Introducing...HAMMER TIME!

I have a friend who used to call me Crafty Cathy.  It's simply rare that I meet a project I don't like.  And I tackle all sorts of things... to save money and flex some design muscles, but also to learn new skills.  Tiling, carpentry, flooring, upholstery and tons of art and decor techniques have all been crossed off the list.

Those who know me well know that my house is a product of DIY projects, hacks, and arts and crafts and I absolutely love sharing how I made these things.

So, I'm creating a new series I like to call "Hammer Time" (insert groan here;) to show you all how easy it is to elevate your decor into something really personal and special.  And save tons of money in the process.

First up is my take on a favorite IKEA hack.  This is the RAST dresser.  It's a very affordable $39.99 and is solid pine.  However, out of the box, it's a pretty nondescript piece.  

My mission was to create a statement piece for my entryway.  As you walk in my front door, the facing wall is fairly narrow, so I was having trouble finding something to fit.  And I wanted something colorful to draw people in and introduce the palette.  I knew that, with a few changes, I could make this into a modern and functional piece.

As I was brainstorming this piece, I was also working on refining an accent color palette to carry through the house.  I knew I wanted a deep teal blue - a favorite of mine since childhood.  So I took some cues from a recent art purchase and landed on Sherwin Williams Seaworthy (7620).  The print is by a local artist named Holly Markhoff and it reminds me of all of the amazing sister-friends that I am so blessed to have.  Love it!

Next step was figuring out how to make the bottom of the chest flush and how to attach legs to make it taller.  All I had to do was cut a 1x4 to size for the front and secure a couple of 1x2s on the underside to provide a way to anchor the leg brackets.

The legs were from Home Depot.  Unfinished wood with silver bottoms, which I spray painted gold.  Once assembly and painting were complete, I finished it off with these handles from Wayfair (12 5/8" center bar pull in Golden Champagne).  Before painting, I had to patch the existing knob holes and drill new ones, but that was pretty painless.  

And voila!  My new, one-of-a-kind entry chest went from dorm room drab to delightfully me!  I may play around with adding some trim to the drawers...just to give it some dimension.  But, I love it for now and it's a great source of storage.  Candles, linens and seasonal goodies all now have a home.  Helpful tip: In a small area, I always recommend that furnishings have a function as well as beauty.  It's a win-win.

Thanks for visiting!