Finished

Woo hoo! Project complete, and I could not be happier. My friend Emily did a great job helping me distress each of the nighstands. I know I was testing her patience a bit as I worked in big chunks and slathered on too much brown paint. I asked her to go back after I was finished and fix a few places. She did, and now they match and are not overly done. She said, "You just want a sort of shadow" and you do, really. We did the technique using craft brushes and watering down the paint. You apply the diluted paint in areas that you have sanded (like the corners that would naturally wear) and then wipe the area with a lint free cloth.

Once Emily was finished, I told her she should put the hardware on so we could get the full picture (I, of course, was still slathering on excessive amounts of the brown paint). She put the knobs on and remarked, "Oh, how cute". She got to the handle on the bottom drawer and said, "Erica, oh no". Well, not being the type to measure, or the type to really think about this sort of thing, I purchased a handle with a width that did not fit the drill holes. All that matters is the look you are going for, right? Measurements come later. So, my husband had a little extra work with the drill. It turned out alright, I might go back later with some wood filler and smooth over those old holes.

I wanted to be so precise with time and money spent. I worked in good faith, but cannot deliver. Instead of keeping a log, I allowed the time portion to blur together, and I currently do not feel up to looking at past blogs for a budget analysis. I believe it is approximately $80.00 a nightstand. I think they look great and will serve as furniture that will last us through the years. Many times I have a very specific picture in my mind of what I want for the house. Being able to refinish something gives me that opportunity and can potentially save money. Do not, however, plan on saving any time. If it is a hobby, then the time spent is like a bonus. If you need a quick fix, you might not find this sort of thing so satisfying. I would say I probably put 4 hours worth of work into the project...maybe a little more.

The other images are from a baby shower I had for a friend. These are a few simple yet elegant solutions for decorations. They also cost next to nothing. I borrowed the vases from a friend. She bought a collection of them from a thrift store and split the cost with someone. The different shapes and shades of blue look beautiful grouped together. The tulle at the bases had already been purchased for gift wrapping purposes. The shower was for a boy, and I felt this elegant look still took on the title of decoration without being "cheesy baby". The frames were from around the house. I removed the pictures, cut scrap sewing fabric down to size as matting, and printed the words out on the computer. Simple, chic, affordable.