Before and After-2 tone dresser

Sorry this is the only picture I could find of the dresser Before.

AFTER

I used Kona stain on the drawers and top. I painted the base of the dresser in antique silver from Glidden. 

The brownish distressed (dirty) look was actually done by mixing a little stain with the polyurethane. This way I was sealing it while giving it that old world look. 

Hope you like :)

I'm selling this on craigslist, if anyone is interested :)

Twin Headboard

I made this headboard from cedar fence posts. The stain color is Kona (Lowes).

I printed the name out on my computer, traced it onto the wood, then used my dremel tool to engrave it. The name stood out too much, in my opinion, so I stained it. 

If you are interested in having a headboard made, let me know.

Twin $75

Full/Queen $100

King $125

Before and After-Dining Table and Chairs

Sherry's table and chairs. Sherry and her husband removed the material before bring them to me. They decided to do that part themselves. The material they purchased for the chairs is gorgeous. I can't wait to see it completely finished.

AFTER

I used the same Valspar Antique White and Antique Glaze that I used on the hutch. I stripped the top and stained it with Kona color stain! My Fav.

 I also found my new favorite table top sealer. I have tried a few now and finally found the best one. Sherry has six kids so it needed to be very durable. I refinished my sister's table and polyurethaned the top with 3 coats. I had planned on doing more but didn't have time. One month later and  it had scratches. I will have to tell you that story another time....nightmare. Anyway.....So I talked to a very helpful lady at Lowes.

 And so here is my TIP: 

Epoxy- really think like a bar top. But it was not easy to work with and ended up being a nightmare! (My sister's table) I'm sure I did something wrong but I recommend trying this on a small project first. 

Polyurethane- Great product but you would have to apply many coats to a table top. Best use for this is really any other project, dressers, chairs, anything you stain and need to seal and protect.

Urethane-This is what you want!! This is just thicker than the poly. You apply it basically the same way but it will go on much thicker. Make sure you use even strokes and don't over-brush. To get this beautiful think look only took 2 coats.

Before and After-Hutch

Spent almost 3 weeks in Vegas over Christmas. I stayed a week longer than planned because my friend Kristin's mom passed away. She was an amazing woman that made you feel welcomed and loved always, and I know that she is with her family that has gone on before her. I'm so thankful for the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the testimony that I have that families are forever! 

And since I was there I worked on a few extra projects. This is Sherry's laminate hutch. 

AFTER

I used Valspar Antique White paint and then sanded, glazed and hand painted black in the distressed parts. The top and middle were painted with Valspar Black.

Before and After-Antique Chair

BEFORE

This antique chair was in the bulk of stuff that I got a couple of months ago. I got a ton of stuff for twenty bucks so I guess you could say that this cost me about 3 bucks! One arm needed to be repaired and all the joints needed a little wood glue but that was easy. :) 

After many hours of cutting, stapling, hammering and even some blood(good thing I got that tetanus shot!)..................Here it is...

AFTER

I just love how it turned out! 

I was able to reuse all the original tack strip. My sister helped me pull it off. So much fun for her that I don't think she will ever help me again! Putting it back on was even harder! NOTE: If you are going to attempt this plan for several hours. 

This is going in my living room. The husband wants me to sell it, which I guess is a compliment, he thinks we could sell it easily. But, NOPE it's all mine! 

Remembering the lesson I learned from the couch I used the old material for a pattern. But I did learn a couple other lessons....

LESSON: When working with a pattern make sure everything is going in the same direction. On the first try, the top was perfect but after cutting the seat out the pattern was facing backwards! AHHHHHHH. Had to go back to the store because I didn't have enough. 

LESSON: When using the old material make sure you check the direction and then flip the material over to trace the pattern. When I got more material I started tracing it and realized I was making the same mistake. But because I was tracing on the pattern side I had pencil marks going through part of the material I needed to use!AHHHHHHHH again. I'm sure there is a special pencil or something but I don't have one. 

Hope these help.

Before and After- Love Seat For 2

BEFORE

This little couch I found at a yard sale in Vegas. It was solid and had so much potential! So it came home with me. I didn't start it for a while because I was scared. This was my first attempt at reupholstering something "big". Taking the material off was much harder than I thought! And removing staples, OH MY HECK!!!    

Lesson#1 When removing the old material take pictures along the way, it will really help you figure out how to put the new stuff on!

Lesson #2 Again when removing the old material try to keep it in its original shape. You will NEED this as a pattern. 

I learned both these lessons the hard way. I basically reupholstered the couch from scratch! I got a little excited removing the material and I didn't care about cutting and tearing it. I regretted that in the end!

AFTER

Here she is! What do you think?

Cute ribbon detail on the back. 

I'm selling her. So if you are interested or know of anyone that is let me know. I'm posting it on craig's list today. 

Vegas-Before and After Dresser

This dresser belongs to Allison, another friend of my sister. It's a beautiful old piece. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It's going in her son's room that she is doing with a nautical theme.

BEFORE

As they say, "It has great bones"

AFTER

She just wanted a really dark stain. I love staining wood because all it does is darken the natural wood. So you are left with the beautiful patterns in the wood. Some areas always end up darker than others and I just love it!!

I think this piece was made out of three different types of wood. As you can see the sides are different than the drawers. I think it just adds to the beauty. 

(Of course, my dad thinks it's a crime to paint real wood, so when I do this he is happy. 

Can't you just picture it in a nautical room!

Yummy