All summer I have been trying to renovate one bedroom. Yes…working on one bedroom since early May!!! Sad isn’t it??? I stripped wallpaper, respackled, sanded, and applied almost five gallons of primer to one bedroom. Yes, the walls and ceiling were very thirsty!!! I worked so hard that I really hurt my hands. I had to take six weeks off to heal the tendons in my hands due to overuse. Yes, the doctor’s bill and x-rays would have more than paid someone to do the whole job for me. Just call me bull headed, hard headed or stupid but it looks like I’ll never learn. I used to paint or wallpaper a bedroom in one night when the kids had gone to bed…darn this getting old stuff!!!
The good news is --- the ceiling and the entire room are painted. I’m working on a second coat for my window trim and then painting the closet and hall doors. I’ve applied paint to two pieces of furniture, an antique chest of drawers and an old sofa table to use in the room.
Here are the photos of my Mom’s first chest of drawers that I have worked on…
I had lightly sanded it a long time ago and just never got to finishing the painting. 
I filled in some of the worst gouges and scratches and sanded the filler smooth…
I remember my Mom telling me about this suite of furniture when she was first married in the early forties.She paid for it by the week from a local furniture store. It probably wasn’t more that a quarter or fifty cents a week.
Remember that was a substantial sum in those years and she was earning the money by working in a shirt factory.
Here she is … in all her primed glory…I’m not quite through with her so I’ll show you the finished project soon. I think she is looking pretty spiffy so far…now I have to decide about painting or refinishing the original hardware!!!
A beautifully sprayed on finishing coat sure would be great to have!!!
Miss Jan over at Bobby Pins Boardwalk just posted this video about her new paint sprayer…
I want one…this would have made my job so much easier and faster!!! I probably wouldn’t
have injured my hands if I had used one of these!!!
Did you see how easy it looks???
She is even giving one of these away…go here to see how to win one!!!
Jan has a great blog so sign up to follow her!!!
MM At Susan’s Between Naps on The Porch
MM at Little Red House
Ouch! I hope your hand are doing better now. Word from the wise - once injured, they are so easy to re-injure, so be careful! The piece looks great painted.
ReplyDeleteDropping by from Met Monday.
Allison
Atticmag
I did the same thing to my hand. It hurts like the dickens and when it doesn't I rehurt it! I love the dresser. And I love the paint sprayer--may have to show the hubby the video! ;)
ReplyDeleteWe are probably around the same age and I relate to your aches and pains. As you said, it used to be so easy, sigh. Very nice redo on the dresser and it will all be worth it when finished.
ReplyDeleteIt sure gets harder and harder to do these jobs. I hate to start a project and then feel overwhelmed by the amount of work required. It always seems like a good idea at the time doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteglad your hands are recovering! the dresser already looks so much prettier primed- can't wait to see it all done!
ReplyDeleteGreat chest of drawers...it's so pretty painted white.Looks fresh and clean. Rest those hands!
ReplyDeleteSharlotte
That is a fabulous dresser. I loved the story of how your mum paid it off weekly, it makes it even sweeter.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the finished room.
ReplyDeletewow, you have been busy! love the dresser, what a wonderful piece to have.
ReplyDeleteHope your hands are recovering. You've been very busy. thanks for sharing your projects with us.
ReplyDeleteYou have been very busy this summer. I'm sorry to hear about your hands, but it looks as if you are doing a wonderful job on the furniture. Take care and keep us posted on your progress.
ReplyDeleteWonderful job of the dresser. I know how you feel, did my knee in refinishing and painting the stairs. Hope your hand is feeling better. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI love the lines this chest and what a great history. You are a doing a great job revitalizing it. I can't wait to get a sprayer myself.
ReplyDeleteWow---you have been one busy lady... Next time though, get some professional help.... OR---maybe you'll win that Paint Sprayer!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe old dresser looks great.... You did a great job with it... Sometimes the old furniture is much better than anything that you can buy new these days.
Have a great Week.
Hugs,
Betsy
What a great old dresser. Love the details on it. It looks great white. And yes it is easier to use a sprayer. I don't like the cleanup process though, so for me it depends on how big the piece is.
ReplyDeleteGreat job...sorry about your hands!
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about getting a sprayer because I have gotten to the point that I really do not like painting anymore. I do not mind so much the small projects, but not the bigger ones. I have two more rooms to paint in my house and I keep procrastinating... Love your mother's first chest of drawers, it has great details. Cannot wait to see the final results.
ReplyDelete~ Tracy
I love to see what paint does to make the old furniture look new. I have a few pieces to do that to, one very similar to your mothers chest of drawers. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt will be such an accomplishment for you when everything gets done. What color are you planning to paint the chest? I know what you mean about procrastinating and not getting things done. I'm still working on one bedroom, too. LOL~ Maybe it will get done by Christmas! Stay healthy.
ReplyDelete:-) Sue
I have my dad's childhood dresser and chest of drawers from the early '40s as well as his mother's china cabinet and ALL need me to do something with them. Time to get off my fanny and pretty them up a bit.
ReplyDeleteDI
My mother had a chest of drawers that looked very similar to your...... sure wish I would have saved it and re-finished it like you're doing. It looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTake care of those hands....
Beautiful redo. I have an old bedroom suite with a chest very similar to yours. My hubby and I started out in our first little rented house with it. Bought it from my aunt and uncle in 1970 for $35! Still have it in one of the upstairs bedrooms and it is painted white. We finally replaced the hardware with some pretty little porcelain knobs that have rosebuds on them. Just depends on the look you want. Can't wait to see your finished room and chest of drawers!
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