There Once Was an Ugly Duckling....

by Julie McDowell - Design Artist

I had just snagged some legs for free from the local mattress recycling depot (who knew?) and as soon as I saw this sad old thing, I knew exactly where they were going

Oh woe is me, I have no legs

Sanded the thing down to within an inch of its life and was quite excited when the first drawer looked like this

What kind of wood is this?

Great, all I have to do is stain and varnish and list and sell ....wrong!

Not all drawers are created equal in this world and besides it was beginning to make me feel dizzy

there once was an ugly duckling, painted furniture

I know, I'll paint it teal and do a cool design on it and stain those bits

What was I thinking?

My daughter walked and said 'That looks like the Nike logo'

Great! Just the look I was going for!

Back to the drawing board and moved onto something else, like you do.

Then inspiration struck.

I had just made my first foray across the border to Hobby Lobby and Joann's and now had squirrelled away more fabric and pulls and paint and stencils than any sane person can use in a life time.

I stuck or decoupaged if you are posh, the fabric onto the drawer fronts. Then sanded and varnished and sanded and varnished until it feels like silk. Ta Dah!

I'm a very fine swan indeed

Here is a close up showing the new sparkly knobs

sparkle

A pop of red in the drawers

And a view from the side. I will now go and lie down in a dark room.

Enjoy!

www.facebook.com/dandelionsandpoppies Hit Like and you will get instant updates if you Like! You can also check out my art work. Thank you! Julie

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6 of 192 comments

Beth Ward on Oct 19, 2015
Love the red drawers!! I am getting so many ideas!

1 Reply
- Julie McDowell - Design Artist on Oct 19, 2015
  @Beth Ward excellent!
  
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Angela Herremans on Oct 30, 2015
now that I really do like first one you showed was so ho-hum but the fabric covered with the varnish is a stunning idea :-) it looks very oriental and I love that look :) I will have to do something like this for my two tallboys which are really short but if I place one on top of the other I am sure I will solve the two problems in one the look and the space they both take :) Thank you for such a creative idea :-)

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- Julie McDowell - Design Artist on Oct 30, 2015
  @Angela Herremans Thank you Angela! Please let me see the finished thing. Any questions just post them here! Julie
  
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- Angela Herremans on Nov 09, 2015
  Sorry been away and only just catching up with all my emails :-) I promise will post pics once I have started and finished :-) I have so much on my plate right now :-) and we are now in the wet season here in the outback and so nothing which involves paints and glues of any kind :-/ takes for ever to dry :-) once the wet season is up I will be full steam ahead with the project :-) I have even picked out some of the fabrics my Mum bought before she passed away so I thought it would be a nice tribute to her :-)
  
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- Julie McDowell - Design Artist on Nov 10, 2015
  @Angela Herremans Oh that will be wonderful. I really look forward to seeing it. Keep in touch and stay dry!
  
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