Dresser Makeover + Mini Apartment Tour

This post was just going to be about two dressers I worked on with my best friend, Rachel. But as I was going through the pictures, I decided I had to share more of her space. Rachel has incredible style. With her apartment she's had a ton of limitations, but the girl has managed to make paneling work!

First order of business: a pair of dressers in need of some TLC.

Not Pictured: A tall one that looks just like this.

We also found this mirror for $2 at a garage sale.

We sanded them both down, ripped out that awful contact paper and cleaned them with some dawn water.

We gave them each one coat of primer and two coats of a pretty gray-blue-green. We distressed them and sealed them 24 hours later.

Ta-da!

She needed A TON of new knobs. I forget where she found them but I know they were a good deal. And I think they work perfectly.

I also had to show you her cute little vanity. It was feeling a little dated so she gave it a fresh coat of white and embellished it with some pretty scrap book paper.

Next up- a subtle wall decal. I love how it almost shimmers and it's not too obvious.

Her dad helped her put up the crown molding to hide a tangle of wires. The awesome copper lamp is from Ikea.

I had to take a quick shot of her mantle too. The last name artwork was a wedding gift and the bottles, lanterns and odds n' ends were collected over time.

How great is this little hall table?

With some help from her dad she tuned an old shutter and scrap pieces of railing into a console perfect for her little space.

And I couldn't help but show you the chalkboard I made her for her last birthday. I've already got ideas for this coming b-day. Rachel is the most fun person to give gifts to!

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour! I keep telling Rachel that I can't wait for her to buy a house so we can really go to town!

I hope you're all having a wonderful week so far. Don't forget to check back Friday for our free May calendar!

Sincerely,

Ashleigh

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An Ikea Wish List

I've already professed my new found love of Ikea here. I. Just. Can't. Get. Enough.

I'm moving into my very first big girl apartment in June. (Read: My first apartment with no roommates.) I'm nervous, excited, and a little bit sad. But I'll still be super close to all my friends, I just won't have their dishes in my sink!

I'm going to need a few things for the new place...like say.. a couch haha. So, naturally, I turn to Ikea for affordable yet stylish furnishings.  I've been thinking about this for a while so I've already got my wishlist planned out. There are some things I need (like a couch) and some things I want (a giant mirror) and I'm going to share them all with you today!

I'm partially doing this to share with Sarah since she's far away in NYC and I need her opinion. I'm also hoping this will help soften the blow for my mom when she goes to Ikea with me :)

First up. THE COUCH. I love the classic sofa shape. I'm leaning toward the tan. Something about it speaks to me. The dark gray is runner up. I'll have to wait until I see them in person

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I've got my heart set on this rug. I love the navy and white and the pattern. I'll have hard wood floors so I definitely want a rug in my living room.

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I know I don't NEED this mirror but it's so pretty! It's tall too, over 6 feet! I'd love to lean it up somewhere in my bedroom.

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This chair probably won't happen. But I love it and it's called a wish list! I'm having a love affair with armless chairs and the wood legs are exactly what I'm looking for. Too bad it's almost as expensive as the couch :(

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I love casual seating and think this would be cool to just toss on the floor. I also really like the added texture it would give to the room.

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Last but not least, this throw. Again, another textural element. Doesn't it look so comfy?

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There are some other little things that have caught my eye that might make their way into my giant blue bag :) And I'm planning on acquiring a sawhorse work table made from Ikea elements, but that will be a different post!

I hope you enjoyed all the Ikea loveliness. Am I missing any must haves? Please share your favorites!

Sincerely,

Ashleigh

(Not Really An) Ikea Hack

A few months ago I embarked on a trip that would go down in history. A trip that would change my life. A trip that would alter my dreams and make one hell of a dent in my savings.  This trip?

I couldn't believe I hadn't been there until that moment! I felt like much of my life had been wasted. I loved every minute of it. I was lucky enough to go with my best friend, Rachel. You'll remember her as my partner in crime for this beadboard wallpaper makeover. She's a seasoned Ikea shopper and she showed me the ropes.

One thing she picked up was this Bekvam Kitchen Cart. It was the perfect size for her tiny kitchen and with raw, solid wood construction the possibilities were endless.

Sorry for the dark pictures, they were taken in my basement/winter workshop.

We had already applied wood conditioner which is why the top appears darker.

We stained the top with some left over dark stain I had and painted the bottom with MS Tailor's Chalk. I love the way it turned out. We also decided that we hate painting anything with slats. It's the worst! I must invest in a paint spray someday. Someday far, far away.

I LOVE the mason jar light she made. I will have to talk her into doing a guest post tutorial for us. 

 

Well, that's all for now! I'm off to dream of Ikea as I drift off to sleep!

Sincerely,

Ashleigh

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