Category Archives: DIY

Modern Hexagon Bathroom Reveal

30 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Reno's

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When we decided it was time to renovate our main bathroom our goal was to not only update its dated finishes but to fix its badly planned layout. I believe the bathroom went through a sad renovation in the seventies which was not well thought out or done with quality workmanship. How bad could it be you might ask? Well, you could literally sit on the toilet and do a load of laundry at the same time 🤣 So I knew the stacking washer dryer had to be removed to allow for more space and a better layout. There was another washer and dryer in our house so removing them from the bathroom was not a big inconvenience. They had also taken space from the adjacent bedroom making the closet very small and almost unusable 😕

Bathroom Before

Here was my list of wishes for the bathroom:

  • Remove washer and dryer
  • Reclaim space taken from the bedroom closet
  • Large spacious walk-in shower
  • A larger window for more light
  • Open up the layout to expand the space visually

With this new layout my goal was to:

  • Relocate the toilet to allow for a large 7 feet by 3 feet walk-in shower.
  • Brighten the space with a larger centered window
  • Open up the space by placing the longest fixture (the shower) on the back wall with a frameless glass enclosure to allow light from the window to fill the space.
  • Use finishes that would provide for a bright and dramatic space.

Can you believe this bathroom is smaller than before (but way more functional) and feels two times the size!

My intent for this bathroom matches the result – dramatic, bright and airy. The hexagon wall tile is dramatic but not overpowering, the matte dark gray floor tile grounds the space which allows the hexagon tile to be the hero of the bathroom. The floating streamlined sink vanity adds to the airy feel. Its rich warm walnut veneered drawer fronts adds warmth to the bathroom that could seem cold with so many hard finishes. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

We chose a big-box vanity which floated off the floor – thus taking up less space visually. It had gloss dark grey drawer fronts which we found didn’t add a lot of warmth or interest to the bathroom. So we took a deep breath and jumped in and researched veneering them with walnut. We also decided to change out the standard handles that came with the vanity with dramatic long chrome handles. I love the rich warm effect the walnut drawer fronts have on the space and how along with the new handles the walnut veneer took a standard big-box vanity and made it stunning!

Another way we decided to add warmth to our bathroom was by using a blanket ladder as a towel rail instead of a traditional one and using large-scale nature photography. I feel they added a lot of warmth, texture, and height to a room that could feel cold with a large number of hard surfaces in a bathroom.

Can you believe my awesome husband made it from this blanket ladder from a sketch I drew for him? I was unable to find one that was tall enough or sturdy enough so he said he would give it a try for me 😍
Here are the details:
1. Cut down 2 cedar 8 foot long 2 x 4’s to 3″ x 7′ and eased all the edges with a sander.
2. Cut 1″ hardwood dowels to the measurements from the drawing.
3. Mark and drill 1″ holes 1″ deep in the cedar sides at measurements from the drawing.
4. Glue and clamp dowels in place overnight.
5. Stain ladder with 2 to 3 coats and let dry 24 hours.
6. Apply 2 coats of Polyurethane following directions on the label.
He must really love me ♥️

I also added warmth to our bathroom by adding warm tones through plants/flowers, vintage pottery and amber glass as accessories.

We love how our Modern Hexagon Bathroom turned out 😍 We are even more proud that we did all the work in it other than the new plumbing rough-ins and the installation of the frameless glass shower enclosure and are now looking forward to many years of long hot showers in it. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Here is one last shot of the Before and After of our main bathroom renovation.

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Mid Century Modern 3 Drawer Dresser Update – Sold

10 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated 3 drawer Mid Century Modern dresser.

Do you Remember this old thing? Despite this I fell in love with it because of it’s amazing legs and unique 3 long integrated handles. It is stamped and was built by Hentschels of Waterloo Ont., well known for its high end grandfather clocks.

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern and Dramatic but I didn’t know how. After I sanded the base and saw this beautiful solid walnut hidden under the dark stain I knew he could be transformed into something Bold and Dramatic!

I sanded the case of the dresser and  drawers but the water damage and chips in the veneer only left me with the option to paint the case. I was happy I was able to rescue all it’s Walnut drawer fronts and base 🙂 

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So I primed and painted it’s case in Clean White.

I wanted to add a little contrast with the white case and to highlight the dressers star, the renewed Walnut, so I painted its reveal bold turquoise and long handles white.

