I Heart Organizing Feature!

Have you all been to <a href="http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/">IHeartOrganizing</a> yet? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i917.photobucket.com/albums/ad14/iheartorganizing/Blog%20Images/300pxIHeartOrganizingbutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://i917.photobucket.com/albums/ad14/iheartorganizing/Blog%20Images/300pxIHeartOrganizingbutton.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>If not, you should. Jen is the master of all things organized and pretty. She has so many brilliant ideas for keeping your entire house running simply and flawlessly! I showed her my <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-alternative-to-file-cabinet.html">file cabinet alternative</a> project, and today she is <a href="http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/04/reader-space-jennas-fantastic-filing.html">sharing it</a> with her readers! I am so honored and hope this will help make a positive difference in someone else's life like it did for me! Thanks again, Jen!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmxgUgNFdK2q_3xRi6F9YaLO9AXZg9yvj2qynYjJEUlSn7zC5YvsyUqXGRbjqi6tCguzslHRwnmXEehoPKVTf3DKXmAkU6jZzyGyDbCzar-6EKzyS-iooaGiOqxFguPDYljKSlEKwlPBh/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmxgUgNFdK2q_3xRi6F9YaLO9AXZg9yvj2qynYjJEUlSn7zC5YvsyUqXGRbjqi6tCguzslHRwnmXEehoPKVTf3DKXmAkU6jZzyGyDbCzar-6EKzyS-iooaGiOqxFguPDYljKSlEKwlPBh/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

I Heart Organizing Feature!

Have you all been to IHeartOrganizing yet? If not, you should. Jen is the master of all things organized and pretty. She has so many brilli...

Read more »

Office Closet Reno: Part II

Happy Sunday!<br /><br />I'm back again with the second installment of the office closet renovation: making built-in pocket shelves.<br /><br />Since the dresser I refinished <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/dresser-makeover-before-after.html">last week</a> couldn't accommodate all of my supplies, I had to come up with some convenient storage solutions. In addition to shelving (which I will be building next week), I came up with the idea of utilizing the wall space to hold my papers/mailers/etc. <br /><br />At first I was just going to build a box and mount it to the wall, but I saw a perfect opportunity with this bump out section where the closet door sits:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSppFCueZZdCFrwO31A3zPvluDDnh4xaB_YaHFYbzn5mMS28wQ2-OUGVfH0byrmKW_bRaZDGEWSdRFoAs9P5wwwYlFjBLpC-BFWe13jEe3OAlL96-hrOdKb_w54d-74fhYqi-pakMgGjHd/s1600/IMG_4467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSppFCueZZdCFrwO31A3zPvluDDnh4xaB_YaHFYbzn5mMS28wQ2-OUGVfH0byrmKW_bRaZDGEWSdRFoAs9P5wwwYlFjBLpC-BFWe13jEe3OAlL96-hrOdKb_w54d-74fhYqi-pakMgGjHd/s640/IMG_4467.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Here's another look from the inside:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSa8nFTaTY6ZM9Z2kEeG4tbRZ5xAGUPlvlUuKOxtiihPAO8TkhlEYZvRO60G2b9UHm7IXxzeSDY7EO6BFapXc2Wx7NEEjO3MpW3LOk8pGtgCR0duD7VEqC396t6SXhu8VBpHd19pcQ5xI/s1600/IMG_4463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSa8nFTaTY6ZM9Z2kEeG4tbRZ5xAGUPlvlUuKOxtiihPAO8TkhlEYZvRO60G2b9UHm7IXxzeSDY7EO6BFapXc2Wx7NEEjO3MpW3LOk8pGtgCR0duD7VEqC396t6SXhu8VBpHd19pcQ5xI/s640/IMG_4463.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />It was the perfect width (2.5") for an enclosed pocket ledge that could span the depth of the closet. If this doesn't make sense yet... hang tight, detailed pics to come.<br /><br />So off to Home Depot I went, measurements in hand.<br /><br />I gathered up my materials, and asked them if they could make the cuts for me... but sadly, their saw was broken. Ugh. <br /><br />So off to Lowe's I went. And, btw, this trip made it official: I heart Lowe's. Way, way more than HD. From the products they carry (way better home decor, and way more options) to the friendliness of the associates... I'm going there first from now on.<br /><br />All this project needed was some 1x3" pine board and 1/4" plywood, cut to size. This was actually the first time I've ever had wood cut at the hardware store, and the friendly gentlemen working in that section made sure to cut every piece just right for me. Here's one of them in action:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i55.tinypic.com/oh7edu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i55.tinypic.com/oh7edu.