Affordable Framing and Easy DIY Picture Rail

<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I love family photos - especially candid ones. They make a space feel so personal and home-y. But the ease of digital photography is such a blessing and curse, isn't it?! I have a million photos of my kids, but I so rarely get anything printed, and even more rarely framed. It's a pain to deal with, and it's impossibly expensive to do it well.</div></div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5765.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5765.jpg" /></span></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I wanted to make a family photo wall in our bedroom on the wall opposite <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/diy-scenic-mural-panels.html" target="_blank">the desert murals</a>, but I wanted something a little different than the standard gallery wall. So I headed to Ace and picked up a few supplies and made a picture rail using <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ucFkHVQW7r/?modal=true" target="_blank">just plumber's chain and two brass rods hung on cafe curtain brackets</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5882.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5882.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />It's a pretty simple set up for displaying my newly printed family photos in some of the prettiest custom frames I've ever seen! I partnered up with a new-to-me company called <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/" target="_blank">Framebridge</a>, and to say I was impressed with the simplicity, price and quality would be a huge understatement!<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5814.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5814.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5900.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5900.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #222222;">To print, frame <i>and ship</i> a photo from my Instagram account was only $39 with <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/" target="_blank">Framebridge</a>! They have <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/framebridge/id890652433?mt=8" target="_blank">a really great app</a> that makes it a breeze to order. (How's that for removing some of the anxiety of the upcoming gift-giving season?!)</div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5872.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5872.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222;">I ordered a handful of <a href="http://instagram.com/jennykomenda" target="_blank">my favorite instagrams</a> in a mix of different frames. They have <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/t/frame-style" target="_blank">25 really beautiful frame options</a> - all of them simple, classic and high-quality. I'm <i>obsessed</i> with the <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/products/cairo-burlwood-frame" target="_blank">burl</a> and <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/products/jambi-wood-frame" target="_blank">tiger</a> wood options.</div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #222222;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5239.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5239.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><span style="color: #222222;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5788.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5788.jpg" /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222;">The frames come ready to hang with kraft paper backings, felt feet, saw tooth hangers and even nails! I removed the hangers and screwed in little brass hooks to hang the frames on the plumber's chain.</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5748.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5748.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5865.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5865.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5839.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5839.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love how the simplicity of the rail and chain let the frames (and photos!) be the stars of the show. Hardware store hack success!!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5798.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5798.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to the great Instagram deal, Framebridge has <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/pages/how-it-works" target="_blank">really straight-forward pricing</a> on bigger, even much bigger, prints that you can upload for them to print out or you can send in. Like this gorgeous Nicole Cohen print I had them frame. They sent me a prepaid mailing tube and I got this beautiful burl wood beauty right back. I LOVE it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5713a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda049/IMG_5713a.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The art print can be <a href="http://www.nicolecohenart.com/products" target="_blank">purchased here</a> (along with a ton of really cool images from the uber-talented Nicole!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5732a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda049/IMG_5732a.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5722.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda046/IMG_5722.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white;">I love discovering companies that make it painless to finish projects for my house! After getting burned one too many times at the arts and crafts store framers, I feel like I've found a resource that I'll be using for a long time to come.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5703a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda048/IMG_5703a.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><br />A big thanks to <a href="https://www.framebridge.com/" target="_blank">Framebridge</a> for partnering with us on this post! And this just in: use the promo code 2INSTA50 to get two framed instagram prints for only $50! Super sweet.<br /><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px;"></span></div>

Affordable Framing and Easy DIY Picture Rail

I love family photos - especially candid ones. They make a space feel so personal and home-y. But the ease of digital photography is such a ...

