5.03.2011

I Call A Do Over: Entertainment Chest Edition

My 4 AM usually consists of DVR or Netflix, food sitting somewhere on the floor or couch, my drill, dremel, and paint.

Since Mr. Superman deployed, I got more into DIY decor and refinishing furniture. Nikki, my BFF Forever is seriously an incredible designer so she helped me a ton in teaching me techniques and easier ways to do things. 

Now that I have a collection of stuff I've done and on my To Do List I figured why not share it with my Lovelies? So most Tuesdays for me are going to consist of this new meme and IF there is a good response, I'll make it a new weekly or bi-weekly link-up where all Lovelies can show off their saucy decor sides. Without further ado, we dive in!

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 To kick it off, I want to introduce you Lovelies to my seriously revamped and in my opinion, much improved Ikea entertainment chest. 

This is the original as seen on the Ikea website
This was our set up at our old house. I actually cringe a little looking at it. Blech.


So as you can see, we removed the casters from the bottom and had them in a line to form one big piece. The only good thing about them in the past was that they have incredible storage capabilities. 

Moving into this new place I went back and forth with ideas for our entertainment set up and even ordered a few pieces, canceled them, purchased more, then changed my mind and used them elsewhere. The wall I got the TV mounted on didn't allow for a big piece like I really wanted and I stacked two of the chests just to get them out of the way. They stayed like that for a while and it grew on me. I decided it would be practical to leave them and regardless of them being laminate over corkboard "wood", I knew I could paint them (most people strongly discourage painting over laminate corkboard especially Ikea furniture.)

I attached the two chests by using mending plates and four inch screws. The mending plates run along the sides and back and I placed the four inch screws going in the bottom of the top piece into the top of the bottom piece. Got that?

I used teal for the frame out, left the insides of the shelves the original dark espresso, and the drawers got lucky with a pretty cream color. The entire thing got multiple treatments of sanding, staining, dry brushing more paint, staining, sanding, then staining again. Finally the entire thing got coated in a matte finish clear acrylic spray paint to protect it from getting sticky from the heat of the electronics and from scratching everything off.


Yeah, it'll do for now.

11 comments:

The Grandy's said...

Hellooooooo nurse! You know I love me a good aqua makeover. And the distressing???

I fully support you posting home improvement projects once a week.

The only things that seems strange to me...

What the freak were you watching on lifetime?

Sasha said...

It'll do? Are you kidding, I LOVE it!! That is so lovely! Good work!

Sarah said...

Sarah wuz here.

Love!

Amanda C. said...

that looks supre cute!!
what a creative idea! :)

Mel said...

Lifetime = Army Wives. Right? ;o)

In other news, I think this is a great idea for a meme and fun to see what people will show. I know I have a couple summer projects I plan on doing.

You and I have such different styles (read: I LOVE IKEA and liked your "old" set up - for "me" - ha!)
but that's what makes this interesting. To see everyone's styles and creativity.

Chelle said...

VERY NICE! I've always wanted to try and redo stuff but I just don't have the patience to actually do it :(

Michelle said...

Oh, Mrs. S, what will you come up with next? Perhaps once this move is complete my little red dresser will get a makeover. That seems like a summer time project.

Mama Steele said...

Having purchased, then donated one of those chests back in the day- then helped with the first set up in this new house, I have to say....they look fabulous! I would've never thought that those basic Ikea chests could look so original and custom! Great job! I see you found/added more bottles to your collection too. It really looks great- you've got a real talent with this. =}

ginger said...

so cute!!! love it! I can't wait to see all your STUFF!!
lubs

Nicole Marie said...

CUTE! It has Character now :) And I am loving all the bottles. Can't wait to see more!

JG said...

Go you! That looks so cool!