Furniture – Jenna Burger Design LLC – Interior Design & Architectural Consulting

China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

Written by Jenna on October 23, 2014. Posted in DIY, Furniture, Paint, Paint Techniques, Paint Tools. 6 Comments on China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

It’s done! What a journey it’s been for this china cabinet.

Upon finding this diamond-in-the-rough on Craigslist and rescuing it from a dilapidated garage that housed chickens, roosters, and a few other unknown animals (I was afraid to even look around), the once trash-bound cabinet now sits beautifully in my dining room with a vibrant new color & a complete designer makeover…

It has been quite the task of getting her to this point, but she’s complete!

We can’t appreciate the ‘after’ without looking at the ‘before’. Remember what she looked like a few short weeks ago…

>>> read more on The Backstory + Choosing a Color <<<

Like I said, it’s been quite a journey. Let’s reminisce…

I was psyched to bring her home. Once she landed in our garage, I started the prep work by removing all the hardware, the doors, and the shelves.

I cleaned her up a bit + lightly sanded all the surfaces.

>>> read more on Prep + Sanding Wood Furniture <<<

Once all the surfaces were ready, it was time to prime! As I’ve shared over & over, priming is SO IMPORTANT. The purpose of paint is to provide color, but the purpose of primer is to provide the ideal base for the paint to be applied. The paint + primer in one is fine for walls, but a true primer like Glidden Gripper (which is what I used) will block the stain from bleeding through and will provide the needed base for the paint to adhere! If you’re painting furniture, YOU MUST USE PRIMER.

>>> read more on Why & How-To Prime Wood Furniture <<<

After the key step of priming all the surfaces, it was time to PAINT! Finally, right?! I chose the color Red Red Rose by Glidden using the Glidden’s new simplified color palette.This is a real wow-factor color and even before finding the china cabinet, I knew this rosy, raspberry hue would be perfection. Typically I have the piece before choosing the color, but not in this case. The other hues + layers in the dining space are fairly minimal and neutral, so I knew a focal point piece that would be the eye-catcher of the room would make a real impact. It’s all about the contrast and the balance between neutrals and bolds.

The process of painting this beauty was laborious, but O So Worth the time + effort!

>>> read more on How-To Paint Wood Furniture <<<

Once the china cabinet was painted & sealed, I wanted to add a few fun, unexpected details. I chose to add self-adhesive, contact paper to the back of the cabinet interior which provided a beautiful backdrop for all my dishes, platters, and china.

When I couldn’t find the exact hardware I had envisioned, I DIYed it to create exactly what I wanted at a fraction of the cost.

Once the ~~jewels~~ hardware was set, it was time to style this gorgeous gal!

It’s now all filled up with our collected plates, glasses, and platters… Believe me, not one new thing was bought for this revamped beauty.

>>> read more on the Details + Hardware + Styling <<<

a recap of the process…

And then she was complete!

The ‘after’…

Let’s compare one more time…

What do you think? Pretty major change, right?!

Thank you so much for following along on this Tale of a China Cabinet Makeover! I’ve received countless emails, comments, and messages on how the multiple posts and step-by-step breakdown of the process has been an inspiration. From your notes, it sounds like many of you have had the urge to paint that piece of furniture but either didn’t know how, weren’t sure of the process, or didn’t have the inspiration needed to get started. I hope I’ve pushed you enough to make the move!

Here are the many posts related to this before and after
Backstory + Choosing a Color
Prepping & Sanding Wood Furniture
Why & How to Prime Wood Furniture
Tips + Tricks to Painting Wood Furniture
Accessories, Details, & Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

This post is sponsored by Glidden paint, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I am so excited about this project & was thrilled to partner with Glidden paint on this furniture makeover.

Details + Hardware + Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}

Written by Jenna on October 15, 2014. Posted in Accessories, DIY, Do-It-Yourself, Furniture, Styling. 10 Comments on Details + Hardware + Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}

Yes, the paint color is unexpected, but adding a few other unique details to the china cabinet makeover has really made it a one-of-a-kind, perfect piece (in my eyes).

Last week I finished the most tedious part of the makeover which was painting the cabinet. It took a few days and lots of patience, but the effort was absolutely worth the result in my book! Once the cabinet was complete and dry, I started styling the interior. After living with it for a few days (and sharing a peak on IG), I knew it needed something. I loved the overall dramatic color, but I did want to pare it down a bit and decided to add a special something to the back + this bad boy needed some hardware! Take a look…

Most of my china dishes and platters are plain white (with simple detailing on the edges) so I thought sitting against a dark background they’d look great. Unfortunately though, the interior seemed kind of cavernous, so bringing in something lighter for the back of the cabinet made sense. I found this pretty patterned contact paper and thought it would be the ideal addition to lighten and brighten the cabinet.

Details.

