Monday, September 7, 2009

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

On my latest drab to fab makeover quest, I came across one little item at the thrift store that had the potential to be something grand. As I was browsing through the furniture section at the thrift store, wishing that I had a vehicle big enough to bring some of the larger pieces home with me, I bumped into this little baby.
Now I know what you are thinking, "Seriously, someone actually etched birds into the glass and intended it the focal feature?" I had the same thought. I almost passed by this little baby, but with a price tag of $1.95 how could I pass up? It's real wood and at that price, I just had to snag it up! I don't blame the original owner for tossing this little baby to the curb, but I knew with some TLC it would be no longer be neglected as it had been.

I headed to Home Depot and purchased my spray paint colors of choice and got right to work! First I removed all the hooks from the board which was not an easy task as they had gunk on them and made it difficult to remove. After I removed all the hooks, I sanded it down and then went to town spray painting. The color I choose was Rustoleum Heirloom White. I love love love white wood so it was an obvious choice!
I did a couple coats on the wood, I think 3 total and after that was done it looked a little something like this.
Already looking SO much better!!! For the hooks I decided to paint those an espresso brown color. Originally I had intended to use this in my master bathroom to hold my jewelry which ended up not working out because there is no wall large enough that isn't already in use to put it on. Anyways, I said that all to say that we have dark chocolate/espresso brown woods in my master bed/bathroom so it was the perfect fit.
So, I didn't get a picture of the hooks in the gold to brown fix-up process, but I am sure you are all well familiar with how that goes. I did a couple coats on the screws & hook and it is simply amazing what spray paint can do!! Here is a picture of the hooks reattached on the shelf after they got their sprucing up.



Again, already looking GORGEOUS, but we still aren't done yet!!

Now, for the center of the shelf (where the UGLY birds used to be) I decided to pop that off the shelf, it was held up by some thick construction paper like backing and some staples (heavy duty) but it come off really easy, and then I coated it with some...great ready for this....chalkboard paint! Are you suprised? Yah, didn't think so. I am obessed I know. I did 2 coats of the chalkboard paint on the mirror.
So now comes the big completion (my favorite part..especially since I am so impatient in the fix-up process!!!) Since I had removed what was holding the mirror up I needed to figure out a more permanent solution to reattached it to the shelf. GLUE GUN TO THE RESCUE!!!
I glued the endges of the mirror to the back of the frame and made sure it was secure on their before flipping it up. Finally, my favorite part had come, the end result all put together!!!




Don't you just love it?! Who would have thought that ugly ducking shelf for $1.95 could turn out to be something so pretty? I simply love it. Now I know you are thinking where is this shelf going to go since my original intention for it was a no go. Well, as I have said before my house is still very much a work in progress. This is our 2nd full bathroom.

Okay, I know it doesn't look like much NOW but in the spring (if all goes as planned) this will be a finished FULL 2nd bathroom. Our builders already roughed in the plumbing for us so we need just to piece it together and as you see already my lovely little shelf will reside here. I can't wait until I can post pics of a complete bathroom with this adorable little shelf in use! So, next time you see an ugly duckling don't be afraid to snatch it up and turn it into something gorgeous! And really for $6 total to fix up this little baby...you just can't go wrong!!

I wanted to share another new little feature in my home. I got this gorgeous night light on sale at Kirklands today for $6 (originally $10) and I am in love!! I am a sucker for any kind of monogram and I just don't think you can find a cuter night light than this!



I can't wait to hear your thoughts on my new additions, so please let me hear them!! :)
Sending you lots of love!
xoxo
Kimmy

I added this post to the Shanty 2 Chic Rustoleum Revamp Party!!
Shanty 2 Chic

48 comments:

Magic Brush said...

That nightlight is sooooo cute! Great job on that hanger too!

Sherrie said...

What a difference on the hanger! Great job! I love the nighlight melts my heart, so pretty!

Unknown said...

that looks so great! I wish I had an eye for that. Usually I just snicker at that sort of stuff at the thriftstore and keep walking!

Lisa Surran said...

Love the redo on the shelf! I'm ready to head to the thrift stores today to find a diamond in the rough. :-) Thanks for sharing the process!

Lisa Surran said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sue said...

Love what you did with that shelf! If you use it to hang jackets you can even leave reminder notes for yourself! The night light is really sweet too!

Shanty 2 Chic said...

Super cute... What a cute shape it has too! Great job!
~Whitney

Free Art Printables said...

