I picked up a Canadian built Queen Anne desk from a used furniture store in Oakville called Moveline Liquidations. You can find some very good quality wood pieces at Moveline for a great price. I went to the store with the intention of picking up a Queen Anne desk that I could paint out white. I wish I had a before picture! Instead, I was able to find a picture of a King Ed desk from the store’s website. It has the exact finish as the desk I purchased.

Original:

I sanded the desk a bit with sand paper and then painted it out using white furniture paint (paint + primer in one). I used a roller and paint brush for this project depending on the area of the table I was painting. To add a bit of flare to the white desk, I used a gold leaf paint pen around the edges. Easy I swear…anyone can do this.

Front view:

Back view:

I’m happy with the result, but even more happy that I was able to recycle this beautiful desk and give it a new home. It’s still a work in progress however. I may add a coat of polyurethane to prevent scratches, get a custom glass top made, add some funky printed paper underneath and perhaps install a new knob. I’ll keep you posted!

What do you do when you picked up the wrong “2 of 2″ package for your bookshelf and you are now left with bookshelf doors that don’t fit? Not to mention, you realized this months after the purchase because you were in between a move. Oh and let’s not forget, you threw the receipt away.

So the bookshelf will have no doors, fine. But what about the spare doors? I didn’t want to just throw them away – it seemed like such a waste. So I thought – DIY wall decor project! I decided I would paint out the wood frame and add decorative paper mounted on white bristol board to the back of the door. I didn’t want to spend too much on this so I planned to use leftover furniture paint to paint out the frame. After that, I only needed painters tape, a paint brush, glue, scrapbook paper and white bristol board. Check out the process below…

Door taped out, lightly sanded and ready for painting.

Two coats of paint nearly complete (don’t mind the newspaper…not your average craft station but whatever!)

Cut three panels out of white bristol board for the scrapbook paper background.

Fancy scrapbook paper – but neutral. Can go with many rooms in the home.

After sticking the scrapbook paper on the white board with glue, I mounted each panel to the back of the door. I’m still debating where to place this piece and whether to attach it to the wall vertically or horizontally, or keep it resting on the floor….options!!

I hope you enjoyed this post. Remember before you toss something out, think if there is any potential to do something with it. I still have one more of these doors!

It doesn’t get any easier than this! I went to Anthropologie today and couldn’t help but to take a look at the knobs (they have an awesome selection if you didn’t already know). I came home with one for my night stand. Just a little face lift, but I think it adds a nice touch. Most importantly – easy, peasy and inexpensive.

Take a look!

]]> http://happydigz.com/2012/07/14/easy-night-stand-idea/feed/ 0 http://happydigz.com/2012/07/10/some-of-my-ikea-favourites/ http://happydigz.com/2012/07/10/some-of-my-ikea-favourites/#comments Wed, 11 Jul 2012 02:41:36 +0000 Sheetal Nayar http://happydigz.com/?p=315 Follow @Happydigz

Hi everyone,

Below are just some of my favourites from Ikea. Most of these items I have in my own home (items 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 to be exact), and the other three items I just happen to love and will likely buy at some point…

1. SOCKERÄRT, Vase white   2. POMP Lantern for block candle   3. HEMNES Nightstand, gray-brown

4. LIATORP Coffee table, white, glass   5. DAGNY, Pair of curtains, light-beige   6. BYHOLMA Basket, gray

7. DOFTA Potpourri in a box, scented assorted colors   8. JONSBO ORÖD Table lamp, pink, glass

by happydigz.com

Many of us are hesitant using bright and bold colour within the home, yet playing around with it outside seems a little less risky – take for example, the different colours you can spot in your very own garden. So I ask then, why not play with colour in your outdoor living space? On my modest and petite outdoor set (but charming nonetheless!), I simply used bright placemats (the brightest I could find) with a matching candle rested in the middle on an ornate candle dish. Voila!

Ahhh….and then there were two (therefore, room for a table runner and wine! Yup, the table runner is from Easy Summer Table Decor Part 1!)

 If you haven’t already – visit Easy Summer Table Decor Part 1 for some indoor inspiration.

Ikea is a great source for all things centerpieces, no matter what the season. All this is, is a glass lantern for block candles filled with sand at the very bottom, then decorative stones, and at the very top – a pre-arranged potpourri assortment adding a nice pop of colour to the room (and subtle scent if you are into that). Underneath the lantern is a neutral table runner – lending some warmth to an otherwise bare table. This was not difficult to arrange by any means, nor was it expensive!! It’s summer fresh and despite the minimal effort, it shows appreciation for the changing seasons.

See more pics below or read Part 2 for some outdoor inspiration!

We just planted a rose bush last month and we were so proud when the first few roses started to bloom (haha). I was so excited that I had to clip a rose immediately and bring it inside. I accidentally cut the stem too short and of course it was too tiny for any of the vases I own. I went through all my kitchen cupboards to find something the rose could fit nicely in because there was no way I would let this rose just wilt! I spotted a blue porcelain creamer and thought it could work – and behold, it looked really cute once I popped in the rose! Now I cut the stems short on purpose

On a girls trip to Montreal this past March, we pampered ourselves with a spa treatment at Spa Savanna (great spa by the way). Besides the much needed massages, we were able to tranquilize in the dim-lit lounge filled with chaises along the walls, soothing music and comforting scents, oh and green tea of course!

Stretched out on one of the chaise lounges, I thought why not create a space like this at home? Imagine bringing in spa elements we associate to relaxation into our very own homes?

I came home seriously thinking about this concept and actually considered executing it within our basement family room but it didn’t quite happen. I guess in the end it didn’t seem “practical” (sigh). But I haven’t given up. Maybe I won’t have a room with multiple chaise lounges but I will find a little corner in this place where I can fit at least one, and yes, it will be a retreat I can enjoy more than once or twice a year!

I’m interested if any readers have created a “chaise corner” or space in their home? If so, please share! Here are a couple I found on Houzz.com that are really cool…

Prior to moving from our condo to our house, the first thing I started to shop for before the big move was a shower curtain for the main bathroom. I found one online at Simons.ca with the combination of colours I had imagined. It was neutral and airy, perfect for the natural stone tile on the bathroom floors, interior of the shower and part of the walls.

I was anxious to open the package when it arrived but nonetheless, it completely met my expectations and more. Not only were the colours spot on, but the fabric of the shower felt light and soft, similar to the feel of linen. But what I didn’t know at the time, was how this shower curtain would become the starting point or essentially the inspiration behind paint colours and decor applied throughout the home in the coming months. I figured if the original designer behind this curtain thought these colours worked well together, I would be safe using the same combination in other areas!

When you are particularly drawn to something (as insignificant as it may seem), don’t ignore it. It may be the beginning of many things to come.