I’ve been painting up a storm the last few weeks. And I’m finally ready to start sharing with you all my progress.
Some people had their doubts that I could transform yard sale/curb side furniture into something both stylish and cozy.
While my apartment is nowhere near completion, here is a sample of what I’ve been up to.
A bookshelf with a new lease on its “shelf-life”
Donated by my namesake cousin, this pressed board bookshelf was sad and tired. With a free wallpaper sample and a few licks of a crisp white and a bold teal, I’m loving the way it pops out from the drab apartment-white walls.
Upholstered by Yours Truly
I wouldn’t say these were “re”-upholstered as they had no upholstery (or seat for that matter) to begin with. Another donation from my cousin, these chairs (there are actually two of them) were a team effort. Myself, my boyfriend, and his incredibly helpful (and patient) parents worked on cutting some plywood to size to fit these well-crafted wooden chairs. Then my mother helped me pick just the right fabric with which to cover them.
Sadly no “before” picture
Imagine a drab brown pressed board table top on a solid wood base. This table was a gift from the boy that he purchased from a co-worker for $10.00. While originally skeptical of my choice to paint it yellow, everyone’s on board now with the soft cottage yellow.
Refreshed
Again, no “before” shot, but this well-made wooden rocking chair was a light wood with a tired and faded floral ruffled set of cushions. Donated by my step-mother’s late mother, I wanted to make sure to incorporate it in the design of my new apartment. Nothing says refreshed and updated like a coat of crisp white paint and new upholstery. With the expert assistance of my mother, and a serious sale on fabric, we recovered the existing cushions with a durable teal corduroy.
Disregard the bedding, it’s on the list of things to replace
Kit can make anything look good, but this is actually the item I’m most proud of after my bookshelf. With a piece of plywood donated by the facility management guys in the building I work in, and fabric purchased for $1.50 a metre, and a staple gun… I made this gorgeous upholstered headboard that my step dad so kindly mounted to the wall for me. Purple and gray is the overarching colour scheme in the bedroom and I’m currently searching for a new comforter set.
Purpling
Purpling is the name of the colour I chose for this $4.00 yard sale find. I’m thinking about patching that hole with something in the near future, but it’s not bothering me too much at this point. Purchased on a yardsale-ing excursion with the boy, this little number was in desperate need of some TLC. I’m pretty happy with the way she turned out.
And that’s all for now.
More updates to come!
Not So Skinny Genes 