This is a similar project/process to when I added the geometric contact paper to my media cabinet…

After finding the center of the cabinet, I started off by adding the contact paper at the top edge. I then slowly peeled off the backing, section by section, and adhered the paper to the cabinet back while pushing out the air bubbles with my hand.

I also made sure it was vertically plumb so it was hung straight.

Once I was towards the bottom, I left about an 1-2″ extra and cut the contact paper with scissors. I followed that by using a straight edge blade and trimmed the paper so it fit perfectly at the bottom. I also did the same at the top…

Once the center panel was done, I added the self-adhesive paper to the other two sides. In the end, just being honest, there were a few air bubbles that I could not get out. O well, it’s not perfect… The dishes and layered accessories will hide those messy spots.

Once that was complete, I was able to accessorize! But before that, I want to show you what I did with the hardware.

Hardware.

Remember at the beginning of this project I wasn’t sure what to do with the hardware… go with new or use what was original? Well I decided on new. Why? 2 reasons. (1) Some of the hardware was missing – good reason for new, right? (2) I really wanted this piece to be a mix of old and new. I adore the traditional lines of this cabinet (old), yet the color and the added details are more modern (new)… thus my style, Classic Eclectic!

For the hardware, I wanted a bit bling-bling, but on a budget. On one of my daily trips to Lowe’s, I found these beautiful octagonal shaped knobs. I really wanted a brass finish, but they didn’t have them, but for $3 +/- a knob, I couldn’t leave them. So I painted them…

Using brass paint (liquid brass gilding, to be exact) that I had from another project, I painted them using a small brush. It dried within minutes and this unique detail was added to the cabinet.

Check out the before and after of the hardware…

As I shared in the first post [prepping & sanding], I removed the existing hardware before getting started on the makeover. To hide the holes that were on the door fronts, I used wood filler and then sanded once it was dry. The holes that are on the sections that look like drawers, but really aren’t, remained and that is where the new knobs were installed.

What a change, right?!

Styling.

The last part of the makeover was beautifying it with all my stuff… my treasures! Instead of showcasing my china + bowls + glasses the traditional way – by the set (plate/dish/bowl/cup) – I went for a more casual, non-symmetrical route of stacking the plates and dishes, and ‘displaying’ the glasses in groups. This allowed me to maximize the space provided, plus achieve a simpler, less tailored look.

When I started the styling process, I began with the large stack of dinner plates and because they were the heaviest (physically and visually), I put those on the bottom shelf. Then on the middle shelf on the other side, I added in some other random larger + smaller plates and stacked a few glass bowls on top. After adding in some wine glasses (groups of 3 or 6 looked best) on the each side , I stepped back and it looked like this…

I then added in some more pieces to balance out what I had started with. Basically, the plates and glasses are mixed together on each side. Neither side is weighted with only plates and/or only glasses.

Achieving balance is key to successful styling or a successful visual vignette!

I saved the center section of the top cabinet for serving pieces, platters, and bowls. I centered some of the elements, which gives a traditional feel, but other elements are off-center which brings a casual, organic feel.

After adding, editing, moving, and contemplating, it was finished. Styling can be a little tricky, but go with what feels/looks right.

For those not-so-pretty pieces or one-offs, I stored them in the closed section below. I love space with doors… perfect for the not-to-seen decor.

Confession time… I tried getting a picture of the overall styled cabinet, but it was impossible without capturing the reflection as well. I’m not the best photographer, but I try 🙂

I adore how the dining space is coming together and looks so beautiful for Fall…

What a transformation, right?! Now that the cabinet is styled, it’s 99% complete. The next post on this china cabinet makeover will be the reveal – yay! Coming Soon…

Follow along on this makeover with these other posts
Backstory + Choosing a Color
Prepping & Sanding Wood Furniture
Why & How to Prime Wood Furniture
Tips + Tricks to Painting Wood Furniture
Accessories, Details, & Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}

Coming up (still to do)
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

How-To Paint Wood Furniture

Written by Jenna on October 9, 2014. Posted in DIY, Furniture, Paint, Paint Techniques, Paint Tools. 36 Comments on How-To Paint Wood Furniture

Prep is done.

Sanding is complete. >>> [tutorial here]

Priming is finished. >>> [tutorial here]

Now on to the painting. This was definitely the longest + most tedious part of the makeover, but absolutely the most important step to focus on. With all the work that has gone in to prepping this cabinet, or any piece of furniture for that matter, painting it right really makes all the difference in the world to achieve a nice looking end product.

This post is completely dedicated to sharing the steps I took + tips & tricks on how-to successfully paint wood furniture.

As I’ve explained and stressed in the previous two posts, the prep work + priming is very important before paint is applied. To achieve a successful end result, a primer is a must. For this project, I used Glidden Gripper primer (a picture of it + more details can be found in the last post). Once the primer is dry, which typically takes little time (about a day), painting can begin.

Before Painting.

