Mrs. Sharpienad's B-Day present: Makeup vanity

So when Mrs. Sharpienads gets all dolled up, she sits on the floor in front of the mirror. All her makeup stuff is also in small boxes on the floor, and one of our dogs, The Buster, likes to step on, lay on, kick over, and generally wreak havoc on her stuff. Unacceptable. So, being the good guy that I am, I decided to get her a makeup vanity for her birthday. I searched craiglist, but couldn't find anything local. So I started searching the antique store in the Springs. After about 5 or six different stores, I finally found one. Not the perfect vanity, but it was close enough to what I wanted.

This is the one that I wanted, but at $500, no thanks (and the tag said it was French... gross (no offense, Ruthabagah)):

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps191b9b74.jpg

This is the one I settled on, and for $75 the price was right:

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps81a2ec4a.jpg

It's not in great shape, but everything is fixable:

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...psff25383f.jpg

First step was to partially disassemble and get it fixed/cleaned up. I stripped off all the old varnish, stain, gunk, etc. This pic sucks, but oh well:

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...psbf72f7c0.jpg

The plan is to prime it and then paint it black. The face of the drawers will be black, but the rest will be pink with a zebra pattern liner in the bottom of the drawers. My wife isn't overly girly, but I thought she would like it. It didn't come with a mirror, but I figure we can just put our big ass mirror behind the vanity and that problem will be solved. I'm hoping to finish this project this weekend, more pics to follow.

Cool idea. My wife would kill for something like that.

Here are the drawers and The Buster:

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http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps08315616.jpg

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To get the zebra print felt in the bottom, I ended up cutting some cardboard to fit, and then wrapped the fabric around the cardboard. It just sits in the bottom. That way if it needs to be changed, it can be pretty easily.

ETA: I got the drawer hardware and the fabric at the evilist of evil corporations: Hobby Lobby! *gasp*

Does she know about this yet? Looks good. Hobby Lobby has awesome stuff.

Yeah, she knows. Her b-day was a few days ago. She had to stay out of the garage for a while, but I let her see the progress since I didn't have it finished in time. The weather kinda screwed me out of making the deadline.

i really like using older/antiques and repurposing them

the new furniture is really crap unless you are spending a fortune, i have use cabinets as old and the 1800s to make vanities etc.

for our new half bath we just purchased an amish made cabinet from old barn wood, i had to finish it, but it made a great vanity.

Attachment 43889

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Originally Posted by rockhound

i really like using older/antiques and repurposing them

the new furniture is really crap unless you are spending a fortune, i have use cabinets as old and the 1800s to make vanities etc.

for our new half bath we just purchased an amish made cabinet from old barn wood, i had to finish it, but it made a great vanity.

Attachment 43889

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That looks good, man. I've been looking into some future repurposed wood projects. They're fun to do and you can get creative.

Completely re-assembled (minus the top) and painted. I didn't do a great job painting it. I think the brushes I used were too cheap for the glossy paint. Or maybe I just suck at painting. The top needs another coat or two and then this project will be done!

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps13fe1da4.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...psd660398a.jpg

Second coat complete for the top. 2 hours and then the third coat will go on.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...psb54c4d7d.jpg

Almost done! Just waiting on some thumb tacks to stick in the corners so the drawers don't rub. I'm not sure why that one spot on the top looks different. Maybe I'll put another coat on top to see if I can even it up. Also planning on getting some custom glass cut to place on the top. That way Mrs. Sharpienads doesn't have to worry about placing a hot hair dryer or straightener on it.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...psf8baa799.jpg

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Here is the finished product:

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9e745e15.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps23bbc3a0.jpg

Looks great. Very impressed. In the future, for a glossy surface, I've had good luck with a sponge roller, and just dragging it like a brush. This is what I had to do to get a smooth surface when I was using chalkboard paint.

Looks great Sharpie. What does the wife think?

Rockhound - that vanity is very impressive. Contemporary, yet rustic/antiquey.

Looks great, man, but I think she needs a pink Glock and a pink AR to go with that.

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Originally Posted by Sharpienads

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Thanks guys. She really likes it.

We're building her an AR now and I think I'm gonna throw a pink selector switch on there from Battle Arms development. An all out pink gun is just too much.

Attachment 43935

that cabinet came out very nice, the inside is pimpin for sure

Nice job! My wife has a bedside table that I want to do a similar project with. Never thought about the felt liner in the drawers though!

I also really like the look of that bathroom sink. The corner idea is really cool, and we want to do the bowl-type sink too, when Mrs Luthor and I get our own house.