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DIY: Nook Book Shelves and Benchtop

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5087.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5087.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Remember how I mentioned that our carpenter had installed a few simple shelves in our nook to hold our TV components? I like the easy bracket system he had come up with, so I duplicated it recently when I wanted to fill out both sides of the nook with shelves.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4571.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4571.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4560.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4560.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I pulled off the old shelves, but kept the brackets and cut down 1x2" primed pine boards with a miter saw to fit the back and sides. The side pieces were finished off with a 45-degree angle cut.</div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4582.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4582.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first bracket installation is the most important. Starting with the bottom most shelf, I made one measurement and mark on one of the walls. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4605.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4605.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then the most important part after that first measurement is to use a level to mark all the way around the nook to help you know where to hang the brackets. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4613.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4613.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used an 18-gauge nailer to hang the back bracket first, right on the line, and then the side brackets.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4625.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4625.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once you have the first set of brackets perfectly level and installed, the rest of the measurements are easy. Just figure out the distance you want between each shelf, measure up from the bracket and make a little mark. If the first shelf is level, the others will be too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4635.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4635.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When all the brackets were installed, I filled all the nail holes with spackle before giving the whole nook a fresh paint of gray paint.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4652.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4652.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used laminated pine boards for the actual shelves. Home Depot cut them all to size for me and I stained them with half classic oak and half driftwood stains.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4600.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4600.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4591.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4591.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The pine boards are just sitting on top of the brackets, but I could have nailed or glued them in place if I was more worried about it. I'm so happy with how these shelves turned out. I really love the thicker, more chunky look!  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5042.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5042.jpg" style="text-align: start;" />\</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know why installing shelves has sort of felt too hard-core for me up until now. It's a crazy simple project!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5002.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5002.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bench solution was simple too! I didn't want to sew a box cushion, so I had a piece of 1/4" plywood cut to fit the seat area and used a coupon to buy a piece of 2" upholstery foam at Joanns.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4686.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4686.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bench is wider than the full width of the fabric. so I had to seam the fabric. The pattern made it pretty easy to line everything up, and a really good pressing fixes even less-than-perfect seams. In the end it's pretty hard to tell where the seam is on the bench. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4684.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4684.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think the key to a really soft and fluffy bench top is a good, high-loft batting layer. I used my trusty handheld staple gun to attach the seamed fabric. I went a little overkill on the stapling so there would be no pulling on the linen. (You can see where I seamed the fabric on the right side of the bench here below - it's not that noticeable!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4691.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda042/IMG_4691.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think the bench turned out nice. The pattern is fun and the seat is a comfy, inviting place now!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5182.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda041/IMG_5182.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><center></center>Have you made any shelving or bench tops yourself? Any tips you'd like to add?

DIY: Nook Book Shelves and Benchtop

Remember how I mentioned that our carpenter had installed a few simple shelves in our nook to hold our TV components? I like the easy bracke...

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DIY: Scenic Mural Panels

<center></center>Remember those beautiful <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/02/chinese-wallpaper-in-acrylic-frames.html" target="_blank">hand-painted Chinese wallpaper panels</a> I had hanging in the loft? I'd been keeping them in storage while we lived in Brooklyn and had planned on putting them in our bedroom of our new house. As <a href="http://domino.com/jenny-komendas-southwestern-home-makeover" target="_blank">the Domino shoot</a> deadline crept up, I was starting to get a little nervous about finding the panels. I hadn't seen them since the move.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_29312.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_29312.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>We did everything we could to find them before the shoot - we turned the house and garage upside down, we called movers, we called NY neighbors and family that had helped us pack. No one had seen the panels. So I had no choice but to start from scratch with the bedroom and decided to make my own panels at the very last minute.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_5700.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/cIMG_5700.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I looked online for some artist's paper in pretty colors, but everything felt too bright and too flat. I wanted the color to be soft and sort of mottled or worn-in looking. Then I saw this box of rosin paper in the paint section at Home Depot. The color, size and price were all perfectly perfect.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6565.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_6565.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I went back online to figure out what to paint for our murals. This was about 48 hours before the shoot - and I wasn't feeling particularly creative or patient. More like exhausted and majorly nauseated from morning sickness. :) Good times. I think the panels came together though! I ended up deciding on a desert scene - it felt appropriate for this house. The older I get, the more I love and appreciate the beauty of the desert.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5702.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_5702.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are so many cool shapes in the plants and, surprisingly, a huge range of really beautiful, soft colors in the desert. Just to keep things simple for me though, I used only white paint for the mural.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5715.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_5715.jpg" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_5709.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_5709.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I free-handed it, and it ended up being a pretty quick project. Just a couple hours all together. Part of me wishes I had had more time to spend on these, but I sort of like the simplistic quality. It does the job of dressing up and bringing in the big, long wall of our bedroom, and I think the soft mauve color is so pretty against the dark, moody Knoxville Gray walls.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4801.jpg" border="0" height="440" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4801.jpg" style="text-align: start;" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4787.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4787.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Just like with installing the Chinese panels, I measured and marked out the spacing on the bed wall and hung the panels directly to the walls with picture hanging strips, and then screwed in the plexi sheets on top using pretty brass screws. It's a simple job, but definitely requires two or three helpers. Those plexi sheets are heavy and awkward!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4878.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4878.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4864.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4864.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">DIY to the rescue again! Someday my life will not be so crazy and I'll have more time to plan these projects out a bit more thoughtfully. That's the goal, anyway. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4895.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4895.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4824.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda043/IMG_4824.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

