1 Reader Redo: Alex’s Annie Sloan Dresser

Annie Sloan chalk paint is all over the place. If you’ve never heard of it, then you obviously don’t own any hideous hand-me-down furniture that makes you want to loose your lunch every time you look at it. Point blank: Chalk paint makes the un-fabulous fabulous.

Case in point, Alex’s DIY dresser rehab…

The before picture. There’s tons of storage tucked away in this little number, so I don’t blame Alex one bit for wanting to save this little fella.



Here we go!…



Still going!



Puppy thrown in for preciousness and to build anticipation as we anxiously await the ‘after’…



Voila! Pretty stinkin’ adorable right? AND I love that she reused the original hardware…

Have a before & after you want to share? Click here to email pics my way and let’s get to celebrating!

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10 Rehabbing a Rehab

Just because I’ve practically filled every nook of my house with furniture flips does not by any means mean the Rehabilitation Station is able to take a breather. Oh no. We’ll just start over from the beginning.

One of my very first rehab projects to make its way onto this blog over three years ago…yikes, three years…was this dresser that with new paint and hardware became a TV console table.

(Insert lovely blurry picture that this blogger is ashamed to have as her only before photo).



Once I picked up and moved into my lovely little construction site I still call home, this guy landed in my master bedroom, where he’s been hiding safely from screwdrivers and paint brushes ever since…

Until now. I flat out got tired of looking at those knobs.



Which knobs? These knobs.

At some point I must have though they would do, but now I reserve the right to change my mind.

I found a pair of baskets at Hobby Lobby that would slide just perfectly into two of the three top shelves…



And a few shabby chic knobs to pretty them up a little..



Put the two together by simply poking the knob screws through the basket and securing on the other side…



…and we’re in business.



Then I quickly changed out the fugly knobs that were driving me nuts for matching pretties…

And this rehabbed rehab was a wrap!

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2 Throw Blanket Throw Down

A couple of weeks into life with Michael and I under the same roof, one very big difference between us has become quite apparent. While Michael’s internal body temperature hovers around the same temperature as the surface of the sun, my fingers and toes are practically icicles at all times. If he’s cool and comfortable, I’m shaking and shivering and if I’ve cranked the heat on full blast, he’s sweating bullets.

After putting the time in to “man-ing up” the den for Michael—missed that adventure in de-girl-ifying? Click here—I didn’t want bring in a fluffy prissy blanket to ruin all my hard work. This DKNY throw blanket was the perfect solution. Comfy, cozy and completely gender neutral. A new throw blanket just for me but still man den friendly…
 

That is, a new-throw-blanket-just-for-me-until-I-get-up-to-go-to-the-bathroom-and-return-to-find-a-little-gremlin-in-my-spot…



While I love this little bearded angel more than homemade mac n’ cheese on a rainy day, there is no way I’m sharing this perfectly clean ivory throw blanket with her not so clean puppy paw prints. Not going to happen.

Solution: Remember this coffee table I painted a while back?



Over the weekend, I stumbled upon a basket just the perfect size to fit in its belly.



It’s been bothering me to look down through the glass at an empty basket bottom BUT there was no way I was going to let this space turn into a clutter pit for miscellaneous items.



Good thing my new throw fits snuggly in this spot. Just out of June Bug’s reach but not too far away from the sofa where my inner couch potato will find it just too dang difficult to fold and put away.

 
Cara – 1. June Bug – one million and three. I think I’m gaining on her.

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1 Before Story: A (soon to be) fashionable file cabby

Metal file cabinets are the most elegant, sophisticated, timeless furniture pieces in all the universe…said no one ever, including myself as I dove head first into decorating The Property Group’s new office space. (Missed the before pictures of this little gem? Click here to play catch-up.)

The thought of bringing in one of those metal monsters was not high on my opening-a-new-office to-do list and figuring out where to put one without being such an enormous eye sore was an even bigger piece of the puzzle…until a gift from the rehabbing gods fell into my lap in the form of this guy…


This wooden file cabby is perfectly paintable, the exact size we are needing and with precious paneling detail on the sides, I’m picturing much more of a cozy furniture piece than a cold, metal file-eating contraption. This file cabinet is on the fast track to rehab and I can’t wait to share the after photos!

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0 Reader Redo: Erin’s Chevron Chair

A couple of weeks ago, an email from my pal, Erin, landed in my inbox. I am always over the moon excited to hear from her, but I was more than thrilled when she also sent pictures of her most recent do-it-yourself project. Let’s take a look…

Hey Cara, I always admire your skills as a DIYer and it seems like you make things look really easy on your blog. I noticed one time (or maybe more) you re-covered the seat of a chair and made it look super simple, so I decided that I could do this, too. I bought my first staple gun and everything! The chair wasn't awful looking from the beginning, but the cushion was really thin and I wanted more stuffing. It also didn't match my house very well. So here are a bunch of pictures of all my steps along the way because I know you like pictures. (Good girl, Erin!) It isn't absolutely perfect, but I am really happy with it! Thanks for the inspiration!

Three things:

1. Who doesn’t love a gray & white chevron? Great pick!
2. I’m dying over Erin’s pink needle nose pliers. Gimme, gimme.
3. Go, girl, go! Such a simple DIY. Erin did an amazing job, and this just goes to show that there is never an excuse for putting up with a seat cushion that doesn’t rock your socks.

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0 At Home in Arkansas Guest Post: Hob Knobbin’

Head on over to At Home in Arkansas magazine’s blog to catch my monthly Before & After with Cara Wilkerson post. Today we’re hob knobbin’ with, well, knobs! Pretty little porcelain knobs, shiny chic contemporary knobs, we’ve got ‘em covered…

With all the before and after projects happening around my house/construction site, every now and then I pick up on a few tends among my trash-to-treasure transformations. Nearly every diamond in the rough undergoes some form of the deep cleaning/sanding ritual that we do-it-yourselfers know all to well, but another DIY theme that keeps popping up in my projects is the use of pretty little knobs to add a smidge of spice. Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we? …click here for the full post.

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