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />And here's all the pieces, cut and ready to go:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKy6_dEo8jUrb2YsBxhHWY8pa6VXv4rtZo0SFEUcbwgkbN7uDzQoAy-JyoJ58mmCGM1XO1VZ1E0yQ-n0uYiWgjgBazjjnTRuzwRnbiEmCAMKpDWOYCSTlig4VZdN1iMwfntVMTGEufm4G/s1600/IMG_4459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKy6_dEo8jUrb2YsBxhHWY8pa6VXv4rtZo0SFEUcbwgkbN7uDzQoAy-JyoJ58mmCGM1XO1VZ1E0yQ-n0uYiWgjgBazjjnTRuzwRnbiEmCAMKpDWOYCSTlig4VZdN1iMwfntVMTGEufm4G/s640/IMG_4459.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I decided to make two shelves for more storage. The total cost for all the wood was just under $15 (plus there's a generous amount of scrap wood leftover for any future projects). Not bad!<br /><br />Here's a visual on how the shelf comes together once it's on the wall:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUlWLlJHcXKHgRky4rkkeptLOZ_ONXZdVHhohqogf4m4AYn09fnUnYkvswq07ZP47GLhpz8bvdxaMpkCGg_pa119GBPTMi43RQ1ny-U_w3s3Td__wlwIjhIEowp_oRzPOwXNCvtSegJtL/s1600/IMG_4461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUlWLlJHcXKHgRky4rkkeptLOZ_ONXZdVHhohqogf4m4AYn09fnUnYkvswq07ZP47GLhpz8bvdxaMpkCGg_pa119GBPTMi43RQ1ny-U_w3s3Td__wlwIjhIEowp_oRzPOwXNCvtSegJtL/s640/IMG_4461.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Pretty straightfoward stuff.<br /><br />Since I was dealing with pine, I needed to do a bit of prep work. I wasn't loving the crevices on the edge of the wood, so I filled it with a bit of spackle to even things out:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfb3zi1a2KD1astHDrp6aWKLgw1fm7BqUDnrhH8ORlQipk9_eG3ffCn56ncoIPm-hfsjxnN4egwdWLGUeKhsWvqGJSLtK9De5ZeEgK4x1QCy7QUr_qJ9jrbFD49fmt8wzqALdy-m4yd29i/s1600/IMG_4470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfb3zi1a2KD1astHDrp6aWKLgw1fm7BqUDnrhH8ORlQipk9_eG3ffCn56ncoIPm-hfsjxnN4egwdWLGUeKhsWvqGJSLtK9De5ZeEgK4x1QCy7QUr_qJ9jrbFD49fmt8wzqALdy-m4yd29i/s640/IMG_4470.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And, taking my dad's advice, I drilled pilot holes where the screws would be going (since pine has a tendency to splinter easy):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscGRS2snHI2tg2TkninmhukmxclGwllJrx_zLj_WM_WtPvF_ZqFPn14xG0kQtKTbeomYTjrp-FwBTFWPUCDiO4opmQNv3UnhwG21Nw_jEXw5uJQ38i4rSdp0tM0pUeQJ3Yg0tV0LgJ8Mj/s1600/IMG_4471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscGRS2snHI2tg2TkninmhukmxclGwllJrx_zLj_WM_WtPvF_ZqFPn14xG0kQtKTbeomYTjrp-FwBTFWPUCDiO4opmQNv3UnhwG21Nw_jEXw5uJQ38i4rSdp0tM0pUeQJ3Yg0tV0LgJ8Mj/s640/IMG_4471.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Once all the prep work was done, it was time to start the assembly.<br /><br />I marked where each shelf would go, and drilled my first piece into the side of the wall:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELC36jF01R3vQtsoG7kSmQy-6irhZO0E_huYtIm2ZOTAPq5vOS4ZptaVgtrl4PUzfZ2N0K2gkxIHFb-UjwkVfxzzAgO0zoac4VW9VIQBIXr6AKqYlo-ZF8SdT-0chlupoJ4XGOtcvbQ2s/s1600/IMG_4473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELC36jF01R3vQtsoG7kSmQy-6irhZO0E_huYtIm2ZOTAPq5vOS4ZptaVgtrl4PUzfZ2N0K2gkxIHFb-UjwkVfxzzAgO0zoac4VW9VIQBIXr6AKqYlo-ZF8SdT-0chlupoJ4XGOtcvbQ2s/s640/IMG_4473.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And repeated the process for the other 3:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqBpY1qlZhZTmCexGnbMMZ7kjC6M4wtNhoeCekCtGR85vFF-ZU_Nn0EkYKueKSJIAfMsqQFvR7h0m2nFOk9yeq2iL0Rhu0EZXT6K3JFcvVW9qwAFrMLO_LoLfWfDXlCPqC9ebfIeUCE2Z/s1600/IMG_4474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqBpY1qlZhZTmCexGnbMMZ7kjC6M4wtNhoeCekCtGR85vFF-ZU_Nn0EkYKueKSJIAfMsqQFvR7h0m2nFOk9yeq2iL0Rhu0EZXT6K3JFcvVW9qwAFrMLO_LoLfWfDXlCPqC9ebfIeUCE2Z/s640/IMG_4474.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Then I mounted the bottom ledges:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECMt3_yCt2R5wqYm21Bsnc8Ji7xJTC28j_tDWk6Rql4lW4eaKmjA4LB-fNwaelihg2_Qz40HmEI1YBGhMhsHp7KkAZpC9t0YqwN9_OrrtS8QZK1XKDkLeyntQFMcMYJm2utplF-xPlqq9/s1600/IMG_4475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECMt3_yCt2R5wqYm21Bsnc8Ji7xJTC28j_tDWk6Rql4lW4eaKmjA4LB-fNwaelihg2_Qz40HmEI1YBGhMhsHp7KkAZpC9t0YqwN9_OrrtS8QZK1XKDkLeyntQFMcMYJm2utplF-xPlqq9/s640/IMG_4475.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />And finally, it was time for the fronts. I opted to use our nail gun here with finishing nails, which are perfect for the plywood.<br /><br />After caulking in some of the gaps where the wood didn't sit flush on the wall, I coated the fronts with wood glue:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3AmIPDwRFx2Bj7xibriT6h7neNHLEFXuy3Ea7VWUL6jVYm-rt2WyjyWGraY-ZhyDb79ugeYX53LY2FWD9HYCo9uL-pFhfyaaQfG5TrYjVVSgErVdy7rDmL7fG0dxgeemuynDT6LFw1ky/s1600/IMG_4478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3AmIPDwRFx2Bj7xibriT6h7neNHLEFXuy3Ea7VWUL6jVYm-rt2WyjyWGraY-ZhyDb79ugeYX53LY2FWD9HYCo9uL-pFhfyaaQfG5TrYjVVSgErVdy7rDmL7fG0dxgeemuynDT6LFw1ky/s640/IMG_4478.