How to make a playroom on a budget?

Hey, how is everything?

After being soooooo inactive for a few months I am back to keep on blogging a little bit. However I won't have too much time left as I used to have these past years but you can always follow me on my Facebook profile. 

The playroom is eventually done. I am so proud of it as it has been a 100% low cost project. I would have liked to be posted a while ago but it hasn't been possible so far. The most important thing is to have the children happy enjoying it and I know they do!

Chess or checkerboard?

This is a very simple DIY I come with today. When I had the wooden plank cut for the jewelry organizer (click here if you missed it) I didn't know what to do with the other half so I put it in my storage room since then... 

Looking for inspiration on Pinterest I stumble upon the idea of Donna from Funky Junk Interiors; she did an awesome board for his bathroom (click). She is much more inventive and skilled than me with junk stuff so I wouldn't be able to do such thing but I kept the chess idea in my mind. 

I needed a huge amount of tape and patience to end the painting process. Fixing the hooks was much easier. I love the result and it's now hanging at the guest bedroom's entrance. 

Reuse shutter for headboard

I found this shutter nearby; they were refurbishing somewhere and this well-shape piece of wood was just waiting for me to pick it up. It might have been exposed to weather but certainly on a covered patio as it is just perfect. I love restoring furniture but it's also comforting to deal with a non-woodworm damaged piece sometimes! 
Wood shape is perfect and the lock is intact so this will be a great project to add to my bedroom makeover. In this post, I was telling you my existing headboard is fine and I still like it but adding this shutter will certainly be an asset and therefore a customized headboard.

I used ammonia and liquid soap to remove dust and grease and let it dry in the sun.

Once cleaned I used Ironstone from MMS mil paint on the shutter and a chalky grey on the headboard. This is the result and a preview of my bedroom makeover. 

From kitchen cabinet door to customized tray

Hello!

Last June I published all I could find from trash container and some of the pieces I reused to improve my outdoor entrance decor; click here if you missed it. 

Customized headboards

Before taking any step in my guest bedroom makeover project, I had to think about new headboards. The one I used so far was an upholstered one rescued from our king size bed in our master bedroom. To fit the twin beds in it I couldn't split them so I put two nightstands on both sides and it worked that way! 
I wanted to create two headboards of my choice and customize them so I finally decided these two options: 

Headboard nº 1: from pallet planks

Upcycling mirror

Hello!! 

One of the upcycling project from my last trash-to-treasure trip is now done! I am talking about the wonderful mirror I mentioned on this post. 
Remember? It was a nice and red beveled edge mirror in a very good shape. I did experience the Annie Sloan chalk paint colorways with white and dard wax patine on the top. I am now so happy about the result even though I wasn't at the beginning... Well in fact I was pretty scared with all that mixed colors giving an untidy and no-sense result! However I increased a few tones and the wax made the rest. 
The mirror is now fixed on the guest toilet wall besides a little spice container I have since ever and on which I applied the same technique. 

Check out my Pinterest board for more color ways ideas: click!

Upcycling outdoor entryway

My entrance door was looking miserable. I didn’t really take care of it for ages and I actually don’t know why because it’s the first thing you see when you get into a place. Anyway I decided to seriously deal with it and turned it into something magnificent and welcoming.

BEFORE

From trash to treasure!

This is exactly what I maintain many times when I am asked about my repurposed pieces: "From trash to treasure".
In fact this is a thanking post to all people getting rid off their old-fashioned furniture and junk stuff! 

Building works are probably carried out in my neigbourhood as I rencently found a big-time stuff when I went to throw my trash away: I could not take everything with me but I could choose the items I liked the most, ie: large vintage mirror, 4 kitchen cabinet doors, a not-in-very-good-shape Ikea stool and a lamp! I know I can do something nice with them. I came back the following day and there was another mirror, older than the other one and probably made in India... Treasures... 

Create a growth chart

This is a very simple DIY project I want to share with you today: a growing chart or... wall ruler made from a pallet plank.  I am about to refresh my craft room adding deco items made from reclaimed pieces so here is one! I used walnut stain for the first time and I must say I love it: mixed with water you can actually reduce the tone as much as you like; no smell, so easy to clean and more important: cheap (about 1€!). In 10cms intervals, I used short brush strokes of paint, then varnish, then paint, and so on, until completing the ruler. Check out the final result. Click here to see Pinterest board for more ideas and Hometalk graphic at the end of this post. 
 

BEFORE

AFTER

Repurposed wooden panel

Trash can sometimes be a treasure... Waiting for a 2nd life, these wooden pieces are now an awesome outdoor vintage panel. 
 

Spool table

A functionnal table from a cable spool...

The wood was in bad shape when I found this electric reel. The entire piece had been exposed to the moisture and was a bit damaged. 

However after a long and hard sanding/painting work/wood treatment coating, I could finally obtain a very great table for my outdoor.
 

BEFORE

AFTER