*A huge thanks to Behr for providing paint for this makeover! My favorable opinion of gorgeous, high-quality paint is 100% my own. 🙂 For more information, see my disclosures here.*
So remember that one time we started making changes in our entry? What started out as a brown, drab space with a boring white door, turned into a soothing little entry area with a door in statement blue thanks to some {super duper fabulous} paint! In case you missed that post, this was the before and after:
What you can see peeking out just a teensy bit in the above pictures was a little black desk that was in desperate need of a makeover. I made it look all neat and clean for the pictures, but most of the time, it looked something like this:
#thisisreallife #justsayin
Basically, it had become a catch-all for anything and everything we happened to drop there whenever we walked in the door. Not cute. I’m going to get into how we tackled the organizational aspects of this space tomorrow, but first it was desk makeover time.
This little desk has actually been through a lot already. In its former life, it was a vanity that was a part of my mom’s bedroom set in the 1970s. When our first C was born, we painted it white, and it acted as a changing table in his nursery. Then, when I first started blogging, I entered into a “paint all of the furniture black” phase, and it found itself in our entry. Since the rest of the space was getting a facelift, I couldn’t leave this little guy out, so he received yet another makeover! My color of choice: Behr Marquee Aquifer. Delicious.
I have been on a *smidge* of a navy and aqua kick lately, so I just knew that the Aquifer would be perfect with our Compass Blue door. I started out by removing the drawers and wiping down the whole piece with water and a mild soap to get off all of the grime.
I took off the existing hardware and patched the holes in the drawers since my new hardware was slightly smaller and I wanted the face of the drawers to look completely smooth.
When all of the prep was finished, it was time for the fun part: painting! I used my handy dandy mini roller for the flat surfaces and a regular old brush for the spindles. The Marquee paint glides on oh-so-smoothly, and it truly has the best coverage of any paint I’ve ever used. After the paint had dried, I sealed everything with a couple coats of polyacrylic, and I was done!
Ooh I am just loving the juxtaposition of the aqua and navy! {Also I love that I was able to work the word “juxtaposition” into a post. #englishnerd 😉 }
I actually tried out 3 different types of knobs before deciding on these hexagon-shaped acrylic knobs from The Home Depot. I just loved how they looked against the new color! {Plus they’re kinda girly and fun, and I try to sneak some girly-ness into this house full of boys whenever I can! 😉 }
My bloggy BFF Chelsea from Making Home Base recently wrote a genius post about using wrapping paper as a drawer liner, so I took a page out of her book and prettified the insides of my drawers with a little bit of gift wrap.
So right now this area is pretty much a blank canvas, but I have big plans for it! Let’s just say that kindergarten came with a lot more paperwork and scheduling than I expected it to, and I had to come up with a way to tame the craziness. More on that tomorrow, but until then, I’ll leave you with the best part, the before and after!
Also, if you’ve been wanting to try out Behr’s new Marquee line for yourself, check with your local Home Depot this month!! The whole interior and exterior line should be in stores across the US (I know my store got it in a week and a half ago), and I promise, you’ll love, love, love it too!
Have you painted any furniture lately? What is your go-to color these days?
*A huge thanks to Behr for providing paint for this makeover! My favorable opinion of gorgeous, high-quality paint is 100% my own. 🙂 For more information, see my disclosures here.*
Emma Rushbrooke says
September 8, 2014 at 5:29 amThat looks great Abby, I love the aqua colour. Also I would have imagined that painting furniture would require primer which is an extra step prohibitive enough to put off a fairweather decorator like myself! Glad you’re feeling up to painting and diy. I hope you’re feeling well. Emma xo
justagirlabby says
September 10, 2014 at 9:37 pmAww, thank you, friend! Yes, the Marquee paint has the primer built right in, so it saved me a step! Woot! Hope you are doing well– Steelers again tomorrow already! Woohoo!!
