Give your furniture a makeover, easily and cheaply! And signed "Furniture Makeover" book giveaway!

I love DIY books - especially when they're filled with advice and projects that I would actually do AND will save me big bucks.  That's why I was so excited to receive "Furniture Makeovers" by Barb Blair.

Here's a description:

Furniture Makeovers: Simple Techniques for Transforming Furniture with Paint, Stains, Paper, Stencils, and More shows how to transform tired furniture into stunning showpieces. You'll never look at a hand-me-down dresser the same way again! The book offers 26 easy-to-follow techniques that can be applied to all different types of pieces, from bookshelves to desks: painting, applying gold leaf, wallpapering, distressing, dip dyeing, and more. In addition to the core techniques, author and Knack Studios founder Barb Blair shares 30 beautiful before-and-after makeovers from her studio and outlines how to achieve each look. With helpful step-by-step photographs, a visual glossary explaining all the tools and materials needed, and a lovely contemporary aesthetic, Furniture Makeovers is a treasure trove of ideas and instruction for the home decorator.

What I loved about this book is how accessible it was.  Blair never expects you to have access to a welder, industrial belt sander, or 50" table saw.  She shows you how to complete each project in an easy to understand fashion with materials anyone can get their hands on and use - with pretty pictures to boot!

Since I would never steer you wrong, I decided to try out a project on my own using only Furniture Makeovers as a teacher.  See my results below.

Since I was a newbie, I wanted to start on something relatively small and uncomplicated, so I chose this nightstand boyfriend has had since his bachelor days.  In fact, it has lived in a few bachelor pads over the years, so it was in need of a thorough cleaning to say the least!

My subject.  Nothing fancy, but solid wood construction.

After!

I wanted to create a finish similar to Blair's "Emmaline" piece, a gorgeous chest of drawers that she painted and then stained to create an authentic worn look.  I didn't want my project to come out looking too distressed or shabby,  just like a piece that's been around for a few decades.

Here's is the project that inspired me.

"Emmaline"  before - a lady with great bones!

"Emmaline"  after -now with the surface beauty to match!

Here's how I transformed our bachelor pad nightstand into a sophisticated looker..

I carefully reviewed Blair's instructions on painting a piece of furniture - from prep to completion...

Gathered my essential supplies.  All supplies are thoroughly covered in the beginning of the book, and then each project lists the supplies needed.

Did the necessary sanding and cleaning (I like to use old vinyl shower curtains as my drop cloths).

Then I started painting.  I'm in love with navy recently, so I went with a navy color.  When painting, remember that loading your brush or roller properly is imperative to getting a smooth, even finish.  Make sure you use a paint tray to get the paint evenly applied to your roller before putting it on your project!

Cut in smaller nooks and corners with a paint brush.  Blair shares her favorite brands and materials in the beginning of the book.

Now I reviewed the instructions on staining over a painted piece.

Next came the really fun part! After applying two coats of paint, allowing to dry, sanding, and cleaning again, I moved on to staining!  Working in small sections, I applied paint to the nightstand.  After about 2-3 minutes, I wiped it off (in the direction of the grain).  Start off with a light hand - you can always take off more if you want a lighter look.

The stain stays workable for a long time, so remove it thoughtfully, leaving more stain in areas where patina would naturally occur - in corners, edges, etc.

Voila!  I wanted my aged look to be subtle.  Keep in mind that stain takes a few days to be totally dry.  Mine was still sticky two days later.

The new nightstand.  Quite a transformation, wouldn't you say! (My mother grows the most beautiful zinnias, doesn't she?)

 Adding a new knob was also one of the most fun parts...it is the little details that count, after all!

Don't forget the insides of drawers or cabinets.  I treated mine the same way I did the exterior, but you can also line them with pretty paper.

Here are a few more projects from Furniture Makeovers that I loved:

Are you inspired yet to makeover some of your furniture?!?  If you must have Furniture Makeovers now, it is available at these locations - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, or Chronicle Books

Or, you can enter to win a copy signed by Blair AND a Knack tote (Blair's studio).  To enter, just leave a comment below telling me if you have a piece of furniture you'd like to make over and what it is. The winner will be announced Friday, August 2nd.  Good luck!

PS - To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above "Labels" you will see a number followed by the word "comments." Click on the word "Comments." Or, you will see a link, "Post a Comment," which you click on to comment. If you receive posts in your email feel free to respond to the email noting that you'd like to be entered in the drawing. 

Check out all of the fabulous Furniture Makeovers by these bloggers

Monday, July 15 – A Beautiful Mess

Tuesday, July 16 – The City Sage and Cranny + Me

Wednesday, July 17 – Urban Comfort

Thursday, July 18 – Indie Craft Parade

Friday, July 19 – Simply Grove

Monday, July 22 – Poppytalk

Tuesday, July 23 – The Curated House and Ambrosia Creative

Wednesday, July 24 - The Bedlam of Beefy

Thursday, July 25 – Decorology

Friday, July 25r – Bloesem

Good luck!

