Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Project fail/redemption

I have this thing I bought.  I don't know exactly what it's called, but I got it for $14 at a thrift store last summer.  Isn't it cute?
I knew it had to be painted, because while the piece is cute, the wood was not.  The obvious choice would be white.  But you see, I had this little area in my upstairs hallway that I didn't really like.  It was so....boring.  And I'm trying to add more color to my life.
So, I did this, with the intention of replacing the little white IKEA table:
This is the leftover paint from our front door (and the same color as our dining room), Behr Antique Red.  Awesome color.  With the addition of the new red bin thingy, the old white mirror was not pleasing my eyeballs.   
I decided I needed something different, outside of my comfort zone.  I found what I thought would be perfect, six (small) gold bamboo mirrors from Burlington Coat Factory. 
Good potential, eh?  I spent lots of time cutting out same-sized cardstock and hanging them up and see where I wanted the mirrors to be. 
And when I got them all hung...eh.  Me no likey.  Too small?  Too low?  Too gold?  Not enough mirrors?  Not sure, but I really didn't like it. 
So I decided to throw up one of two Target mirrors I had laying around the house. 
I liked it, so I did it one better and put up both stacked on top of each other.... 
YES!  LOVE!  The old knobs were replaced with these guys from True Value:
I sprayed them with Rustoleum in 'Lagoon.'  They are too cute. 
If you're wondering why I didn't paint those little blocks red, it's because I tried painting one and it looked like a child's toy box.  So they stay wood.  I added a little tray for my watch, earrings, etc.  I'm always losing those damn things. 
I think the mirrors look delightful with the frames I already have up on the other wall. 
Also, friends, something really stupid has happened to me.  I lost one of the knobs that I had just bought an hour earlier.  I've looked everywhere for it, can't find it.  I'm praying they just didn't put it in the bag, otherwise I'm the biggest scatterbrain ever.  I will figure that out later!  This makeover cost me 8 bucks for the knobs, that's it.  Provided I actually get the third knob..doh!  The little gold mirrors cost $20 total, but I'm returning them.
I'm so happy with my dramatic little wall!  What do you think?  I plan to store TP in the bins, as we are desperate for a spot for it.  Tres chic, right?

45 comments:

  1. love the little table. adorable and great color

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  2. VERY NICE! I never would have thought of that color combo but it looks fantastic!! I love the whole look with the chevron rugs. Which I am going to your source list right now to see where you got them.... West Elm?

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  3. looks awesome! I totally lose things right after I buy them, so I feel your pain.

    As for the mirrors, I have the hardest time making multiple small things look like they fit, so I can't tell you why they looked off in the photo, just that you made the right choice with the double mirrors in the end! :)

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  4. You have a great eye, at first I didn't like the red colour, then I loved the bamboo mirrors until I saw them up and then not so much, but then the 2 dark mirrors and the blue accessories perfect, never would have thought of it myseld, also love the orange rugs

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  5. That looks much better! Is that teal glass thing a candleholder? Whatever it is, I like it. :o)

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  6. It looks great! I love it with the larger mirrors. I hate when I purchase something and then can't find it (usually it has fallen out of the bag and rolled under the seat). UGH!! Love your rugs. We are looking for one for our family room now that we have re-accessorized.

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  7. I like it! It's all about trial and error and it looks great. I do like that white mirror too. It has great lines. I hope you are doing well!

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  8. Hi! I'm new to your blog and I love it! Love the transformation and the blue knobs with the red looks fabulous! Hope you find the missing one soon!

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  9. That is such a cute little piece of furniture and for $14!!! Wow. I'm not sure what their called but when I was younger I remember my Mother had one in the Kitchen and she stored potatoes, onions and other veggies in it. :)

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  10. I love it! What a lucky find... I've seen similar pieces selling for $100+ at antique stores around here!

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  11. Great makeover!

    I'm pretty sure the bins are for potatoes or other root vegetables and people ususally keep the bins in the kitchen. I like how you repurposed them... great use of color and very bold.

