TV Console Turned Woodland Bar

Hello blogging friends! I just returned from a much needed jaunt to the Oregon coast. The weather wasn't wonderful, but the down time was. I am not a person who can easily sit still, so sometimes I need to escape from everything otherwise I have project ideas boiling in my brain and I just can't shut them off.

Speaking of projects, some of you may remember back when I shared that I had acquired two of these identical TV console cabinets from a guy at the end of an estate sale...he just wanted them gone. I completed and sold one awhile back that was french and feminine. I decided to make this one more on the masculine side.

I started out by filling in the holes the previous owner had drilled through the sides for a TV cable. This one was a little rougher than the other so I also had to remove the veneer layer from the top. After two coats of Bin primer followed up by two coats of olive green oops paint I decided to paint the insets of the doors black.

I had a few chunks of birch log that I have been holding onto for just the right project. I used our chop saw to cut disks until I had enough to fill the insets. In addition I remembered a wooden trivet I picked up at the Goodwill and chopped that in half too, I needed something a little more solid to cover the holes left by the old hardware. I used my brad nailer with the shortest brads available and sadly they came right through the other side! Since it was too late to turn back by the time I noticed, I just rolled with it.

Here's where I have to give my husband some credit. He suggested using cork squares on the insides of the doors to disguise the brads. Genius! It not only hid my mistake, but also provided a place to tack drink recipes and the occasional liquor shopping list.

I finished off the inside using some beige paisley Goodwill wallpaper (applied with spray adhesive), a stemware rack, and a couple of wine racks, also from the Goodwill. I distressed, antiqued and waxed the exterior and called it done. I still have one more cabinet similar to this one, but without the inset doors. I have a non-bar vision for that one involving a new paint treatment.

The hubby is out of town this week so I won't have to make dinner for anyone. I'll be a crafty, busy girl covered in paint and living on popcorn and Diet Coke....ohhhh the life!

Linking up with these lovely ladies:

Following Along Fabulously

Since the time I was a small child my Dad always told me "be a leader not a follower". I always swore I would never say things like that to MY children, but I did (and still do). For the most part I have always followed that advice...until today. Why? you might ask. Because this time what everyone else was doing was so awesome I just couldn't help myself.

So what was so flippen' tempting that I had to follow along? Why chevron of course!

I have seen some of the most amazing chevron pieces in stores, on Pinterest and of course on blogs. I knew I wanted to use it, but hadn't found quite the right piece of furniture that was calling it's name. Finally, when I hit up my local Goodwill last week I saw this homely desk/vanity/sofa table thing. It had very simple lines which seemed a perfect candidate for my first attempt at a chevron paintjob.

I wasn't quite sure how to go about mapping the design out so I read up on a lot of different methods and finally just kind of "winged" it hoping for the best. I started out with primer and two coats of white satin. I measured the sides and front of the table and found that I could divide both measurements by three and end up with an even and pleasing to the eye grid which I transferred to the top with a straightedge and pencil.

From here I broke out my beloved Scotch bluetape (I love that stuff) and began chevroning with it. Once the taping was done it was time to use my chosen turquoise paint to fill in the untaped rows. Once the paint was almost dry I peeled back the tape to reveal the magic. I had to do a little touch-up, but overall I was very pleased.

I distressed the edges and added brown shoe polish to the edges and swiped some around on the top to tone down the brightness a bit. A coat of clear wax and she is ready to go. I went ahead and put the original hardware back on...not sure if I'm loving it yet.

One thing for sure though, at least she isn't homely anymore.

Linking up with these lovely ladies: