Headboard Made from Old Closet Doors

When we replaced the closet doors in our house, I hated to just throw them away. After some thought, I realized these closet doors (pictured on the left) could be transformed into a headboard. Since I didn't have a headboard for my spare bedroom, this was a perfect opportunity!

First, I cut the doors in half length-wise to separate the louvered part and paneled part -- because I only wanted to use the paneled pieces for the project. After much contemplation, I decided to use a 4x4 on each end for posts, a 2x4 on the top & bottom to frame it out, and two small square pieces of plywood to top the 4x4 posts.



My dog, Stuey obviously approves.



Subtle details add texture and interest.

Our 1912 antique dining room set was short 4 chairs when my husband and I purchased it off craigslist. The set included a buffet, china cabinet, table, and 6 chairs. The table seats 10, so we planned to purchase 4 additional chairs once we found something we liked. Initially, I thought I'd find wood chairs, similar to the ones that came with the set, and possibly treat them with paint so they differ. One day, I saw some great chairs online that nearly matched the chairs I had, except they were painted gloss black and reupholstered in zebra fabric. I really liked the chairs but I wasn't ready to commit and would have to drive 2 hours to purchase them.


Then one day I was at Home Goods and found these great red leather Parsons chairs for $40 on clearance. After calling 10 stores in the metro-Detroit area and driving an hour out of my way, I had the 4 I needed! I love the way the red leather breaks up the wood, adds color, texture and a contemporary look!



You will also see in the photos that my husband graciously re-covered the seats of the wooden chairs with zebra pattern -- just like the chairs I saw online. I purchased a shower curtain at WalMart for $13 and it covered all 6 chairs! Again, a fun way to add subtle texture and depth! (A big thanks to The Nate Berkus Show for this great tip. Recover upholstered chairs with a shower curtain -- its inexpensive and the fabric is treated to reject water and stains!) Here are detailed before and after shots of the chairs:

My First Post - So Chick (not Chic)

I love the bird-themed finds that are so popular right now: bedding, accessories, even adorable drawer pulls! When I'm out-and-about treasure hunting I have to get my self-control in check to avoid buying everything with our feathered friends on them! Anyway, here is a cool find I didn't pass up. I bought these guys at a consignment store for about $4 each -- cute shape, but not-so-cute color.

So, I decided to paint them a matte white -- actually, I just used white primer. Keep in mind, since they were glossy, I roughed them up with sandpaper first Then, after a coat of primer, I sanded the edges again to give them the shabby chic look. So cute, huh? :)