New Painted Nightstand

By Kate Riley January 5, 2012

Well I’m up to my old tricks again, repainting pieces I find at thrift stores. I found a sweet little carved nightstand a few weeks ago and just had to have it.  Turns out, it’s absolutely perfect for my stepdaughter’s bedroom. She’s in college now, and back to university this week, but even though she’s away many months, we keep the room for her for when she returns home.  (Empty nesters: this is where you give me all your best advice on how to cope…) 

We also use this space as a guest room when friends and family come to visit.  The old particle board side table that used to be there was a little too big and didn’t offer any storage, so I replaced it with this new painted nightstand. I love it!

chalk paint night stand in girls room

 

It all started with a skinny little nightstand I spied at a local second hand store, I fell in love with the carved detail on the front but it was a little beat up.  Nothing a little wood filler and paint won’t fix!

night stand before and after

For this quick makeover, I used my quart of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White ~ it’s quick and easy, once you’ve made your repairs with wood filler, apply two coats of chalk paint (no need to prime) and allow it to dry then one coat of soft wax ~ you’ll have a beautiful refinished piece in just two days.

 

chalk paint and soft wax

I’ve used other waxes as a protective coat, but this is my first time using the AS Soft Wax and it’s really nice. I love the hand rubbed matte finish of waxes, especially with the more traditional, distressed, or European style pieces. To highlight the detail in the ridges I applied with some gray acrylic paint with an inexpensive artist’s brush.

hand painted detail

 

I’ve had these blue blingy knobs for over a year… spied them in a clearance bin… can’t recall where but I’ve been waiting for the right piece to use them on.

blue knobs in plastic

 

Perfection! 

blue sparkly knob

 

This painted nightstand is a great little addition to this bright feminine space…

chalk paint night stand cg

 

And hello tulips!  I couldn’t believe it when I saw them at local grocery store the other day, it feels like cheating winter, not that there’s anything wrong with that.  I usually don’t see tulips until February, but hey, I’ll take a hint of spring wherever I can get it.

cg silver leaf lamp

The lamp was a fun DIY project, you can follow these directions for how to silver leaf a lamp, and that little retro chrome clock was a $10 find at Tar-jay, sweet! 

Sparkly blue knobs and tulips…it’s the little things in life that make me happy.

BTW it’s that lens I mentioned in this post that takes these amazingly bright and beautiful close ups…  Speaking of photography, hop on over to visit with Miss Mustard Seed as she shares her tips on photography and styling in the continuing ‘Growing Your Blog’ series. 

 

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111 comments

  1. LOVE IT.. like EVERY project you do!

    Why do you apply wax? is that for protection? how do you apply the wax?

  2. So serene! I bought he same retro clock from Target the day after Christmas- 50% off!!! Only $5 because it’s part of their Christmas gift section! Love when that happens!

  3. Wonderful transformation! The glass knobs really rock the nightstand. :-)

    Your sweet stepdaughter will love her new nightstand.

    Dee

  4. I love the nightstand, and I’m dying to try the AS Chalk paint. Question: do you add the detail paint before or after the wax?

  5. Your table is so cute! I love the ASCP….Will have to try it soon, thinking about using it in my guest bedroom.

    Thanks for sharing!

  6. Beautiful! What a nice job you did, Love the whole corner design, and your photography is wonderful…

  7. Love it! I am completely inspired by you! There’s going to be a lot of painting in my furniture. I have several things I was going to give away, but now I am seeing how much fun they could be. Thanks so much.

  8. I’d love to find a clone of that nightstand for our guest room to replace the refurbished but far too basic one that’s there now. I love the knob you used – what a score!

  9. I love it! I recently “rescued” a stand from a neighbor’s trash, and turned it into a bathroom cabinet. I will have to post it tomorrow now that I have seen yours!

  10. Love this look ! I have so many pieces that I just know would look amazing painted but I can not commit to getting rid of their fabulous wood charm. Sigh, maybe one day. Till then I will swoon over your stuff !

  11. I LOVE this nightstand! When you painted the stand with the chalk paint, did it show a of brush strokes. One of my issues is figuring out how to paint with seeing the brush strokes. Do you have any tips?

  12. Kate this is just darling. A perfect job with the white and blue trim/ knobs!

    Bravo!

    Wishing You and Yours all the Best in 2012!

    I hope you will enter my Giveaway from Serena & Lily.

