OT - What the wife did for play when the hubby was away - YouLookFab Forum

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OT - What the wife did for play when the hubby was away

Vani

Veteran

DH was away in India for most of March and some of April and I was looking forward to some me time, a few fun projects and a LOT of YLF, shopping and wardrobe cleaning. Instead I was stuck with working 16 hrs a day for the most part. I did however manage to squeeze some fun projects, the biggest of which was a lot of hard work but thoroughly enjoyable. As some of you know my in-laws arrived for a 3 month stint from India about 2 weeks ago and my projects all revolved around re-doing the guest bedroom - making it pleasant and livable and so on. I didn't want to invest in new furniture or in more than a few decorative accents.

I found a vintage-y old (built in 1958!) chest of drawers for $40 at a furniture re-sale store and decide to refinish it - sand, prime and paint and switch out the hardware. I love how it has turned out and want to share with you all why I couldn't use even some of the little spare time I had on YLF.
Before
After

The lamp you see in the left corner actually has a wine red glass base. I didn't want to buy a new lamp so I bought a pair of knee-high socks at target, cut off the socks at the ankles, cut each sock open vertically and sewed them together to form a giant sock. The slipped the sock over the lamp base and used some thread as a drawstring at the neck of the lamp. I love the cheery colors!

Pictures of the bed, some of my amateur art work and a headboard I made with foam-core board and foam and inexpensive fabric:
Pic 1
Pic 2

The duvet set is by Dwell Studio for Target and I love it. Has my favorite colors. I love that Dwell Studio hooked up with Target, I've always wanted to buy some of their stuff and now I could afford them without breaking the bank.
I just had exactly 3 12 x 12 blank canvases lying around for ages so I decided to do some watercolors to go with the colors in the duvet set. It's pretty amateurish but I don't mind as long as it brightens the room I didn't notice until now that the headboard is a bit crooked, LOL.

Anyways, not to write a book, but I've been meaning to share this pictures with you all for a while now. I feel so proud whenever I see that chest - so many hours of hard work and do overs. I don't think I will ever let go of that one piece of furniture. Funny how I wanted something disposable and this is the one thing I don't want to dispose of, ever. Everybody loves that room and it is my favorite now, of the whole house.

Thanks ladies!

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from Katiepea

Louise

Veteran

Wow what a beautiful chest you are very talented x

Mac

Veteran

Awesome!

sinead

Vani- I love everything you've done. Great work on the dresser- it looks beautiful. And as far as your "amateur" painting goes? Before I read the description I thought it was all part of a set- went with the bedding. So in my book, it was worthy of Dwell Studio.

Srujana

Veteran

Hope your in-laws enjoyed and appreciated your handi-work...you did a fantastic job! I love the canvases, and the lamp was a super clever idea! And the chest looks so fresh and new!

Inge

(website)

You did this all by yourself, Vani!? You have my utmost respect!!:-) I am so not handy, so I admire people who can transform furniture and/or an entire room all by themselves.

All your hard work has definitely paid off, wow!! And grey, yellow and white is such a fantastic colour combination. I bet you are smiling everytime you look at your new Duvet set. What a great surprise for your DH and in-laws too.

Lisa

Veteran

Wow! *I am bowing down to you*

JennyK (NC)

What beautiful work you've done Vani! I am really impressed. That lamp is so cool - how did you ever think of that? I'm sure your in-laws are very pleased to have such a personal, customized room to stay in.

Beth

Veteran

Lovely! The mix of white yellow, and gray is soothing and soft, and the chest is fantastic. I love the bamboo accents and the turned legs. What a find and your hard work makes it a keeper. Nice job:)

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Nice job Vani!

Anonymous

Vani, you've got such a great eye - I love the overall design! How hard you must have worked to sand and paint and prime all those grooves in the drawers! What an accomplishment, and it looks beautiful! I'm sure your in-laws appreciated the 'home' space!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Vani you are so talented and I think your room renovations look fantastic!

If you ever come to Australia you can come and teach me your ways!!!

Rosie

Veteran

Fantastic work! Looks great. You've done some things I always wanted to try, like the headboard!

I love that bedspread...love yellow and gray! I may have to look into it for my next bedspread.

AJ

Veteran

Oh well done, Vani!! I am so afraid to try refinishing furniture. You did a great job with the dresser! The lamp redo is so creative.

I really like your artwork! Puts a nice pop of color over the bed and the great headboard.

marianna

Veteran

I adore this! The color scheme is so fab! Well done.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh! How clever and productive, Vani! I'm much impressed.

Anonymous

Vani, you've done an amazing job! Your inlaws may never want to leave with such a beautiful room.