The Magic Formula. One of my secrets for painting wood furniture is to use floetrol (<- affiliate link). With all furniture painting projects, I always add my favorite â€œformulaâ€ to eliminate brushstrokes. It works like a charm to achieve a clean, brushstroke-free surface! (And I wasnâ€™t even paid to say that â€“ I truly just love it ;)

The Brush. The brush used for painting really does make a difference. I always use Purdy brushes because they truly make for an easier, better painting result. Yes they are expensive, but it’s worth the cost. Most of the time I use a new brush when starting a project. (Again, I wasn’t paid to say that)

The Color.

The paint color I chose for this cabinet makeover is Red Red Rose by Glidden.

How-To Paint Wood Furniture.

When painting furniture, like this china cabinet, I started on one side of the base cabinet and continued across to the other side while working in small sections. I always continually look at what was just painted to check for drips, which you want to avoid as much as possible!

Typically I will add paint to the overall surface and then go back to smooth it out so all the strokes are in one direction (usually you want to follow the grain of the wood, but it’s not a must since with paint you don’t see the grain).

Even if you try to avoid them, drips are normal. To deal with those nasty, inevitable paint drips, I sand them off once they are completely dry. Using an orbital sander is easiest, but sanding the spot by hand also works. If you catch the drip before it’s dry, then go over it with your paint brush to smooth it out.

I didn’t take a picture of me sanding that drip, but here is one from another section of the cabinet…

Once the paint was dry, I lightly went over the drip to smooth out the section of cabinet.

Another issue I encountered which I didn’t like was the result of the buffet top once the first coat of paint was on. I guess when I added the primer, I didn’t continue my brush stroke from on side to the other, so the top surface looked bumpy. Once the first coat of paint was dry, I lightly sanded the surface. This left the top very smooth and ready for coat #2.

Coat #2

In all the top got about 3-4 coats. All the other areas of the cabinet got 3 coats. Because of the intense color 2 coats wasn’t enough.

Here are some more outtakes while painting…

The cabinet fronts.

The cabinet top.

The base cabinet after one coat.

I will tell you, painting the cabinet took a good 3 solid days of off and on work. It was tiring, but well worth it in the end. Most of the painting took place at night after the kiddos went to bed which is why the coloring of the cabinet in the pictures looks a bit off.

Here’s a peak at what was my crazy life for a few days. Just keeping it real…

Once every surface, nook, and cranny were done, it was time to add a coat of polyurethane.

Applying polyurethane is similar to primer… a little goes a long way. It’s also a lot thinner than paint, so it can easily run creating those annoying drips. Applying a light coat and fanning it over the surface is best. It goes on as a white milky liquid, but as you work it into the surface it will be come clear. And of course it dries clear.

For this cabinet, I used a semi-gloss polyurethane.

And then it was done.

Well almost. The painting is complete, but there are still some details that I need to work on, like the hardware and another secret surprise.

But back to the painting result, here are a few closeups…

You see that one piece of hardware on there? I couldn’t resist giving you a peak at what it will look like once it’s all done.

Next up… styling this pretty gal. Here’s a peak at the start of the process…

Let’s rewind and take a look at where I started and the progress I’ve made.

Not too shabby. More to come. Stay tuned.

Check out the >>> FINAL REVEAL

Why + How to Prime Wood Furniture

Written by Jenna on October 1, 2014. Posted in DIY, Furniture, Paint, Paint Techniques, Paint Tools. 5 Comments on Why + How to Prime Wood Furniture

It’s been a busy few days around my neck of the woods. With revamping the china cabinet + another BIG project coming down the pipeline (which I can’t wait to share details about), I haven’t had 5 minutes to sit. No worries though, I’ll sit when I’m old, ha.

So my last post was all about the beginning steps of prepping & sanding a piece of wood furniture. The next step, which is what this post is dedicated to, is priming. Primer is SO important! I can not stress enough that primer is a must when painting something. anything. YOU NEED PRIMER.

Why Prime.

Whether a room or a piece of furniture, paint is truly one of the easiest & most affordable ways to update and/or change the look of something. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a wall or a surface. I read once, “Donâ€™t expect paint to do a primerâ€™s job”. The purpose of paint is to provide color, but the purpose of primer is to provide the ideal base for the paint to be applied. Without, the result can fall short.

What does Primer Do?

> Blocks Stain Primers are made to block the natural pigments (tannin) of the wood and/or original stain from bleeding through the new paint.

> Hides Color Priming the surface before painting hides / blocks the previous color from showing through. Using a primer will also sometimes eliminate the need for multiple coats (cost savings!)

> Seals the surface Priming before painting seals the surface so the paint doesn’t get soaked in. The prime provides the perfect base for the paint to be applied. Primer also provides the ideal surface for paint to adhere to. Typically with a stained piece of furniture, like my china cabinet, the original surface is glossy which paint wouldn’t adhere to. Adding a primer to a glossy surface will give the provide the ideal underlayment for a beautiful new color. This same technique can be used for tile, glass, vinyl siding, and aluminum – all slick surfaces that wouldn’t be paintable without primer!

