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Painted Two-Toned Desk + Tips on Painting Furniture

I’m just about finished with the updates for my son’s bedroom makeover.  It hasn’t been a huge overhaul, but with rearranging the furniture, adding colorful stripes on the wall, and hanging new DIY pallet shelves, this space has received a welcome refresher.  In the midst of moving around the beds and dresser, I realized  my little man is at the age where he really needs a desk to work at and hold all his creative supplies.

If you remember back quite a long time ago, I purchased a beauty of a desk off Craigslist.  It lived in my family room ever since (over 6 months), but wasn’t “right”.  Then pufff… I had an idea – it would be perfect for my son’s room.


And this is the evolution of the Craigslist Desk…

It started off as a stained executive desk typical of the 1940s and is in really great condition.  The only thing it needed was a little makeover to update it and bring it back to life to mesh with today’s decor style.

In knowing that the desk would live in my son’s room, I wanted to do it right.  With my lack of patience, I sometimes skip steps or rush, but with this desk makeover I took my time so the result would be something he could live with for many years.

Supplies: Onto the makeover – here’s my arsenal of supplies…

1. Fill Holes & Sand: I started off removing the hardware, which I decided to replace with simple knobs.  Then I filled all of the scratches, holes, and nicks with wood filler.   And the last step before painting was to sand the overall desk surface with my orbital sander using a 120 grit sandpaper (medium coarse), then a 220 grit sandpaper (very fine coarse).

2. When the sanding was complete, I cleaned off the entire surface with a damp rag before I started priming.

3. Primer: Once the desk was completely dust-free, I added one coat of primer with my favorite Kilz Primer which blocks the stain and allows for a well-prepared surface to paint.

4. Secret Agent: With every painting job, I always add my favorite “formula” to eliminate brushstrokes – Floetrol.  It always works like a charm to achieve a clean, brushstroke-free surface! (And I wasn’t even paid to say that – I truly just love it 😉

Desk Colors:

  • Desk Top & Frame – Dutch Boy High Seas
  • Drawer Fronts – Dutch Boy Hurricane Cliffs

5. Paint: After the one coat of primer, I added the first coat of paint, which I used both a brush and roller.  On the top and flat surfaces of the desk, I used a 5″ wide small roller and for the difficult crevices and edges, I used my favorite 1.5″ wide Purdy brush.  *Sometimes, I used the brush first and went over it with the roller.  The roller makes for a smooth surface to avoid brushstrokes.

6. Then onto painting the drawers.  I wanted this desk to be a little playful and not just one color, so I decided to use a lighter color blue on the drawer fronts.

7. Polyurethane: The last painting step was to add a coat of polyurethane – truly the most important part in finishing any piece of furniture!  I usually use water-based clear satin polyurethane, but since I knew this desk would be getting lots of use in the years to come, I decided to use an oil-based polyurethane, which really is more durable (hands-down).

8. Hardware: Once the painting was complete, I drilled one hole in each drawer front for the new knobs, which were originally natural that I spray painted white.  The knobs went in and the desk was complete.

To add a little unexpected fun to the desk, I added a drawer liner that has a geometric pattern with green, blue, and turquoise colors.  My son was quite surprised when he opened the drawers to find this hidden treasure!

And once again here is the before and after…

And these are just a few important tips to remember when painting furniture:

 Do you like painting furniture? Have you painted anything lately?

The Right (and Wrong) Way to Hang Window Drapery Panels

I had planned on sharing another part of my bedroom makeover, but I got tied up in other directions, and didn’t have a chance to complete my next reveal.  But stayed tuned, I hope to wrap it up very soon (see how I said hope – it doesn’t mean it’ll actually happen, but it’s wishful thinking)!

Instead, I have a great post for you that will be informative and eye opening.

Earlier in the week when I shared my newly made lined window panels, I started to ponder how others think window treatments should be hung.  I sometimes take for granted that homeowners know the tricks that are innate in my brain.  I saw this picture via pinterest, but created my own illustration to visually show the best way to hang window treatments to allow as much natural light to shine through and visually enlarge the space.

Do you see a difference between these two window examples?
(I hope you do)

Which would you choose to be the best way to hang a window drapery panel?  And why is one better than the other?