Maya

Veteran

Oooh how fabulously crafty you are! Very clever. I'm sure your in laws will be VERY impressed. No typical saas-bahu drama with a fabulous DiL like you :p

elpgal

Veteran

Love everything. That sock idea is pure genius!

Queen Mum

Veteran

very impressive Vani- you are quite talented!

taylor

Veteran

Lots of love and hard work in that room!!! VERY nice job!!

Sihaya

Veteran

Vani - a huge round of applause. I love your painting - I don't think it's amateurish at all. Love your creativity in doing the lamp base. And I hear you on never wanting to get rid of the chest of drawers. What a great gift to your in laws - the room looks light and cheery and one in which I would feel relaxed and refreshed. I am also inspired that you were able to work so hard and focus on being so productive. When I have alone time, I tend to waste so much of it procrastinating!

Ele

(website)

Everything looks awesome, Vani! I love that you did all this yourself, you're very talented and productive.

This is exactly the kind of stuff I do when I have the time. In high school I loved re-finishing furniture in my parents' garage, and now I'm learning upholstery so I can do soft pieces, too. My next big "home" project is to sew a slipcover for our boring IKEA couch- I want to liven it up a bit.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Wow Vani thanks for sharing! What a gorgeous room. The chest of drawers looks amazing!!! Just out of curiousity, what tools did you have to use for this project? I love the artwork you have made that mirrors the bedspread colours too. The whole thing is perfect, and oh so cheery!!!!

Alecia

Veteran

That dresser is incredible! I LOVE it. You lucked out in finding that piece. What a great design! The room looks very welcoming and cheery.

Lena

Vani, you rock!!! I'm very impressed. I'm totally intimidated by a project like this, so my hat is off to you!

Also, love the color scheme! It's cozy, refreshing and cheerful all at the same time. I hope your in-laws approved

April

Veteran

I'm so late chiming in here, Vani, but this is wonderful. A techie with an artistic soul -- you are the complete package!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Vani, you are a budding Martha Stewart!

Vani

Veteran

So sorry for replying so late but a big THANK YOU to everyone! It is always so wonderful knowing how enthusiastic, encouraging and supportive all you wonderful ladies on YLF are. If I haven't said it before, I LOVE YLF

sinead, aww, thank you for your kind words!

Srujana, Jenny, Sihaya, elpgal, thank you! Actually, the idea for the lamp was inspired by this project so I can;t take to much credit for originality

Inge, you honor me with your words You are so right, I DO catch myself smiling every time I see the sun rays fall on the duvet. The yellow is so cheery!

Beth, LauraE, That's what cinched it for me too, the detailing! It was a bit of a learning curve painting the bamboo like trim because too little paint in the brush was causing unevenness and too much was causing the paint to puddle in the corners. It took some figuring out and work but I managed to get them done without looking too obviously bad.

Theresa, LOL, I would LOVE to - both come to Australia to meet you and also work with you

Rosie, thanks! Do let me know if I can help in anyway. I think the Dwell Studio line is still available on target.com. I hope you can find what something you like.

AJ, Sihaya, thanks!! I find I get things done better when I don't think everything through (!) I had a very general idea of some painting work when I undertook the project. Once I brought the dresser home I figured out everything that needed to be done. I needed a little guidance from the folks at Home Depot and a few tools but it was fairly easy. Do give it a shot! This is a wonderful site I got some very useful tips from.

Maya, LOL, thank you My in-laws, by their own admission, are "aesthetically interior decor challenged" so there weren't too many remarks from them. But when my MIL's sister who lives here in the US and doesn't offer up compliments too easily raved about it, it more than made up for all

Ele, wow, is there anything you can't do?! You are going to be my go-to-guru for any new projects I will take up. Keep us posted on the slipcover?

Tam, thankie Tools, hmm... a 2" angled tip nylon paint brush, small brush for the trim on the drawers, LOTS of heavy grit sandpaper for sanding old paint, finer grit sanding block for in between coats, hardware - drawer pull and knobs, drill to drill holes for swapping out hardware (all new hardware comes with screw holes at a different distance/closer set than the old 1958 ones), hammer and a few small nails to fix minor issues, screwdriver, oil base spray primer and acrylic water based paint. I think I've covered everything! I had most tools already so that helped too, but I always think buying basic tools is a wise investment

April, Laura, you are too sweet, thank you!

Angie, last but not at all the least, I absolutely MUST thank you for introducing the magical colour combination into my life. I don't know why I ever didn't put those colors together, but now I cannot get enough of it. On me and around me

Kristine

Veteran

It's beautiful Vani! You did a nice job on the dresser. I love the duvet! I do things like that too if my husband's traveling, for some reason decorating is more fun when you have the house to yourself.

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