ROMANTIC NIGHT STANDS - french style

 

 

 

My nightstands are pretty and functional while being a very romantic addition to the bedroom.

BUT did you know ...

 

"Before indoor flushing toilets became commonplace, the main function of a nightstand was to

contain a chamber pot. As a result, early nightstands were often small cabinets, sometimes fitted

 with a drawer, and usually containing an enclosed storage space below covered by one or more

 doors. Another term sometimes given to such cabinets was commode."

 

I actually just saw one recently on a favorite TV show of mine Salvage Hunters.

The drawer pulled out and it was in the shape of a toilet seat. Can you imagine?

Anyhow there are no commodes in my pretty night stands.

 

 

 

 

 

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CLEANING THE SINK

 

 

 

As someone who paints a lot and uses the kitchen sink for washing up, I have to have
something with a little extra scrubbing power handy to tackle the extra mess.

My secret cleaner is simple steel wool and a little warm water.

 

 

I do my best to keep the paint mess to a minimum as this is where we live and eat and prepare

food but I'm not PERFECT and paint has a mind of it's own ...

 

Cleaning a metal sink with steel wool is easy and chemical free. I use to use SOS pads but the blue

soap always gets under my nails and I am not a fan of scrubbing my nails after washing the sink.

This pack of steel wool (above) came from the hardware store. You can pick it up at many different
 places. The lower the number the smoother it is, this GRADE #2 is in a bit coarse.

 

I let the tap trickle in the sink with a bit of warm water as I scrub the dirt away.

It doesn't take much to get the metal looking brand new in no time.

 



Steel wool can also remove rust rings off the bottom of the sink.

You don't need to be a painter to use steel wool.

 

HAPPY CLEANING!

 

 

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HOW TO HIDE YOUR FINISHING NAILS - fixing

 

 

Did you install some trim in your home and lost steam when it came to

hiding the finishing nails. You can always go back later and finish it off when you are

inspired. May this quick little article help inspire you and reassure you it is easier than you think.

 

When counter sinking the head of a finishing nails you use a hammer and a nail set.

That's the longest tool you see above on the right. If you don't have a nail set you can

 substitute a large nail or even a screw driver bit, I've tested both.

 

 

 You line up the pointy end of your chosen tool on the exposed nail head and tap the hammer

 on the other end until the head of the nail is no longer sticking out.

 

Once I have tapped all my nails under the surface of the wood I use wood filler to fill in the hole.

 

I can sand the filler flat in 30 minutes for a perfectly flat surface

 or

 with a light touch of my index finder I can smooth it over almost perfectly and move on to painting.

Not everyone has great patience!

 

HAPPY FIXING

 

 

 



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HOW TO FRANKENSTEIN YOUR FURNITURE

 

 

 

 

I frankensteined a chest of drawers with a little table and created a lovely chest high cabinet. The

 table was a project I did for myself years ago and the drawers were storage in my mudroom for a time.

 

 

I turned the 3 drawer chest upside down mounting it to the table, and then added a fourth drawer.

 

 

Above you can see the area that use to be the bottom kick plate. I had a lonely single drawer that

 was the perfect fit for the space. Sometimes being a wood furniture hoarder comes in handy.

 

 

I used a couple of decorative knobs and lined the new drawer in a red damask wrapping paper.

 

She's been painted in a distressed creamy white and some amazing handles installed.

I've had these 3 handles for several years waiting for the perfect project.

 

 

I used lots of different pieces of molding to trim the cabinet and took photos so

I could write a tutorial on how to hide your finishing nails. Watch for that soon.

 

 

 

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DARK WAXING BLACK PAINT

 

 

I love to wax black paint!

I love to wax black paint!

I really really do!

I hope if I say it enough it might make it true ... WINK

 

 

I built this black bookshelf above with many different pieces including the 2 side tables seen below.

 

 

 

The front legs are harp arms from a vintage mirror, and the top and trim pieces are

 all from one coffee table, and a few scraps of wood for shelving in the middle.

 

To build the top shelving I used some Ikea bed frame bits and a stair rail post.

 

 

I painted it in ASCP Graphite and dark wax. I do not apply clear wax at all.

 

 

 I apply the dark wax with fine woodworkers steel wool. The steel wool smooth's my finish and I can use it all the way through the process, applying, removing, and most of the buffing. The process is slightly different and I would describe it more like I am sanding the entire surface with the steel wool and using the wax as a lubricant. The wax can't really build up when you are using something coarse like the wool. I do polish the top with paper towel or a soft cloth for the final step.

 

 

Black finishes are the trickiest to deal with. They show every flaw in the paint, collect and show
dust 10x more than other colors, and finger prints and wipe marks are always seen on glossy surfaces.

TRY WAXING YOUR BLACK PAINT WITH STEEL WOOL
  **woodworkers have used fine steel wool for decades to refine their finishes **

 

 

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APOTHECARY CABINET

 

 

 

I replaced the whole front with 2 doors I had on hand. The door I replaced will be saved for another project down the line. Below you can see some of the extra framing needed to fit the new doors.

 

 

The typography art was created with reversed vinyl letters.

I made them myself with the printer and a pair of scissors. No fancy Silhouette machines here!

I created the arched effect in Word Art and taped the arched line with green tape for the painting.

 

I used Martha Steward Craft Paints in a color called WEDDING CAKE and sprayed it with my paint

 gun. The paint is available at Michaels and it adheres to multi surfaces including glass and is available in any color you can imagine.

 

a·poth·e·car·y/əˈpäTHiˌkerē/

A person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.

druggist - chemist - pharmacist - dispenser

 

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LOOKING FOR VINATGE WHITE HARDWARE LIKE THE KIND USED ON THIS PROJECT ...

Stop in to see what's available at firstfinds.

 

1000's of pieces of recycled furniture and cabinet hardware to choose from

Etsy Shop.

 

 

 

 

  

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