Trash to Treasure

  I am ALWAYS interested in free stuff! I don't mind getting something off the side of the road that someone has left for trash. (I have even come close to getting my husband arrested for it, but that is another story!) Some of our neighbors were moving and couldn't take all their furniture with them. So they gave us an antique table, 2 night stands, a twin bed that I got for someone else and this chest-of-drawers. It wasn't bad looking to start with and all it needed was a drawer guide. My husband took care of the drawer guide and I painted it and I LOVE it now! I started by sanding it all over so it wouldn't be so shiny and the paint would stick. If it had been lighter, I'd probably paint it black first, but it was a medium brown. I painted it with a putty color paint, it took about 3 coats. Then I sanded it, especially on the edges to make it look old, then waxed it with "soft black" wax (which actually looks brown, so I don't know why its called soft black!).  It took me a couple of days to finish it, but it was worth it. I have it in my bathroom next to the claw foot tub where it looks great and gives me a lot of extra storage. I still have to paint the night stands and don't know what I'll do with the table yet.

Keep your eyes open--you may get some freebies that you could use in your house! I love the look of painted furniture, and especially love getting stuff for FREE!!