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Then attached the fronts with our nail gun (sorry, no pics of this process since it took both of us to hold enough pressure on the gun so the nails would go in flush).<br /><br />And here's the finished shelves!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso4C57J9mLMKN1EfqNJVB_yVcC6SYNrGAXPJxez_7jNf5KenswIRfrLMFmBa8v6Prm3E9EhRMWp1xOFw8Ef7wVjAdWZ5jCcuS0sTAKAvdfD0D2pzP8EZUgqAOCZ5QNbrT8sEgP23jq0Lb/s1600/IMG_4486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso4C57J9mLMKN1EfqNJVB_yVcC6SYNrGAXPJxez_7jNf5KenswIRfrLMFmBa8v6Prm3E9EhRMWp1xOFw8Ef7wVjAdWZ5jCcuS0sTAKAvdfD0D2pzP8EZUgqAOCZ5QNbrT8sEgP23jq0Lb/s640/IMG_4486.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went ahead and removed the wire shelf, since I will be replacing it next week with custom built in shelving:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9NbDpm9orQ5XYYZwNxrAKhaqHLhyphenhyphenHLlb2mZ4yjGuHemaroyswESIIlAK3CI-BzQwdgpbnu6OsPpen2ZURqaxe3sLcMzZIIUkx6R2c2xavtVayunSiA-qeRiVi9_bsb0_-E0_uSB18c96/s1600/IMG_4488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9NbDpm9orQ5XYYZwNxrAKhaqHLhyphenhyphenHLlb2mZ4yjGuHemaroyswESIIlAK3CI-BzQwdgpbnu6OsPpen2ZURqaxe3sLcMzZIIUkx6R2c2xavtVayunSiA-qeRiVi9_bsb0_-E0_uSB18c96/s640/IMG_4488.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcI_noW66zq1YMRPF_pphvnQwdgOy8DvM21POWEfDayDMpRJF4pHJDncY3rwiFcq4jFfv2QnuGjmdGwj4aQ6qwc2AYRHJODEjhLuy_IRzLRZebU1WVJg2yTk5RWYtuSZ-CrEamf-SGF91/s1600/IMG_4490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcI_noW66zq1YMRPF_pphvnQwdgOy8DvM21POWEfDayDMpRJF4pHJDncY3rwiFcq4jFfv2QnuGjmdGwj4aQ6qwc2AYRHJODEjhLuy_IRzLRZebU1WVJg2yTk5RWYtuSZ-CrEamf-SGF91/s640/IMG_4490.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />After everything was spackled and sanded, it was time for paint. I wanted to bring something a bit more fun and refrshing into the area, so I picked up a gallon of this pale spring green shade:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26x-3pc8Wjv1TMPQNt3T5YIDJR0_XhqaJhLfQKvCKAT0MvlHF2N1-QO6_81zJX4gQLy-jqUaSkvey5nHvtsrf3xeskGnGs0ouh5bwCtVeQTL3jgVFgXJhfzI0RnrgpbK91BASNRw5_CzQ/s1600/IMG_4491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26x-3pc8Wjv1TMPQNt3T5YIDJR0_XhqaJhLfQKvCKAT0MvlHF2N1-QO6_81zJX4gQLy-jqUaSkvey5nHvtsrf3xeskGnGs0ouh5bwCtVeQTL3jgVFgXJhfzI0RnrgpbK91BASNRw5_CzQ/s640/IMG_4491.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />It's Glidden's Pistachio Ice Cream, color matched in Behr Paint + Primer in one. Just the name of the color makes my mouth water... I've been craving pistachio ice cream all day long now! Torture. <br /><br />Here's a play-by-play of the process... since Brad was feeling left out and wanted to contribute by picture taking :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sMbkchmfyhYRVZ_Onbc3sMb2_6SbifgsWnTMREWeJqD80NIxa8KwdEu2-V-Oq8Ftxl6nlF-sGB-eu3G7_RCaET2yJ3AE4uvXsIJ6PyPs-g_lFwgAsSSA2r4-O9CLLGUXF_kauoHcuaXM/s1600/IMG_4495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sMbkchmfyhYRVZ_Onbc3sMb2_6SbifgsWnTMREWeJqD80NIxa8KwdEu2-V-Oq8Ftxl6nlF-sGB-eu3G7_RCaET2yJ3AE4uvXsIJ6PyPs-g_lFwgAsSSA2r4-O9CLLGUXF_kauoHcuaXM/s640/IMG_4495.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqTyIyMCMeBMRf3IRGdAjL37DH3ng1stT-EBtex5Kls7EoIjv-LHwYUCxLDLMu7gG_Yxieo-qFPc1H0f-IlHJBlzA18z7jyxDDqSdF-2yEgZNNpFIKo_nWImAGZOo3rcq2J20f_PXn9gC/s1600/IMG_4496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqTyIyMCMeBMRf3IRGdAjL37DH3ng1stT-EBtex5Kls7EoIjv-LHwYUCxLDLMu7gG_Yxieo-qFPc1H0f-IlHJBlzA18z7jyxDDqSdF-2yEgZNNpFIKo_nWImAGZOo3rcq2J20f_PXn9gC/s640/IMG_4496.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WYtgZEJeXmNsgINXh0z_BJDy6rtb0yUo232XK8YGRsEFuedubrMawmh-sJpZh_rlNDftbNU3TfTdSSQI37aByXLqZcHYgJc5XYTjFG6DbgJSgXmytuRrEfopA-6sENstA_TrRj0y2IzZ/s1600/IMG_4506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WYtgZEJeXmNsgINXh0z_BJDy6rtb0yUo232XK8YGRsEFuedubrMawmh-sJpZh_rlNDftbNU3TfTdSSQI37aByXLqZcHYgJc5XYTjFG6DbgJSgXmytuRrEfopA-6sENstA_TrRj0y2IzZ/s640/IMG_4506.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For anyone wondering, I really like Beh'rs Paint + Primer in one. All it took was 2 coats and it was completely covered. (It better perform well for over $30/gal though!)<br /><br />And... drumroll please.... the fruits of my weekend labor:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NKjVjTs6e3YvZqLrjT2HGKRh8cgdTKRfOtOgnWy9haXJHiyGqnIVhEaFzhlz7re1gqNOEBNhS-otMcpJ5_hqoaaKVQoKgwZ2DWN2r1lofSkuC5Y9ged7R1MzAuZ0PzKoGXTcowxJZpP9/s1600/IMG_4524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NKjVjTs6e3YvZqLrjT2HGKRh8cgdTKRfOtOgnWy9haXJHiyGqnIVhEaFzhlz7re1gqNOEBNhS-otMcpJ5_hqoaaKVQoKgwZ2DWN2r1lofSkuC5Y9ged7R1MzAuZ0PzKoGXTcowxJZpP9/s640/IMG_4524.