Do you recall when I was painting my laminate bookcase? I failed to prime a spot and the paint just bubbled and didn’t stick to the surface. Here’s a picture…

> Lasting Result Without primer, paint could easily chip or scrape off very easily + quickly. Using one (thin) coat of primer + two (typically, maybe more) coats of paint you should have a long lasting, durable result!

The Right Primer.

There are many primers on the market and the decision on the right one for the job can be tricky. When painting over furniture, you want to choose a primer that indicates on the can that it will block the stain and seal the surface. The primer that I chose for this china cabinet makeover was Glidden Gripper because it truly grips to the surface and seals the stain from coming through. It also created the perfect base for the new WILD color I chose.

Applying Primer.

a how-to tutorial on applying primer. Its so easy…

Note: This is the most important tip I can share about priming (told to me by someone – a pro – in the painting world), primer does not need to be applied like paint. A thin coat of primer is fine and actually better than “globbing” it on. Primer does not need to fully cover the surface underneath, meaning you can still have wood showing through. As long as the surface area has a thin coat (one coat), you are set to paint!

When painting a piece of furniture, I always start at one end and make my way across. Why? Paint dries fairly fast and to avoid drips + brush strokes, it’s important to work in small sections and apply thin coats.

Typically I apply the paint to the surface. Then spread it out. Then go back over it with my brush, using light stokes and following the wood grain.

When painting furniture, the piece is typically vertical, so paint could drip. Around the detailed edges and ornate areas, the less paint the better to avoid paint from dripping. And once an area is done, always continue to look back to make sure paint isn’t seeping down.

For this china cabinet, there were 3 doors, which I removed and are painting laying down. It’s much easier to paint + drips don’t occur as much.

For this piece, it took me about 40 minutes to prime. To me, it’s very relaxing. This is the result…

That’s a wrap… for now.

She’s ready for paint!

Want a peak? Here you go…

I’m off to paint some more…

Coming up (still to do)
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

China Cabinet Makeover: Prepping + Sanding Wood Furniture {Step 1}

Written by Jenna on September 29, 2014. Posted in DIY, Furniture, Paint, Paint Techniques, Paint Tools. 6 Comments on China Cabinet Makeover: Prepping + Sanding Wood Furniture {Step 1}

Last week I shared the latest + greatest project that I’m throwing myself into. Since the baby arrived, I kind of lost my DIY mojo, but this project has me back! I can not express how excited I am about this project because I’ve been thinking about it for so long. Have you ever had a moment like that when you are thinking about something so much, but are unsure of how all the details could possibly come together? Well that was me with this project… I knew exactly the cabinet I wanted, I knew the color I wanted it to be, but no cabinet. UNTIL, I found her.

Somehow, someway the stars were aligned and last week she came home! To be specific, my husband and I went to the seller’s home (it’s a must to always go with someone on a Craigslist excursion!) and thankfully he had a pickup, so for $20 extra he delivered it to our house. Lesson learned? It never hurts to ask. We don’t have a pickup and would have had to rent one. This was much easier!

Thinking back, I haven’t tackled a large-scale furniture makeover project like this since the painting of the laminate bookcases and that was a LONG time ago. Whether large or small though, the steps for painting a piece of furniture are typically the same and that’s what I am dedicating my next few posts to… rehabbing a piece of furniture to achieve a dynamic result.

First up, details on how to begin the process of paint a piece of furniture including how-to prep + how-to sand.

The china cabinet was in a pretty sad place before landing in my garage. It was dusty and had lots of grime in the corners, so a good ole’ cleaning was a must!

1. First up… the hardware. I removed all the hardware using a screwdriver and am still on the fence about reusing or replacing the existing pieces. Some of the hardware (knobs) were missing, so I’m not sure what I will do. – TBD –

2. Once the hardware was removed, I used a vacuum to clean all the nooks + crannies of the cabinet. Not only was it dusty, but it was dirty.

Then following that, I used a dampened rag and went over all the surfaces. It was amazing the grime that came off this piece!

3. After taking a few minutes to clean the surface, it was time for sanding.

Using my orbital sander (it really is the best tool for sanding large areas – I use it SO MUCH) I went over the areas that I could. The orbital sander is somewhat large so it worked great for the larger flat surfaces like the top, sides, and doors. For the more detailed, intricate areas, I used a piece of sandpaper (by hand). The very detailed areas I just left (without sanding) and will be using a primer that ‘grips’ to the surface so the paint will adhere. The gripper paint I will be using (more on that in an upcoming post) actually says no sanding is needed, but I like to give a quick sanding for better adhesion. If I were staining this piece, I would have needed to go down to the original surface. Since I am painting it though, a quick sanding (+ a good primer) is all that is needed.

sanding, sanding, sanding…

When sanding wood, it’s important that you do not put too much pressure on the wood surface. I started with a 120 grit paper and then used a 220 grit paper for a smoother finish. A light sanding is just enough and always continue to rotate and move the sander so you are not concentrating on one section for a long time.

