The Cs’ big boy room is coming right along! {If you missed the before pictures or the room plan, pop on over and check them out! And if you’re really brave, you can read about my pillow sewing debacle too.} We’re going with a brightly colored “transportation” theme for their space, and I just think it’s so fitting for them. Even though we’ve decided to go with a theme, I didn’t want people to see the room and immediately be overwhelmed by cars and trucks and motorcycles, so we’re trying a little more subtle approach, adding transportation “things” {like chevron symbols on their pillows} without being too in-your-face about it.
Enter, the racing stripes. I was totally inspired when I saw this racing-striped dresser on Pinterest.
{via homedit.com}
Guess what? Cars have racing stripes, so therefore racing stripes fall under the transportation theme… boom. I was sold. So I set out to create our own version of this dresser in colors to match the Cs’ new space. Here’s what we started with:
This dresser {which I took with me when I moved out of my parents’ house and never gave back– thanks mom and dad! ;)} originally had a light colored stain, but when hubby and I found out we were expecting our first little C, we painted it white and changed out the knobs to match his nursery. It has looked like this for about five years now, and though it served its purpose well, it was time for a dresser update.
Hubby is my resident taping expert, so I put him to work taping out the design. {Thank you, hubbs!} He started by taping the thick middle stripe. I’ve learned that the key to nice crisp lines is to seal the tape by painting over it with the base color before you begin painting the top color, so I sealed it with white and “primed” the knobs with white while I was at it as well.
Next is was time to add color! We decided to go with “Pumpkin Patch” {how seasonally appropriate!} by Behr. I posted a teaser picture of the color on Instagram, and my sister immediately texted me wondering what in the world I was doing to the boys’ room with such a brightly colored orange:
One of the many reasons I love my sister… she rolls with my crazy ideas even when she thinks I’m turning my kids’ room into a giant pumpkin! 😀
Once I removed the tape from the larger stripe and let it dry completely, hubby taped up the two thinner stripes for me and I repeated the sealing/painting process on those. I had a few places to touch up when I removed the tape for the final time, but for the most part, my sealing method worked wonderfully!
At one point I thought I was going to have to re-paint all of the white because it had gotten pretty marked up and dingy-looking, but I ended up wiping it down with a Magic Eraser
, {Amazon affiliate link} and it shined like new! {If you haven’t tried them yet, do it. Life. Changing. And they have no idea who I am. I just love them that much!}
After everything was cleaned up and touched up, I was thrilled with how the dresser had taken on a new life. {And so were the Cs!}
I’ll admit, I was nervous about the orange, but hubby loved it from the start, and I’m so glad I listened to him! It really adds a great punch of color to the room, and it’s absolutely perfect for the Cs.
Wanna see a before and after? {I’m going to show you anyway, so I hope you said yes. ;)}
Yay! It looks much more “grown up,” don’t ya think? Plus, I figure when the Cs are done with it, I can just call it “grain sack” instead of “racing stripes” and use it somewhere else in the house. Win-win! I have a few more projects up my sleeve before the BIG REVEAL so stick around! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
Have you done any furniture makeovers lately?
I link up at Inspire Me Please, Link Party Palooza, Home Stories A to Z, and these fun parties!
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Dawn says
October 23, 2013 at 12:38 pmSuper cute! Love the racing stripes for a boy’s room!
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:46 pmThank you so much, Dawn! We’re having fun with it! Hope you have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
[email protected] says
October 23, 2013 at 1:57 pmGreat stripes! The orange is really fun in such a small dose (I can’t take too much orange) and I love that you painted the knobs to match. I’m sure it will look great in the finished space! I recently painted an old dresser to use as craft storage and just need to get around to photographing it for ye olde blog. 🙂
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:46 pmI agree about orange in small doses! I’m really usually a neutrals girl when I decorate, so the Cs’ room is really stretching me with color! They both have such big, energetic personalities, though, that I couldn’t imagine them in a room without lots of color. Thanks so much for stopping by, friend! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
Stephanie J says
October 23, 2013 at 4:54 pmJust wanted to say I discovered your blog while at work today (and I NEVER comment on blogs), that your blog is totally AMAZING. I love it. I’m pretty sure I am going to be reading every post from day 1 to night while my little one sleeps. Please keep up with the great tutorials!
