!*


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Two Night Stands

This site is no longer in use. You can see all this information and new posts at my new blog Maggie Muggins Designs.

Once upon a time my husband and I were using one of the end tables meant to be in our living room (as if it would have fit in that little matchbox) as our night stand. Yes, just one. Our bed was against the wall. There was only room for one. When we moved to our next apartment we got a cheap end table and used a bookshelf on the other side.

So when we finally moved into our new home I had hopes of finding the night stands of my dreams. Those were quickly dashed as I discovered just how much they could cost. Finding something I liked under $100/per stand was impossible. So I hunted Craigslist. Eventually I found two that I thought had hope. Pine night stands. 2 of them for $30. My husband wasn't so sure about them, they needed work, it was obvious from the picture online, but I was sure I could do it.

They were in terrible shape. They were covered in cobwebs, one was missing a foot, the other the back, the tops were disgusting with rings from cups, marks from pens and I think a highlighter, they smelled of smoke, and they were the absolute wrong color. Light pine. Not so cute with my dark cherry bed. They were way worse than pictured online and when I brought them home even I was dubious as to their potential.

But despite my doubt another DIY project began. First I stripped the varnish and sanded those suckers down. Ha - one sentence for hours of work. It seemed endless. Or should I say it was endless? When that was finally finished I painted them with a flat black paint. After the paint was dried I distressed them. That took a bit of work to get a good look too.

Center Black drawer = Painted, Bottom = Distressed, Top 2 = Stained

Then I did something I was rather excited/nervous about. I stained them with a dark red stain that matched the bed. Let me say I had no need to be that nervous. After staining them enough and coating them with some varnish I couldn't believe the results myself. I only wish I took a real before picture. So instead you get to see some of the process and the end result.

Painted

Seeing as these were finished long ago, they are already stock full for the after pictures. I have a lot of craft books for inspiration.

After



Once again post is part of Trash to Treasure Tuesday over at Reinvented. My husband is very excited about Trash to Treasure Tuesday and wants me to do this every week! I wonder why? Something to do with the fact that I've accumulated a lot of "Trash" over the few years we've lived here? Probably...

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow! What a beautiful transformation! I think your husband wants you to do this every week just 'cuz you're so GOOD at it!
Thanks for linking up to Trash to Treasure Tuesday!

MD Reno said...

A few minor corrections from the husband in this story:
1. I never doubted for a minute that the end result would be amazing...just that it would be with as little work as my wife thought ;)
2. As much as I would like my motivation for supporting Trash to Treasure Tuesday to be all about the art...my wife was right. I just want the junk gone. Time to reclaim my garage!

Pam @ This Humble House said...

That turned out really nice! I love the way the finish came out! Great job with it!

Heather said...

I am visiting from Trash to Treasure. These turned out beautiful! I am going to get brave and try the stain over paint one of these days.

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

Those night stands look great! Too bad it took so long to find them in order to transform them though.

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

They look amazing! I have 2 that are almost identical and I desperatley need to rehab them. Thanks for the inspiration.

~amanda

Its So Very Cheri said...

They look great. I've been looking for some great deals on night stand and end table but everyone wants top dollar around here.
This is my first time to your blog. I hope you will come by for a visit and stay awhile.
Its So Very Cheri I also have a party on Mondays called the Knock Off Knock Out go check out some amazing projects.

Cheri
Its So Very Cheri

Suze said...

M, You are an inspiration! Those look absolutely FAB! I'm definitely going to have to try this!

Anny said...

This looks so professional :)