Operation DIY Iron Bed Restoration: In Progress

So remember that pretty antique iron bed I lucked upon for $25 while surfing craigslist late one sleepless night? Yeah, that one. Well since getting a power wash last month its been sitting in the backyard awaiting further restoration... and gaining a new layer of rust thanks to the crazy amounts of rain we've been having.

I had a 4 day weekend over the holiday and started my juice cleanse so I figured I'd use some of my free time to clean up this pretty bed some more.

My brother suggested Naval jelly so I went to Lowe's and grabbed a bottle along with some wire brushes to scrub the whole thing down.

I wore rubber gloves and used an old paint brush to apply the jelly liberally all over the bed. I applied the jelly in section, working 1/3 at a time along the bed from one side to the other.

As you can see above- the left side is after the application of the Naval Jelly and some serious scrubbing with the wire brush and then a good rinse with the hose on the concentrated setting along with more scrubbing to get the Naval Jelly washed off. 

         Rust and paint gone.........................................Rusted and weathered.

Before

After

So, once I got the foot board, head board and rails all cleaned up... I spent several hours in web searching for tips and in trips to Lowe's trying to decide how to proceed in sealing and painting it. 

I really want to paint it a light gray. Like a pale heater gray but because I was trying to stick with spray paint, particularly Rustoleum I was limited to a very small color palette... not ideal for an artist like me! So I ended up trying a Rustoleum Rust Seal in Black to seal it and then after even more time standing before the wall of spray cans at Lowe's narrowed my colors to pale blue, pale yellow and green. 

 After some votes from my instagram friends I went with yellow.

And hated it. I just couldn't see it in my room wiht my decor as much as I wanted to. And more so I really didn't like the finish it left, showing every imperfection from the pits and chips left in the wrought iron. I returned the other 4 paint cans, also because SO MUCH paint just blew away in the wind, it felt like such a waste, so I am back at square one and if I can ever find an oil based enamel will be getting the light heather gray color I want and brushing it on instead. 

For now, the bed is now out of the weather and safely waiting further beautification in my studio. I was a little put out, having really wanted to finish the bed over my holiday but things don't always go as planned. So another day.

Anyone have experience refinishing an old iron bed? Or something similar? I would love ideas and suggestions! 

Thrifty Thursday: A Dresser Makeover!

It's Thrifty Thursday and I had to reach deep into my photo archives for this one as I haven't photographed my most recent thrifting cache from a few weekends ago!

But don't worry, this is one of my favorites so I am more than happy to share!

As you might have read a few days ago in my post A China Press Makeover , I completely revamped my room about 5 years ago when I was home from college one summer. 

I came across this dresser by looking through craigslist. There was no photo, just a description for an antique dresser with marble top and crystal knobs that would be for sale at estate sale the following saturday. That saturday morning I work up early and coerced my mom into going with me downtown to where the sale was. 

Fortunately we got there before they opened and were the 1st ones so when the older couple who were really just having a small garage sale opened their door I asked about the dresser and was shown inside to view it. It had original glass/ crystal knobs, key holes in all the drawers, dovetail jointing and was solid wood, I was sold and asked how much? When they said $65 I almost started jumping up and down!

Not 10 minutes later while loading it into my Dad's SUV 3 other people had come and asked about the dresser! There is truth in the statement "The early bird catches the worm!"

I only took a before pic of it with my old cell phone at the time and have no idea where that photo may be so I only have it post sanding. 

(pardon the blurry cell phone pictures... they were all I had of the before)

It took a lot of elbow grease with this little lady, but after 2 days of sanding and sanding and more sanding... I primed her twice with Kilz and then painted her in a pretty white that had just a hint of pink in it. 

I cleaned the crystal knobs which were a bit dirty and the marble top and she looked perfectly shabby chic when it was all said and done! I purposely left the top two drawers the original wood veneer because a) i couldn't for the life of me get the smaller knobs off b)the veneer was in almost perfect shape and c) I liked the character it added, hinting at its former life while showing off its new style!