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D45RSANgmtlJuEu6g9LTiXUK68t9rPoj46yRZ2PF352yRG6FZq5pwwS5dv4nY6YmZ4Epw_lAhNAluYbAAMhABgwEUaYJbjUM86wRTaWIUGxwswSDEifXNUKe3qxg4uXOyHd7o-hatw6A/s1600/IMG_4521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D45RSANgmtlJuEu6g9LTiXUK68t9rPoj46yRZ2PF352yRG6FZq5pwwS5dv4nY6YmZ4Epw_lAhNAluYbAAMhABgwEUaYJbjUM86wRTaWIUGxwswSDEifXNUKe3qxg4uXOyHd7o-hatw6A/s640/IMG_4521.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><br />This project took less time and energy than I thought, and I now have the confidence to tackle the large shelving project next week. I'm happy that it's all coming together!<br /><br />One more office pic for the day—I had set the file holders that were in the closet on top of my file cabinet temporarily, and decided I kind of liked how it looked there. So today while at Walmart, I found the perfect green bins to hold my inks ($4 each!) and put them up there as well, and now I have this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o2SRxQez3uiAOZ8qhPBay5Evvi7sySvT8VmyKqDKsi8yCwhzLnLkNaG3HpdTV5ptNMDVN3QssuXCcalnKp3ptM20dJ-GRvwnhtKwE4THn-mS71mhVTh9kgcifczFIbe2uZYIq6nA3IH6/s1600/IMG_4527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o2SRxQez3uiAOZ8qhPBay5Evvi7sySvT8VmyKqDKsi8yCwhzLnLkNaG3HpdTV5ptNMDVN3QssuXCcalnKp3ptM20dJ-GRvwnhtKwE4THn-mS71mhVTh9kgcifczFIbe2uZYIq6nA3IH6/s640/IMG_4527.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm sure things will get changed around as needed, but for now I'm loving the way it fills the wall space instead of the empty void that was there before. <br /><br /><br />Stay tuned for Part III next week! I'm off to go dream about pistachio ice cream.....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmxgUgNFdK2q_3xRi6F9YaLO9AXZg9yvj2qynYjJEUlSn7zC5YvsyUqXGRbjqi6tCguzslHRwnmXEehoPKVTf3DKXmAkU6jZzyGyDbCzar-6EKzyS-iooaGiOqxFguPDYljKSlEKwlPBh/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmxgUgNFdK2q_3xRi6F9YaLO9AXZg9yvj2qynYjJEUlSn7zC5YvsyUqXGRbjqi6tCguzslHRwnmXEehoPKVTf3DKXmAkU6jZzyGyDbCzar-6EKzyS-iooaGiOqxFguPDYljKSlEKwlPBh/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>psst... this post has been linked to <a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/">the DIY Showoff! </a> </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ydn4kd0aaEY/SvO1EQ53tuI/AAAAAAAABt0/h5tFf_uXQiY/S990-R/DIY+Blog+button.jpg" width="168" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Office Closet Reno: Part II

Happy Sunday! I'm back again with the second installment of the office closet renovation: making built-in pocket shelves. Since the dres...

Read more »

Dresser Makeover: Before & After

So, my office has been looking like this for the past couple weeks:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwAHb9IFexwgbPujWuO1w7L5Jc0Lh9nAWqBExrxmV-WgdqjH2NEdHXO4v-Jpqwn_CxGIwhmk9DCYTOwR8NDSHkbyl8MoTI5bOwrdaXLA3XWQSCwpXo1E13eGCa8nIqrZe41IZXzjmr_AC/s1600/IMG_4382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwAHb9IFexwgbPujWuO1w7L5Jc0Lh9nAWqBExrxmV-WgdqjH2NEdHXO4v-Jpqwn_CxGIwhmk9DCYTOwR8NDSHkbyl8MoTI5bOwrdaXLA3XWQSCwpXo1E13eGCa8nIqrZe41IZXzjmr_AC/s640/IMG_4382.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Not a good look, and I was getting sick of it. I had decided that I needed a dresser, and needed it fast. I thought it would be fun (and cheaper) to refinish my own. So I began scouring craigslist ads for the perfect fit. <br /><br />I hadn't had much luck, largely because I have no truck/means to transport furniture, so needless to say I was getting desperate.<br /><br />Friday evening I finally found it. The perfect little rescue project.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUqZHYNu8gpAD6by6VXMJ3WNAs38ireZvNc9uhmTCn9UQvk4zETx1T72mOZpSQU4vUvoJO1X8lt7npW4WCzKRvHftA43xIbt2j38-3EGGDeDPMi__QXQeOClTG1Pc33XEhvmKUSFVtbF1/s1600/3k83p53la5Y65P65R5b4173cd13ab0732185c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUqZHYNu8gpAD6by6VXMJ3WNAs38ireZvNc9uhmTCn9UQvk4zETx1T72mOZpSQU4vUvoJO1X8lt7npW4WCzKRvHftA43xIbt2j38-3EGGDeDPMi__QXQeOClTG1Pc33XEhvmKUSFVtbF1/s1600/3k83p53la5Y65P65R5b4173cd13ab0732185c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Only $25 (plus $10 to deliver)! I didn't even try to bargain with the guy because I was so excited just to have it.<br /><br />When it arrived that night, it was clear why it was so cheap. This thing was beat up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg7pbESgz14tsd_CsFDLEHfPmH6NKGmZL-TKg-ZX5flcDxujU2_FuN7d7d_CtoC1oR4yIZOJb4F2W7xh9Kj9B95KGXbjckipbPXcNjylVxB5OvZj82RB6OTAJvwTefA1a7DmX0ZMqtPkV/s1600/IMG_4395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg7pbESgz14tsd_CsFDLEHfPmH6NKGmZL-TKg-ZX5flcDxujU2_FuN7d7d_CtoC1oR4yIZOJb4F2W7xh9Kj9B95KGXbjckipbPXcNjylVxB5OvZj82RB6OTAJvwTefA1a7DmX0ZMqtPkV/s640/IMG_4395.