Sections of the china cabinet where I could not use the orbital sander, I sanded by hand. Areas like the buffet top and the legs were very worn (natural wear + tear) and needed to be smoothed out.

4. Sanding took about 10-15 minutes and then I cleaned all the surfaces again. Lastly before painting this girl of mine, I taped off the glass. Using painters tape, I taped off the edge where the wood meets the glass. This will make painting much easier!

And that’s it. For now!

This china cabinet is still in transition mode from blah to pretty. Next up? Primer, which is the key to a good paint job. Stay tuned for my next post on Why & How to Prime Wood Furniture.

Coming up (still to do)
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

China Cabinet Makeover: Backstory + Choosing a Color

Written by Jenna on September 25, 2014. Posted in DIY, Furniture, Paint, Paint Techniques, Paint Tools. 7 Comments on China Cabinet Makeover: Backstory + Choosing a Color

In the past 2 days, a project that I’ve been dreaming about for months has magically come to fruition! Somehow the stars aligned and I’m freaking excited about this one…

So a long while back, about 5-6 months ago to be specific, I had the itch to spice up the dining room. At the time, I was in the last weeks of my pregnancy so no real action could take place, but I had lots & lots of thoughts brewing in my brain. My mind immediately went to changing everything, but I decided to start off slow (truly the best way to makeover a space). First up, the bench. I snagged a gorgeous navy Ikat patterned fabric earlier in the year and the bench at our dining table was reupholstered. Next up, the end chairs. I ditched the leather matchy-matchy chairs and scored a new wicker style from Target. They’re actually outdoor seats and perfect for a family with a load of kids – yes, that’s us now. Here’s a recent shot…

What’s next?

The buffet.

We’ve had our current buffet for years (here’s a peak from last years Christmas spread) and remember how I mentioned recently that sometimes it’s difficult for the Mister to let go of things (to sell or to update), well this is one of those pieces. After some thought, we both agreed the buffet had to go and something else – something new – was needed. So the search began…

Craigslist. Local thrift stores. Garage sales.

And then I found IT. ‘She’ was perfect and just what I was thinking to spice this space up!

I found her on Craiglist and the “purchase” story is something I won’t forget. Miraculously, we got it home. Somehow. Someway. She now sits in our garage.

Check out the details…

I love that there is a pull-out drawer in the lower cabinet. What a great spot for storing silverware or cloth napkins!

The hardware is so true to the time of this piece. Not all the hardware came with the piece, so I may have to keep some & find some new…

So let’s take a few steps back for a moment…

Before I had even acquired her, I had a vision. A bright + bold + eye popping vision. A raspberry vision to be exact. Even before she came home, I knew what color she’d be…

In the midst of my emails & calls to get my china cabinet home, Glidden paint reached out to me about collaborating on a project. I love Glidden paint colors (my favorite orange wall is a fabulous Glidden hue) & was excited about their new simplified color palette.

I jumped on board and found THE PERFECT COLOR in their red & magenta section. I knew I wanted a mix of something not too red, but not too pink. And then I found IT – the perfect shade of raspberry called Red Red Rose.

Perfect Cabinet + Perfect Color = Makeover Heaven

I’ve got big plans for this lady of mine. She’s going to be fabulous and I can’t wait to spice this space up with a pop of color.

Looking for the perfect color for your space or the ideal color for a furniture makeover? Check out Color My Room where you can preview a space with a color you love.

Or are you inspired by a picture and love the colors in it? Click on over to My Image Inspiration where a color palette will be created using hues from your image.

There are so many great tools that Glidden paint has to offer to help choose the perfect color! I’m off to paint. If you need me, I’ll be in the garage with a paint brush in hand. I can’t wait to see how this all comes together…

Coming up (still to do)
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

This post is sponsored by Glidden paint, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I am so excited about this project & thrilled to be partnering with Glidden paint on this furniture makeover. I’d love for you to follow along on this new project!

DIY: How-To Reupholster a Bench

Written by Jenna on September 4, 2014. Posted in DIY, fabrics, Furniture. 10 Comments on DIY: How-To Reupholster a Bench

Projects in my corner of the world have been taking forever lately (for good reason, of course… aka, summer + a new baby), BUT that doesn’t mean my mind hasn’t been working at full speed conjuring up new & great DIYs + decorating updates…

Over the past months, I have thought of so much I want to tackle around the house. One spot in particular is the dining room. It really needs a pick me up! I have it all planned in my head, but putting thoughts to work (like pen to paper) isn’t always the easiest thing…

Before baby #3 came along, I had all hopes to start the task of changing the space. Not much got accomplished, but I was able to make a few updates while waiting for her arrival.

And it all started with the fabric… Back in the beginning of the year (remember I shared a sneak peek on IG?), I got this gorgeous fabric from fabric.com that was an Ikat pattern with varying shades of blues + layers of orange & yellow.

