Summer Projects

Lately I have been obsessed with the "home decor" section on Pinterest.  I've also been watching a LOT of HGTV.  I can't get enough of it.  Mike and I both would love to flip a house (well, in reality, I don't think either one of us wants to do the work involved... and I am sure it would interfere with all our mountain biking/hiking/camping plans).  Considering the fact that every house we have looked at in this area is (a) WAY out of our price range and (b) needs a TREMENDOUS amount of work... I don't think that flipping a house in Tahoe is in our near future.

So, I've decided to tackle a much smaller (but still significant) project this summer.  I'm going to refinish our bedroom furniture.  It's actually Mike's bedroom furniture from childhood and it's awesome.  I love the bed and nightstand... and then I contributed a chest of drawers that sort of match, but not really.  Anyway, the nightstand has water rings and the finish is coming off.  The foot board has chipping in the finish as well and the other piece has tons of scratches.  In summary, we haven't taken very good care of it and that makes me sad.

After some debate with Mike, he has agreed to let me refinish the furniture as long as I keep the stain as close to the same color as possible.  I totally agreed to that.  I actually really like the color, PLUS the more it matches, the less work I have to do!  So we bought our supplies and I just started the work today.

I am quickly realizing that this project will likely take me the entire summer because I only have a few days a week to work on it and because it takes so long for the stain to really dry between coats.  Today I sanded the nightstand and put 2 coats of stain on.  So far... I LOVE IT!

BEFORE: 

Pre sanding... it was in rough shape.  

After just one coat of stain!  

I will have to wait a while to really let the stain dry thoroughly, and then I guess I'm supposed to put a coat of polyurethane.  I'm hoping to do that later this week.  Then... it will be time to start the next piece.

 This is the "other" piece of furniture that doesn't quite match the bedroom suit.  It's a big piece... it's going to be a big project.  But, as you can see: it really needs to be refinished.  

It looks good from far away...
but not close up. 

The other thing we have been wanting to do for a while is to get a TV cabinet.  I found one in a store in South Lake that sells antiques and refurbished furniture and my sweet husband went out to get it for me!  Love him.  

This is before:

 And after... 

Naturally, I'm watching FRIENDS on tv! 

I really like it!  Our living room feels a little smaller, but it also feels more "finished."  The top part of the cabinet has doors that close to hide the tv.  

Anyway, stay tuned for more progress on these projects!