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Scratches and gashes everywhere...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBX51Ii301cYkeOLHwQ4_JicguFs66iVP0y_-3puWe2_HzC7DGTcNubkImolUiZFp9pgVoNufyKkwv4Iciz3J4LEgdqf_21POPZZR6SAKxVXoS7fVystoZqEQ6aIYcrViI6qyif1sXMJ4/s1600/IMG_4394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBX51Ii301cYkeOLHwQ4_JicguFs66iVP0y_-3puWe2_HzC7DGTcNubkImolUiZFp9pgVoNufyKkwv4Iciz3J4LEgdqf_21POPZZR6SAKxVXoS7fVystoZqEQ6aIYcrViI6qyif1sXMJ4/s640/IMG_4394.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Missing dowels...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgRi-KepmaSv0Z0fDVG11lBSOUcT3bWet7qh0-3b_TI1xQuynlgZ-L9adK8zBeqVoVqlNAaeK0soNXxPeIEcaiNal59X-7IJfeWVolGdqGzLXbHTiClw_AM7VjEj48HZ2l25RZfoV9wOj/s1600/IMG_4400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgRi-KepmaSv0Z0fDVG11lBSOUcT3bWet7qh0-3b_TI1xQuynlgZ-L9adK8zBeqVoVqlNAaeK0soNXxPeIEcaiNal59X-7IJfeWVolGdqGzLXbHTiClw_AM7VjEj48HZ2l25RZfoV9wOj/s640/IMG_4400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was rough. But I was determined to make it useful <em>and</em> pretty. So I made a trip to the hardware store the next morning to pick up some supplies.<br /><br />I had been carefully studying all of my paint options over at <a href="http://centsationalgirl.com/">Centsational girl's</a> blog, and decided that spray paint was the way to go. All of her projects turn out flawlessly, and she uses spray paint on many of her furniture pieces. I only had one weekend and it <em>had</em> to get done, so I knew this was the quickest and easiest solution. <br /><br />Here's what I was working with:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1hmX4zbNO6pOSnEtCirUgZX2uEzmnQUrxoiYQpTkOtE38QMZaEgVr59jrxAmoq3StK1yi3lVN3x2-KTJkZ_uNSPDS5GQk2sYqB3HB1rJ8oi5bjzY-5ekXU2ld9ygw57SsiW3ZHKuNE3z/s1600/IMG_4399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1hmX4zbNO6pOSnEtCirUgZX2uEzmnQUrxoiYQpTkOtE38QMZaEgVr59jrxAmoq3StK1yi3lVN3x2-KTJkZ_uNSPDS5GQk2sYqB3HB1rJ8oi5bjzY-5ekXU2ld9ygw57SsiW3ZHKuNE3z/s640/IMG_4399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I decided to use paint stripper to try and remove the glossy varnish coat. I'm still not entirely sure if that was necessary, or if just some sanding would have done the trick, but I loathe sanding so anything to reduce the amount of sanding time sounded like a good idea.<br /><br />Here's the stuff in action:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMp-m2OrA-yY8bxBzXHalnecq6DHZTEIk79oJC7L4dONTozFxax9kd0b_uFpImoQimRjSaF_lwvTrXc0WJ29YL6f7hSnJ0hDg2hGnF6ad9AIz5F-bA-ejmKpY7JgoQVgPC8JzBoc99BJQu/s1600/IMG_4408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMp-m2OrA-yY8bxBzXHalnecq6DHZTEIk79oJC7L4dONTozFxax9kd0b_uFpImoQimRjSaF_lwvTrXc0WJ29YL6f7hSnJ0hDg2hGnF6ad9AIz5F-bA-ejmKpY7JgoQVgPC8JzBoc99BJQu/s640/IMG_4408.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Looks like it's working, right? Well, not entirely. Some areas peeled off like butter, others were really stuck on there. I have a feeling it had to do with the thickness of my coat of stripper, so take my advice and lay it on thick if you're wondering. <br /><br />Here's some of the easier areas coming off:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qSzUoj8zhXBQkm4kUtNgT7peajhNXAUCRcMzjyJV_B9AB8VzsNerLFZ22fl_lDZ3R-juinmd_d3VnEoqdadXG6wnyEJ0Acmrj98eNfm29xdgk1-fqCXTV6Kp_rddxBhN7Hqd7vhRfSYn/s1600/IMG_4410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qSzUoj8zhXBQkm4kUtNgT7peajhNXAUCRcMzjyJV_B9AB8VzsNerLFZ22fl_lDZ3R-juinmd_d3VnEoqdadXG6wnyEJ0Acmrj98eNfm29xdgk1-fqCXTV6Kp_rddxBhN7Hqd7vhRfSYn/s640/IMG_4410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Here's some of the ensuing mess:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG9zDVzWL1UDdZyD03gtoWyDL8NGf-tM-NMgvZAliwCR6DFcG9THloU5yw5p1StUJqnMk6V8FW5fYsx0oU1eVeW0E4HXxKOa7wwB9lGUegc8UB5Hn6MYoA8b09VfBfX85NsvG9wvbnEVv/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG9zDVzWL1UDdZyD03gtoWyDL8NGf-tM-NMgvZAliwCR6DFcG9THloU5yw5p1StUJqnMk6V8FW5fYsx0oU1eVeW0E4HXxKOa7wwB9lGUegc8UB5Hn6MYoA8b09VfBfX85NsvG9wvbnEVv/s640/IMG_4412.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After I had scraped as much as I could stand, I began the <strike>annoying</strike> fun process of sanding. Sandpaper was something I forgot to pick up at the hardware store, so I was stuck with my 150 grit. Pretty sure from the scratches I was leaving that was way too rough. Next time I'll remember to pick up some finer stuff (along with a sander perhaps to make my life easier).