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, stain, paint and some elbow grease!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

Mid Century Modern Dresser and Nightstand Receive a Modern Update

04 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Mid Century Modern dresser and nightstand set!

Do you Remember these old things?

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern and Dramatic but I didn’t know how. After I carefully sanded one of the feet and saw this beautiful wood grain I knew he could be transformed into something Bold and Dramatic!

I carefully sanded and sanded, and applied stain to the curved drawers fronts. Wow I was so surprised to find amazing burled wood under all that dark dated stain!

I sanded the cases but the tops were badly water damaged from plants. The veneer was chipped, loose and missing in some spots which only left me with no other option but to paint them. The loose veneer was glued and clamped for 24 hours. All the chipped veneer was patched using Bondo and sanded. I wanted to rescue the wood reveal to show off their unique design. It took some tricky taping, but I was successful 🙂 The remaining pieces received 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of crisp white paint, sanding between each coat.

mcm Nightstand

As I worked on them I fell in love with their craftsmanship. Just look at these hand craved his and her jewelry holders ♥️ 

I love how the pure white paint lightens and brightens them allowing their amazing lines and burled drawer fronts to be the heroes now.  Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, stain, paint and some elbow grease!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

Mid Century Modern 3 Drawer Dresser Makeover

12 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated 3 drawer Mid Century Modern dresser.

Do you Remember this old thing? Despite this I fell in love with it because of it’s amazing turned legs and unique 3 handle top drawer.

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern and Dramatic but I didn’t know how. After I sanded one of the drawers and saw this beautiful wood grain I knew he could be transformed into something Bold and Dramatic!

I sanded the case of the dresser  and the 2 remaining drawers but the water damage and chips in the veneer only left me with the option to paint. I was happy I was able to rescue all it’s Walnut handles 🙂 

So I primed and painted it’s case in Clean White.

I wanted to add a little contrast with the 2 remaining damaged drawers but didn’t want to take away from the dressers star, the renewed Walnut, so I painted them in a cool steel grey.

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, stain, paint and some elbow grease!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

Mid Century Modern Dresser Makeover

30 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Mid Century Modern stamped Vic Art dresser.

Do you Remember this old thing?

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern and Dramatic but I didn’t know how. After I sanded one of the drawers and saw this beautiful wood grain I knew he could be transformed into something Bold and Dramatic!

I sanded and sanded, and applied stain to the drawers fronts. Wow what a transformation!

I sanded the case of the dresser but the water damage and chips in the veneer only left me with the option to paint. 

So I primed and painted it’s case in Sleek Black.

MCM dresser

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, stain, paint and some elbow grease!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

Why do I choose to UPCYCLE?

18 Friday Nov 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers

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SONY DSCWhat is upcycling you might ask? It is the process of taking something that has been discarded or unwanted and transforming it into something beautiful, updated and functional.

mcm dresser Before and After

What are the benefits of Upcyling?

1st The Quality of the Furniture

Most vintage furniture is of excellent quality, often made of solid wood and exquisitely made, lasting a lifetime. There is something romantic and satisfying about working with and owning furniture you can feel the craftsmanship in.

2nd Price and Originality

When you have a tight budget but are looking to add some originality and style into your space? Upcycling is a budget friendly way to achieve this.  Check out some of your local thrift stores or online sites, if you are willing and have the ability to do some DIY. If not look for someone like me who has the creativity and ability to transform pieces. Most often you can find pieces at the fraction of the cost of buying new. Incorporating vintage or repurposed pieces can add drama, style and interest into your space.

3rd Environmentally Friendly

My heart hurts  when I see a beautiful piece of furniture being tossed aside or a room that lacks any personal style. Upcycling is not only a fantastic way to achieve a designer one of a kind look but it is also environmentally friendly, keeping functional items out of landfills.

before-and-after-comsole-table

4th It’s Fulfilling!

Recently I redid a vanity into a desk. It had belonged to a women’s mother who had brought it with her when they immigrated from Mexico and had passed away. She showed me picture of her home and it was very modern, light with clean lines. I felt a lot pressure to get it right as it was a piece that had a lot of meaning behind it. We communicated back and forth every step of the way and as it transformed she grew to trust me and I was so thrilled when she saw the final outcome. What was icing on the cake was when her father came with her to pick it up and with a tear in his eye he said “That is very nicely done, good job”.