That looks lovely!! I love the monogram lamp idea!... Hmmmm.. THank so much for joining in on the party! :) Jen

Shannan Martin said...

Holy cow - Lovely is right! I'm very impressed. :)

Anne said...

A-DOR-A-BLE! Nothing like a little spray paint to bring something back to life!

Anonymous said...

I cannot even begin to tell you how much BETTER that shelf looks!

Shanty 2 Chic said...

I love the shelf! What a difference! Cute blog too! ~ Ashley~ shanty2chic

Manuela said...

Loved what you did!!
Thanks for stopping by! :)

Debra@CommonGround said...

Great Job! That took alot of vision to see past all that. Can't wait to see it in it's final glory!
Debra

Sarah said...

that shelf really turned out great. love the chalk board idea!

mustard seeds said...

I really like that.
Sheila

nannykim at spindle cottage said...

Nice makeover!! I didn't realize how big it was until I compared it to your foot!

jninecostumes said...

Excellent re-do!!!

Sarah said...

Beautiful job on the shelf. I love crafty creations! God's blessings, Sarah :D

Felicia said...

Love it! :)

From the Old InkWell said...

So I had been wondering if you could paint a mirror with chalkboard paint. I guess you can. I have a project a waiting.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that turned out amazing! Love how you used the chalkboard in the middle. Such a great idea!!!

Anonymous said...

You did a wonderful job on that shelf. Totally transformed and the end result is so lovely.

Miss Mustard Seed said...

The chalkboard in the middle makes the hanger. Nice job!

stephanie h said...

love it!

Katie said...

Great job on the shelf! My immediate thought for the mirror area was to put some batting and fabric on it and use it hang earrings onto, but I like your chalkboard paint idea better.

Embellished Bayou said...

Great job, it's a wonder what a little spray paint can do!

Connie said...

You perfomed magic on that old shelf, it is beautiful.

Amy {The Red Chair Blog} said...

Great shelf redo! You really had great vision to see the potential in that piece!

trish said...

Too cute! :o)

Unknown said...

Great job!

Nancy

Alyssa said...

I have an almost identical one (sans the ugly bird in the middle) in my garage. Now I must get it out and copy you!
great job.
love it!

Alyssa
lifeoflyssie.com

ohAmanda said...

That is fantastic! I am always too scared to buy anything like that and try it!

Awesome job!

Trudi said...

Just Darling. Ugly to great.

Jenn said...

Great job! Love how you can see past the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan waiting to pop out of a piece!

Wendy said...

A completely magic makeover! Great Job!

Unknown said...

Your shelf is just wonderful! What a super makeover you did. Someone will think you paid a fortune for it. Good job!

Have a great weekend.

Charla

Unknown said...

Sweet little nightlight. You did a great job transforming that outdated piece. Stop by anytime, I love comments too.

K@The Thrifty Teacher said...

Love the redo on the shelf :) Great job!

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

That's really pretty! Isnt paint amazing?

Brittany said...

really pretty!! i love white spray paint.

stop by my Goodwill party every Wednesday and link up your thrifty finds!!

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

That is gorgeous! Holy cow! I love it!

Nori said...

Great job!
I'm SO with you on having a bigger vehicle. I've been begging my bf to get a pick-up truck. i feel so limited in what I can work on. But i have to say, I've been really blessed lately by people on Craigslist who have been willing to drop things off for me, so I guess I can't really complain.

Thanks for sharing your creative work! Can't wait to see your completed 2nd bathroom.

Nori@love-2-create

Maureen said...

Your hanger looks lovely and I'm sure it will be terrific in your new bath. However, I guess I'll be the lone voice saying I actually like the etched birds. I thought it was really unusual. I can't enlarge the detail in the photo but I think they are pheasants or maybe quail. Maybe it's just that I've seen too many things painted with chalkboard paint lately, but I would have put the little etched mirror back in. I think you should save the mirror so you can put it back in someday (if you choose). Keep in mind that I'm an old fossil (over 50) so my taste might be very different from yours. :)

Tiffany said...

Looks terrific! I think the chalkboard paint was a great touch! Also, that nightlight is definitely adorable!

Anonymous said...

Please please please tell me you kept the lovely little etched birds! I thought they were the best part of the piece (I'm an avid bird collector!). Otherwise the paint job has created a miracle.

Rhonda said...

Love your transformation! It looks great! Love finding bargains like that! LOVE spray paint!

trish said...

Great job!
:o) Trish

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