<br /><br />After sanding, I went ahead and patched up all of the dents/holes/missing chunks I could find using lightweight spackle...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fj4FjYE_nHAlyx6EQNrq4nOBXimbUS8_LVMNrEmA39-NvBCTRkZz0AMC4Y-ndRBO-YFOtWe4Ys8FcMDagPM_uZWWgwek2aFQBOT5YM0fxYJ4lR340VhaaeVz4tFAZge28bH0Czy7wRVW/s1600/IMG_4413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fj4FjYE_nHAlyx6EQNrq4nOBXimbUS8_LVMNrEmA39-NvBCTRkZz0AMC4Y-ndRBO-YFOtWe4Ys8FcMDagPM_uZWWgwek2aFQBOT5YM0fxYJ4lR340VhaaeVz4tFAZge28bH0Czy7wRVW/s640/IMG_4413.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Probably not the ideal stuff to use on wood, but I purchased some wood putty only to read the instructions which said "this putty does not dry and can not be sanded"... great, what good is it then? I don't know. But my spackle worked just fine.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y9Sbo-hfYT7fy8G5h6V3O1q4g-2UKxQZ1VFdIeI2wlsXws4VJLX-T1j4ri18ZS9chcFjOANZp1TuH7vrEG_wj4SnPX2UJeXQXeUEBOi1rLWuoUy6tSkfCGQdWbe9KUjf9Bsfz74i1n3B/s1600/IMG_4416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y9Sbo-hfYT7fy8G5h6V3O1q4g-2UKxQZ1VFdIeI2wlsXws4VJLX-T1j4ri18ZS9chcFjOANZp1TuH7vrEG_wj4SnPX2UJeXQXeUEBOi1rLWuoUy6tSkfCGQdWbe9KUjf9Bsfz74i1n3B/s640/IMG_4416.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwYG380YkH388xZNWVqVgSTjt8BNy77t5u4URDaZJCt-z3ITyj4qWAIBRmc-2pNNtvuOr0b1wuk0PdPTnpKkoFB775DZbK8WTsZK9EqMNIOb2jW87rh9zTwfbrRQDB62g4WLwauvpw_xL/s1600/IMG_4418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwYG380YkH388xZNWVqVgSTjt8BNy77t5u4URDaZJCt-z3ITyj4qWAIBRmc-2pNNtvuOr0b1wuk0PdPTnpKkoFB775DZbK8WTsZK9EqMNIOb2jW87rh9zTwfbrRQDB62g4WLwauvpw_xL/s640/IMG_4418.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After allowing it to dry, I did one more light sanding, then wiped the surface down with paint thinner to clear any dust and debris.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvfZ1tVN97nqfSZ_ldsM9axjGLIOJCTPvOBQjj6na8P6Llk7qZw-f5jW1PGyC2TJ_xExhhq05LOpM3DCtUQUGumHoVdU1-KBUf5kvF355W79kLRYnDHWsfiL7VsVFO7ch9EypxKt-gNGC/s1600/IMG_4420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvfZ1tVN97nqfSZ_ldsM9axjGLIOJCTPvOBQjj6na8P6Llk7qZw-f5jW1PGyC2TJ_xExhhq05LOpM3DCtUQUGumHoVdU1-KBUf5kvF355W79kLRYnDHWsfiL7VsVFO7ch9EypxKt-gNGC/s640/IMG_4420.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Then came the fun part: prime & paint!<br /><br />I used a can of Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra cover 2x Primer. After the can was empty, I had this...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ7JG-4hYcjXANCdM-SFqdDR0ny0fmWQg_fhkAjgam-5FIt2wQASlAXf78zy_BAWVZvW9Qb23g6apE26h-4Vx0OkC1SpIrYcvAGVNrbWGJQK5-r6SnG7JKQCj4nexpvtMFVdtYjUNTEE_/s1600/IMG_4424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ7JG-4hYcjXANCdM-SFqdDR0ny0fmWQg_fhkAjgam-5FIt2wQASlAXf78zy_BAWVZvW9Qb23g6apE26h-4Vx0OkC1SpIrYcvAGVNrbWGJQK5-r6SnG7JKQCj4nexpvtMFVdtYjUNTEE_/s640/IMG_4424.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><br />Didn't quite cover all the way. I foolishly believed their claim that "1 can = the coverage of 2". Trust me, they lie. Then I became concerned that the two cans of paint I purchased wouldn't be enough to thoroughly cover the dresser.<br /><br />My suspicions were confirmed, and it was back to the hardware store. This time I played it safe and bought three cans, and I went with a different paint because I wasn't fond of the way the Painter's Touch would randomly spit and splatter the paint out. Not cool Rustoleum.<br /><br />So I instead got this, which I remembered seeing Kate (Censational girl) using often:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://risdpedia.net/images/thumb/5/5b/Rust-Oleum_Gloss_Protective_Enamel_2.jpg/150px-Rust-Oleum_Gloss_Protective_Enamel_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://risdpedia.net/images/thumb/5/5b/Rust-Oleum_Gloss_Protective_Enamel_2.jpg/150px-Rust-Oleum_Gloss_Protective_Enamel_2.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No splattering from this can, whew. I ended up using another 1.5 cans to fully cover. I noticed that this new paint was actually glossy, while the first really wasn't, which left an undesirable spotty effect on the finish. I tried to capture it in the light here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MZZXX_BeUskrKfhQ44uw7i0QcW0JRZaWrWkfeh9y2FGUYCh0MDl3IOIu2NOvJfEXBh_05feF4VnC2H29UYhH7oWVbzDjxL2SwZblKBGoOw8dFOhBtjXVYym1FSyJmEL3aeRvS2PcwPqs/s1600/IMG_4427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MZZXX_BeUskrKfhQ44uw7i0QcW0JRZaWrWkfeh9y2FGUYCh0MDl3IOIu2NOvJfEXBh_05feF4VnC2H29UYhH7oWVbzDjxL2SwZblKBGoOw8dFOhBtjXVYym1FSyJmEL3aeRvS2PcwPqs/s640/IMG_4427.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See the spotty area where it looks like part of it's still wet and part is dry in the right corner? Yeah, no bueno. So I gave it one last coat of paint and hoped for the best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While it was drying, I gave the hardware a coat of my favorite stuff in a bottle <em>(aside from three olives bubble gum vodka),</em> Krylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IIaDL7c9rqUeVlV0hlEEeP4OucZegMmyStBuEsBjoBuZ0OqEBdBltOSQeV962ZM6NZXVe3NsbH5Y7RdGPtgNeBsWZXuj1SPsVoStKbgEl62syiyG7SnWOoyWF763qBcQl-ns4iQuHL_B/s1600/IMG_4425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="624" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IIaDL7c9rqUeVlV0hlEEeP4OucZegMmyStBuEsBjoBuZ0OqEBdBltOSQeV962ZM6NZXVe3NsbH5Y7RdGPtgNeBsWZXuj1SPsVoStKbgEl62syiyG7SnWOoyWF763qBcQl-ns4iQuHL_B/s640/IMG_4425.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I couldn't help but notice how much smoother and effortlessly this paint went on compared to the Rustoleum. This is the only experience I have with the two brands, but seriously, this Krylon is miles above both of the Rustoleum brands I used. Just my observations.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anyway, I finally had everything dry and ready for the next step: lining the drawers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGooJli_eu99oi4Wq0ncNLdkr9ermayjEBOTvSw9pw-tl3fRrO8VKq4knvusc6dud4Y-7Nf58-zX96QH2NNWoKjnLSDUfCorEoR9FpV0-wB_3f9HcUSLiz6dN3UXL4R83jYZ_or0xp4Fo7/s1600/IMG_4426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGooJli_eu99oi4Wq0ncNLdkr9ermayjEBOTvSw9pw-tl3fRrO8VKq4knvusc6dud4Y-7Nf58-zX96QH2NNWoKjnLSDUfCorEoR9FpV0-wB_3f9HcUSLiz6dN3UXL4R83jYZ_or0xp4Fo7/s640/IMG_4426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was originally looking for some wrapping paper to modge podge, but after no luck finding any that I liked at Michaels, CVS and Walmart, I found some contact paper for a few bucks at Walmart in fun lime green stripes that I thought would make a nice alternative:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscFlpJKbm0JVkPPmlKjQ_ToiakCJGcpJFJzXRf2KqscghsUQQ5PS37zCQR3_8Xl7uDjuVZsQ_DFGJvJq7HORcZqrjZ-CPCa2eNMJMqw8IGgBFG94LmCnboFnEUT7vCOh58cw96SjUIuCT/s1600/IMG_4428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscFlpJKbm0JVkPPmlKjQ_ToiakCJGcpJFJzXRf2KqscghsUQQ5PS37zCQR3_8Xl7uDjuVZsQ_DFGJvJq7HORcZqrjZ-CPCa2eNMJMqw8IGgBFG94LmCnboFnEUT7vCOh58cw96SjUIuCT/s640/IMG_4428.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I measured the drawers, then cut using an Xacto knife (this stuff slices like butter)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXGrplht5wAXZwg75YapsFPpOQt9-BO3SEqTdNUNpt_V7lD-mJE3cFo_A4s5H1sAPPPu9I8kLm7qKqAuy4_QntLyR0sYp-U3QcqfLCRlJ_Z_Mcmpy3hzd02FtF1OuxPaT3fahdom9OPEo/s1600/IMG_4429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXGrplht5wAXZwg75YapsFPpOQt9-BO3SEqTdNUNpt_V7lD-mJE3cFo_A4s5H1sAPPPu9I8kLm7qKqAuy4_QntLyR0sYp-U3QcqfLCRlJ_Z_Mcmpy3hzd02FtF1OuxPaT3fahdom9OPEo/s640/IMG_4429.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><br />Once cut to size, I removed the entire backing off and positioned it until it lined up perfectly.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKW1XygoxjTUacXfxo0DKMUIpOcBkIhyCVzQDyeqr-vz51avD2F7XeQ_LUEDAfq075plrt3dnSHnqusX7M5Nr56f2BZiBNUJlJvNprG9-A516RijxgI6lixc27QF5_Z378txcgHorFenP/s1600/IMG_4432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKW1XygoxjTUacXfxo0DKMUIpOcBkIhyCVzQDyeqr-vz51avD2F7XeQ_LUEDAfq075plrt3dnSHnqusX7M5Nr56f2BZiBNUJlJvNprG9-A516RijxgI6lixc27QF5_Z378txcgHorFenP/s640/IMG_4432.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />What's great about this paper is that the backside is only slightly tacky, so you can move it around as much as you'd like without risking any wrinkles or rips. And it's not as thin and paper-like as wrapping paper, so it's harder to crease. <br /><br />Once in place, I lifted the corners of just the areas that needed it and applied modge podge.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOd5pT4HlcVU108klDXe-SL9YNxl-OKV1neCD_sVA8cHUXzQs9k9pp1KFZU6Re0eLszNSOHk9fB5sNDWrQvo1QNXMeQGiNGQvfVdx3mqPEqPChhXfAI8tQowVgUaJZfRGI4msES-wol1oY/s1600/IMG_4430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOd5pT4HlcVU108klDXe-SL9YNxl-OKV1neCD_sVA8cHUXzQs9k9pp1KFZU6Re0eLszNSOHk9fB5sNDWrQvo1QNXMeQGiNGQvfVdx3mqPEqPChhXfAI8tQowVgUaJZfRGI4msES-wol1oY/s640/IMG_4430.