Updated Desk

5th The Need For Creativity

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul”   Dieter F. Uchtdorf

For many the opportunity to make and create has become a luxury and I know I am one of the lucky ones who gets to do this everyday. There is something so satisfying in being able to transform something back to life using your own hands. Pieces that have been beautifully recreated can be seamlessly incorporated into your space and will add individual style a uniqueness to it. I only use high quality paints so you can be assured your piece will last to be handed down again. Have a piece of furniture that has been handed down to you or you no longer see a use for? Drop me a line and I would love to help you with your diamond in the rough!

chair-and-table-front

 

Young and Glamorous Wall Console and Mirror Makeover

26 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold, Weekend DIY

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Vintage Console, Mirror and Stool!

Do you Remember these old things, friend’s gifted to me when they wouldn’t fit in their moving truck?

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern, Young and Glamorous. After falling in love with this designer Mint Green Console Table and Faux fur stool Combination. I just knew this could be the inspiration to transform them!

I sanded and sanded, filled any nicks or dings and applied 2 coats of high adhesive primer. She was already lighter and more youthful. After a couple of coats of Cool Mint Paint, new gold hardware and a little Gold Metallic highlight, boy was she ever transforming! 

 

I thought she wasn’t quite complete. She needed a beautiful partner to dance with her. I wanted the look of the Faux Fur and Gold Metallic Stool but knew I didn’t want to pay the designer price tag.

I went on a search for a soul mate for her. I found this little gem, an old sewing stool, at a local vintage shop and knew she was the partner my Console and Mirror had been looking for.

It was a bit of a job rehabbing her as she was pretty sad and plain but I was determined to make her a partner worthy of my Glamorous Console and Mirror.

If you would like to try this, here is what you will need.

  • Pliers & screw driver (for removing the upholstery tacks)
  • Exacto knife
  • Measuring tape
  • Scissors
  • Faux Fur fabric
  • Stapler (I am lucky to have an air stapler)
  • primer
  • Paint
  • Gold metallic paint and brush

Step 1. Fill and imperfections on the wooden stool base and sand.

Step 2. Prime with 2 coats, sanding in between each coat.

Step 3. Paint with 3 coats of Gold metallic paint and allow to dry for 24 hours

Step 4. Remove upholstery and set aside as template for Faux Fur.

Step 5. Use template to cut out Faux Fur fabric and staple around underside of stool edge.

Step 6. Trim excess Faux Fur away to make a clean edge

And she was done and ready to meet her dance partner!

Boy did they ever make beautiful music together!

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, paint, Faux Fur, creativity and some elbow grease!

console-and-mirror-2

 

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

 

Fresh and Fearless Vintage Cane Back Chairs Makeover

22 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold, Weekend DIY

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Vintage set of Cane Back Chairs.

Do you Remember these old things?

I had such an amazing reaction to my choice of fabric for the Patricia vanity chair and felt it could take these chairs from worn and dated to Fresh and Fearless.

Fresh and Fearless Plan

Now it came time to pick the paint colours to achieve the chairs Fresh and Fearless makeover. When I did, I chose colours from the fabric you see the least amount of to create tension and drama between the chair frames and the fabric.  I also choose clean colours to get a youthful fresh effect so I decided on Sea Glass Green, Crystal Clear Blue and the Lipstick Pink. 

After the paint went on I was in love and couldn’t wait to upholster the seats and watch them sing!

If you would like to try reupholstering your own dining chair seats here is what you will need.

  • Stapler remover & Pliers (for removing the existing fabric)
  • Measuring tape
  • Scissors
  • Batting
  • Home decor fabric
  • Stapler (I am lucky to have an air stapler)

Step 1. Remove the old upholstery fabric (put aside as you will need it for a template for the new upholstery).  I strongly suggest you wear a mask while doing the deconstruction of your chair.

Step 2. Cut batting out using old upholstery as a template.

Step 3. Staple batting around bottom of one of the chair seats. Pulling tight as you work your way around. This is when you can also double check if you need to make any adjustments to your template so you don’t ruin an expensive piece of fabric later.

Step 4. Cut out upholstery fabric using a batting pattern as a template.

Step 5. Staple batting around the bottoms of all the remaining chair seats.

Step 5. Staple upholstery fabric around bottom of the chair seats pulling tight but leave all corners until the end.

Step 6. Trim excess fabric from each corner. Staple each side of the corners tight and then the middle.

Step 7. Reattach the chair seats to the painted chair frames.

They are complete!

Boy are they ever Fresh and Fearless now!