I received "Furniture Makeovers" as a sample

What Does New Office Furniture Cost?

How much should I expect to spend on new office furniture? This commonly asked question is definitely an important one! When shopping for furniture of any kind the cost is determined by several factors like brand, style, features, quantity, and size. The 4 main areas of any business furnishing project include the reception area, employee work spaces, boardroom, and executive office. To help you gain a better grasp of the cost of new office furniture, enjoy this workplace cost analysis using the popular Verde casegoods line of modern products for your business.

If you're looking for new office furniture with modern style, you'll love Cherryman Industries. This full service office manufacturer is a favorite amongst industry professionals and interior design teams alike. The Verde casegoods line has been there top seller for the last 3 years. Verde's unique look, affordable price point, and quality make it a real winner in the workplace.

The first area you'll want to cover is reception. This main area will require a professional welcome desk, guest seating, and accent furniture. On average businesses look to accommodate between 5 and 10 guests at a time. Therefore, we will use this figure throughout today's article to form our cost breakdown.

When it comes to reception desks the Verde collection offers one of the most popular! The VL-816 Verde Reception Desk offers incredible modern style and versatility. Available with your choice of return direction, this station can form a left or right handed reception station for a truly modular design. Priced at $674.99, you just can't beat the value of the VL-816.

To accommodate your visitors, the Verde leather lounge chair will do the trick! This line of stylish office lounge seating is sure to compliment your Verde furniture perfectly. Priced at $553.99 you'll definitely want to call about a bulk discount for added savings. You'll be needing 5 chairs for your space at a total cost of $2769.95.

Accenting your reception furniture configuration is a breeze if you're using the Verde collection! Models like the VL-865 end table priced at $329.99 will do the trick. You'll want 2 tables for a cohesive look that provides a perfect organizing spot for magazines and other common lounge items.

Total Reception Furniture Cost: $4104.92

Moving on to the employee work areas you'll want to find a general product that matches the theme of your reception area. Luckily, the Verde collection is a full service line that has your every need covered! Let's say we are looking to furnish 5 offices with new office desks and storage. Items like the VL-619N are a perfect choice that allow room for growth. This Corner Desk can be used along walls to save space which is surely at a premium! Priced at $992.99, we'll use these for our cost analysis! As an added bonus they also include desk pedestals for basic office organizational needs.

Two desk pedestals is enough to get your space off on the right track in terms of storage. However, you'll probably want to add lateral filing cabinets for important documents. While this is by no means a necessity, budgeting for office file cabinets is important and most businesses do opt to include them. The Verde Lateral File Cabinet priced at $509.99(x5) will definitely do the trick while matching perfectly.

Total  Cost: $7514.95

A properly configured conference room furniture layout includes the table, wall cabinets, and presentation board. Starting with the VL-870 Verde Conference Table we'll get this room off on the right foot. The VL-870 features unique painted glass leg inserts and a modern style that's hard to miss. This line of contemporary conference tables has been incredibly popular throughout 2013 and is definitely a high recommended product by industry professionals! Priced at $981.99, it's also an excellent value.

Wall cabinetry provides a nice accent to your table of choice and offers much needed storage for the boardroom. Using the VL-617N Verde Cabinet offers space for important files and a separate two door cabinet for basic storage. Priced at $1053.99, this cabinet is a bit pricey but really makes the space complete so we couldn't live without it!

Last but certainly not least the Verde presentation board offers an important piece of accent furniture commonly used during meetings. The V120LE offers a dry erase center section with side tack boards. Close the hinged doors for a clean and professional look when not in use. This piece adds $476.99 to our boardroom checkout total.

Total  Cost: $2512.95

Last but certainly not least we reach the executive office furniture configuration. This area should make a classy statement sure to leave a lasting impression on guests. Luckily, this area is the easiest to furnish! Pre configured executive desks from the Verde collection provide a simple to use solution to your office needs. Priced at $2474.99, the VL-749N Verde Desk Suite is a great way to go. This popular modern executive desk configuration includes everything you'll need to create the perfect office with ample storage and a luxurious style that's easy to love.

Total  Cost: $2474.95

Now that all the main areas have been covered from the reception space to the CEO's office, your ready for the final tally. Keep in mind, new office chairs will probably be needed. With so many options on the market you'll be at no shortage of quality options to meet your needs and budget. The purchase of discount office chairs should be handled at the same time as your furniture to help you achieve a better bulk deal while minimizing the number of shipments to your office. If you've liked the Cherryman Industries Furniture highlighted above, you'll definitely want to check out Respond Series Chairs for your seating needs. 

Final Cost: $16,607.77

*A respectable bulk discount on this amount of Cherryman Casegoods should be in the neighborhood of 10%. As this is an estimation it has not been calculated into our grand total. Inquire with your dealer of choice as to current bulk discount specials, closeouts, and clearance office furniture while shopping to ensure you maximize your potential for savings!