Do you ever have conversations with someone that leave you saying, "That was really weird"? While perusing Craigslist I came upon this piece advertised as a desk. To me it looked like a vanity without a mirror. I called to inquire, and he said he still had it. Sweet! Stay with me as I show you how this "desk" became a vintage vanity painted a soft tea rose pink.
I continued to ask the seller if there was anything wrong with it and if it was smoke-free. He replied that it was solid as a rock, smoke-free, and would take him quite some time to dismantle it to get it out of his basement. He also said he had another buyer coming to see it first. I said, "Oh, it's that big?" He replied, "Yes, and you'll need help to load it." I went on to ask more questions, but still getting the feeling like something was off.
Okay, so at this point I'm like...we can't be talking about the same desk. We ended the conversation as he said it was already spoken for, but something kept bugging. It just didn't add up. So, my inquisitive self-called again and said, "We are talking about the maple desk with 5 drawers, correct?" He laughed loud in my ear and said, "Hahaha!! No! I thought we were talking about my $800 executive desk. Yes, I still have that small one." tsk.
DIY TIME
So, here it is in its worn-down state, and I was right! {{fist pump}} Stamped on the back is VANITY. It had no mirror, but no fear. Junkin' mama has the solution!
A couple of years ago I redid a mirrored dresser
in this post. When my client purchased the dresser, she didn't want the mirror. Funny thing is that back in that old post I mention that my son and I were redoing two mirrored pieces at the same time, and he took my mirror and painted it purple. We finally switched them back and I painted it green to match the dresser. So, here I am with this forlorn mirror needing a new purpose.
PREP WORK
First order of business, get that damaged vanity top sanded down with my sander to reveal that gorgeous wood. Call me crazy, but I love to smell the wood when it's revived and definitely touch it. mmm... Once ready to go, I used a selection of three different stains to get the color I was after (Early American, Provincial, and Espresso)
I will admit I was tempted to go all wood, but my favorite finish kept begging me to do it. Using a stain/paint combination is a favorite of mine. Not only does it showcase the wood but gives it an updated feel.
I used a polycrylic to topcoat the stained top. Now onto the base of the vanity. Since I'm pairing that mirror with this, I needed to give them all the same base coat. I intend to distress this set, so I use a dark gray to blend them all together.
After one coat of gray cured, I used my wax to touch the areas I wanted to peek through when distressing the next layer. It allows me to distress without going all the way back down to the wood.
Pink isn't really one of my go-to colors, but a soft shade seemed perfect. It's feminine without being foofy. It reminds me of days-gone-by and and old farmhouse quilt.
THE REVEAL
The vanity base and mirror get one coat of the pink and then it's time to reveal this beauty.
What a fun makeover this was. First, because I got to pair a couple of cast-offs to make a sweet marriage of vintage. Second, because I got to use some wonderful paints to bring it all together.
Do you remember from
my Toile Secretary Desk post I found a chair to go with it? The same seller had this gorgeous needlepoint chair as well. Isn't it perfect? I had been searching for months (MONTHS!) for a chair to pair with this set. The hand-carved back and splat make me drool.
The needlepoint inspired me to add a bit of the same floral design to the mirror to tie it all in.
How exciting to see it all come together. If you love it too, you can find it available in
my online store.
My hope is to have inspired you to think outside the box when it comes to your home. You can make it your own and it be affordable too. Do pin and share my vintage vanity painted pink to inspire others to give DIY a try!
Up next, I'm sharing
the build plans for my concrete tables as I promised in
my fire pit reveal. If you missed it, you really want to check it out as there is much to see. Such fun!
Before you go, be sure to
sign up for my newsletter. Until next time!
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I continued to ask the seller if there was anything wrong with it and if it was smoke-free. He replied that it was solid as a rock, smoke-free, and would take him quite some time to dismantle it to get it out of his basement. He also said he had another buyer coming to see it first. I said, "Oh, it's that big?" He replied, "Yes, and you'll need help to load it." I went on to ask more questions, but still getting the feeling like something was off.
Okay, so at this point I'm like...we can't be talking about the same desk. We ended the conversation as he said it was already spoken for, but something kept bugging. It just didn't add up. So, my inquisitive self-called again and said, "We are talking about the maple desk with 5 drawers, correct?" He laughed loud in my ear and said, "Hahaha!! No! I thought we were talking about my $800 executive desk. Yes, I still have that small one." tsk.
A couple of years ago I redid a mirrored dresser in this post. When my client purchased the dresser, she didn't want the mirror. Funny thing is that back in that old post I mention that my son and I were redoing two mirrored pieces at the same time, and he took my mirror and painted it purple. We finally switched them back and I painted it green to match the dresser. So, here I am with this forlorn mirror needing a new purpose.
I will admit I was tempted to go all wood, but my favorite finish kept begging me to do it. Using a stain/paint combination is a favorite of mine. Not only does it showcase the wood but gives it an updated feel.
I used a polycrylic to topcoat the stained top. Now onto the base of the vanity. Since I'm pairing that mirror with this, I needed to give them all the same base coat. I intend to distress this set, so I use a dark gray to blend them all together.
After one coat of gray cured, I used my wax to touch the areas I wanted to peek through when distressing the next layer. It allows me to distress without going all the way back down to the wood.
Pink isn't really one of my go-to colors, but a soft shade seemed perfect. It's feminine without being foofy. It reminds me of days-gone-by and and old farmhouse quilt.
What a fun makeover this was. First, because I got to pair a couple of cast-offs to make a sweet marriage of vintage. Second, because I got to use some wonderful paints to bring it all together.
Do you remember from my Toile Secretary Desk post I found a chair to go with it? The same seller had this gorgeous needlepoint chair as well. Isn't it perfect? I had been searching for months (MONTHS!) for a chair to pair with this set. The hand-carved back and splat make me drool.
The needlepoint inspired me to add a bit of the same floral design to the mirror to tie it all in.
How exciting to see it all come together. If you love it too, you can find it available in my online store.
My hope is to have inspired you to think outside the box when it comes to your home. You can make it your own and it be affordable too. Do pin and share my vintage vanity painted pink to inspire others to give DIY a try!
Up next, I'm sharing the build plans for my concrete tables as I promised in my fire pit reveal. If you missed it, you really want to check it out as there is much to see. Such fun!
Before you go, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Until next time!