Cane Chairs Before & After

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated furniture, paint, upholstery and some elbow grease!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

 

DIY Faux Gilded Insect Taxidermy

16 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by in DIY, Weekend DIY

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Can you Believe this Stunning DIY Faux Gilded Insect Taxidermy was done with a Tweens plastic bug collection!

I had some fun on the weekend doing a little DIY painting giant plastic bugs gold! I am redoing a Tween girls bedroom and she is a nature lover. She had a set of giant plastic bugs she did not want to part with so I came up with the idea of repurposing them into wall art in the form of Faux Taxidermy.

A trip to the craft store for wooden plaques, paint and a hot glue gun is all I needed to turn her treasures into a work of art!

DIY Gilded Insect Faux Taxidermy

Materials Needed:

  • Large plastic insects 
  • Spray primer and gold metallic spray paint
  • Wooden plaques – various sizes/shapes
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • Primer
  • Paint colour of your choice for plaques
  • Liquid gold leaf
  • Hot glue gun
  • Command hanging strips

Step 1. Shop: If you don’t already have a collection of large plastic insects, head out to your local toy store. With insects in hand head to your local craft store and layout your wooden plaques and insects. This might seem strange to do in the store but your bugs will be different sizes and you want to ensure a good mix of sizes and shapes.

Step 2. Prime & Paint Bugs: Layout bugs, prime both sides and allow to dry thoroughly. ( note: It is important to ensure your primer says it will bond to plastic). I primed and painted both sides with 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of Gold metallic spray paint. Leave over night to dry completely. 

Step 3. Prime and Paint Plagues: Prime and paint the plaques with 2 coats of paint of your choice. Leave over night to dry completely.

Step 4. Mount the Gilded Insects: Touch up any imperfections on your insects with liquid gold leaf, allow to dry and mount your gilded insects to the plaques using hot glue. Hold the insects in place while the hot glue drys to ensure they are firmly attached.

Step 5. Finalize layout: I finalized my layout before attaching the gilded insects to the wall because I used command adhesives and once they are in place they are not easily moved.   

 

Step 6. Hang and enjoy!

Faux Taxidermy

 

Stunning – AND I did it with a tweens collection of plastic insects and paint!

I loved getting to use my creativity to make something they will cherish out of stuff people had given away.

I bet you will never look at a pile of plastic toys the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

Tall, Dark and Handsome Mid Century Dresser Makeover

28 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated vintage mid century road side find dresser.

Do you Remember this old thing?

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look and it back to it’s Mid Century Modern glory. After seeing these stunning Anthropologie mirrored back knobs and gold handles, I knew he could be brought back to life and could be dark and charming once more!

Unfortunately his veneer has seen better days. It had many chips and dents. So I set out to repair it before painting with my friend Bondo

If you would like to try this here is what you will need.

  • Bondo (I purchased mine at Canadian Tire)
  • Metal or plastic surface to mix it on
  • Wooden deposable stir stick
  • Plastic spa

What you will need to repair chipped veneer

Step 1. Mix Bondo and hardening agent in a well ventilated area, I strongly suggest outside. (Note only mix a small amount at a time as it has a very short working time. For a large job you will need to mix several small batches to complete the job.)

Step 2. Apply Bondo mixture to chipped veneer areas with plastic squeegee and smooth out surface.

Step 3. Allow to dry according to dry to instructions on can.

Step 4. Sand surface smooth. I use a orbital sander with a medium grit and than a fine grit sandpaper.

I primed and painted him with the dark grey. He was coming to life but was lacking some style. So I decided he needed some gold highlights to make him a little more Handsome.

Adding gold details is not for the faint of heart especially if you are doing straight lines. It requires a lot of measuring and careful taping but for me the results are worth the time and energy!

I installed the to die for mirrored back knobs and gold handles and wowzers he was knocking me off my feet.

I added geometric wallpaper to the drawers and he was no longer worn and dated but Tall, Dark and Handsome.

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, paint wallpaper and some elbow grease!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

Young and Glamorous Vintage Vanity and Chair Makeover

20 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold, Weekend DIY

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Vintage Vanity and Chair.

Do you Remember this old thing?

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern, Bright and Bold. After falling in love with is Sea Green colour used on the latest Micro Brewery to open here in Port Moody. I just knew she could be transformed into something bold and dramatic!

