Change of Drawers

We are constantly trying to reshape and reorganize our home based on how we live

Although it may take a while to figure out the flow of our life, making a change makes things a LOT easier!

Case and point!

For the past SIX years we have had a child-sized desk in our home.

This desk was quite old....an antique even. 

And not only was it an antique, the desk was passed down from my husband's grandfather.

I used it for my scrapbooking table for a while.

But I have always complained that it was too small. I couldn't spread out my "ideas."

I could barely get my feet to fit underneath, and I am a pretty tiny gal!

This is the only photo I have - and you can't even see what it looked like! 

 

Since moving to Virginia, the desk has been used as a dumping ground for clothes.

After years of debating its real utility, the hubs woke up one morning and said "We HAVE to get rid of this thing!" 

I told him to sit on the decision for a few days to make sure there were no regrets. Letting go of something you have had your whole life is quite difficult. After two weeks, we finally took it to a nearby (awesome) furniture store and "sold" it to them at the cost of a new pair of jeans -for me, not my cheap husband ;)

We have since been looking for a Chest of Drawers...so instead of creating mountains of clothes that do not fit in our dresser, we can actually calm the chaos.

 

I recently came across a site that sells modern furniture with FREE SHIPPING!!!

The CSN site offers an array of furniture, storage options and accessories. 

I have to show you some of the options available in Chests for the bedroom!

What do you think of the Taylor Chest?

 

Then there is the Applewood Chest in Cappuccino!

There are so many wonderful options, that I truly cannot decide which would be the best fit with our bedroom current furniture. 

I do know that I am definately ready for a change of drawers!

Do you have things that you are holding on to that you don't really love?

Do you have places in your home that could be better utilized?

Please share!

Tutorial: Jewlery Storage Art!

My daughter has an EXTREMELY innate love of jewlery.

I certainly don't want to take that away from her.

I did want to find a way to help her STORE her jewlery.

The idea was easy access and clean up.

After brainstorming with my husband, I came up with this:
(i.e. brainstorming with my husband = me talking through my ideas so i don't feel like i am talking to myself, while he nods and continues reading his thick law book)

I was so excited about the end product, I wanted to share the steps with you!

I purchased a 12 x 24 piece of Birch Plywood because it was LITERALLY CHEAPER than a 12 x 12.

But I decided it was way bigger than I wanted.

I had my husband cut the wood in half to give me TWO 12 x 12 pieces.

The wood splintered because it is so thin, so I used sand paper to smooth everything out...

and ended up like this.

In searching for the perfect "knob" to hold the jewlery, I initially was thinking drawer knobs.

Classic and Sturdy.

The price of $2 per knob was not what I had in mind though.

I came across these Shaker Pegs at Michael's and knew they would work perfectly.

5 pegs for $1.19.

They had varrying shapes and sizes, but these 13/4 " won me over!

We created a layout of pegs and marked with a pencil.

I went back and used the LEVEL to make sure that they would be in a straight line.

Using a drill and a medium sized drill bit, I predrilled holes to prevent the wood from cracking.

Then I found the drill bit that matched the end of the peg, and redrilled all of the holes to the proper size.

The board splintered a little, so I used the sandpaper to smooth everything again.

I tested out all the holes with my pegs to ensure a TIGHT fit.

After removing all the pegs, I looked through all of my scrapbook paper until I found something I thought would work for Meredith's room. I wanted it to be something that could grow with her.


I chose this damask style paper because it mimicked the lamp shade in her room.

Since scrapbook paper is 12x12, I didn't have to trim to size.

I put a THICK coat of MOD PODGE on the wood and laid the paper down starting at the corners.
To prevent air bubbles, I let it dry for about an hour before I coated the top of the paper.

I ended up using 3 coats on the top for good measure.

While the mod podge was drying, I painted the pegs.

I poked holes in a paper plate to keep the pegs upright.

Two coats and they were beautiful and pink.

Once everything was dry, I used WOOD GLUE and coated the end of each peg before placing it in the predrilled hole.

The glue will ooze out. Use a dry cloth to wipe the excess.

Once all pegs were in place, I let dry for several hours.

I also put a thin layer of mod podge on the pegs to seal them and to give a little more sheen.

We used gorilla glue to attach the picture hanging metal to the back, so the nails would not poke through.

Once on the wall, I knew it was perfect.

It is a piece of art!

Meredith adores it.

Clean up is easier.

And Momma is happy!