$27 Buffet, $5 paint job

 

 

 

I have a long wall in the living room. It's an awkward space. I needed something long there, and I was struggling to find anything for the right price. After rolling my eyes at $500 buffets on craigslist for 7 months, it dawned on me that I had never asked the Lord. At our last house I actually wrote out a "God List" and He provided each item in cool ways! But obviously, I forget His power and think I don't need Him anymore.

 

When I realized this, I prayed (while driving the van) and asked God for a solution. And as I was passing Salvation Army, I decided to cut my prayer short by saying "And, if it's Your Will, You can answer right here."

 

Above was the piece that sat there, extra 20% off tag, and I got it for $27. A dude in the store helped me load that heavy thing. And I promptly started painting.

 

I used leftover paint. I love the idea of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, but decided it wasn't compatible with the budget that I have in mind. I read a good article on ways around it, and followed the steps.

 

Sherman Williams has paint 40% off, four times a year. This means their sample paints (about a quart I think? Maybe more? Larger than most samples anyway!) are under $4. It needs to be finished with a protective sealer (about $12 for the gallon when it's 40% off, and that sealer can cover loads of projects.) So it cost about $5 to paint this puppy. My personal preference is to "glaze" furniture. If there is any detail at all, I feel like it accents these features and makes such a striking statement. Like eyeliner for your furniture!

 

There are a lot of glaze options out there, but my choice has been the $.89 craft paint (from Hobby Lobby or Walmart, etc). Just water it down, paint it into any groove, and wipe off the excess.

 

(This is to be done before the sealer).

See the difference?!

 

 

I love the sides too

 

 

 

 

So my actual steps:

1. primer that has special powers so I don't have to do any sanding or preping

2. white coat of paint (not too much touch up since there is primer if I recall)

3. painted the hardware (leftover spray paint, metallic sheen)

4. put on gray "glaze" craft paint

5. Finished off everything with a sealer

6. Put an extra coat of sealer on the top because I figured a lot of coffee cups would get set there

7. For the fun of it, put numbers on the inside drawers

 

 

 

I was painting when it was time to go pick up my kid from preschool. His teacher asked about the paint on my hands and I explained the project I was doing. She said, "You wouldn't happen to want a yellow chair, would you? I'm trying to get rid of one."

And so there it was, within a few days of asking God for help (after months of trying on my own) my wall went from blank to this! Isn't God generous?! (And I changed colors around and so now it is this).

 

Mudroom

When we were house-hunting, one of my top priorities was a "mudroom" area. I had seen a new home with a sophisticated hall of lockers, and I swooned. My background includes a lot of snow and outdoor layers, and many people, and always-crowded-coat hooks. Already in my own home I was struggling to fit the mess for our family of five into the little entry closet.

This house had a bedroom that was right off of the front door. And since there were four other bedrooms, I was delighted to claim it as a mudroom (and paino/homework room).

Our church was rebuilding, and it's former building being torn down. God had produced some great works over the building processes and I was set on using some of the old solid oak doors as a locker system. I had a few reasons. 1. Having something to remind me of God's power. I like having reminders in every room. 2. Being "green" and recycling used doors. 3. Paying for labor would still be a far cry cheaper than buying all that quality lumber

Here is one before photo of the room, and then some close ups of how it changed when we moved in.

 

 

I would still like to add in a middle shoe shelf at some point in time. Behind the frame, I painted the wall white, and added a cheap board and  cheap walmart coat hooks (mixed in with hooks that I had on hand) to give a built-in look. I stained the seating and painted the rest white. The baskets were on clearance at Michaels, but I cringed at how pricy baskets can be! The curtains were free, vintage things, and the lettering for the names I simply hand-cut out of contact paper.

 

 

 

This is a photo from my previous house. My brother-in-law had built these benches for me and a neighbor had given me the table. As I reused these peices in our new house, I gave them new life by staining the top of the table, painting the bottom white, and using gray craft paint (about $.89 at Joann Fabrics or Michaels or Walmart) to glaze the benches and table legs. Isn't it amazing how paint can update things?

This piano was the one I grew up playing (from Mrs. F actually. See first post). Above are three wooden shelves that I painted and stuck up with command strips.

And this completes my mudroom. A special room that I am ever-grateful for as we pile up coats and boots and backpacks, out of sight. I love that the kids can be in charge of their own shoes so easily!