Where's the Beach?

More beach house art.  I told you I was filling this house with new art.  Well at least seeing what I could do in 1 week.

When searching for artwork and ideas for the beach house I found this image on Pinterest, but originally from here:

I love the blues, love the letters (I'm from the south, we'll put letters or a monogram on anything that stays still long enough), and the worn wood look.  I wasn't really sure how to recreate it without buying anything.  My goal has been big impact low cost.  Isn't everybodys?

I got the letters at Michaels ($1.49ea) They were the cheapest letters they had.  I was using my coupon for the canvases and they don't let you use more than 1.  Boo.

I had a piece of 1/4" luan board and blue paint.  I wanted to make it small so that it could fit almost anywhere in the house.  Even above a door jam or window.

                                                  Here is where I started (what I had):

 I cut the wood (yup, used the jig saw mom!) and sanded down the rough edges.  Gave it a quick coat of Sherwin-Williams Blue Reef (trying not to add too many different shades of "sea")  Same color I used on the calendar canvases.

                                                         Primed & painted the letters:

Then I used some brown Sherwin-Williams paint to age/distress the letters and arrow.

                                                Hot glued the letters on and...

Stapled some twine to the back to hang it from.  Easy peasy $7.50.  You couldn't buy this sign for anywhere near $30 in a gift store at the beach!  I still have 2 sets of art to finish...mom comes today for the pick up!

Linking up with Coastal Charm , A2Z,  Savvy Southern Style, The Thrifty Home, House of Hepworths, & Tatertots & Jello

Dresser with a job

I gave you a sneak peek on a dresser I was working on here. My grandmother had this dresser in her basement and didn't need it anymore. She said it didn't work very well, so we thought we would keep it in our basement for tools and what not. Because we certainly didn't need another dresser...so my husband thinks.

Drawers

Then things changed in the bedroom. Eww, really, my mom reads this, get your mind out of the gutter. The hubs (who THOUGHT we didn't need another dresser, why oh why, were we going to keep this one?) got a flatscreen. The blue was not my color. And you know I couldn't leave it alone. So, I sanded

And, I actually liked what I was seeing...wood was painted green, was painted blue, so I was getting some great color and a little blue green mix! However, I kept going. I primed, because I believe in priming. (Almost) everything should be primed before painting.

I painted (I chose a nice neutral pale grey blue, since our master bedroom is still untouched, 1 year in!) I loved the paint. Valspar Ultra premiuim gloss, paint and primer in one. It was thick, went on SMOOTH, and was glossy but not TOO glossy. I really liked this paint and can't wait to use it on another project. This dresser was going to get lots of use, it needed to be glossy.

Then I didstressed it.

Hardware was the hardest part. I knew I wanted clear. I also knew that Hobby Lobby always has their knobs half off. I went to 2 different locations. Twice. They only had 1 knob....ugh...but I was excited to get this piece finished so I buckled and went to Home Depot. These knobs are nicer than the HL ones. Good thing because you can pay twice as much there!

The top

Ta-Da. Finally a new refresh! Which, I am sure, since we are "Refresh & Repurpose", that is what you were waiting for.

BUT....this dresser has a job....remember it was for the TV. It was the perfect size for the TV but not for the TV & the cable box.  Sooooooo.....

I pulled out the top drawer. Hubs cut the front off of the drawer itself and drilled 2 holes. One in the drawer and one in the back of the dresser (for cords). I attached the drawer front with two hinges. I also used a magnet so that it would stay shut, since those hinges will also get lots of use. I thought about painting the inside of that drawer for a fun pop of color, and I still might....one day. 

I don't know why I insisted on styling this for pics, because this is what she will look like in her daily life.

Or, if we are being totally honest, this:

 I love a Refresh & Repurpose. Hope you enjoyed as well! 

 I'm linking up with Beth at A2Z, as well as Coastal Charm, One Project Closer,  Savvy Southern Style, The Thrifty Home, House of Hepworths, Miss Mustard Seed, Tatertots & Jello, & Between Naps on the Porch. Check out some other great ideas!