It was the perfect pattern to bring all the colors of my home together!

So there is a back story on the bench… The Mister often has a difficult time changing things (that includes selling or giving stuff away). It’s kind of difficult in a DIY home not to change things, but when we were first married we bought this bench (as well as many of our other furniture pieces) and he’s attached to it. What can I say, he’s a sentimental guy. It’s often a challenge to come to an agreement to let things go or make changes. And if he’s not too attached to it, I often start the changing process when he’s at work (hehe, I’m a sneaky gal – NOT). I do respect his wishes on certain pieces and if he doesn’t budge, I leave it alone. If he’s so-so about something, I try to be persuasive and he will usually be in agreeance. And ALWAYS in the end (not what time has it failed) he has a smile on his face and says, “you were right Jenna, it does look better” or “that was a good change”. Yes honey, I do say so myself that I was right (again).

Anyway, long story short, this bench was ONE of the pieces that took some convincing to change. And guess what in the end, I didn’t “ruin” it at all. I was strategically able to change the bench with new fabric WITHOUT damaging any of the existing (just in case he wants to have it back to what it used to look like). SCORE.

Here’s how the process went…

1. I first laid out the fabric to figure out the positioning for how it would look best.

Typical fabric is 54″ wide, as was this fabric. I could have railroaded the fabric (see diagram below) which would have been easier, but I wanted the pattern the other way (regular), so I had to seam two pieces together.

via

It was a bit tricky and took some time, but after a few mishaps, the result was great and you would have no idea there is a seam.

2. I positioned one piece of fabric on the bench, then matched up the pattern with the second piece of fabric. Then I turned one piece over the other so the two right sides were facing each other. I pinned the fabrics together and sewed.

3. Once the fabrics were sewn together, I positioned it over the entire existing bench. Before cutting the fabric, I made sure there was plenty of it hanging over the edges so I would have enough ‘play’ for adjusting.

4. Once the fabric was just right, I took my staplegun and stapled the fabric to the bench. To make sure not to ‘ruin’ the bench, I stapled the fabric to the existing fabric, which if needed at some point in the future, could easily be removed.

I started in the middle of one of the long ends, then worked my way out. Once the side was complete, I pulled the fabric taught and stapled the fabric to the bench on the other side. Then I used the same steps for the shorter ends.

Next up, the corner…

5. Once the sides were done, it was time to work on the corners. I tried a few ways and this was what seemed to work + look best. I flattened out and folded over one side, then the other, and secured with a few staples.

6. After the entire perimeter of the bench was secured, I trimmed the excess fabric. I cut about 1/2″ from the staples.

7. To cover the staples and to give a finished tailored look, I added 1.5″ thick woven trim for the banding (I got this trim from Hobby Lobby).

I started in the middle of one side of the long ends and hot glued the trim to the new fabric (again not ruining the original bench fabric or wood).

I continued around the entire perimeter of the bench and then once I came to the end, I cut the trim and tucked the end under to give a finished look.

And that was it. Finito.

Along with the bench, I freshened up the dining room with some new end chairs. These are actually outdoor wicker chairs (from Target),which I thought would be perfect because they can easily be wiped down since spills and dropped food is inevitable. Right?!

I also had to say ba-bye to my beautiful yellow ombre Ikat rug. Somehow it got ruined way too fast and didn’t wear well. I was super sad, so for now nothing is under the table – except crumbs from last nights dinner…

Our kids art gallery wall also got a few updates. My kiddos are always making new artwork, which I love to display.

More is to come in this space, but for now the small changes make me very happy.

O, and if you’re wondering what the Mister thought of the bench. After it took him a few days to notice (haha), he loved the change. just like I thought…

If you’re interesting in doing a similar upholstery project (now or later) and want to save this tutorial, pin it!

This was my second reupholstery project, so believe me, I am no expert! It really wasn’t difficult, but took time + patience. Overall, the project took about an hour. My first reupholstery project was the side chair that sits in my office. The before and after is pretty dynamic…

You can take a peak at the entire space because it’s featured in the current issue of Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine {squeal}

So tell me, have you ever reupholstered something?

Disclosure: I am part of the Loweâ€™s Creative Team and was provided with a Loweâ€™s gift card to purchase items for my project. I was also compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

Easy Project, Big Impact: Reupholstered Chair Seat

Written by Jenna on May 23, 2014. Posted in DIY, Furniture. 1 Comment on Easy Project, Big Impact: Reupholstered Chair Seat

Most posts I have planned out a few days, or at least a day, before going live. But not today’s. I have been trying to check things off my to-do list and this project, start to finish, literally was done just a few minutes ago. I posted a pic on Instagram (I’d love for you to follow along if you’re not already) and I thought I’d share a blog post about it.

Ready for a super easy, yet BIG IMPACT project? Check out how I brought this old chair alive again with a simple change of fabric. It’s so simple and I swear that ANYONE can do this. Even if you’ve never DIYed anything in your life, you can do this.

Ready? Here goes…

(By the way, these aren’t the best pics because they were taken with my iphone. That’s how quick this project + post was pulled together)

I’m sure you can pretty much “get it” from the picture, but basically you’ll need about 1/4 yard of fabric (this 1″ black & white striped fabric I snagged from the Online Fabric Store while at Haven Conference last year).

1. Lay the fabric right side down on a hard surface, then set the seat face down. Rearrange the fabric as needed so it’s positioned as you’d like. I wanted to make sure my stripes were even, so I adjusted the seat positioning accordingly.

2. Then, using a staple gun, start with one fabric edge, pull taught and staple. Then work your way around the entire seat.

And voila, 2 minutes later or less, you’re done!

Super easy and look how much of an impact a simple seat cover makes!

A few years ago the seat started out like this after finding it at a thrift store…

After a little paint + a new seat cover, it looks totally fabulous & updated…

Now the chair sits beautifully in my master bedroom…

Projects don’t always have to be difficult and timely. Sometimes the projects with the best +biggest results are the easiest! Cheers to a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!

What has been your simplest and/or easiest DIY project, craft, or upcycle?

DIY: Frame Turned Tray

Written by Jenna on April 9, 2014. Posted in DIY, Furniture, Table Setting. 7 Comments on DIY: Frame Turned Tray

This post brought to you by Elmerâ€™s ProBond Advanced. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the excitement of Spring finally here (our snow is almost all melted), I started spicing up the house with a few lighter + brighter elements. The first area that I started with… The Foyer! The entryway of the home is the perfect place to get the Spring time decor rolling. Incorporating trays are a design-must in my book for styling tabletops + vignettes. After clearing off the top of the gold dresser to start with a fresh palette, I knew I needed a new tray. So I made one…

From Frame to Tray, check out my new Spring entry vignette. It’s simple, but fresh…

This frame turned tray took no time at all to create + the cost was much less than any trays I’ve recently seen or purchased in the past. Plus, the beauty of it is, it’s customizable. More on that in a minute…

For this project, these are the materials I used:

> Frame – I simple picture frame with a flat, simple edge is a must for the hardware to lay flat. The size frame I chose fits an 11 x 14 picture

>Cabinet Pulls (for the kitchen or bath – I got these gold pulls from Lowe’s)

> Something special to display – I chose to use a piece of leftover wallpaper from my powder room, but try a family picture, kids artwork, or anything that is meaningful to you.

Last, but most important for this project is Elmer’s ProBond Advanced!

This project literally took minutes to make.

Using the amazing formula, Elmer’s ProBond, which is magical when it comes to adhering a porous material with a non-porous material (Mixed Materials like wood to metal for this DIY project), I added the “glue” to the metal pull.

Then I “eyed it” and placed the pull in the center of the frame surround. Same with the second pull, and voila, the frame instantly became a tray. From vertical to horizontal…

The next step was the fun part, customizing the tray with leftover wallpaper scrap (from the powder room).

After figuring out what I wanted to see within the matting space, I cut a piece of wallpaper to size.

And the result…

With the Elmer’s ProBond Advanced there was no messy foam residue, as sometimes found with other glues. Just as we’re used to the plain ole’ white Elmer’s glue (yup, the kind our kids use), the ProBond didn’t run at all. Once I attached the pull to the frame, there was a little “seepage” that I simply used a paper towel to clean up around the edges.

Think about all the projects – big and small – you could tackle with this magical formula?!

Taking a step further, I created another Spring tabletop vignette using the Frames Wallpaper that I used in my boys room and shared a few weeks ago…

And there it is. A 10-minute DIY creation using a magic formula like no other!

Be sure to check back next week for the result of another DIY project I am working on. It involves the Elmer’s ProBond Advanced again, but on a larger scale project. Like I said, for big or small, this glue is awesome.

Master Bedroom Refresh: REVEAL

Written by Jenna on February 26, 2014. Posted in Decorating, Furniture, Room Reveal. 15 Comments on Master Bedroom Refresh: REVEAL

The master bedroom refresh is finally complete. I’ve been sharing most, if not all, of the steps along the way and it’s been an exciting journey. I’m thrilled with the result and today I’m ready to share all the nooks + crannies of the room. Ready? Let’s go…

Where it all began…

The Creative Vision Board. The idea + direction for the master bedroom refresh…

The bedroom took on a new life with an inexpensive upgrade to the bed wall. Before, all of the walls with the exception of the bed wall, were painted Berkshire Beige when we moved into the house. The bed wall was painted Texas Leather which is slightly darker, but with all the light that filters in from the large windows, the contrast wasn’t enough.

To really add some depth and contrast to the bed wall, I started out the refresh by going to the dark side and painting the wall a deep chocolate hue called Brownstone by Benjamin Moore.