Well let me share my answer and why!

My illustration starts with two of the same sized windows.

Then we’ll add some window treatments.

On the left side are window drapery panels that mostly cover the window and are hung on a rod that is placed directly above the window trim.

On the right side are window drapery panels that extend out to mostly cover the wall, leaving only about 1-2″ covering the window.  They are placed on a rod that is half way between the window trim and the ceiling

Well if you haven’t realized yet, the right side is the right way to hang window drapery panels.

And this is why~

There is a HUGE amount of additional light that shines through when window drapery panels extend out and are mostly placed on the wall surface.  Here’s an illustration showing the amount of light entering the space (seen in blue) for each window example.

This illustration shows how much of the window drapery fabric is covering the window (seen in red).  Only a sliver of fabric covers the window on the right side, but a huge amount of fabric is covering the left side.

And here is an overall illustration of how the draperies look side-by-side.

Positioning window treatments more on the wall than over the window, not only allows for more natural light, but it also heightens the room and visually widens the window.

Take a look at some real-life examples.

Let’s first start with the WRONG way of hanging window panels.

The window hardware is smartly placed to bring the eye up, but the window panels cover the window WAY TOO MUCH – unless you don’t want to see your neighbors this is NOT the way to hang drapes. (via Southern Living)

In this example the drapery hardware is placed on the window frame, so the panels appear to be hovering over the door allowing only a small amount of light to shine through. (via ChicColes)

Now let’s check out the RIGHT way to hang drapery panels.

* Allow in a HUGE amount of natural light
* The higher placed hardware heightens the room and allows the eye to be drawn up
* The window feels wider

How are the window treatments hung in your home?

 

Tutorial: How to Hang Wallpaper

For the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing my many recent basement updates with you and today I’ve got another one….  

{How to Hang Wallpaper}

The basement had been the one space in my home that was in major need of sprucing up, hence my many recent DIY project posts.   Last week, I debuted my new Mom Cave / Craft Area that I recently created on a slim budget, and received some amazing and encouraging comments.  BUT, before the new desk went into place and the new shelving was hung, I wanted to give wallpapering a try (this was my first wallpapering experience ~ I know, crazy…who hasn’t hung wallpaper before?!).  I didn’t wallpaper the entire room, just certain walls that were in need of drama and some added interest.  Let’s take a look ~

Supplies
  • Spackle (for repairing any holes & imperfections in the wall)
  • Sandpaper
  • Wallcovering Smoothing Brush and/or Wallcovering SmoothingTool (I recommend the smoothing tool over the brush ~ which you will see in the picture below)
  • Wallcovering Water Bucket
  • Level
  • Tape Measure
  • Sharp blade
  • Scissors (to cut wallpaper)
  • And, lastly but certainly not least ~ Your Wallpaper of choice!
{Step by Step Tutorial}

Most everyone has used regular white spackle to fill a hole or repair a damaged wall.  And in those moments, have you asked yourself,  Is the surface dry yet?  Am I ready to sand?  This spackle product by Dap gives you the answer  ~ the spackle in the container is pink (it was a bit weird to look at) and when it’s dry and ready for sanding, it’ll magically turn completely white (like typical spackle).  No wondering or questions needed!

The most important part of wallpapering (I’m sharing this with you because I found out the hard way) is to make sure your wall is a perfect palette (meaning no holes, no bumps, no nails, etc).  One of the reasons, I intended to use wallpaper was to hide imperfections in the wall.  That didn’t happen.  Every bump will show through.
So let’s get started:

Step 1: Once your wall is completely prepped, you are ready to start hanging the wallpaper.  I used a prepasted wallpaper, which means all I had to do was apply water to the back.  PLEASE, read the instructions carefully for the specific wallpaper you choice for your space ~ the direction for installation may be different!

I first measured and cut my wallpaper piece to fit the size of the wall, leaving a little extra on the top and bottom.  Then I was ready to go.  With the prepasted wallpaper, I dragged it through the Wallcovering Water Bucket until the entire wallpaper backing was covered and wet.

Step 2: Once the wallpaper is entirely wet, fold over the glue sides on each other (as shown above) and let it sit for 5-8 minutes.  This will activate the glue.

