Distressed

I love distressed furniture, but it seems to be so expensive in stores, so I decided to try my hand at creating my own. I bought this old bureau for $15 from a neighbor who was getting rid of everything in her shed. I sanded it down, then painted it with an Antique White milk paint, and then rubbed all over with a dark brown glaze to achieve the decorative finish.

Milk Paint

This dresser was the first piece of furniture that I fixed up. Since it only cost $10 from craigslist I knew that no matter what I had found a winner. I wish I had a before picture, but since I don't you will have to use your imagination. The top of the dresser was bright green along with the knobs, the rest was in bad shape. After hours of sanding using a sander that a friend lent me(it was my first time using a power tool, and let me tell you, I was hooked) it was as clean and smooth as could be. I decided to use black milk paint to allow the beautiful pine lines to show thru a little. Milk paint was a great; it dried very quickly, was very forgiving, and left no drip marks what-so-ever. Plus, it was absorbed right into the wood and looks like it was done by a professional. I couldn't be more proud of my first project!

First Year

As I start this blog I would like to say that there are so many blogs that have inspired me to make my home a better place, and to all of you bloggers who have taken the time to share your wisdom and experiences with the rest of us I am eternally grateful! This past year has been such a learning experience for me. My husband, Steve, and I bought our first home together just over a year ago, and we have done so much! We have fixed up our home, refurbished old furniture, painted everything you could possibly imagine, and most importantly learned how to decorate on a budget. Since I feel like I am an official DIYer, I decided to start a blog to post pictures of the things I have already done, document new projects, share great finds and little treasures, and to share my home with you.