God Bless.
Stephanie
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:44 pmMiss Stephanie, you just totally made my day! Thank you so much for your sweet, sweet comment! It really means so much! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Kelsey says
October 23, 2013 at 5:57 pmThis is so awesome!!! His room is going to look so cool. I am trying to think of a way make my boys’ room more fun, but I am lacking in the creativity department.
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:42 pmYou can do it! And if nothing else, you can check out Pinterest and do your own version of things you like from there! Thanks so much for reading, Kelsey! Hope you’re having a great week!
~Abby =)
[email protected] at home mom says
October 23, 2013 at 9:38 pmI love it Abby, I really love it; the orange is fun and perfect for boys! my little boy favorite color is red but he also likes the orange; I think all boys do! 🙂
you guys did a great job with the stripes 🙂
wish you a beautiful evening Abby!
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:41 pmThank you, Ingrid! My boys love the orange too…although baby C calls it “blue,” lol! We’re still working on colors around here! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, my friend!
~Abby =)
Kim @ Exquisitely Unremarkable says
October 23, 2013 at 10:32 pmAbby, I don’t know what I love more…the awesome dresser makeover or the texts between you and your sister!! 🙂
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:38 pmLol! Thanks, Kim! That sister of mine is definitely a keeper! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
brooke says
October 23, 2013 at 10:56 pmThank you so much for linking up this dresser turned out beautiful! I love the grain sack lines!
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:37 pmThank YOU for hosting such a fun party! There are so many talented painters in blogland. I love that you have an entire party dedicated to it! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Miss Brooke!
~Abby =)
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
October 24, 2013 at 12:25 pmI love it Abby! Looks so great. (and I totally love the exchange between you and your sister!! Priceless! 🙂 )
Hope you are having a great week friend!
xo
Nancy
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:29 pmThank you so much, Nancy! That means a lot coming from the queen of furniture makeovers! Hope you’re having a wonderful week as well!!
~Abby =)
Allyson says
October 24, 2013 at 2:59 pmGirl…….you are totally beating me with this big boy room business. I need to get cranking and you are totally motivating me! I love how this turned out though, great job, and I LOVE the orange (maybe even enough to paint 1 wall 🙂 ) xo Allyson
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:27 pmYou are brave, my friend! I’m sure your boy room will be darling! I set a goal of one month, and I’m determined to finish it in that time! {which means I’m up to my eyeballs in paint 24/7, but I’m making progress!} Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Katie @ Made to be a Momma says
October 24, 2013 at 4:43 pmHey Sweet friend! This looks adorable! Can’t wait to room my boys together! I can’t wait to see their room all done! Email coming to you soon—Ive been fighting a nasty head cold! GAH!
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:23 pmOh no! Boo for colds. 🙁 I’m excited to have the room finished too. I’m up to my eyeballs in paint right now, lol! Hope you feel better soon, friend!
~Abby =)
Marie says
October 24, 2013 at 5:35 pmI love the striped dresser. You did a great job!
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 9:20 pmThank you so much, Marie! I hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Lisa Huff says
October 24, 2013 at 10:18 pmHi that turned out so adorable!!! Love it!!!