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

  13. Love it!!! And those glass knobs are to DIE for. I am working on some night stands and well and it must be something in the air because this is like the third post I have seen on nightstand makeovers. With the New Year everyone is ready for soemthing fresh in their rooms I guess.

  14. What a wonderful transformation! The knobs look expensive so it is really great that you scored them in a clearance bin – don’t ya just love that? Thanks for sharing this project, you did a great job!

  15. Omigosh! Who wouldn’t just totally love that little night stand. I’ve never used a wax finish. Will have to try that. About empty nesting. Our daughter, at 27, just moved out. We immediately changed her room into a woman cave. She laughed at me and we are both very happy. LOL

  16. Kate! So excited because I have that table! It’s in *my* daughter’s room waiting for a facelift. And that clock from Target (I snagged a couple at 70% off!) I wish I had the tulips. LOVE.

  17. Oh Kate! This is lovely and so inspiring. I have a nightstand in my garage that has been sitting there for about 5 months. Love the gray detail. It is perfect!

    • Hi Krista, you have to find a local stockist or order it online… if you go to her website there are links to all the companies or stores that carry it !
      Kate

    • Yes Tonya I did…. if you follow the bedroom link up top, you’ll find the tufted headboard DIY tutorial is there!
      Kate

  18. So fresh and pretty! Love the detailing you did with the trim and adore those knobs! And the tulips…swoon. Love it all!

  19. Love the bling! And the tulips – glad to know I’m not the only one forcing spring in the first month of January!

  20. I viewed your paint tutorial several times…Extremely informative. Cannot wait to begin my painting project..You definitely inspire me!

  21. I saw this post from Pinterest and love the bedding! Where did you get it and do you, by chance, remember the name of it?!

    • Hey Brittany it’s a pattern by Style & Co that I link to in the bedroom link up top, but as far as I know, it’s discontinued… several people have asked about it!
      Kate

  22. I am in love with that nightstand! Those knobs rock!!!! Fun to see another paint project!

  23. Oh geese I really want to visit the Goodwill store but I need to finish what I have started. You are so inspiring! I just love this nightstand.

  24. I love the night stand! Something else that caught my eye is the lampshade. Can you remember where you found it? I have a few I need to replace & that style would be perfect in my own bedroom. Thanks!!

    • Hey Kathryn, the lampshade was from Target, but I found it there almost two years ago….not sure if they still carry it!
      Kate

  25. Love the nightstand, and the whole room! One tip for you part time empty nester- you gotta’ stop making the room so beautiful and inviting if you want to be a real empty nester! :)

  26. Great work! I love the whole look, the table, the silvered lamp (want!), the tulips and the clock. In fact, I just bought that same clock at Tar-Jay for $3!

  27. The entire room is beautiful. Everything just pulls together so nicely. One little funny note, the bottom drawer outline looks like a little lady to me with her little chin, little curl in her hair and the blue knob is her nose. LOL

    THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING!!!

  28. Totally random question/request: What is with your profile picture on Pinterest? For me it shows up as a weird text box that says “Picture of Centsational Girl” and it kind of messes up the text of the whole pin. And it makes my page look messy!

    I realize this is an over-the-top anal comment, but you seem like a pretty detail-oriented person, so I thought you might like to know. It’s been this way for a long time so maybe it’s just not showing up the same on my browser (I use Firefox).

    • Ha Lisa I had no idea! I login through Twitter so I have no idea why it looks so wonky, I’ll see what I can find out!
      Kate

  29. beautiful! I love this post. I just bought my first can of AS chalk paint. I also love the silver lamp base. thanks for the tips
    MC

  30. Love your transformed nightstand! I just painted a console table using AS chalk paint for the first time….I’m in love! I can hardly wait to work on my next project. I find myself scouring the local thrift stores for more pieces to paint….HELP me….I don’t need any more furniture! You should really put a warning on your blog…”Caution, reading this blog may lead to obsessive-compulsive behaviors”! ;)

  31. You are the awesomest – what a cool transformation! I LOVE what you did with that nightstand!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

  32. This is SO pretty, and I love all the details on top of the nightstand too! How nice it must be for your step daughter to come home to such a nice room!

    Leanne @ because (i think) i can

  33. You are reminding me of all the furniture tune-ups on my list. Thanks for the great photos and details. I’m going to have to try that wax.

