Summer Project No. 2

This is our newest seat for the front deck. I'm so bummed I didn't get a before picture! I'll try to describe it:

This was a freebie: neighbors Joe & Sylvia moved into a condo and randomly gave away little pieces of furniture and knick knacks. This particular piece was covered in approximately 20 coats of random paint splatters. Obviously a painting stool for perhaps all of the 32 years Joe & Sylvia have lived on A Avenue.

I contemplated leaving it as is and just applying a coat of poly. Paint splatters ranged from 1970s avocado and grunge gold to brick red, multiple shades of whites and a bit of brown. Instead, I spent a few hours with a sander trying to sand off enough layers to make the seat smooth.

After painting a base of chocolate brown, I gave red, orange, yellow and turquoise paint and free reign on design. A neighbor girl helped, and this is their creation. I love it! It works perfectly for an extra seat on the front deck.

Cost breakdown:

• stool: FREE
• paints: $4.99 for brown based, polyurethane and the other colors were already on hand

First Summer Project

I have a long list of projects for the summer. It usually carries over from one summer to the next; I think I've got items on this list that originated four or five years ago.

This is a bedside table project for Cam's room. I finished it in early June (but am late getting it posted!).

BEFORE:

 

Materials:

• Night stand: $10 on Craigslist
• Paint: free (found leftovers from other home projects)
• Hardware: re-used original hardware with a fresh coat of hammered nickel spray paint (also on hand from another project)
  

AFTER:

Cam is very happy with his new table. He stores lots of things in the drawer: marbles, stickers and various little cars. Every night, after we turn out the light, he reaches over in the dark and grabs a car out of the drawer.