Homage

For our next installment of DIY Week at Homage, I’ll give you a walk-through of how I took a crappy bookcase off Craigslist and turned it into a beloved living room item. I’ve previously mentioned how I was inspired by this post by Centsational Girl, but this lovely china cabinet in K’s house brought my project to classy completion. I even used her left-over wall paper. Maybe I want to be her. What’s so wrong with that?

Here are the steps I took to make this:

Look like this:

First, borrow your husband’s sander. Thankfully A. is a handy sort of fellow who has tools and such. I was very proud that I sanded this bad-boy by myself, but if I had had to do it with a little scrap of sandpaper and no electricity, it probably wouldn’t have happenend. (See look – those are my fingers. I did do it myself!)

After thoroughly sanding and wiping it down, prime your piece of furniture.

After a coat or two of primer, paint it black! Or red! Or whatever! (And no, those are not my arms. I did not beef up and get all hairy while doing this project.)

After all the paint dries, measure and cut wallpaper or some kind of pretty paper to fit the back panels. K’s gracious gift of yellow paisley wallpaper was just what I was looking for. To adhere it to the wood, just soak it in water, gently fold the piece in half, touch the backs together to activate the gooey-ness, and slap it on your furniture. Carefully, of course.

Wipe out all the wrinkles and let it dry.

Then, haul it into your house and set things on it.

Clearly, I don’t have enough knick knacks. But, I do love it. And I’m glad I did it myself. And, if you know me at all, you’re realize that if I can do it, anyone can!

Hungering for more? Here are some other great before and afters:

From Centsational Girl

and this great headboard turned message board

Kristin’s amazing dresser makeover

Happy sanding!

Tags: china cabinet, DIY, Home Decor, J's house, K's house, Living Rooms