Step 3: You’re ready to apply the wallpaper to the wall.  I started the installation from the center of the wall and worked my way out to the edge.  Depending on the space and pattern of your wallpaper, you may want to start in the center of the wall or at the wall edge.  Make sure the wallpaper is plumb by using a level.

Step 4: Once your wallpaper is up, start to smooth it out with your Wallcovering Smoothing Tools.  This will truly adhere the wallpaper to the wall and give you a smooth surface/finish.  The ooey-gooey glue will start to come out the sides (as seen in the picture above)

You are ready for your next piece of wallpaper.  Note: Do not overlap edges!  This is SO important…  I did it at first, and had to remove the wallpaper (which was easy to do ~ at least you have some flexibility with the application).

Step 5: Once your wallpaper is completely hung and dry (if the paper is not dry, it could tear ~ happened to me ), trim the overlapping edges with a sharp razor.

This is the edge where the wallpaper meets the painted wall.  Use a sharp blade to trim the extra wallpaper for a crisp, clean cut.
These are the specific instructions that came with my wallpaper.  My tutorial  above gives a general idea of how to install wallpaper, but it is important to follow the exact directions for your wallpaper of choice.
It went from this… To this….  
{Complete}
This is how the completed wallpapered wall looks.  This is the wall (that had major imperfections before) that is at the landing of the basement.  Believe me, it’s still not perfect, but it is SOOO much better than how it was.  I really disliked opening the basement door before, but now I often open it to sneak-a-peak at this pretty ensemble!
I had been looking for a wallpaper with a simple, yet elegant design.  Even though my new wallcovering is in the basement, I wanted to bring the space up-a-notch and to make it feel as special as the rest of the house!  I looked… and looked… and looked…  I searched high and low to find something that would be affordable and stylish, and then it happened…  

{it was love at first sight}

I truly love the quatrefoil design and never made a purchase so fast.  If this wallpaper appeals to you as well, {here} is the info.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out my NEW Mom Cave  / Craft Area, here are a few pictures of that space with the new wallpaper.

To see the entire look of the new Craft Area and detailed pictures of how I created this space, check it out {here}.

Wallpaper can be a guaranteed show stopper!  The vast selection of wallpapers that are available today, can completely transform any space from blah to beautiful!  I am very happy with the result of 1st wallpapering attempt…I can now say that I am no longer a {Wallpaper Virgin}!  The thought of putting up wallpaper can be a bit daunting, but take your time and have patience…the end result is worth it.  One of my first posts was on my love for wallpaper ~ take a look {here}.

Are you planning on putting up wallpaper in one of your spaces?
Have you hung wallpaper before?   If so, what was your experience and how was the outcome?

Tutorial: How to Hang Wallpaper

For the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing my many recent basement updates with you and today I’ve got another one….  

{How to Hang Wallpaper}

The basement had been the one space in my home that was in major need of sprucing up, hence my many recent DIY project posts.   Last week, I debuted my new Mom Cave / Craft Area that I recently created on a slim budget, and received some amazing and encouraging comments.  BUT, before the new desk went into place and the new shelving was hung, I wanted to give wallpapering a try (this was my first wallpapering experience ~ I know, crazy…who hasn’t hung wallpaper before?!).  I didn’t wallpaper the entire room, just certain walls that were in need of drama and some added interest.  Let’s take a look ~

Supplies
  • Spackle (for repairing any holes & imperfections in the wall)
  • Sandpaper
  • Wallcovering Smoothing Brush and/or Wallcovering SmoothingTool (I recommend the smoothing tool over the brush ~ which you will see in the picture below)
  • Wallcovering Water Bucket
  • Level
  • Tape Measure
  • Sharp blade
  • Scissors (to cut wallpaper)
  • And, lastly but certainly not least ~ Your Wallpaper of choice!
{Step by Step Tutorial}

Most everyone has used regular white spackle to fill a hole or repair a damaged wall.  And in those moments, have you asked yourself,  Is the surface dry yet?  Am I ready to sand?  This spackle product by Dap gives you the answer  ~ the spackle in the container is pink (it was a bit weird to look at) and when it’s dry and ready for sanding, it’ll magically turn completely white (like typical spackle).  No wondering or questions needed!

