Friday/Monday Mashup: It started with an old dresser.

What seems like a million years ago, my father-in-law had an old almost-antique-but-mostly-just-vintage dresser that he was just going to throw away.  Rick doesn't throw things away, so I was curious as to what this dresser looked like and in what sort of shape it had to be in for him to throw it away.  "It's up at the lake in the spare bedroom.  It's that '70's green one.  You can have it if you want it." 

Um...yeah!  When Chris and I visit his parents at the lake, we reside in that room.  And I fondly remembered the dresser and remembered that even though it was painted '70's green (and probably lead-based paint) that it was a dandy vintage dresser probably from 20 years prior to the '70's.  And it was in decent shape except for that paint.  Oh, that paint. 

And it even came with a mirror that I didn't even know about that I just adore.  It was made to attach to the dresser, but the supports were nowhere to be found.  So the mirror now resides on our wall above the dresser.  And I love it.

It took Chris and I 2 weeks of working almost everyday to remove that paint.  And we had to use chemicals instead of sanding because of said lead-based paint.  Sanding lead-based paint and making it airborne is NEVER a good idea.  So we stripped the dresser.  It was so funny for us to come home from somewhere and I'd say, "I'm going to the garage to do some more stripping."  It still makes me laugh 5 years later.

After the stripping was done and the wood was sanded one time for consistency and to remove some red wax stains (probably from a candle spilling on it before it was painted), it was ready to be finished.  I'm not usually one for light wood...I prefer a darker mahogany color...I really liked the grain and the age of the dresser.  But it looked...unfinished. 

We ended up watering down some antique white paint, brushing it on and the wiping 90% of it off.  Some of you are saying, "That's called white-washing, moron."  But no, it isn't.  White-washing turns the wood white.  All this did was let the white settle in some of the grain and in some of the ornate details.  The dresser looks wooden, but it looks like it was at one time or another painted white and was then sanded.  We polyed it 3 times and VOILA!!  Beautimous.  Unfortunately, I don't have a picture.  Because I'm just that prepared.

About a year later, I wanted a new coffee table.  I had very specific plans...and noone made what I wanted.  So I did what any crazy person would do...I asked my husband to build it.  With matching end tables.  And he did.  And I love them.  Again, no picture because I'm that prepared on this glorious Monday morning.

My point in these seemingly random stories is to project the fact that I enjoy coming up with an idea, implementing it and then doing with it what I want.  My tables are nothing special.  Nothing ornate.  But they are EXACTLY what I wanted.  And I love that I have Chris to help me with these harebrained ideas I get.

I love to refinish things...especially furniture.  I love to build things.  And by "I" I mean Chris.  I'll come up with a loose plan and he'll take it from there.  We work well as a team...we just need more powertools!! 

Recently I've been looking for inspiration to work on some household things that I want.  I mean, I could go buy lots of expensive furniture.  But it's not the same.  I like the furniture that we've bought and invested in, but when I look at the coffee table, I think, "Remember when it was 45 degrees outside and I couldn't get the poly to set?  Haha!  Those were the good ol' days!"  I know, I'm weird.

So, without further adieu, here are my recent inspiration sites for building, finishing and decorating for NOT ALOT OF MONEY and with LOTS OF CHARACTER AND HEART:

1. Tiffany Ruda.  It started with her.  I WILL have that farmhouse table in the near future.
2. Funky Junk Interiors.  I haven't gotten a chance to go through all of this blog, but it looks amazing!  I'll be told in the near future that my tastes are going country...but they aren't.  They're going lodge/homemade and down to earth. :)
3. The Design Confidential.  This used to be called The Frugal Designer and is very popular in the DIY world.  And you'll see why if you visit!  Scroll down on the left to the categories to pick and choose what content you'd like to view.  Furniture is one of my favorites.
4. Ana White.  Her site used to be called Knock Off Wood.  It gives plans and such to build almost any piece of furniture you want.  Awesome!!  Chris better get a table saw for Christmas. :)
5. Apartment Therapy.  I like this site because it has alot of content about doing things to your spaces that aren't permanent.  I REALLY want those wall-to-wall shelves in my new house!!

There you have it...lots of wants and a list of five on a not-so-bad Monday morning.  What are y'all up to today??