So I have a question. Raise your {invisible internet} hand if you’re guilty…
Have you ever finished a project that you were only half-happy with? And then you lived with it forever because you were all, “Meh, I’ll get to it later” ? Only you didn’t? Because other projects came up, and overwhelmed is your middle name, and you thoroughly enjoy living your life and sometimes you like to ignore the things you may or may not really like about a space …even though every time you looked at aforementioned past project, it made you twitch a little?
Yep, you’re not the only one. You may remember this dresser from the boys’ room redo last summer.
I scored this little gem off of Craigslist. And yes, that is a packet of wet wipes shamelessly shoved underneath. {Keepin’ it real.} At the time, when I finished it, I was a bit overwhelmed, so even though the stain color didn’t float my boat, we were overhauling the living room + dining room as well. I was just ready to be finito.
But every time I walked by that dresser, played in their room, or put up their laundry… it gave me a little twitch. In fast motion, it would have looked a lot like a brief head bobbing a la SNL’s A Night at the Roxbury. Anyone?
Bueller?
I had two options for changing it. I could A. remove all their clothes and drawers and hardware and move the great beasts otherwise known as their dresser to set everything up in the kitchen making it a construction zone…and a two day project or B. throw all abandon to the wind, flop down the drop cloth and go to town with a staining partay.
The entire point of this post? To show you what a complete slacker I can be. Because I totally opted for lazy (read: sane person) option b. Mind you I was careful, but simply wiped the new stain on top of the old, with a paper towel. I stayed with the grain, and even went around the hardware. I simply wiped the excess away. Everyone wins! (Except maybe my kids who had to wait for those fumes to go away…)
Tada! Sometimes, it’s the little things. DIY bloggers can be lazy. Especially this blogger.
It looks subtle, but the new stain has made a huge difference in this gal’s (tiny and embarrassingly bubble-like) world. Those bun feet don’t even bother me so much anymore, though I am looking into removing them. {They’re attached with metal rods, and I need my welder friend to set up shop in the middle of their bedroom so I don’t have to move the Mayflower again. Sounds safe + perfectly legit, right?}
What’s something you’ve gone back to correct that you weren’t happy with? Was it worth the little bit of extra time? Alas, there are no more twitches!
For now.
Have an inspired day! Muah.
I really love this piece now! I have been looking for inspiration for my son’s dresser and this was just the inspiration I needed. Thanks so much for sharing!
The dresser really looks so much better! I really like the darker stain and the white trim.
Love it! The new depth of the stain gives the dresser gravitas!
Why get rid of the bun feet when you can just hide them? Stain some wood the same as the drawers and make a “box” around them. I think that would improve the look and not require a welder
You just completely got those dusty wheels in my head turning in a completely different direction. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I share even my “silly” projects with you. DUH! Thank you so much, Katie! I may even paint ‘the box’ a simple white and make the bottom super chunky. GREAT idea, sweet brilliant lady! I will be playing with options. Update soon! ;}
Looks great! And lazy option b is more or less the same way I repaired our entertainment center last month!
Good on you for busting through the invisible force field that surrounds the project gone-not-quite-right. Excellent remake and there’s nothing lazy in overcoming the obstacles the intelligent way and coming out pleased with yourself. It takes Xena strength to return, I know.
Love,
Shalagh
I love this post! That is so completely something I would do and I am thrilled to say that I think the lazy option panned out! It looks beautiful and while I’m not your boys waiting for the fumes to go away, I think it was worth it. Go lazy
I like the bun feet!
Hahahahahaha! I think we should be friends! I would totally stain furniture IN THE KIDS ROOM and WITH A PAPER TOWEL!!!! Sometimes you just don’t have the time nor the drive to do things the -proper- way!!
AMEN! ;}
I’m going to digress. (love the darker stain) I love the plane picture above the dresser. Where did you find that? Thanks!
Hey girl! Digressions welcome! ;} Any art you see in our home was done by me. Though I am currently looking into it, and we should be carrying prints of all my original paintings on our site by no later than this winter. Fingers crossed! ;}
I had no idea! Guess I haven’t been paying attention. You do awesome work!!! The creativity is oozing……..
Hey Jen! I so don’t really expect anyone to even know that…I guess I don’t really talk about it that much. It is my very favorite venue though, and I’m looking forward to both making prints available, and creating new. ;}
I will totally buy a print. I’m an art junkie. And I love them all. Hmm… the nest or one of the trucks??
I thought that was how everyone stained?
P.S. Love it!
I love the camo ideas above to cover up the bun feet. Do it! I think it will look fab. PS I am excited to learn that you can stain over stain! I have somethings to hit with some dark Kona and a drop cloth.
It looks great! Totally worth the extra time. I completely understand what you mean… I stay at home with my son, so you see the same spaces over and over every day. It’s easy to see why little things nag at us, right? Anyway, it looks fab. Great job.
The dresser looks so different with the darker stain! What color did you use… this time around, of course!
Can’t wait to see your artwork as prints for sale!
Renee
Hey! This time I used Minwax’s English Chestnut. I started out with Early American, and it’s usually one of my favorites, but it was an old can and the stuff had separated out so badly that it wasn’t fully mixed to it’s deepest tone. Thus the not-as-I’d-hoped-for colors. ;} Thanks- we can’t wait to get them up and running!