The most important part of wallpapering (I’m sharing this with you because I found out the hard way) is to make sure your wall is a perfect palette (meaning no holes, no bumps, no nails, etc).  One of the reasons, I intended to use wallpaper was to hide imperfections in the wall.  That didn’t happen.  Every bump will show through.
So let’s get started:

Step 1: Once your wall is completely prepped, you are ready to start hanging the wallpaper.  I used a prepasted wallpaper, which means all I had to do was apply water to the back.  PLEASE, read the instructions carefully for the specific wallpaper you choice for your space ~ the direction for installation may be different!

I first measured and cut my wallpaper piece to fit the size of the wall, leaving a little extra on the top and bottom.  Then I was ready to go.  With the prepasted wallpaper, I dragged it through the Wallcovering Water Bucket until the entire wallpaper backing was covered and wet.

Step 2: Once the wallpaper is entirely wet, fold over the glue sides on each other (as shown above) and let it sit for 5-8 minutes.  This will activate the glue.

Step 3: You’re ready to apply the wallpaper to the wall.  I started the installation from the center of the wall and worked my way out to the edge.  Depending on the space and pattern of your wallpaper, you may want to start in the center of the wall or at the wall edge.  Make sure the wallpaper is plumb by using a level.

Step 4: Once your wallpaper is up, start to smooth it out with your Wallcovering Smoothing Tools.  This will truly adhere the wallpaper to the wall and give you a smooth surface/finish.  The ooey-gooey glue will start to come out the sides (as seen in the picture above)

You are ready for your next piece of wallpaper.  Note: Do not overlap edges!  This is SO important…  I did it at first, and had to remove the wallpaper (which was easy to do ~ at least you have some flexibility with the application).

Step 5: Once your wallpaper is completely hung and dry (if the paper is not dry, it could tear ~ happened to me ), trim the overlapping edges with a sharp razor.

This is the edge where the wallpaper meets the painted wall.  Use a sharp blade to trim the extra wallpaper for a crisp, clean cut.
These are the specific instructions that came with my wallpaper.  My tutorial  above gives a general idea of how to install wallpaper, but it is important to follow the exact directions for your wallpaper of choice.
It went from this… To this….  
{Complete}
This is how the completed wallpapered wall looks.  This is the wall (that had major imperfections before) that is at the landing of the basement.  Believe me, it’s still not perfect, but it is SOOO much better than how it was.  I really disliked opening the basement door before, but now I often open it to sneak-a-peak at this pretty ensemble!
I had been looking for a wallpaper with a simple, yet elegant design.  Even though my new wallcovering is in the basement, I wanted to bring the space up-a-notch and to make it feel as special as the rest of the house!  I looked… and looked… and looked…  I searched high and low to find something that would be affordable and stylish, and then it happened…  

{it was love at first sight}

I truly love the quatrefoil design and never made a purchase so fast.  If this wallpaper appeals to you as well, {here} is the info.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out my NEW Mom Cave  / Craft Area, here are a few pictures of that space with the new wallpaper.

To see the entire look of the new Craft Area and detailed pictures of how I created this space, check it out {here}.

Wallpaper can be a guaranteed show stopper!  The vast selection of wallpapers that are available today, can completely transform any space from blah to beautiful!  I am very happy with the result of 1st wallpapering attempt…I can now say that I am no longer a {Wallpaper Virgin}!  The thought of putting up wallpaper can be a bit daunting, but take your time and have patience…the end result is worth it.  One of my first posts was on my love for wallpaper ~ take a look {here}.

Are you planning on putting up wallpaper in one of your spaces?
Have you hung wallpaper before?   If so, what was your experience and how was the outcome?

DIY: Creating a Framed Chalkboard Wall

My son doing his best ‘Vanna White”
As you know from a few previous posts, I have been feverishly working on my basement revamp! One of the many projects  included creating a new Chalkboard Wall for the kids.  They just love using chalk on the driveway, but in these winter months that’s unfeasible.  So I thought… let’s bring the LOVE of CHALK indoors!

