Painting Laminate Bookshelves - Dark to Bright!

I am a reader/book hoarder.  My only issue is I can't go to the Library and check out a book.  I feel like it is a must to add each book I read to my collection.  I love it when someone talks about wanting to read a book and I can be like "Oh, I have that!  You can borrow mine!"  So a few years ago when a friend was getting rid of her old laminate bookshelves and offered them for free to me, I happily went right over and picked those bad boys up.  Agh, the fulfillment of having all of my books displayed.   

When the hubby and I bought our new house and there was this wonderful little room called "The Parlor" I knew it would be a perfect room for my office/study/craft room.  Mark agreed that "The Parlor" would be a perfect fit for all of those uses, as long as I agreed to always call it "The Parlor".  He loved that.  LOL.  The desk I just finished went into this room as well.  Once I put the bookshelves in the room it just looked so dark and dreary that I knew I had to paint them (which broke Marks heart a little). 

Bookshelves Before

This was my first time painting laminate but it was super easy.  I primed it using Zinsser Primer 123, it took time because of all the shelves.  I didn't want to remove them because I was afraid it would scratch up the paint when putting them back in. 

1 coat of Primer

It took 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint (Satin White Latex) to get the bright look that I wanted.  After they dried I also painted 1 coat of Minwax Polycrylic.  I went with Polycrylic instead of Polyurethane because Polyurethane will yellow out white paint within a few weeks. 

Bookshelves After

Please excuse the poor lighting and the fact that the room is still unfinished.  It's a work in progress.  I'm having MAJOR issues finding affordable curtains, but that's a whole separate post!  

Close ups



Let me know what you think!  I would love to see pictures of any bookshelf makeovers you have done!  Happy painting! 

My New Desk - No More Veneer!

So, one day when the hubby wasn't home I ran out to his barn to grab a tape measure.  I was looking on Craigslist for a new desk or a table that would work for a desk to go into my office.  While I was looking around I stumbled upon an old desk that was in bad shape.  My heart may have skipped a beat, the desk was the perfect size for my office!  So when Mark got home, with the sweetest smile I could find I told him that I had stumbled on to something in his barn that I just had to have.  The desk will be perfect for my office, I can paint it and it will be just beautiful and free!  Free he liked but when I said I would be painting it a sad look came on his face.  ;)  No matter what a piece of furniture looks like I can promise two things.

1. Mark wants it to stay stained.
2. I always want to paint it!  

Seriously.  So much that I try to find already painted items to purchase on Craigslist so that it doesn't break his heart when I bring it home and start painting.  LOL.  It's a little game we play.  ;)  So after a little convincing he brought my new project to my office and then declared that I'm no longer allowed in his barn.  Ha!  

Before Pic

The desk had a veneer top that was in bad condition, like way to bad for repair.  So I thought I would just take it off and see what was underneath (it couldn't be any worse than it already looked).  So I just took a putty knife and scrapped away.  I tried a few other things like using a damp rag and putting an iron on top but honestly I don't really think it helped.  Elbow grease is what that top needed!  

A few close ups!

Guess what was under the layers of veneer?!  SOLID WOOD!  Yay for that find!  

Once it was all sanded was the fun part...PAINT.  Well almost, I had to prime it first.  I did 2 coats of Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 Primer, I had enough leftover from a previous project that I didn't need to buy any extra for the desk.  

The original plan was to paint the entire desk a dark gray that I already had (from painting my couch) but once I got the first coat of gray on top with the bottom still primed I kinda liked how it looked.  

  

Decisions!  I consulted my decorating possy and everyone overwhelmingly liked the gray with white look.  So I rolled with it!  

After the desk was painted the only decision left was what color to paint the drawer pulls.  After looking at tons of different options I went with Krylon 18kt Gold spray paint.  It was super easy to use and dried in 30 minutes, which appeals to my impatient side.  :)  I have always been a silver girl but here lately have gotten pulled into this gold trend.  I may end up changing it in a few months but for now I'm a happy girl!  

I loved the final product and even the hubby admits that it looks much better being a painted desk.  ;)  Added bonus = Total cost was less than $5!  I had everything I needed on hand except for the Krylon 18kt Gold spray paint (which was only around $4 with my 40% off coupon from Michaels)!

What about you, have you painted any furniture lately?  I would love to see your pictures!  Anyone else falling for the gold trend right now?!

DIY Rustic Pallet Shelf

This pallet shelf really just came about one day when I was bored and looking for a project.  I had a wall in my kitchen that needed something.  Picture?  Shelving?  I didn't know what but I knew it needed something. I ran across an old pallet at work that was in pretty good shape and decided it was the perfect size for the space!  So I threw it in my car and that night my pallet shelf for the Kitchen was born.  :)  It was so easy.  Basically all I did was, sand it down a little then applied oil based stain (Special Walnut) and let it sit outside for a few days (the stain smell was strong for around 2-3 days).

What do you think?  I have an unlimited supply of pallets from work, any other DIY pallet ideas that you think I should try?

The Painted Couch...YES, I said painted.

So...someone gave me a couch.  The couch was in perfect shape, it was comfy and well made but it was U.G.L.Y.  I thought about slipcovers but honestly I have not had a great experience in the past with them, they seem to never look exactly right and never stay in place and I wasn't about to have such an old couch reupholstered.  So where did that leave me?  Paint!  I googled and found that yes it was possible to paint a couch and the best part was that it looked fairly easy and cheap. So, on a Saturday I decided to give it a try, the couch certainly couldn't look any worse.

~Before~ (I forgot to take until I had already started painting)

It was actually very easy and only took around 3 hours total.  I used normal Flat Latex Paint (Lowe's) mixed with Textile Medium (from Hobby Lobby - don't forget your coupon!).  I used a mix of 1/3 Textile Medium to 2/3 Latex Paint.  In the future I would use 1/2 & 1/2 mixture to give the material a little more flexibility.  I used less than 1/2 gallon of paint for the whole couch.  Make sure you spray the material down with water before starting to paint, the water will keep the paint from absorbing too quickly.  

~After~   

I love the final product.  The couch was a little stiffer than leather for around a month or so, but once it was worn in a little it became super comfy.  I have had it as our main couch for around 2 years with no issues.  Best part - it's water resistant!  If you spill something it bubbles up on top and you can just wipe off.  

Have you ever painted fabric furniture?  If so, how did it turn out?  I would love to see pictures!