This faux bamboo chest is definitely in need of some TLC. With chipping veneer and pieces of faux bamboo separating from the chest, it's easy to think that it's beyond repair. Au contraire, dear reader! This chest is about to get a new lease on life …
Kate, from the blog Centsational Girl, picked up this bamboo chest from a thrift store for just $25. While some DIYers (myself included) may have been scared off by the chipping veneer and broken leg, Kate has some mad skills so she was confident she could turn this chest into a show piece.
After polling her readers for a paint color, Kate got to work on the transformation. First up, repairing the loose veneer and broken leg. Where the veneer was peeling off, Kate decided to pull it off completely and the patch it with wood filler. Then, Kate repaired the broken leg with loose bamboo with a little wood glue.
With the veneer patched and the leg repaired, it was time to paint! Well, not quite. First, Kate cleaned and sanded the piece, then sprayed it with primer and lightly sanded it again. Once primed, Kate applied two coats of spray paint (Rust-Oleum's Night Tide), followed by a final protective coats of clear polyurethane.
Check out Kate's full post, which includes a very handy guide to spray painting furniture, on her blog: Centsational Girl: My Bamboo is Peacock Blue.
Images: Centsational Girl
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FABULOUS!!!!!!!
Cute -- and the blue was unexpected, which makes me like it more. In fact, I didn't realize until I scrolled down how much I was expecting to see red, black, white (cliché Chinoiserie) or the currently ubiquitous painted-furniture faves Kelly green, bright yellow, or hot pink. Nice!
Stunning! One of the best DIY jobs I've seen lately.
Lovely! You have a very unique-looking item.
What a wonderful job! It pairs so nicely with the curtains and pictures.
Nothing but love for this one - What a great redo and color choice!
oh I love this! nice job!
What makes a great Before and After is that the piece was refurbished and repaired before painting. It may keep the "So you painted a table. Big deal" comments quiet.
I love what you've done.
perfect color!
I love it! Very nicely done!
Wow, fabulous!!! love the new look! great job!!
I love those handles!
What's the point in priming and then sanding? I thought priming was at least in part to create a sticky situation for the paint to adhere to?
I love it! It makes for an original, colorful piece of furniture.
blue was unexpected...and fabulous. Love it with the gold accents
"I thought priming was at least in part to create a sticky situation for the paint to adhere to?"
Priming is also to help cover the grain and patchiness resulting from repairs which paint alone may require several coats to cover up.
I adore this piece! your da bomb
That's the classiest and most thoroughly thought out DIY furniture piece in a very long time. The shade of blue, perfect. I love this.
LOVE! I also love the curtains, very pretty!
Gosh, that color is phenomenal, I have to get a little braver about color - thanks for the boost!
I envy your talents; you've got quite a nice little piece now. Love your paint choice as well.
Was the trim painted a different shade or is that just a shine from the light?
Kudos!
Love! Great stuff!
Very nice!
Nice to see someone rehab a truly ugly piece of furniture as opposed to the usual posts where lovely wood is ruined.
Bravo ! Well done!
That's an adorable little piece, I would have fought for it.
Love it! The whole scene in the after picture, not just the table, is charming, sunny, and delightful. Nice work, and good eye.
i love her, her blog makes me feel like i get nothing done! i dont know how she does it but once again another stunning piece and i love the original hardware on this one. once again bravo kate. i love your blog!
I was positive you were going to paint it red. Well it looks nice.
Gorgeous! Excellent work!
That danube blue tone is money. Love it!!!
Love it!
Fabulous color! I, too, would have passed on that one. Great inspiration.
I love this. :)
Lovely rehab, great tips! I think I'll be using them in the next weekend or two!
Very nice!
Oh dear..i just read your blog and am feeling utterly useless!! Its amazing that you can do all those changes to your kitchen and other rooms in your house by yourself , and without having to spend too much!
Am in need of painting my awful kitchen cabinets but am fearing it!! Im positive the brush strokes will be visible and i'd hate that :(
Thanks for your painting tips..and I love your blog!