justagirlabby says
October 24, 2013 at 10:27 pmThank you so much, Lisa! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Krista @ the happy housie says
October 24, 2013 at 11:58 pmLove it Abby! You did an amazing job!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:41 pmThanks so much, friend! Hope you’re having a wonderful week! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Kathy says
October 25, 2013 at 4:17 pmI love reading the text between you and your sister…too funny! The dresser looks amazing. The stripes give it such a powerful punch!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:39 pmLol, thanks! She’s a keeper! 😀 Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Kathy! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Chelsea says
October 25, 2013 at 7:25 pmLove the update! Great job!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:37 pmThank you so much, Chelsea! Hope you’re having a wonderful week! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Renee says
October 27, 2013 at 8:48 amIt looks like it was super hard getting the stripes over the drawers. Great job! I can’t wait until we’re out of my mother in law’s so we can do great things like this ourselves. My boyfriend is very handy so I’ll definitely be putting him to work!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:28 pmYay for handy boyfriends/husbands! Half of my projects wouldn’t get done without mine– he’s the best! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, friend! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Chelsea says
October 27, 2013 at 12:50 pmVery cute, Abby! Love the orange and white combo. Can’t wait to see this room come together!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:27 pmThank you, friend! We are getting there! Hopefully the reveal will be soon! Hope your week is going well! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
[email protected] says
October 27, 2013 at 7:21 pmLove it! Those orange stripes are going to energize his room!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:25 pmThank you so much, Cristina! It’s coming together! I can’t wait for the big reveal! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Rondell says
October 27, 2013 at 8:01 pmHow neat…you did a great job and you will be able to use it later when they out grow it!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:24 pmThanks so much, Rondell! Yes, I look forward to stealing it down the road! 😉 Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
[email protected] says
October 27, 2013 at 8:54 pmI am in love with grain sack stripes, painting them on several pieces of furniture as well as canvas. Love the ‘racking stripes’ on your boys’ dresser (and its future change-o to grain stripes).
Joy
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:21 pmThanks, Joy! I’m a grain sack fan, too, so this was a great look for the Cs and for me! Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Carrie From Carrie This Home says
October 28, 2013 at 8:32 amThis turned out so cute, Abby! My son has a similar dresser in his room and a painted stripe would look awesome! I might have to try this! Have a wonderful week!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 3:16 pmThank you, Carrie! It was a relatively easy update to do! I say go for it! Hope you’re having a wonderful week! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Kim (TheKimSixFix) says
October 28, 2013 at 11:49 pmI love the orange stripes. It isn’t overtly masculine but it still says “little boy”
Nice job!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 2:53 pmThank you so much, Kim! The Cs are loving it, so I’m calling it a success! 😀 Hope you’re having a wonderful week! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Brooke Gira says
October 29, 2013 at 9:10 amVisiting from the Serenity You hop …
WOW! Your dresser turned out great! I love the stripe and color choice. I’m getting ready to decorate a boy’s nursery and this idea would look great with my style. Thanks so much for sharing!
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 2:52 pmThanks so much for popping over, Brooke! Have fun with the nursery makeover– I’m sure it will be adorable! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
[email protected] says
October 29, 2013 at 10:55 pmlove it!! Featuring you on Work it Wednesday tomorrow!
xo, amy
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 2:47 pmThank you so much, Amy! You totally made my day!! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
brooke says
October 30, 2013 at 6:22 pmThank you for linking up at my furniture and Paint Party!! I am featuring your dresser tonight!!
Brooke
startathome.blogspot.com
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 2:40 pmThank you SO much, Brooke! I’m honored! Hope you’re having a wonderful week! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Rachel Paxton says
October 31, 2013 at 2:21 pmLove the update, Abby! It totally reminds me of the roman shades I made for my little boy’s room. Great job!
Rachel @ Maison de Pax
justagirlabby says
October 31, 2013 at 2:37 pmThank you so much, Rachel! I love your Roman shades! I remember coming across them on Pinterest when I was searching for examples of racing stripes and thought they were so cool! Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Halloween!
~Abby =)
Deme @ House For Five says
January 20, 2014 at 11:35 pmIn love with this project! Perfect for the transportation theme. Our boys also share a room and now I’m ready to go paint something for them 🙂
justagirlabby says
January 21, 2014 at 7:36 pmThank you so much, Deme! It was a fun one! Hooray for brothers! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by my blog– have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Sarah says
May 15, 2014 at 1:24 pmThis is brilliant! Also, thanks so much for the tip about “priming” the taped area… I’ve had troubles with paint seeping and ruining my nice straight lines before, and this is such a great idea!
justagirlabby says
May 19, 2014 at 12:41 pmThanks, Sarah! Yes, I dealt with many, many “seepage” issues before I finally figured out this method, and it’s been a lot easier ever since! 🙂 Have a great week!
~Abby =)