DIY: Scenic Mural Panels

Remember those beautiful hand-painted Chinese wallpaper panels I had hanging in the loft? I'd been keeping them in storage while we liv...

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DIY: On Fixing Up Chipped Veneer

<center></center><center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S19.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S19.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />A few weeks ago I found a desk at Goodwill that was in not-so-great shape. The veneer on the table top was badly chipped and what was still there had pretty intense water rings and discoloration. The table base though, which is what really caught my eye in the first place, was in pretty decent shape, so I decided to buy the desk and cross my fingers that I could salvage the top.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_6642.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/cIMG_6642.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I took a closer look at the veneer when I got the desk home and quickly realized the only real choice I had was to remove the worst of the veneer and paint the top.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_6639.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/cIMG_6639.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_6652.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/cIMG_6652.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />To make the surface as smooth and even as possible, I whipped up a couple batches of Bondo that I applied in thin coats.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6751.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/IMG_6751.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Bondo feels a little hardcore the first time you work with it (so, you know, maybe don't try <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-i-painted-my-stairs.html" target="_blank">Bondo-ing an entire staircase</a> like I did). It's like epoxy in that you have to mix in a hardening cream and that you have only a few short minutes to apply the mixture before it starts to harden (also it has a very... distinctive smell). But, truly, it's not that scary once you have a batch or two under your belt - and it repairs and seals like nothing out there.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_6766.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/cIMG_6766.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Bondo's finish is so smooth, unlike wood filler, and so strong, unlike plaster or putty. It sands beautifully so it's not that hard to just get a rough coat down and then sand away the extra until you have a smooth surface. Just remember it's easier to sand down the Bondo than to try and apply a perfectly-perfect surface with a spatula in the first place.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6768.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/IMG_6768.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I Bondo-ed over the center seam (since the table didn't come with a leaf) and around all the rough spots, waited a good 30 minutes or an hour before sanding and then wiped everything down. There were a few places I missed the first go-round, so I made one more quick batch of Bondo and did some touch ups before painting the top.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6773.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/IMG_6773.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I just used my trusty standby of Rustoleum's pre-mixed enamel line. I wanted a creamy white this time so I made my own color - about half of their white with half of their Almond color. It's so easy to get a pretty finish brushing on oil-based paints when most of the surface is horizontal. The paint spreads and smooths out so beautifully. I put on a pretty thick coat on the table top and applied two or three lighter coats on the vertical edges, to help avoid drips.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6781.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda040/IMG_6781.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oil-based paint takes a long time to dry, but the hard-wearing (and water-repellent!), extra beautiful finish is worth all the effort to me. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S27.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S27.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The wood base is still in "vintage condition" but it cleaned up pretty well with a quick wipe down of Restor-A-Finish on a rag and that was pretty much it! It's so fun to have a new, super unique desk in my studio for almost no money!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo S17.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda038/S17.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

DIY: On Fixing Up Chipped Veneer

A few weeks ago I found a desk at Goodwill that was in not-so-great shape. The veneer on the table top was badly chipped and what was still ...

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