Night table reinvention how-to.

Thanks for all of the ideas and input from yesterday's post on my color dilemma! I'm still debating about my Robin's egg blue letters in my booth, although, I must admit I am leaning towards adding dark brown edges to them, or making them more of a weathered chocolate brown, and I will share any updates. In the meantime...

A copy of weekends ago I snagged two matching night tables at an estate sale. I like the simple straight lines of these miniature dressers; plenty of storage and still small enough for the tiniest of bedrooms. I knew what I wanted to do with at least one of them.(I've shared my technique before, but it's worth sharing again...)

...First, I removed the drawers, and the knobs, and I primed everything with KILZ. (Sold at most hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe's in quarts and gallons)
Then, I painted everything with my signature Robin's egg blue paint.(It's a pale blue with just a subtle hint of green...although it's hard to tell in this photo...)

....and, here's the recipe for my Robin's egg blue paint in a gallon size with a medium base. (I used an eggshell finish enamel this go around.) The pale blue doesn't photograph nearly as well as it looks in person, and I am not sure why...maybe it's the lighting?
Finally, I antiqued the entire piece, as well as the lil' knobs with my tobacco colored glaze. I use one part dark brown paint mixed into three parts Behr Brand glaze. Paint it on, rub off lightly, and you're done painting.

Lastly, I finished this little baby off by decoupaging old book pages inside the drawers and on the back of the night table for a finished look. To do this, all you do is tear old book pages from several different sized books, and dip them in liquid starch. Wipe the excess starch from the page and apply the page to the drawer bottom or back of the dresser, smoothing out all bubbles and left over liquid starch. Let it dry and you are good to go.

This little treasure will be making it's way to Camas Antiques today. If you've got an old plain piece just sitting around your home looking like it wants a makeover, try my method, with any color you like, or a shade of white or cream. (I still have some copies of my Furniture Painting kit available here, if you feel like you need a more in depth tutorial.) I think you'll be happy with the results!

Comments

[Emilie]

Tracey, I feel I have been out of your blog loop for a long time. I just got caught up on everything. Congrats on the move and the new shop space and Bob... goodbye to Bear. Your blog is as enchanting as the first day I came across it! Nearly THREE years ago! ~

[Laura]

Thanks for the instructions! I appreciate all that you share with us! One of these days I will get to my projects....and then I will have to come back for a refresher course!
Take care,
Laura

[Vanessa]

They're adorable!! I so want to paint my side tables white!

[Vicki K]

It just looks so good when you do it!! Does dipping the book pages in starch mean you could remove it later with water?

[Tracey Buxton]

Yes, you may later remove the pages with water on a cloth.
Tracey

Sent from my iPhone

[Vanessa]

Hi Tracey, just catching up on the weeks blogs. I love the letters in your booth space. darkening them with brown edges would help them to be seen a little better, but how about doing a little draping with some lace, burlap, or your checkered brown and cream on the things behind your letters? The Robins egg blue is so you, or, go and buy another set of letters, and paint those black, and switch them out every so often!LOL
Vanessa

[Susan]

What a fantastic transformation! I can't wait to get to all of my painting projects!
I love the drawers lined with old book pages! Wonderful!
Blessings!

[Carla]

They adorable! I'm getting ready to breathe new life into my kitchen table and chairs and I'll be using your painting techniques to do it!

I just LOVE the book pages as drawer liners. Such a fantastic little surprise when the drawers are open.

[Dori]

Such a sweet little piece. And don't you just love a small, quick, neat little project!

About your letters, I'm kind of liking the idea of darkening the edges, too. And/or I wonder if you could go with a slighter darker version of your signature robin's egg blue? Eggs come in many different shades, and it would still be very recognizable as being Tracey. :-)

[Yankee Doodle]

Great look Tracey, I love that Robin's egg blue color, it looks great on the stands. Also like the idea for the drawer liners.

I really think that the letters should be done in the black to make them POP in the booth. The blue is cute but it kinda blends in with the booth and if you are using it as the advertising extension for your business I really think the black would be more noticeable.

[Susan at Charm of the Carolines]

Tracy, it's precious! Good job!

Susan

[Yolanda]

ove your blog!! Just wondering if your DVD included tutorials on how to redo a totally messed up piece of antique furniture? I got an old armoire from my mom's basement and it has wood lifting off of the top of it and I don't think priming will help at all, I'm thinking a remover of some sort. If your dvd can help me, please let me know. Thanks!!