How to Ruin a Manicure

A couple weeks ago, I was on my way to a friend's house when I saw that someone was discarding this treasure:

My brother said that it looked like something you'd find at a tacky Mexican restaurant.
I saw potential.  And a free hall tree?  Yes, please!

Thinking that it would look great with a new coat of paint and different hooks, I texted Scott. Hey Sweetie - do you think we can do anything cool with this?  No answer.  I figured he thought I was just being silly.  I most certainly was not.

I checked on my way home to make sure it was still there and sure enough, it was. With some heavy coaxing on my part and some heavy lifting on Scott's, the hall tree was ours.  

Having never done a project like this before, I was skeptical, yet excited about how it would turn out.  It's not made of very good wood so I didn't feel bad painting it and certainly wouldn't feel bad if my project turned to crap seeing as we paid $0.  

After a quick trip to Home Depot, I was ready to begin painting.

Eliza picked out the perfect paint brush.

All of my tools.

Cleaned off and ready to be refreshed! 

I had spoken with my friend, Elithe, earlier in the week and received instructions on what to do to get this thing up to snuff and exactly how I wanted it.  My first step was sanding.  I tried to persuade Scott into purchasing a power sander at Home Depot, however, I was denied.  So, off to work I went with nothing but a sheet of sand paper and some serious elbow grease. 

An hour later, I was this along far when my neighbor stopped by...

I have no idea why I was sanding in a diagonal across the chair.

...and offered me these:

Thank goodness for Christopher.

25 minutes later:

Ready to paint!
Notice my helpful adorable assistant in the background...

Don't fret - she had a dust mask on!

Finally, it was time to paint.  But first, I had to trim the mirror with painter's tape.  This proved difficult due to the tiny little nooks and crannies in the corners so I had the idea to take the mirror off and paint it that way.  However, the screws were so old and in there so tightly that it ended up warping our cheap screwdriver.  So, in the end, I decided to tape it all up and worry about the paint on the glass later.

I stopped at this point to feed my husband, who was feeding our baby, who wanted to eat my husband's lunch...

And then I began diligently painting my hall tree.

After one coat.

While that coat was drying, I decided to go out on a proper date with Scott to celebrate our new home and second wedding anniversary.  

Two years!
BTW, those are 'two' signs, not 'peace!' signs.

The next morning, I started early on my second coat.

Getting there...

...but it still needs one more coat.

After the four-hour dry time, I was ready to put the final coat on - and anxious to see the final product!


Another coat, another four hours later and new brushed silver hooks - voila!

Much better than the black hooks, don't you think?

My finished product!  

This being my first project of this kind, I am quite proud of how turned out!  And I thoroughly enjoyed myself, too!  Our new hall tree will go perfectly in our utility room at the new house, sitting right by the garage door, ready to greet us when we walk in the door.  I plan to add some colorful pillows to add a punch of color just as soon as we figure out what color that room will be.  I see backpacks and jackets on the hooks, perhaps a dog leash (one day)...gloves and scarves in the storage bench below. 


And, all-in-all, the total cost of the project was about $30.  


However, if you add in the cost of a new manicure to fix the damage...

...we're talking a grand total of about $50 (or, $55 with tip)!

Something similar from Pottery Barn?  Probably upwards of $300+.  


I suppose I should be sending Scott out to 'retrieve' furniture in the middle of the night more often with savings like that!