Well sweet Friends, the floors are officially ready for the new hardwoods, but I decided to switch gears a bit and paint the big furniture pieces for these two rooms before installing the new floors. It seemed to make more sense, don’t you think? So yesterday I painted my hutch and the base of the dining room table. Hoping to wax them today. They look so bright and fresh! Next up is the desk. 🙂
Since I am knee deep in my own makeovers at the moment I started digging to see what I thought my be a fun makeover to reshare today and started thinking about March Madness. Remember my March Madness series? I shared a brand new makeover every single day of March? That’s a whole lotta makeovers, y’all, but I am really hoping to bring it back in 2018. It’s hard to imagine being settled enough to crank out that many makeovers, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, and a girl needs goals!
Today’s reshare is from March Madness 2015.
It’s the makeover of this pretty headboard and footboard I picked up from the thrift store for $30:
I loved the classic style of this little headboard and couldn’t pass it up.
Of course I decided to turn it into a bench:
I love me some headboard benches! I think I am about due for another. I’ve included a few links so you can find the products I used.
And color!! I usually stick to a neutral palette for a couple of reasons. The first being, that is what I like for my own home and I tend to create what I like. Also, a white or ivory piece sells much quicker in my booth. It is a timeless look that can be dressed up with colorful accessories that can easily be changed out.
Every once in a while though, the urge to add a splash of color comes along. This beautiful aqua is Mason Jar Blue milk paint from Junque Boutique. The lovely owner, Becky, was kind enough to send me some to try out. Milk paint comes in a powder form and is mixed with water.
One of the cool things about milk paint (if you’re lucky) is that you might get this wonderful chipping and crackling effect in the paint that looks completely natural:
Ooh love that! It can also be very unpredictable also in that more can flake off than you want to. I did sand the backing of this bench and repaint since it flaked a bit more than I liked, but I loved the second go round.
You know my experience hasn’t been the best with milk paint, but this one did pretty well. You can add a bonding agent to the paint to help prevent flaking if that’s not your thing, but getting that beautiful chipping is the only reason I would try to use milk paint in the first place.
One thing I really liked about it though is that it has absolutely no odor whatsoever. I sealed this with wax the very same way I seal my chalk painted pieces.
I really do love this color. I could picture this for a pop of color in a bedroom with all white on white goodness.
Here is a bit of the process of building a headboard bench, but you can see my complete tutorial for how to turn a headboard into a bench here.
The first step is to cut the footboard into two and trim some off to create the sides.
I use a Kreg Jig Jr to get those angled holes that allow me to join the new sides to the bench to the back.
Here is the bench without the seat after it was joined together. (It was a very cold day to be working outside!)
I used Elmer’s wood filler to fill the holes from the Kreg Jig.
Because this headboard is mahogany, I anticipated bleed-through. This happens with mahogany and cherry woods. I just gave it two good coats of Zinsser spray shellac before painting.
This stuff works great to block stains, and it also covers up odors. Use outside if possible though, it’s stinky! Wait at least one hour before painting.
I cut pieces of scrap wood for the seat slats, and attached them with my nail gun:
I’m slowly starting to accumulate a new scrap wood pile at the new house.
If you missed the link above, you can see here how to make your own headboard bench HERE.
I sure would like to have this pretty lady for my new house, but she sold long long ago!
Before I go, I want to show y’all the curtains I picked up earlier this week:
Here is a close up of what the picture looks like with them hung:
I think they look so flowy and dreamy. They have my wall color and my favorite accent color so hoping they will work for one (or both) of the new spaces!
Tuesday is Halloween so I’ll be back to share my Outdoor Halloween Tour at the new house! I’ll also be sharing it LIVE on our Make it New Group Facebook Page at 1:00pm EST! If you haven’t had a chance to check out our new group, it’s a fun one, and full of thrifty ideas and makeovers!
Visit it HERE and request to join! 🙂
I’ll see y’all back here on Tuesday with my outdoor Halloween Tour!
UPDATE: Visit my Halloween Tour HERE now if you dare mwah ha ha!
Have a fantastic weekend awesome Friends!!
XO,
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Wendy Somerville says
Beautiful Christy. I am working on a project to update my New to me, 1995 Viking Pop up Camper. I will be using a product on the cabinet doors called Fat Paint. It is a chalk paint similar to your milk paint project. I just picked up 4 colors and the finishing wax. Check out their site: http://thefatpaintcompany.com/ They are in Canada in British Columbia on the west coast.
Christy says
Oh wow that sounds like a fun project!! Thanks for the info…will have to check that out! 🙂
Marcie Lovett says
I love your headboard benches, Christy. How funny that the curtains seem to have the same blue as that bench. I think they’ll be beautiful in the new space!
Christy says
Thanks, Marcie! And oh yeah! ha ha…might have to paint something in the room that color! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
Stunning! Absolutely gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Robyn! XO
Jamie says
Turned out beautiful. I love that paint color. I’ll have to keep my eye out for a piece of furniture to use it on.
Christy says
Thank you, Jamie! XOXO
Margie says
Thanks for a look back,I enjoy seeing them again & sometimes to lazy to look back on your page????. Drapes look awesome,they look like you.
Christy says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this again, Margie! Those curtains are SO me, aren’t they?? Can’t wait to give them a try at the window! XOXO
Julie Briones says
I would so LOVE to see another March Madness! I think that is what got me started following your blog! Love at first sight! 😉 (However, I KNOW it would be a HUGE project… seein’ as it takes me a year to finish one piece! …that will need to stop!)
Hope you are having fun refreshing your furniture!
Christy says
I reeeeaaally missed not doing March Madness this year! Hoping to be able to do it again. It is a ton of work, but I really enjoy it and it makes me challenge myself, which I love! Furniture is coming along however I ran out of wax AND calcium carbonate ugh…should get both from Amazon tomorrow! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Norma Rolader says
I love this bench wish I could be so lucky to find headboard & footboard … amazing
Christy says
Thank you, Norma! This was such a pretty set and made for a sweet bench. Have a great weekend! XOXO
Donna says
Christy ,
I love all of your creative makeovers !
Where did you buy the beautiful drapes ?
They are just lovely !
Christy says
Thank you, Donna! I found those draperies at HomeGoods. 🙂
Sandi says
Thanks for bringing back this post on the bed makeover into a bench. What a neat project! Love what you created! Really enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing your talents with us!
Christy says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this the second time around, Sandi! Thank you!! XOXO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
Love the bench and the laced pillow!
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! I love that pillow too…I have a set of them and I haven’t found a place to use them in the new house yet. Hoping I can! XO
MaryJean says
Christy, I noticed you put wheels on the bottom of this bench seat. What a good idea. It just seems like with a bench like this itMar would be great to be able to move it around easily.
I have to tell you . . . I just got a new laptop because my old one was going slower and slower and our IT person at work told me it wasn’t worth it to do any upgrade because it was so old. 🙁 Boy, how to let you know your behind the times. I got a good deal on a new one and I love it. I guess I didn’t realize how bad my old laptop was.
Well, off subject, but I’m just so happy with it! 🙂
Christy says
Hey Mary Jean! The headboard had wheels on it already, so I can’t really take credit for that but you are right, it sure makes it easier to move around! And congratulations on your new laptop! I remember when I got my new computer, I couldn’t believe what a difference it was. Everything loads so much faster! XOXO
Karen Benitez says
Hi Christy – I love the headboard bench! It is really gorgeous and the milk paint is perfect!! May I ask what the usual price range for an item like this is? I know it probably varies according to the size of the piece and how much work you have to put into it, but just curious if you don’t mind sharing. Thank you!!
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! I believe this bench sold for $225.