I sanded and sanded, filled any nicks or dings and was happy to see the dated gold scroll details sanded away! I applied 2 coats of high adhesive primer. She was already lighter and more youthful.

Now it was time for some colour and I have to be honest even with my love of colour I was questioning my crazy love of this fresh sea green. My office floor was covered with paint chips for at least a week until I got the courage to just go with it! After the first coat of paint I was in love and couldn’t wait to add the silver metallic highlights and watch her sing. 

Painted

Boy did she ever sing! but I thought she wasn’t quite complete she need a beautiful partner to dance with her.

I went on a search for a soul mate for her. I found this little gem at a local vintage shop and knew she was the partner my Vanity had been looking for.

It was a dirty job rehabbing her as her foam had disintegrated but I was determined to make her partner worthy of my Dreamy Vanity.

If you would like to try this here is what you will need.

  • Pliers & screw driver (for removing the upholstery tacks)
  • Exacto knife
  • Measuring tape
  • Scissors
  • 2″ upholstery foam cut to size
  • Batting
  • Home decor fabric
  • Trim for around seat edge
  • Stapler (I am lucky to have an air stapler)
  • primer
  • Paint
  • Silver metallic paint and artist

Step 1. Remove the old upholstery fabric (put aside as you will need it for a template for the new upholstery), tacks and foam. I strongly suggest you wear a mask while doing the deconstruction of your chair.

Step 2. Fill and imperfections and sand.

Step 3. Prime and paint 2 coats, sanding in between each coat.

Step 4. Add silver metallic highlights with artist brush.

Step 5. Cut upholstery foam to size. Most foam shops will do the overall size for you but will need to trim with an Exacto knife around the arms of the chair etc.

Step 6. Cut out template for new upholstery fabric. I decided to do a trial run before cutting out my upholstery because I added a thick foam and batting to my chair and my old upholstery wasn’t a perfect fit as a template any longer. This way I could make adjustments and not ruin an expensive piece of fabric.

Step 7. Use template to cut out upholstery fabric and staple around chair edge.

Step 8. Trim excess fabric away to make a clean edge

Step 9. Hot glue trim in place ensuring to tuck edges under

And she was done and ready to meet her dance partner!

Boy did they ever make beautiful music together!

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, paint, wallpaper and some elbow grease!

Before and After

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

 

Bold and Beautiful Vintage Dresser Makeover

18 Monday Jul 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Vintage hand made dresser.

Do you Remember this old thing?

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern, Bright and Bold. After seeing this dramatic striking chartreuse green colour. I knew she could be transformed into something bold and dramatic!

I sanded and sanded, filled any nicks or dings and was applying 2 coats of high adhesive primer. Thats when I decided I couldn’t live with the drawers tilting when they were pulled out. So I set out to find out how to repair them.

After some research and a trip to my local hardware store I (my wonderful husband) set out to install runners and clips on the drawers.

After a lot of measuring to ensure the new runners were level and centred on the dresser the problem of tipping drawers was fixed!

Now I wanted to polish her up a bit with the addition of wallpaper on the interior of her drawers.

If you would like to try this here is what you will need.

  • Roll of wallpaper
  • Cutting matt
  • Ruler
  • Exacto knife
  • Measuring tape
  • White glue
  • Medium size paint brush
  • Plastic squeegee

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Step 1. Measure the interior width and depth of the drawer.

Step 2. Cut wallpaper to size with a sharp exacto knife and dry fit it to ensure your measurements were correct.

Step 3. Roll the wallpaper backwards to flatten it.
Screen Shot 2016-07-05 at 7.42.05 PM

Step 4. Apply a generous amount of white glue to the back of the wallpaper.

Step 5. Using a paint brush and a small amount of water spread the glue evenly over the back of the wallpaper ensuring to cover the corners and edges.

Step 6. Line wallpaper up in drawer and place.

Step 7. flatten out the wallpaper and remove any bubbles with plastic squeegee.

Step 8. Measure the back of the drawer

Step 9. repeat steps 2 through 7

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, paint wallpaper and some elbow grease!

Lily Before and After

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

How to Dress Up Plain Doors

16 Thursday Jun 2016

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How did I dress up those plain doors on my rescued Armoire…

What’s was my secret? Ceiling medallions! Here’s how to do it yourself.

Here’s What You will Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Foam brush
  • No More Nails adhesive
  • Painter’s tape
  • Primer
  • Paint
  • Faux-plaster ceiling medallion (mine are 16″ in diameter)
  • 2 Glass Dummy doorknob (one per medallion)

Screen Shot 2016-06-09 at 7.56.49 PM

Step 1

Spray the medallions with a spray primer and allow to dry.

