2 dresser flips

So, it just occurred to me that I never posted either of these reveals. I want to post them together, because I only get to keep one, and well, decisions are hard.

(Please forgive my terrible pictures. I've been under the weather, and the thought of retaking and/or staging photos is not an appealing one).

Dresser #1:
Before:

After:

Dresser #2:
Before:
After:

The winning dresser will be going in the third bedroom (where dresser #1 currently is). The third bedroom is currently used as a second guest bedroom, and will one day become a nursery. Right now, I'm leaning toward dresser #2 – I'm liking the modern look (and the extra drawer).

Luckily, I don't have to make any decisions quite yet. I don't plan on getting rid of a dresser in the man cave, until our next Ikea trip (August or September) – when I can get some behind-the-sofa Expedit bookcases for better storage.

My pedestal table flip

I first fell in love with this side table from Pottery Barn:


But since it's from Pottery Barn, I think we all know the price wasn't a bargain (or anywhere remotely close to one).

Then came Z Gallerie's side table for only $99.


A lot better in price, but I still couldn't do it.

Well, remember this guy:


Yep, I used him and made my own:


I'm so happy with how this table turned out.

I scored this table off Craigslist for $10 (!!!!!!!), and once the cost of spray paint is factored in – I only spent $27 plus change on everything.

Unfortunately, the table is too big for the space I intended it to go. While I love it next to the chair, for it to go there – I have to push the chair too close to the sectional – and that's the only walkway to the kitchen. So for the moment, my table is homeless. I love it so much, but Craigslist may be in its future.

Project details
This project was super easy. I roughed up the table with sandpaper, cleaned the table off and then used Rust Oleum's titanium silver metallic spray paint. With the finish on the table being so dark, I ended up having to use 2 bottles. Once that was dry, I used a clear coat spray paint over that just to be safe.

Note: Of course that's "Mockingjay" on the table. And of course, I already finished it. That book was amazing! Seriously, go read The Hunger Games series right now!

My latest Craigslist finds

If you're a fan of Decorating Obsessed on Facebook, you know I've been a busy girl. It's been all Craigslist all the time for me.

I scored this table on Wednesday:
I started working on it today, but the humidity got too out of control to finish. Hopefully, the weather cooperates soon, because it's looking so good and I'm rather impatient.

Today, I got this dresser and nightstand:
The dresser definitely needs some work on the drawers, but the price was just too good to pass up – and the fact in came with a nightstand sweetened the deal for me. Both these items I plan on flipping.

Goodbye buffet

In case you didn't notice my "after" of the dresser/buffet I bought just for Brent's party in yesterday's photos...

Before:

After:

I'm really happy with how it turned it. The only thing weird about this dresser was the middle drawers – the drill holes were all different. So I filled the bottom holes in to make it more consistent and then updated all the hardware after I painted the piece white.

This is the first piece of furniture I've bought this year with the pure intention of flipping then selling. I'm happy to report that I received 3 emails in about 2 hours, and this guy was picked up last night. Brent's happy to have some more space in his man cave, and I'm happy to have a little extra money in my pocket. All good things.

My wine cork dresser

Remember this guy I scored on Craigslist for $20 several weeks ago?


Well, it found a new home behind the bar as a buffet.
I'm not positive for many wine corks I used, but I would say it's in the 800+ range.


At first I started out using a hot glue gun, but I was having issues with all of the corks properly sticking – so at Brent's suggestion I switched to liquid nails and those suckers aren't going anywhere now. Once the glue was done, I did 2 coats of poly over everything.

News!

I'm excited to say that I have my first client in the furniture-flipping world. I will be painting a china cabinet, and I am so excited about it. It's a beautiful piece, it just needs some updating. Hopefully, I will get that bad boy home to me soon and the fun can start.

Here's the photo the client sent:


In other news: While driving, I was behind a semi called "beaver express." I'm really concerned/curious what that truck is carrying. It also made me realize how immature I am.

My Buffet

I have a couple of touch-ups to do, but other than that – my buffet is done! Now I just need to buy some white candles. :)

Before:

After:

Painting furniture is actually really easy. I have been painting furniture since I was a kid (Yes, seriously. I could never decide what color or pattern my dresser should be – so paint became my friend at an early age).

The Process
My best tip is to find furniture that is structurally in good condition, and the rest can be altered easily. I do a light sanding on whatever I'm painting (just rough it up), and then a thorough sanding to the top of the piece (that's the area that usually receives the most wear). Once all the sand dust is off your furniture – paint away.

I'm a no primer and no oil-based paint kind of girl myself. Oil-based paint definitely has it place, especially when painting tile, but other than that I would prefer something less smelly. Plus, latex is just so much easier to work with. Primer also does have it's place. I would recommend using primer if you are going from black to white (or any other extreme changes), because it will save you time in the end.

Paint anywhere you have to use a small brush first, then do whatever rolling is needed. Doing it the other way, can start altering your rolling pattern and look sloppy.

Paint
For the buffet, I used Glidden's Black Onyx. This is the first time I've used Glidden, and I thought it covered wonderfully. My best tip for picking paint is to keep it all the same. No matter how many coats you do, at some point paint will chip – and you want to know exactly what you used, so you can just do touch ups, and not an entire new coat. This also makes it easier, when you find additional things to paint. That way there's no confusion later on. Everything that is black is just one color.

Finish
There really isn't a wrong answer for what type of finish to use. I personally perfer satin, because that's the shine most store-bought furniture has.