I'm one of those people who holds on to old family furniture out of pure nostalgia. My bedside table is the chair from my first bedroom set, my coffee table is from my parents' house circa 1980-something and I've been keeping my brother's wooden desk from his first bedroom set (without really using it) for years. My mom painted it bright blue in the '90s and swapped out the handles...but let's just say that it doesn't match anything I currently own. So for this month's Shoestring Makeover, and with the holidays coming up, I decided to sand, prime and paint that old desk and turn it into a mini-bar. And it only cost me just over $50!
Materials:
- Primer - $13.95
- Mistint latex paint (a creamy light beige to complement my dark walls) - $4
- Coarse sandpaper - $2.95 for three sheets (I used one)
- Paint brushes x2 - $5.95 each
- New brass handles x4 - $3.99 each
Total: $48.76 plus tax
What I did:
1. Wipe down desk with a damp cloth to remove dust; remove drawers and hardware.
2. Sand down rough bits (there really weren't that many).
3. Prep with a primer that is safe to use over old paint/wood.
4. Paint with latex paint.
5. Attach new hardware.
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Et voila! To continue the look of the framed postcards, photos and ephemera already on the wall, I added two of my favourite things: a pencil drawing a friend of mine did in 9th grade and a lithograph by my friend, the artist Justine Dart. Now I'm ready to entertain, all I need is some liquor and party mates....anyone ready for some holiday cheer?
Past Shoestring Makeovers: