IT’S DONE, DONE, DONE..….

The dresser that I purchased from Kijiji last April has finally been finished.  I can’t believe how long it took to get it finished but you’ll find out why once you read the rest of this post.  I originally blogged about the dresser here and I thought I would get it done so quickly back then…..
Here’s what it looked like in it’s original home:

Since the dresser was for my daughter’s room and her walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Pink Raspberry 2075-40 and Pale Daffodil  2017-60 we decided to go fairly neutral with the dresser and used Benjamin Moore’s Alabaster OC-129. 

Then we, but really I mean “I” sanded down the dresser, primed and painted it.  I used Benjamin Moore’s Fresh Start to prime it and then gave it three coats of the Alabaster to ensure it was a good strong finish.  I used a foam brush and roller – I have to look into a paint sprayer – must talk to Donna of dh Designs about that!! 

I then remembered a Celtic knot stencil I had bought awhile back for some project and never used and I thought It would be the perfect finishing touch.  We decided to use black paint to tie in the other black items she has in her room.  Here’s a picture of the drawers after my daughter stencilled them, she liked doing that part…

Then I was on the hunt for crystal knobs for the middle drawers and black handles for the outer ones.  Well, after much looking around I found these ones on Ebay for the fabulous price of $16.00 including shipping for SIX!!! WOOHOO!!

And then I got these black handles at Lee Valley Hardware.

So I thought that would be all it took to renew this fab dresser but unfortunately – I wasn’t quite done.  After we put the drawers in we realized that the dresser was bowed in the middle –  we thought it was probably due to the fact that it is very long and only has four legs – two on each side and no support what so ever in the middle.  :(

Anyways, hubby to the rescue  - he suggested that we replace the back of the dresser as the original piece of wood was split and damaged and he thought that may be were the problem was originating. 

So off he went to the Home Depot and came back with a nice new piece of plywood and after screwing it in place the dresser was level and

TA DA!!!

the problem was fixed!!!

So here’s the afters FINALLY!!!

And a close up:

See how nice and straight it is and all the drawers close nicely now. 

The black handles and the Celtic knot stencil with the crystal knobs on the middle drawers work very well with the black bed frame and mirrors and give the dresser some interest. 

Dear daughter is very happy with it and she has already filled all the drawers and dear Mom is so happy to not see clothes all over the floor and bed…

So a happy ending after all – so the moral of this post is when you are purchasing a used dresser ensure that it is level and not sagging in the middle or you may have to do a little more work than you anticipated…..

I am linking up this transformation to Metamorphosis Monday’s at Between Naps on the Porch.  Thanks for taking the time to check out my makeover and please don’t forget to stop over at Pat’s blog to see what everyone else has been up to!

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!

Email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.

Lisa

A BUNCH OF TWIGS

I was visiting The Lennoxx the other day and Linda had a great post on a bedroom done by Thom Filicia.  He had the perfect little night table in this room:

I love tables with branch and twig bases and I thought I’d look around and see all the different ones I could find. 

Elte Sherwood Accent table

via Houzz modern family room design by new york architect Dufner Heighes Inc

via Houzz contemporary living room design by san francisco interior designer Michael Merrill Design Studio, Inc

contemporary living room design by san francisco interior designer Michael Merrill Design Studio, Inc

 There’s even a DIY to make this table at The Style Files. 

Jayson twig table via HarmonyandHomeblog

Here’s a metal version

viaStylehive

Another one using twigs and LED lights.

via West Elm

  viaRoomRemix

viatheHouzz

viaDecorPad

Did I mention that they are everywhere?  They are tiny and versatile and bring a little of the outdoors in…I know what I’ll be looking for…

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!

Email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.

Lisa

Wabi Sabi

I went to the Pittsburgh Paints seminiar a few days ago and listened to a great talk by Janice Lindsay (author of All about Colour) and Canada's premier colour designer. She was discussing a new trend in decorating and designing called Wabi sabi.
The definition of wabi sabi (according to Wikipedia) is a Japanese aesthetic which can best be described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete". The Japanese describe wabi sabi more as an emotion - one of solitude and quiet moments where North Americans are more likely to describe it as an imperfect object.

"nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect"

Characteristics of the wabi sabi aesthetic include authenticity, asymmetry, simplicity, modesty, intimacy, and the suggestion of the natural processes. Items such as fading autumn leaves would be an example of wabi-sabi or a chip or crack in a vase which may make it more interesting.

I love this idea that there is beauty in the imperfect, as most of the items in my home are imperfect, due to a busy household of four children and three cats. It is also great to embrace the fact that things can create an emotion and that they do not have to cost alot. Here's a quote that I love that I think captures the essence of wabi-sabi.

Ring the bells that can still ring
Forget your perfect offering
There’s a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

Here's some photos:



A wabi sabi tea bowl image from Wikipedia


eclectic kitchen design by san francisco interior designer Susan M. Davis

Photos from Skona Hem and Emmas Design Blogg


Images from http://www.poetichome.com/
Image from http://www.tendir.com/ Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architectsvia DeZona

Photos from Apartment Therapy via Sköna Hem and Emmas Design Blogg

Kelly over at Design Ties also attended this seminar and wrote a great post on wabi sabi as well. Check it
out.

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space – email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.