31 July 2012

My 50p chest of drawers

Hello lovelies

Sorry it's been so quiet around here recently. I've been busy working on several home-décor projects that are taking longer than anticipated, and I don't like showing you anything that's half-finished. Except for half-finished pieces of cake, because - let's be honest - I can never restrain myself long enough to take a photo when cake is put in front of me; taking a bite definitely comes first!

However, last Saturday morning I started and completed a project that's been on my to-do list for nearly two years. I'm really, really happy with the result, and the people I've shown it to already have all been very impressed- mostly with the fact that it cost me less than £1! 

When we moved into our house we found this chest of drawers squirrelled away in the loft:


Apologies for shoddy photography here- my camera was having a tantrum
For a free chest of drawers, it's certainly not to be sniffed at, but it couldn't have been further from my personal taste if it tried (sorry, 'drawers!). I love old, knocked about, quirky things- a few scuffs here and there makes furniture all the more loved-looking in my opinion- and I thought the plasticky-mdf-ness of these drawers was just... eurgh. But, that said, they're a very handy storage option for our spare room- we keep the bedding for our guest bed in them, plus all our spare blankets (I am a bit of a blanket-buying fiend, and just can't resist a knitted/crocheted charity shop bargain!)

I recently found some vintage maps of Italy from our local flea market for my favourite price of all - FREE! :) Which made me a very happy girl indeed, but even more so when I realised what I could use them for... Introducing, my 50p chest of drawers(!)* 







I particularly like how it looks with the poster I picked up in an antique shop last week - The A-Z of Carnivorous Dinosaurs; our guest room is nothing if not educational :)

*50p was for the PVA glue I used to stick it all together...

P.S. I've entered my post in Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping's cartography-tastic "Ta Da Tuesday"

25 comments:

  1. This is amazing! Ive been meaning to do map covered items (next up, cake?!) for ages and it's hilarious that not on the highstreet charge so much for such a cheap DIY! xxx

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    1. I love not on the high street- but purely to find things I then try and re-create myself; I'm too cheap to pay hundreds of pounds for something I can make a rough copy of in a few hours.
      Mmm... map cake- educational and delicious! :p

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  2. This is so fab, this would cost you about £600 from Graham and Greene. I'd love to do something similar but am realistic enough to know that the minute it took me to do my Z is more my level! Great score with the free maps. Is it pretty sturdy now it's covered or is it look but don't touch too often?

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    1. I know- it's ridiculous how much they charge for their easily-diy-able stuff (although it is all very pretty!).

      It took me about three hours to do this in total- because I waited until it was completely dry, then put another coat of PVA over the top as a varnish- that seems to have toughened it up a little, so I'm not too worried about it tearing.

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  3. Wow, a few nights as a guest at yours and I reckon even I could re-sit my A=Level geography!

    It looks totally amazing. I have to admit, when I saw the 'before' shot I wasn't optimistic!!

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    1. I was a little worried too that it would end up as a mess! But I think even the horrible plastic handles look better than they did before :)
      Just out of shot we've got an old school desk as a bedside table- perfect for re-sitting exams :p

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  4. Ooh, I really like this! Practical and pretty! I wonder if this is the answer to my horrible wardrobe problem (see blog for scale of horribleness!)...or maybe it would be a bit much after a few drinks having a whole wall of it? Or maybe not...I do really rather like maps...unless I'm having to read one in a fell race in the rain and mist and can't work out where I am!

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  5. Awe! I love this. Love that you used a map for your decoupage. So lovely! Great one!

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  6. this is amazing :) i love it!! must be such a good feeling knowing how bargainous it is too! xx

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    1. I definitely get a buzz from being able to say "oh, I did that" about things I've crafted- and even more so when they were created for pennies! :) xx

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  7. OH WOW!! I LOVE IT ! Looks so cool!

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  8. Okay, this is seriously amazing! The draws really needed this little makeover, and now they look like something you would buy at an overpriced furniture store!

    Lauren
    http://tasteslikelove.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you - I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. Now eyeing up everything else in the house to see what else I can cover :p

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  9. I think that might be one of the best things ever. And I say that despite my wariness of geography generally. You're some kind of visionary innit!

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    1. Thank you - I'm not sure visionary is quite right; copycat cheapskate perhaps?
      xx
      P.s. Think "Copycat Cheapskate" may have to be my new blog tagline...

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  10. It looks fabulous! I hate MDF too but since the chest was free this is a great way to save the piece of furniture.

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    1. Thank you :) That was my thinking- and I spotted an almost identical piece in an antique shop at the weekend for £200! Just cheap mdf too- cheeky things.

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  11. Absolutely love this! Can't wait to get my own place so I can try my own hand atthis kind of DIY :)

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    1. Thank you Samantha :) The good thing with decoupage (aka glueing stuff on stuff) is you could do it on anything- big or small- so you could practice on a jewellery box, or a suitcase, or anything really! I'm off to have a proper look at your blog; it looks awesome! x

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  12. This is fantastic! quite similar to what I'm doing at the moment - putting old, vintage suitcases into a chest of drawers I found outside that had the drawers missing. I traced my own 'maps' and will use it to line the frame, while the suitcases will do nicely for the drawers as they are. Thanks for the idea (I'm working on an explorer/traveller room)!
    Nothing like making something tired and free go a long way :)

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    1. That sounds like an utterly brilliant idea! Please do send me a photo of it when it's done- I love seeing before/after furniture makeovers and have a rather severe addiction to old suitcases too! xx

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