The Lowe’s Creative Ideas challenge for May is Pop of Color. We’ve been working on a laundry room makeover (still in progress) and while my goal is to keep the walls and fixtures neutral, I wanted to introduce fun pops of color in small amounts with accessories that I could easily swap out when the mood (often) strikes. Spray paint is a great way to update old pieces to add a pop of color to your existing decor.
With the washer and dryer on a DIY pedestal, adding a step stool to the laundry room was necessary and this $10 vintage step stool was a great estate sale find…don’t you love the wooden carrying handle? Sweet!
…it just needed a little DIY TLC.
I carefully removed the old tread and used it as a pattern for a newer piece (rubber stair tread available at Lowe’s) since I wanted the stool to have the same original look (only not quite so worn, chipped and peeling).
Next I gave the stool a light sanding and wiped it clean.
*Disclaimer: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network, I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this challenge. As always, all ideas and opinions are in my own words. The blog post above is what worked for me. Results may vary. Remember to work in a well-ventilated area and to take the proper safety precautions.
Do you have old furniture just taking up space in the basement, garage or attic? Or maybe with the start of yard sale season right around the corner, you’ll spy a fun furniture piece to flip…keep your eyes open! The other day I spied an old metal cart collecting dust so I decided to give it a purpose. It once belonged to my husband’s grandfather. Time to dust the cart off, give it life and make it useful.
First I cleaned up the cart a bit. I was going to spray paint it but it really wasn’t in bad shape (finish wasn’t original – it had been spray painted in the past) and I sort of like the few scratches and scuffs, making it look old and not brand new. Sometimes imperfections are perfect, right?
before…
Then I set about measuring and cutting the wood planks to fit the top and what looks like support for a bottom shelf.
After deciding placement of the planks, I marked, sanded and cleaned each one.
I stained each wood plank a rich beautful color. I brushed the stain onto all sides with a foam brush (in the same direction as the wood grain) and wiped away with a clean rag then let them dry for an hour or two.
Last step! Just glue and clamp the wood planks into place. Elmer’s ProBond Advanced is designed for gluing mixed materials like wood planks to the metal cart (porous to non-porous materials) without expanding, creating a foamy residue and making a mess. Awesome! Let the glue dry 24 hours.
I applied a sealer to the wood to protect the finish and add a little shine.
Loved once again…
Beautiful new wood top and shelf:
Now what was once just junk now serves as a side table (or would that be center table?) in our family room.
I’m often stumped when asked my decorating style. I tend to just do what I love. Our family room is a mix of modern with vintage, new with old, an “urban classic” style but with a bit more fun with pops of color.
I’ve recently been working on redoing the family room which is a mix of repurposed, thrifted, DIY and new. Vintage modern. Urban classic. It’s still a work in progress (I know. I know…I just revealed the family room makeover not long ago but it wasn’t feeling ‘just right’ so I’m slowly changing it. Again.) I love decorating. I love thrifting. I love DIY. But sometimes adding something new is just as important for achieving the look I love. Sometimes that means saving for a big ticket item but most of the time I’m working on a tight budget.
One of the elements you can’t miss in my family room is the set of Sauder Barrister Lane bookcases on either side of the fireplace surround. New but classic spin on the plain cubby-style shelving. I love the color/finish and the addition of vintage-looking name plates.
Two Barrister Lane bookcases give this wall and fireplace surround a built-in (but moveable) look.
I love the vintage vibe of the bookcases paired with a modern pattern like in this accent rug and colorful glass lamps:
And they’re versatile. So when I get the urge to rearrange, they’ll work in several other rooms in my home too.
Get the Look: For a bit of casual sophistication, Urban Classic reflects a smart, easygoing lifestyle through timeless decorating. Somewhat eclectic, this style focuss on mixing classic and found items to hint at a well-traveled taste. Urban Classic is full of sophisticated yet relaxed home design ideas with a healthy mix of materials. Colors are earthy and rich, while materials show age to suggest a loving history of use.
Find inspiration. Check out magazines, decorating blogs, ideas via Pinterest or a Google search. Sometimes inspiration can be found in art, fashion, one object, fabric patterns, catalogs, etc.
Mix repurposed, thrifted, DIY with new and modern (Sauder has a broad range of beautiful furniture at affordable prices) to create a room that reflects your style.
Personalize. Take what you love about your inspiration and put your own spin on it, making it fit your lifestyle, your personality.
Perfect timing: Before I even received this opportunity, I spied the Barrister Lane bookcases and knew right away that I wanted a set of two to flank either side of the vintage fireplace surround that you often see in my family room (sometimes I move it to the dining room). I couldn’t pass up the color, style, function and affordable price and ordered two of them online. THEN just a few days later, I received the offer to participate in the Sauder Get the Look campaign. Great timing, awesome coincidence! I purchased the product before the campaign became available to me. How perfect!
Purchase experience: The bookcases arrived and were simple to assemble by myself. The instructions were easy to read and the pieces clearly marked. There was however one piece missing from one of the packages. My first reaction was panic…would I have to box it back up and ship it back? (Sauder furniture is super heavy – not fun for shipping but definitely adds to the overall quality of product.) The answer: No. I simply went online to sauder.com and ordered a replacement part. Free-of-charge. It arrived within in a few days. No hassle! Great customer service – I was able to manage ordering the replacement part on a Sunday evening without even having to explain the situation to a sales representative or make an extra trip to the store or without having to return the product. Gotta love that!
What design style is most prevalent in your home? See more ‘Get the Look’ ideas from Sauder on Pinterest.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sauder Woodworking. The opinions and text are all mine.