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  12. It's totally adorable! And a much better scale than what was there before.

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  13. I love the makeover! And $14 is a great deal for the veggie bin. I've casually been looking for one but they're pretty popular down here and have yet to find one for what I want to pay. Hope you find the other knob soon-sounds like you've got wedding brain. ;)

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  14. LOVE that! You are so dang crafty, and I am a little (ok, a lot) jealous! I'm always afraid I will mess something up! Also, I love the rugs. Where did you find those beauties?

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  15. i love how it turned out! the blue knobs add such a great detail! :)

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  16. Looking good, lady!

    The blue knob probably made a run for it.

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  17. How cute! It's a pie safe (to keep critters and kids out of cooling pies back in the day) and I've always wanted one.

    Looks good!

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  18. HOTNESS! love the red and blue together ... i am craving color as well - i have two small wooden 'tower' bookshelves that are just begging for a bold coat of paint ... thanks for the inspiration. =)

    also, love the progression of photos. ;) The end result is perfect!

    nataliemack.blogspot.com

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  19. The blue knobs are to die for :o)

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  20. Love it! Good luck finding that third knob!

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  21. That thing (whatever it is) is awesome! I hope you have luck finding that last knob, they're perfect.

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  22. This looks great! I really like it in red, and I love that it's functional. We all need a spot to store tp, right?

    I really like those hallway runners, too. Very cool.

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  23. Yes! It looks perfect! To be honest, I was nervous when I was going through the photos, but I think the last change is really great! Thanks for sharing the process.. makes me feel better about the amount of time it takes me to get things right!

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  24. Yes - two is better than one!! Looks good :)

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  25. I think it turned out wonderfully! I hope you can find the 3rd knob.

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  26. Love it! Love the pop of red and the blue knobs and vase are awesome!

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  27. I love that! And also, I realized that the table you replaced with this would look great in our bedroom as bedside tables. Yet another reason to go to Ikea!

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  28. Looks great Sara! It reminds me of something my grandma has to store potatoes.

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  29. I love your color choice for the little cabinet. It looks great with that black and white rug.

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  30. Looks awesome!

    I did that same thing with one of the knobs for our DR china cabinet. I finally found it in the box labeled "extra hardware"... Seems I should have actually looked for it in the spot where it belonged.

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  31. The cabinet is fantastic and such a great transformation. I'm such a plain jane and this makes me want to at least try to switch things up.

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  32. I think it looks great, but I also think maybe the skinny mirror would look good there if it was painted black?

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  33. Tres chic, right!!! I love the transformation....and I love the way you took us along the whole way! :-) Great blog post!...I'll be a new follower from now on. I followed a link over from Holyoke Home's blog, and I'm glad I did! :-] Come and visit my backyard blogspot anytime! :-)

    http://poetesswug-thewugsbackyardblogspot.blogspot.com/

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  34. Great job, Sara! I love the red and the mirrors! I love your area rugs on your pretty floor and view of the bedding and kitties too! lol

    Happy Spring!
    Roeshel

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  35. The red with the blue vase is perfect!!!! and love the mirrors you went with.

    yay for 7lbs down too! a wedding is the best way to drop lbs!

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  36. Mary@redo101.blogspot.comMarch 22, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    what a great transformation to that area - looks great!

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  37. LOVE! You are so brave with colors I need to take a lesson from you. That is the perfect thing for that little nook!

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  38. Your new piece of furniture is a jelly cabinet. There is one that is nearly identical listed for sale on NYC Craigslist (that I actually spotted on Apartment Therapy)for $175! What a deal you got. I'm so jealous!

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  39. I absolutely love the final result! Beautiful, uncluttered, simple.

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  40. I have this exact vegetable bin. I got it from my grandfather and didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I do now! I love how yours turned out! Thanks for the idea and inspiration!

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Thanks so much for reading....your comments mean a lot to me!
Sara