I had to start out the reveal with my favorite picture because it has my pretty kitty, Jessie. She made her debut on the blog over a year ago when we finished the foyer floor. Hasn’t she grown so much?! She’s the sweetest.

This is the area of the room that is to the left of the bed. It had pictures before, but I rearranged them a bit to create a new and refreshened montage. It’s amazing how a space can look so different using things you already own.

To put the collection together, I played around a little with the arrangement before adding nails to the wall…

I love the balance of pictures and meaningful (to us) quotes.

In this picture below, you can also see the contrast of the two paint colors. The dark wall surely makes a statement!

The statement. The focal point of the room. THE BED! With the surrounding new/updated elements, the bed takes on a completely new look and feels brand new, even though it’s 10 years old. I love the look of fully upholstered beds instead of just a headboard. It eliminates the need for a bedskirt and gives a higher-end look to the space. Yes, upholstered beds (with fabric side rails) are slightly more expensive than just a headboard, but they’re totally worth the splurge. That’s a place to spend the money!!!

I feel like I sleep in luxury every night (and a few weekend afternoons) with my new bedding from Crane and Canopy. We worked together on choosing the right look and feel for the room. With the other vibrant colors (plum + citrine), the simpler Linden Gray Border bedding was the perfect compliment. Sleeping under this luxurious 400 thread count duvet is like heavenly bliss. To be honest, it was difficult to choose a bedding style. They’re entire collection is beautiful!

The square canvas images above the bed are actually one collection purchased from Ikea years ago. sorry, but I doubt they’re still available. As with most rooms I design, I typically start with one element; one statement piece. The art is ‘The Element’ that the rest of the room evolved around. The plum pillow on the bed and the striped pillow on the chaise were purchased from Crate and Barrel years ago as well and they compliment the artwork perfectly. The only new pillows are the citrine shams that I randomly found at Homegoods. Of course I wasn’t looking for them at the time, but I am so thankful to have went with my gut because they make the room. In the store, I really didn’t think the color was right, but once home, they were spot on with the hues of the artwork! #score

Breaking up the matching furniture was key to making this room refresh a success. The space before looked heavy with 4 large pieces of furniture all in a dark hue. Something had to give. Eliminating one of the nightstands so the 2 weren’t matchy-matchy, was a great solution. I relocated the one nightstand to my office and brought in a new smaller, round table in a light gray color. It makes such a difference.

With the main wall going darker, other elements had to go lighter, which meant lots of white layers. The new white velvet window treatments were the perfect compliment, but needed to be jazzed up. My simple, inexpensive solution? Add a decorative leading edge! The update is incredible and the contrasting plum fabric frames the windows beautifully.

Also in this area of the room are the new hanging pendant-turned-light and the revamped desk that was headed curbside. Both were fun projects and made this corner of the room so interesting… so much more than before.

The desk is surely my most favorite furniture makeover to-date. I love what the bright hue does for the space + I’m happy to have tried something new – Make Your Own Chalk Finish Paint!

The pictures and artwork seen above the revamped desk are a new gallery montage I created and they continue across almost the entire wall, which is opposite of the bed wall.

This is what I wake up to and see every morning!

I love the new dress form that holds some of my pretty, colorful necklaces. It brings such an elegant, feminine quality to the bedroom.

So do you want to know more details on what I purchased where? Here are some resources:

Resources:
1. Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore Brownstone in flat
2. Artwork – Ikea, Collection of 3
3. Lamps – JCPenney
4. Wedding Song pillow (DIY project) + striped pillow from Crate and Barrel
5. Nightstand – part of a 4 piece collection purchased at a local store
6. Chaise – Crate and Barrel; item no longer available
7. Rug – Safavieh purchased on Joss and Main
8. Duvet – Linden Gray Border bedding from Crane and Canopy
9. Upholstered bed – Queen Colette Bed from Crate and Barrel
10. Citrine Shams – Homegoods
11. Bamboo Shades – Payless Decor
12. Deep plum pillow – Crate and Barrel
13. Drapes – white velvet panels from Lowes with custom edge detail (DIY project)

14. Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore Berkshire Beige in flat
15. Lantern from World Market turned Light Fixture (DIY project)
16. Chair – Thrift store chair given new life with spray paint (DIY project)
17. Throw – Homegoods
18. Desk – Desk Makeover using Make-Your-Own chalk finish paint (DIY project)
19. Gallery Wall – Everything was repurposed from throughout my home; nothing new on the wall
20. Dresser – part of a 4 piece collection purchased at a local store
21. Lamp – Crate and Barrel; item no longer available
22. Silver Leaf Tray – Target
23. Dress form – Homegoods

And there you have it. The master bedroom refresh {reveal} in it’s entirety. Most of the space was revamped with new DIY creations and items from other rooms in my home. A few new items that I didn’t have were seamlessly added to create a cohesive look. I know it took a few weeks from start to finish, but thank you for following along on the ‘real’ timeline of my room refresh!