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />That was all it needed and it was in place. Very pleased at how it turned out and I'm so glad I found it instead of using the wrapping paper. And I can easily remove it and switch it out later on if I wanted to change it. <br /><br />Behold, a finished drawer:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFKHspR2bSVQcEk1jupykfUuCVgVR-5TFU26ZzdtPUjT5C3jLISi3f4G1HGZzUSxi3Bq7cqF6fyYFDlu_idITMw3DYbpVctlsZJkn10o09HIUCai7k8m0aFjYhyphenhyphenfg6aKplFCA-x1zeO3O/s1600/IMG_4442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFKHspR2bSVQcEk1jupykfUuCVgVR-5TFU26ZzdtPUjT5C3jLISi3f4G1HGZzUSxi3Bq7cqF6fyYFDlu_idITMw3DYbpVctlsZJkn10o09HIUCai7k8m0aFjYhyphenhyphenfg6aKplFCA-x1zeO3O/s640/IMG_4442.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Finally, it was time for the handles to be reattached:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWMK9m45WAJUp_B0N4HY9-NlkqM-pueYBtb2eQGKe5Aul9hmBfovuFff5puZvIFtZBonyXa5E8F-n0B1gHjOa4Le2AZkZ2bzvpVezUPcKVG8DbLUeW7qDWnX67JIr_YssBU8VCos4ngTm/s1600/IMG_4443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWMK9m45WAJUp_B0N4HY9-NlkqM-pueYBtb2eQGKe5Aul9hmBfovuFff5puZvIFtZBonyXa5E8F-n0B1gHjOa4Le2AZkZ2bzvpVezUPcKVG8DbLUeW7qDWnX67JIr_YssBU8VCos4ngTm/s640/IMG_4443.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And here it is, in its new home:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsh7WF2fvxtTeUbtoJzQFaMNwTTsfuqH9Ssn4RP0KnIfItL5-r6dBJU5bn1chlVBDc_56IunLlZG93G3kHm40LBtFqMKiCqqOYOsRYDwaGwcvyEsee9e2CyPX7jCZ24hzNyvP2ctKjd3D/s1600/IMG_4451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsh7WF2fvxtTeUbtoJzQFaMNwTTsfuqH9Ssn4RP0KnIfItL5-r6dBJU5bn1chlVBDc_56IunLlZG93G3kHm40LBtFqMKiCqqOYOsRYDwaGwcvyEsee9e2CyPX7jCZ24hzNyvP2ctKjd3D/s640/IMG_4451.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLDocNXHzByfj1sOZQUGxb9C2FQZKBEbWuH4OdgYfN5r35ztNr6m_oQQvs-m6D9UHO_Ecma4wjidXovEm6x-dUdXrdibVBfnU3altk5pBgBDgH1dWygFNOJgt1OXnVzm0IudnLxAs8Mg/s1600/IMG_4455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLDocNXHzByfj1sOZQUGxb9C2FQZKBEbWuH4OdgYfN5r35ztNr6m_oQQvs-m6D9UHO_Ecma4wjidXovEm6x-dUdXrdibVBfnU3altk5pBgBDgH1dWygFNOJgt1OXnVzm0IudnLxAs8Mg/s640/IMG_4455.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The top area will be a cutting & weighing station, and the inside is filled with all my packing materials.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIqfDNU4UERERrLrVr1FW3yZIN77fCrWiQdeVMgX1I9vxLJp2emI70KOiFo6awHP_DJokzlp_PONsP6b43l0GMYdFcWY8ajNmGPfF07GKE7FQrZPFfGi2kxYkwnIPg2vHDQ61CUU5zZqV/s1600/IMG_4452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIqfDNU4UERERrLrVr1FW3yZIN77fCrWiQdeVMgX1I9vxLJp2emI70KOiFo6awHP_DJokzlp_PONsP6b43l0GMYdFcWY8ajNmGPfF07GKE7FQrZPFfGi2kxYkwnIPg2vHDQ61CUU5zZqV/s640/IMG_4452.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuuA4rtZ1IfKj4cpqnDQky-b1ZiZXi4a0sUQd6bf8k4aLn10UTom68DM_JXKSTpn76VVNiIlV30PZEY5W0qgn7SIiiTdzyv3F1gaV-HiuFXgeEgu7UhHy_DuplX44EbvaSuvb5Dqkt28e/s1600/IMG_4453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuuA4rtZ1IfKj4cpqnDQky-b1ZiZXi4a0sUQd6bf8k4aLn10UTom68DM_JXKSTpn76VVNiIlV30PZEY5W0qgn7SIiiTdzyv3F1gaV-HiuFXgeEgu7UhHy_DuplX44EbvaSuvb5Dqkt28e/s640/IMG_4453.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><br />All in all, I am pleased with the results, and that I accomplished it all on my own in a weekend with a limited budget (and a miserable head cold). I'm glad I finally got my feet wet with this whole refinishing thing, but for my next project, I'll definitely be using regular oil based paint out of a can. And making sure to take the time to do a proper sanding and priming. The craigslist hunt begins again for the perfect pedastal dining table to makeover :)<br /><br />Oh, and I hate to say it but I wasn't able to fit all of my packing supplies into the dresser... so I will also be doing away with the existing wire shelves and making some nice built in wood shelves. Brad has opted out of helping me on this one {insert sad face here}, so we'll see how I manage. <br /><br />Hopefully back next week in the middle of some more good projects!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmxgUgNFdK2q_3xRi6F9YaLO9AXZg9yvj2qynYjJEUlSn7zC5YvsyUqXGRbjqi6tCguzslHRwnmXEehoPKVTf3DKXmAkU6jZzyGyDbCzar-6EKzyS-iooaGiOqxFguPDYljKSlEKwlPBh/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmxgUgNFdK2q_3xRi6F9YaLO9AXZg9yvj2qynYjJEUlSn7zC5YvsyUqXGRbjqi6tCguzslHRwnmXEehoPKVTf3DKXmAkU6jZzyGyDbCzar-6EKzyS-iooaGiOqxFguPDYljKSlEKwlPBh/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>psst... this post has been linked to <a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/">the DIY Showoff! </a> </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ydn4kd0aaEY/SvO1EQ53tuI/AAAAAAAABt0/h5tFf_uXQiY/S990-R/DIY+Blog+button.jpg" width="168" /></div>

Dresser Makeover: Before & After

So, my office has been looking like this for the past couple weeks: Not a good look, and I was getting sick of it. I had decided that I need...

Read more »