 

Supplies
  • MDF Boards (cut to size)
  • Chalkboard Paint
  • White Paint (preferably semi-gloss)
  • Screws
  • Hammer / Screw gun
  • Measuring Tape
  • Pencil
  • Level
This Chalkboard Wall creation actually cost $0, because all the materials were leftovers from other recent projects. If you were to start from scratch, the project would cost you approximately $20.

{Step By Step}

 

1. Tape off the area where you’d like to apply the chalkboard paint (from the picture, you can see the old paint in the center and the freshly painted wall around).
NOTE: Your chalkboard wall can be as big or small as you’d like.  I also created a recessed panel below to work with the existing outlet placement ~ you don’t have to do this.(Obviously, I don’t want the kids drawing with chalk on the outlet)
2. Once you’ve painted the chalkboard on the wall, cut your lumber to the appropriate size.  The lumber will cover the line of where the wall paint color meets the chalkboard paint. Start with the top rail.  Make sure that it’s level.
NOTE: We used MDF (medium density fiberboard)…it’s the easiest and cleanest to work with.  I had leftover pieces from creating my craft area and had the rails cut to the exact size at HD.

 

3. Install the two side rails, but ONLY put in the top screw.
4. Install the middle and bottom rail.  Again, check that they are plumb.  Then return to the side rails, and screw them into place.

 

Lastly, fill in all your screw holes with spackle.  Once dry, retouch any spots with paint.  It is best to wait a few days before using chalk, see the back of the can for more details.

This is the chalkboard paint that I used:

This is a picture taken when using the chalkboard paint for another project, found {here}

 

{Ready to USE}

Your chalkboard is done and ready for endless hours of FUN.  This is a fairly straight-forward and easy project that will be a sure hit for the cold winter months (and hot summer days).

As you can see, my son couldn’t wait to start drawing.

Thanks for taking a look at my most recent basement project.
Check back soon for more updates and tutorials!

DIY: Creating a Framed Chalkboard Wall

My son doing his best ‘Vanna White”
As you know from a few previous posts, I have been feverishly working on my basement revamp! One of the many projects  included creating a new Chalkboard Wall for the kids.  They just love using chalk on the driveway, but in these winter months that’s unfeasible.  So I thought… let’s bring the LOVE of CHALK indoors!

 

Supplies
  • MDF Boards (cut to size)
  • Chalkboard Paint
  • White Paint (preferably semi-gloss)
  • Screws
  • Hammer / Screw gun
  • Measuring Tape
  • Pencil
  • Level
This Chalkboard Wall creation actually cost $0, because all the materials were leftovers from other recent projects. If you were to start from scratch, the project would cost you approximately $20.

{Step By Step}

 

1. Tape off the area where you’d like to apply the chalkboard paint (from the picture, you can see the old paint in the center and the freshly painted wall around).
NOTE: Your chalkboard wall can be as big or small as you’d like.  I also created a recessed panel below to work with the existing outlet placement ~ you don’t have to do this.(Obviously, I don’t want the kids drawing with chalk on the outlet)
2. Once you’ve painted the chalkboard on the wall, cut your lumber to the appropriate size.  The lumber will cover the line of where the wall paint color meets the chalkboard paint. Start with the top rail.  Make sure that it’s level.
NOTE: We used MDF (medium density fiberboard)…it’s the easiest and cleanest to work with.  I had leftover pieces from creating my craft area and had the rails cut to the exact size at HD.

 

3. Install the two side rails, but ONLY put in the top screw.
4. Install the middle and bottom rail.  Again, check that they are plumb.  Then return to the side rails, and screw them into place.

 

Lastly, fill in all your screw holes with spackle.  Once dry, retouch any spots with paint.  It is best to wait a few days before using chalk, see the back of the can for more details.

This is the chalkboard paint that I used:

This is a picture taken when using the chalkboard paint for another project, found {here}

 

{Ready to USE}

Your chalkboard is done and ready for endless hours of FUN.  This is a fairly straight-forward and easy project that will be a sure hit for the cold winter months (and hot summer days).

As you can see, my son couldn’t wait to start drawing.

Thanks for taking a look at my most recent basement project.
Check back soon for more updates and tutorials!