  34. Isn’t it hard when the kids go back to college? But then again, isn’t it wonderful that they are going back to college? I just love having my boys home and the pandemonium that goes along with it. The house always seems so quiet and lifeless when they leave, but after a couple of days I get back into my groove and start to do the things I can’t do while they are here: clean, sew, create, clean, cook vegetables, clean, not go to the grocery store every day, etc! Now, I was all set to repaint my youngest son’s red room but after reading some of the comments above I am rethinking that plan. It drives me crazy every time I have to go into it because it’s like a cave (why do boys like dark rooms?) but maybe instead of painting it I will just change up a few things. Yep, that’s what I will do. Thanks for listening.

  35. I am obsessed with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint too! Since I learned about it severa months ago, I’ve painted more than a dozen pieces! I love the little end table you painted – it’s adorable. The Grow your Blog series was great too.

  36. Darling night stand and the knobs couldn’t be more perfect! Isn’t so coincidental when a random find, fits so perfectly some time later! You had the perfect ESP for those knobs!

  37. Have been itching to get the AS chalk paint, and your project might have finally pushed me to track it down. Lovely!

  38. I LOVE this table and I just used ASCP for the first time. I had so much fun and it was so easy! I am posting about it today on my blog. I think the knob on your table is adorable!

  39. Love the table. It matches the bedroom suite I inherited from my mom and dad. The suite must have been purchased back in the 30’s when they were first married. Mom told me that my oldest brother was born in that bed in 1939 (before it was common practice to go to a hospital in the rural south). I only have the bed and dresser left from the suite. I don’t remember mom and dad ever having a night stand, just a dresser, chest of drawers and bed. Now I will be keeping my eye out for the night stand. Thanks for the post.

  40. Hi Kate,
    That is a great nightstand, suits the room so well. I have just finished making over my own nightstand from laminated chipboard, spraypainted white and covered each drawer front with fabric. It makes such a difference. Mainly the smile on my faceincreases when i look at it! Thanks for your tips on painting and spray painting. When you mentioned in a previous post that you had spraypainted laminate without priming or hassels, that gave me the confidence to give it a go. I really enjoy you blog, thanks for sharing your ideas.

  41. Oh, the college years are rough on parents-my twins left the same day (!) and we went from four to two for dinner…it was weird. Not in a bad way, just different all at once.

    Now, Son is back with us while he saves $$$ for grad school. He can still eat us out of house and home in a weekend, but I like the person he is, so he is no problem.

    My daughter is with us for a 6 week stay before she moves to San Diego after living in NY this past year and I am LOVING having her around too-she is my sewing/craft bud.

    Once they leave the nest, it’s just never the same. The trick is to have an exciting/interesting life outside of being MOM! I don’t know how people did this before smartphones, Skype, Facebook, blogs, and the Internet! EEEK!

  42. I absolutely love this! I remember the first piece of furniture I painted. Wow! thinking about it that was about 18 yrs ago :) It was a dresser that I painted black believe me it was ok but not as beautiful as your nightstand. I would purchase that from store if someone sold it. We definitely have something in common.

  43. I am wondering if you could tell me where you got the gray headboard for the bed? I am in LOVE with it!
    Love the nightstand too!!

  44. Kate, I have TWO of these (almost exact) nightstands just sitting in my garage waiting for me to purchase Annie Sloane’s paint. It is time. Thanks for the constant inspiration!

  45. Hi Kate. I adore that nightstand. If you ever get tired of it, I’m in Petaluma too and would gladly take it off your hands!

  46. Beautiful! What are the pros of chalk paint? I never knew it existed… and truth be told, I misread the entire article as Chalk Board paint! lol

    • Ha! I know Heather, a lot of folks get confused, but this is a special formula created by Annie Sloan and it’s really fantastic! I’ve used it on three pieces to date and have become a big fan!
      Kate

  47. Hello Kate,

    Can you please tell me what type of soft wax will you recommend for a hutch I just painted? I made my own chalk paint using Plaster of Paris and I was happy with the results until I used Minwax water-based Polycrylic in clear satin to protect it and even when I was careful not to apply too much to the hutch, it left streaks all over the hutch!
    Do you think a soft wax product will make it look better? or should I stick with the Polycrylic and try to add another layer? Please help!

    Thank you!

  48. Hi Giovanna, yes I would use a furniture wax instead, try either Minwax clear or SC Johnson or Briwax – they are readily available at home improvement and hardware stores.
    Kate

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