~Abby =)
Laura says
September 8, 2014 at 9:16 amThat looks great! I really love the aqua color. I have a TV armoire that is white and a little dirty looking. I’ve been thinking about painting it a fun color.
justagirlabby says
September 10, 2014 at 9:38 pmThank you so much, Laura! Love the thought of a bold TV stand! Let me know if you go for it so I can check it out! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Stephanie @ Mommyzoid says
September 8, 2014 at 10:00 amThat colour just brightens that space up so much! Such a nice finish and that hardware just makes it look like a million bucks!
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 9:37 pmThank you, Stephanie! I love pretty much all shades of aqua/teal/turquoise, so I was excited to use it in this space! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Kristi says
September 8, 2014 at 10:02 amSUCH a transformation! I love how much it brightens up your entry and that colour is absolutely {gorgeous}!!!
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 9:38 pmThank you, friend! I felt like I needed a pop of color in here and the aqua definitely did the trick! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Jillian @ JST Design says
September 8, 2014 at 11:02 amGreat job Abby! Navy and Aqua are my favourite together, that’s what you can find throughout our house too. I find Navy to be a classic colour and the Aqua a fun colour!
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 9:52 pmGirl, I love your style! It’s a great combo, right?! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Meaghan says
September 8, 2014 at 12:09 pmI love it! I want to repaint an old bookcase and line the back but since it’s had 3 different homes in 3 years I’m not really sure what color scheme to go with. Loving your blue obsession!!
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 9:53 pmWe did that for a few years! We moved soooo many times! We’ve been in our current place for 5 years, though, and probably will stay for a few more. Let me know if you end up painting the bookcase so I can check it out! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Lauren @ Mom Home Guide says
September 8, 2014 at 12:16 pmHi, Abby! Your new desk color is so pretty and feminine! I adore the new knobs you added, too. I am looking for a desk that I can paint for my home’s living room!
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:15 pmThanks so much, Lauren! Sounds like a fun project you have coming up!
~Abby =)
Sandi @ A New York Foodie says
September 8, 2014 at 2:08 pmthat looks great Abby!! I love the color. How long did the whole project take you to do?
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:17 pmThanks so much, Sandi! The paint has great coverage, so even with drying time and the poly and drying time, it only took me a few hours. It was a quick one!
~Abby =)
Selene Galindo says
September 8, 2014 at 7:52 pmI just love this color! It has always been one I my favorites! The table definitely looks more fun and lively now…AWESOME job, Abby
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:18 pmThank you, friend! You are the sweetest! Hope you’re having a great week!
~Abby =)
Chelsea says
September 8, 2014 at 9:21 pmIt looks so so good, Abby! It’s such a beautiful piece to begin with but that color is stunning and those new knobs really make it fabulous. I love that you did the gift wrap lining! Such a fun little surprise!!
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:20 pmThank YOU for the lining inspiration! I love how it added a pop of pattern to the mix! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, friend!
~Abby =)
[email protected] of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
September 8, 2014 at 10:13 pmSo glad you kept the color. It is so pretty against the navy door! And I am totally with you on adding girly touches whenever humanly possible (or allowed by the hubby.) XO
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:21 pmThanks, friend! You guys were right– once I styled it and got all of the other pieces in place I really loved it. I think it just surprised me at first! 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Krista @ the happy housie says
September 11, 2014 at 11:26 amIt is so pretty Abby!! I absolutely love how it turned out – of course that color is right up my alley:)
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:52 pmIt does make me think of your bright and cheery home! And you were totally right– once I got everything up and styled, I loved it! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Carissa Rasmussen says
September 12, 2014 at 7:07 pmI seriously will never get tired of great transformations! Always a job well done!
justagirlabby says
September 15, 2014 at 7:20 pmThanks so much, Carissa! Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Julie at Being Home says
September 13, 2014 at 12:58 amWow! That color really shows off those legs! lol The detail of the table got lost a little in the black, but the new color highlights it. Beautiful color and makeover! 🙂
justagirlabby says
September 15, 2014 at 7:20 pmThanks so much, Julie! Yes, the new color is definitely an improvement! Hope you’re having a wonderful day!
~Abby =)
[email protected] says
September 16, 2014 at 1:54 pmI. Love. This. Color. Such a great transformation.
And seriously – I need this color in my life.