Don't Know If It's Just Vanity, But I Think This DIY Transformation Rules!

Well I don't know about you, but I'm all about getting the most "bang for your buck," when it comes to upgrades in my home.  We have a very limited budget to address home improvements.  With a 20+ year old home, the list of "things to do" is endless!

We did a little aesthetic upgrade to our guest bathroom a few years ago that included removing some hideous navy, floral wallpaper (can you say "busy?").  We painted the room a beautiful, watery, blue and added beachy beige accents.  Then we replaced the old shiny brass mirror and light sconces.  A new shower curtain and Voila!  It was quite an improvement, but still the dilemma of what to do with the vanity weighed on me.  The wood finish was scratched and worn (it actually looks better in the pic here than it did up close and personal!), the counter-top was white Formica, clean but not as nice as it could be.  The old faucet with the crystal ball handle-you know the one-well it had to go!  So the question was what is the cheapest way to revamp it while still achieving an upscale look? 

One problem was that the vanity was a custom size so trying to buy another one led to the Goldilocks principal- it was either too big or too small- requiring us to make changes to the flooring.  Besides, those new ready to install vanities from the big box stores are made of particle board, not good quality wood like this one.

I knew the vanity would look great repainted in a custom grey color (mix of ASCP Graphite and Paris Grey) to match the mirror and fixtures and that I could do it for very little money, but to replace the counter-top proved to be quite expensive.  So here's where we had to get really creative! 

We created the illusion of a free-standing cabinet by adding "feet!

A darker glaze brings attention to the details!

We decided to repaint the vanity and to purchase a new standard sized granite counter-top from the big box store because it was so much more affordable.  It was about 3 inches too long.  After doing some research and watching several YouTube videos, we began the process of cutting 2 inches from the end of the counter-top touching the wall.  This resulted in a centered sink and a finished edge overhang on the other side of about 2 inches.  The standard overhang is about 1 inch, but we decided we could live with it, especially since it saved us about $400! 

Cutting granite was quite a new adventure for us...so we measured many times and approached it slowly and cautiously, but we did it!  The cut was neat, but it really didn't matter too much because we covered up the cut with the side splash.  Then we added a new faucet.  We are really quite proud of the results!  You won't find this vanity anywhere else because it is uniquely ours.

DIY's rule!

This post featured on http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/add-feet-legs-to-furniture-223748

PAINT...The Great Unifier!

I love paint!  It is the perfect tool for transformation!  Old and worn out? Paint makes it new again!  Need to tweek the color to fit your new color palette?  A little paint on the details or a wash of color can make any piece "just right!"  One of my favorite things about paint is the way you can create "sets" of pieces that do not really match.  Need a new bedroom suite of furniture, but can't afford to buy all new pieces?  Find furniture in a style that coordinates with the pieces that you already own and then unify them with paint.

That's what I did with an old desk that we had.  My daughter was moving into her first college apartment this year and she had little room for anything more than her bed.  So when space is limited, think vertical!  We decided that a desk with storage above would offer her the most versatility.  So we started with this truly awful little desk, which was well made, but covered in yellowing lacquer.

Then we picked up a cute chair with turned legs similar to those on the desk.  It was only $3.00!














Now, we needed a hutch!  I don't know about you, but I see these all the time at thrift stores or on Craigslist.  The owners decide to discard them, but keep the original desk or buffet it sat upon.  They are usually pretty affordable, since they are missing their counterpart.

We just made sure that we found one that fit within the measured width of the desk.  We picked up this beauty at Habitat for Humanity's Reuse Store for just $15. It's a great way to help a good cause, too!



Now as you can see, this is a mismatched set of objects in three different finishes.  In walks PAINT...the great unifier!  I decided to paint the pieces in ASCP's Aubusson Blue and to draw attention to the beautiful details by showcasing them in Florence. Yet another dimension was added by doing a wash of Florence over the Aubussion Blue on the arches of the hutch and the back of the chair.

Here's the finished product!  Three mismatched, discarded pieces find a new home and serve a new purpose together.  Unity!