Step 2

Paint the medallions the same colour as the door and allow to dry.

Step 3

Ensure the medallion is centered, use a tape measure to find the center of your door and the height to want you knob to be. Lay the doors on a flat, dry clean surface and place the medallions on the doors using the center mark as reference. Lightly trace the medallions with a pencil for placement. Remove the medallions and using the foam brush paint No More Nails adhesive around the inside and outside edge of the backside of the medallion. Carefully place the medallion back on the doors using the traced out line as your guide. Allow to adhesive to dry for 24hours or manufactures instructions.

Step 4

Attach doors to Armoire and do a quick touch up paint around the edge of the medallions.

Step 5

To finish, I installed a dummy knob in the center of each of the medallions. Dummy knobs are nonworking knobs simply screw into the surface of the door and act as handles, allowing you to open and close the door. And there you have it, simple as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… plain doors transformed.

I love how this project turned out. I think being bold with colour and materials is such a fun way to update vintage dated pieces!

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture and paint!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

 

Turn a Plain Vintage Armoire into a major Style Statement

11 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold, Weekend DIY

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Vintage Armoire.

Do you Remember this old thing? A friend sent me a text saying it was on the side of the road and I had to come and save it. My wonderful husband managed to get it home to me after some ingenuity on his part lol.

I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern, Bright and Bold. After seeing this dramatic wallpaper I knew I needed to give her interior a fresh and dramatic look.

I thought I was done but her exterior just didn’t match her new bold interior. I knew she needed some visual interest on her flat boring doors and I decided to try an application I had seen on closet doors to give her a little pizzaz. So I set out to find and apply a ceiling medallion to her.

Here’s What You’ll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Foam brush
  • No More Nails adhesive
  • Painter’s tape
  • Primer
  • Paint
  • Faux-plaster ceiling medallion (mine are 16″ in diameter)
  • 2 Glass Dummy doorknob (one per medallion)

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Step 1

Spray the medallions with a spray primer and allow to dry.

Step 2

Paint the medallions the same colour as the door and allow to dry.

Step 3

Ensure the medallion is centered, use a tape measure to find the center of your door and the height to want you knob to be. Lay the doors on a flat, dry clean surface and place the medallions on the doors using the center mark as reference. Lightly trace the medallions with a pencil for placement. Remove the medallions and using the foam brush paint No More Nails adhesive around the inside and outside edge of the backside of the medallion. Carefully place the medallion back on the doors using the traced out line as your guide. Allow to adhesive to dry for 24hours or manufactures instructions.

Step 4

Attach doors to Armoire and do a quick touch up paint around the edge of the medallions.

Step 5

To finish, I installed a dummy knob in the center of each of the medallions. Dummy knobs are nonworking knobs simply screw into the surface of the door and act as handles, allowing you to open and close the door. And there you have it, simple as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… plain doors transformed.

I added hooks and a thrift store mirror I painted out black to finish off the interior.

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I love how this project turned out. I think being bold with colour and materials is such a fun way to update vintage dated pieces!

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture and paint!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

 

Vintage Queen Anne Sofia Cabinet

03 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this dark dated Vintage Queen Anne Cabinet.

Do you Remember this old thing? It was love at first sight when I saw her in person. She was begging me to take her home and make her into something beautiful but there was just one hitch she didn’t fit inside my vehicle! So what was a person to do? I strapped her to the roof and made the 45 minute drive home through Vancouver traffic of course.

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I knew I wanted to update it’s tired worn look to be Modern, Bright and Bold. After seeing this dramatic White and light Tiffany Blue colour combination. I knew she had been dark and heavy for too many years and it is time to take off her heavy winter coat and put on a colourful spring dress.

I sanded and sanded, filled any nicks or dings and was applying the first coat of high adhesive primer, when I had the idea of painting the legs out the same light Tiffany Blue to give her a little punch.

I followed my instincts and went ahead and painted the inside and the beautiful sculptural legs in light Tiffany Blue and she started to come alive.

