AK Studio » diy

Nightstand DIY

Alex Kaehler — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

If you weren’t around yesterday, I recapped my last couple weeks.

And now today… back to normal posting!

I’ve been talking about my nightstand DIY for way too long to not have shared it already. So here they are. Sadly, they don’t look at all that professional in person. The paint was much harder to work with than I expected, but overall, I love the look of them.

The Before:

Purchased from a thrift store. Not super cheap, but really good quality and nice storage. Definitely not my taste but we lived with them for two years.

So then I took them out to my deck. Painted them using Rustoleum White Protective Enamel Paint (gives a really nice lacquer). I had read all these reviews on blogs about how easy this stuff was to use. Wow. Not for me. It is so thick. Hard to paint evenly. It also drips. Oy. And silly me… it does not come off your hands. Ohhh and you have to let it dry for 24 hours in between coats. I needed 3. And to get 3 days of good weather in a row in Chicago. Needless to say. It was an adventure.

The After:

I purchased these new pulls for $4.78 a piece. Can of paint was $30. After that I thought they were done. But after a couple weeks I decided they needed something more. Then I saw these on a blog, $4.99 for 8. Done and done.

The makeover was $44.55. Well worth it.

I know my pictures aren’t the best. But I have to keep the rest of the room under wraps Hope you understand!

a DIY+ a weekend

Alex Kaehler — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:21:00 +0000

Thank you all so much for your congratulations yesterday! You were all so sweet.

I am taking the weekend to relax and spend time some of my favorite people. And to add to it, I am working on a finishing up a really fun DIY this week. Cannot wait to reveal the results in the next week or two. But heres a hint…

And PS this is one I really am going to do because I need to and
because I’m putting it out to you readers who will harass me if I don’t,
right?? It won’t be like the time I told you all I was going to pillows
out of Hermes scarves and then got too scared to ruin them!

Have a great weekend xo

black, white and gold!

Alex Kaehler — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:56:00 +0000

i just love black and white art. but black and white art in a gold frame takes it to a new whole new level. these pieces would be nothing without the fantastic frames that hold them.

this weekend i am going to experiment with painting again. specifically black and white painting. we’ll see how it goes. the first time was definitely not a success.

have a great weekend! xo

a weekend DIY

Alex Kaehler — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:04:00 +0000

i am buying this bench off craigslist today for $50. cannot wait to paint and reupholster!

any ideas??

any scraps (= 1 yard) off fabric any one wants to sell?

cannot wait to shower you the after!

a new life

Alex Kaehler — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 01:46:00 +0000

one of my favorite before and afters. obviously the styling of the room helps, but wow.

*source: casa sugar

DIY: Animal Art

Alex Kaehler — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0000

i had a project last semester where i had to draw an animal, then recreate that animal using letter forms, and then again recreate that animal using a collage.

i drew a butterfly, recreated it in a scripty font, and then again in black and white and color photographs that i had taken. i liked the way they turned out so much that when the semester was over i framed them. im sending the collage one to my sister, and keeping the scripty one for myself.

even though i did this for a design in 2D class, i think it would be a fun project for anyone. i love DIY art

come to mamma

Alex Kaehler — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:05:00 +0000

i had my first disaster DIY. tried to fix up my bedroom dresser a little… and lets just say the results are not cute. so i am already searching for a new one. this dresseris too perfect. it would look amazing in my room. the texture is everything i could’ve hoped for and more. now all i need if $4,500. anyone?