Recap.

After that DIY week in October, I've been all about it. Recovering chairs, painting, stripping furniture, polishing hardware, I feel like an Ace (hardware associate).

The first project was simple. All it involved was a chair and jamming a staple gun. A Manuel Canovas velvet covers the seat now, the chair was a find at Sleepy Poet in Charlotte. It's a great side chair, it's currently sitting at my parsons desk. If you're interested, I'll sell it for $65.

Close up of the Manuel Canovas velvet - Chinese print.

You've seen these before, these were the first in the series of painting furniture. Chinese red bamboo Chinese Chippendale side chairs, they're a pair. The intricacy of the bamboo was so much fun to paint with 4 coats of red paint. (psych.)
The seats are covered in a raised velvet quatrefoil on a sturdy cotton. Also for sale: for the pair $350, unless we're friends then I'll tell you over a glass of wine how much they'll be.

This project happened over the week between Christmas and New Years. The weather was perfect so we were able to paint outside. I was scared of breathing, looking, touching, sniffing any of the chemicals I was sanding off.  I'm not a huge wuss, I would recommend safety over getting debris in your eye.

Real happy.

It took a day to sand all of the varnish off. Not the most fun aspect of the whole project, but I did congratulate myself with a cocktail when I finished.

We painted the old radio box in black lacquer and then I went in with gold detail.

Temporary bar "cart" looks oh so sharp.

A detailed detail of the gold detail. 

Next project: the big'un. The 9 drawered dresser.

I was deterred by the intricacies of the drawer fronts. They scared me. We took off all of the hardware and used Brasso to bring out the yellow brassy color. I don't think they were meant to be polished, but it worked. As a non-lawyer, I must say I would recommend testing the Brasso or brass polish on an inconspicuous place before attacking all of the hardware like I did. 

Hardcore sanding took place. 

This thing is huge.

Here are the drawers. It seemed like they kept multiplying, must have been the fumes and the debris in my eye.

It looks so handsome, all polished and black lacquered. 

The glow from the corner is the Christmas Palm.

In the end, I must give credit to MB for not being able to sit still and semi-forcing me to complete these projects. Thank you for being antsy.

On the Horizon

My next do-it-yourself project will be making a simple wardrobe into something of spectacular proportions.

I plan to take the Pax wardrobe from Ikea.

Source: ikea.com via Adair on Pinterest

Paint it, probably white. Add molding. And door hardware.

Source: myknobs.com via Adair on Pinterest

Source: houseofknobs.com via Adair on Pinterest

Does anyone else see the resemblance?

Source: google.com via Adair on Pinterest

The finishing touch.

Source: myoverlays.com via Adair on Pinterest

Or, this one...

Source: myoverlays.com via Adair on Pinterest

To get the final product:

Source: myoverlays.com via Adair on Pinterest

Added storage (also known as an extra closet) and very handsome.

My hands are covered in primer, that's as far as I got. This weekend I promised myself to follow through with a how-to. I got about 27% of the way, I have two chairs and a side table primed and ready for paint and the chairs' fabric has been picked out. Now all I need is a staple gun and someone who can finish painting. I really enjoyed how-to week and was inspired to use some tools this weekend, felt great. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well. To bring how-to week to a close I have brought to you a few great $ money $ saving how-tos, the best kind...

Source: ivillage.com via Adair on Pinterest

I've actually completed this one!  It's simple and takes very little time. All it takes is a trip to a home improvement store for the plywood, a craft store for the batting and a fabric store for the fabric.

Source: ivillage.com via Adair on Pinterest

Mercury glass lamps with a natural shade, fancy + casual, fansual.

Source: ivillage.com via Adair on Pinterest

How-to-paint a natural fiber rug, and you don't have to stick to stripes, make a stencil and create your own pattern.

Source: ivillage.com via Adair on Pinterest

I would make this and then spray paint it gold. Fansual.

Source: ivillage.com via Adair on Pinterest

You are not limited to burlap. Choose any fabric + the nailhead trim.

Source: thenester.com via Adair on Pinterest

Honestly, this is waaaay out of my league. I do not own a needle and thread, let alone a whole sewing machine. If you're courageous, this how-to is a step-by-step with pictures and it sounds very simple, let me know how it goes.

Gold Spray Paint

Source: enchanteddreamweddings.com via Birch on Pinterest

Source: myevaforeva.blogspot.com via Adair on Pinterest

If you have extra antlers laying around the house, an antler will make a beautiful & organic objet d'art

Amanda Carol at Home takes gold spray paint to a whole-nother-level. She takes an Ikea dresser, finds the greek key motifs at My Overlays that can be adhered to the drawer front, spray paints them gold and final product is an ultra-glamorous Hollywood Regency dresser

Amanda Carol found the greek key motifs at My O'verlays, please, if you're feeling ultra-DIY-y look at these and imagine all you could do to old furniture!

Source: myoverlays.com via Adair on Pinterest

I feel like I hit the treasure trove of online DIY, these wood appliques are genius!

How to repaint furniture...without sanding

I'm going to try this how-to this weekend, I'm blocking out 4 hours on Saturday and actually doing it. I'll let you know on Monday if this actually happened.

Source: justagirlblog.com via Regina on Pinterest

This is a step-by-step how-to of how to paint a piece of furniture without sanding, which is by FAR the worst part.
Visit Justagirl Blog to see her process and exactly what she bought.

Update

Updating flea-market finds, antique store deals and hand-me down furniture is a great way to put your personal style into a piece and make it fit into your home. These are great ideas to make them uniquely yours.

Source: casasugar.com via Dvora on Pinterest

Fantastic agate and gemstone knobs.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Adair on Pinterest

Step by step guide on how to re-paint old furniture

Source: tipjunkie.com via Adair on Pinterest

How-to refinish, repaint and rehardware an Ikea dresser, visit here.

Another one bites the dust

Does everyone's weekend go by in the blink of an eye?? I have all of these to-dos that never get to-done. These are some projects I picture myself doing on a Satur/Sunday with all that free time on my hands.

Source: henryhappened.com via Adair on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Adair on Pinterest

Source: marylandpinkandgreen.com via Adair on Pinterest

Source: ruffledblog.com via Hidden Garden on Pinterest

Source: None via Kaylyn on Pinterest

Source: isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com via McCall on Pinterest

Source: None via Adair on Pinterest

Click on the Pinterest link below each picture, it will take you to the Pinterest page which will direct you where to find the full sit for all of these DIYs. Let me know if you can't get there and I'll send you a link. And now Monday is already over. Must be a time warp or something.