In progress

The doors had a key lock mechanism but the keys had been lost. So I needed to fill the key lock holes to be able to install knobs. I used Bondo body filler to do this. Warning, it is smelly so I did this outside and with a mask on. The positive is it adheres extremely well, hardens incredibly and sanded to a smooth finish. So it is perfect for this application. Confession, lesson learned, I should have done this step before priming and painting the doors as I created more work for myself by having to repeat these steps. 😦

I love how painting the legs out in a bight clear colour has given her an ethereal appearance now.

I love how this project turned out. I think being bold with colour is such a fun way to update vintage dated pieces!

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture and paint!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

 

Vintage French Provincial Penelope Head/Footboard

26 Saturday Mar 2016

Posted by in Before & After, Design, DIY, Furniture Makeovers, Sold, Weekend DIY

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I am SO excited to share my transformation of this set of dark dated Vintage French Provincial Twin Head/Footboards.

Do you Remember these old thing?

I knew I wanted to update there tired warn look to be modern, bright and bold. After seeing this Head/Footboard painted in a pretty blue I knew I wanted to create a similar look.

I sanded and sanded, filled any nicks or dings and applied 2 coats of high adhesive primer and took a trip to the fabric store, innocent enough right? I came across this amazing colourful fabric and all my plans went out the window.

I now saw them in beautiful Tiffany blue with Penelope the pink elephant as the star of the show.

I painted the them out in Tiffany blue and this is when I decided to try my hand at upholstery. I cut out a template of the headboard and used it as pattern to cut out 2 matching pieces of the fabric for upholstery.

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I used the same template to cut 1 inch foam and batting for the backing of the headboard.

I stapled the fabric over the foam and batting. They came alive!

I sewed a double welting in the matching fabric to finish off the edging by hot glueing it in place.

 

I love how this project turned out and how being bold with colour and fabric is such a fun way to update vintage dated pieces!

Stunning – AND I did it with a dated piece of furniture, fabric and paint!

I bet you will never look at a disregarded piece of furniture the same again.

Are you now a up-cycle believer now?

DIY Oversized Framed Bulletin Board

16 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by in DIY, Weekend DIY

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Can you Believe this Stunning DIY Oversized Framed Bulletin Board was done in a weekend!

I needed a large inspiration bulletin board for my office but got sticker shock when I went to buy one! So I thought I would see if I could create a similar one on a budget and only use readily available materials. I thought I would share this project in case you wanted to give it a try yourselve.

DIY Oversized Framed Bulletin Board

Materials Needed:

  • Homasote board (This soundproofing board is made of cellulose, and it’s easy to cut with a utility knife and a straight edge to the exact dimensions your space requires.) My bulletin board is 3 ‘x 6’ and the hardware store cut it for me.
  • Fabric
  • Stapler
  • Case moulding (To frame the bulletin board)
  • Miter Saw
  • Wood Glue
  • Wood Filler
  • Paint and Paint brush
  • Ribbon (I used 3/8″ and a total of 27 metres)
  • Upholstery tacks (I used a total of 61)
  • Drop Cloth
  • Ruler or Measuring Tape
  • Finishing nails and hammer (I used a nail gun)

Step 1. Stretch Fabric: Cut fabric 3 inches larger than board on all sides; lay fabric right-side down. Center board on fabric. Wrap fabric around one side of board and staple once in center back. Pull taut, then staple opposite side. Repeat with other 2 sides. Continue stapling, adding pairs of staples along opposite sides, working toward corners. Stop a few inches before corners.At corners, fold fabric as flat as possible. Staple one side all the way to corner, then fold perpendicular side on top. Pull taut and staple. 

Step 2. Frame: Using a miter saw cut out frame for Bulletin Board. I did a 2 inch over lap of the Homasote board all around. Assemble frame with wood glue and finishing nails. Fill seems and nail holes with wood filler, allow to dry and sand. Apply 2 coats of semi gloss paint.

Step 3. Add Ribbon: I applied my 3/8″ ribbon in a Harlequin Diamond Pattern with a 6″ offset and used Upholstery tacks to secure my ribbon to the board at every intersection. Used straight pins to hold the ribbon in place around the edge temporally.

Step 4. Secure Ribbon: Using a staple gun secure the ribbons to the back of the Bulletin Board.

Step 5. Attach Frame: Attach frame to Bulletin Board using finishing nails. Fill nail holes with Wood Filler, allow to dry, sand and touch up with paint.

Now it was time to get creative and put this bulletin board to use!

Stunning – AND I did this over a weekend with materials from the local hardware store!

I loved being able to make something I will use everyday and will inspire me to be creative.

Are you now a DIY believer now?