Shelf Makeover for Master Bedroom Redo

Tada! Project #1 for the Master Makeover is complete! Below, behold the original version. Functional but not too pretty.

Before

And now, the new and improved version! I like it so much better now and it will fit in wonderfully when I get my whole bedroom finished.

After

This shelf is a gift from my school students the year I quit teaching. It has served it's purpose well, but was time for a new look. I wanted to keep it in the master bedroom because we use the hooks quite a bit.

I was never in love with the carved design at the top so I filled it in with spackling (hey, it's what I had on hand).

I should have used primer on it at this point but I didn't. 

Learn from me. 

I was planning to use ASCP Old White 

and it doesn't need a primer.

However, there are still some applications

that benefit from primer.

Anyway, at this point I applied the wooden appliques with liquid nails and began painting. I painted the shelf with 2 coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White. Then I noticed the edges of the filled areas were cracking. Uh oh! A quick sanding smoothed it over but I knew it would just keep doing it. It was then that I added 2 light coats of Kilz primer. Then I painted it another coat of Old White and it went away. Then I lightly distressed it, sanded it smooth and gave it a coat of wax.

Meanwhile, my original intention to disguise the mirror failed. I've seen the Mod Podge transfers in blogland and decided to try it on the mirror. I couldn't find anyone that had tried it on a mirror so I didn't know if it would work or not. Now I know - it's 'or not'. I quickly went to plan B.

Using a scrap of drop cloth, a T-shirt transfer, and a free graphic from the Graphics Fairy, I created what you see. I Mod Podged it to the mirror and re-inserted it. The hooks received several light coats of oil rubbed bronze paint.

I'm loving the new look! And the best part is, I had most of what I used on hand. The only things I bought were the transfers and the center part of the embellishment. So, for about $3.35, I have project #1 completed for the master makeover.

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