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How to Nest for Less™

Cracked Patina Nightstand

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I’m not going to lie, Ellie’s bedroom from the old house is going to be hard to outdo. I mean seriously, she had a stage in her bedroom. But I’m going to try my hardest to give this little kid the best bedroom ever.

bedroom stage kids bedroom

You guys saw a couple weeks ago that we started on her bedroom makeover with a DIY plank wall. Now it was time to add in some furniture. I really didn’t want to buy new stuff but the yellow color wasn’t quite cutting it. Ellie’s request? Blue, her favorite color.

plank wall bedroomSo after my inspirational trip to Memphis for the Amy Howard workshop, I decided to try out some of her One Step paints. I headed out to my local Ace Hardware and picked up the most adorable light teal color, Nottoway, and an off-white,  Bauhaus Buff. Then I grabbed some light and dark antique wax, some brushes, and Amy’s cracked patina. 

amy howard one step paint projectI started by cleaning Ellie’s nightstand with Simple Green (you can get this from Ace Hardware, too). It’s concentrate so make sure you get a spray bottle and water it down. Then just spray directly on the furniture and work around with a clean rag.

amy howard paint nightstand

I removed the drawers and hardware then I gave the entire nightstand a coat of Bauhaus Buff. This is a chalk based paint so it dries quickly. You’ll want to paint an area and move on so you don’t drag the paint and leave brush strokes. But this paint is awesome. Not to thick and chalky so it goes on easy and super smooth. Just remember this is One Step paint, not one coat. No sanding or stripping required but you might have to do 2 or maybe even 3 coats of paint if you’re doing a really light color.

amy howard nottoway color

After the Bauhaus Buff color dried I painted the main part of the nightstand in a coat of Nottoway. 

nottoway amy howardThe reason I didn’t paint the drawers is because I decided to try the Cracked Patina from Amy Howard at Home. I played around with this stuff at the workshop and quickly fell in love!

amy howard cracked patina

You just apply a thin layer directly on top of your first coat of paint and let it dry for about 30 minutes. 

amy howard cracked patina furniture

Then you’ll apply your second color (always remember to do a lighter color below your final color). Immediately once you put on your second color over the cracked patina you’ll see it dry and start to crack. Amazing stuff!

cracked patina Amy Howard

Now at this point you can pull away some of the cracked paint by agitating it with a brush or using your fingers to pull away some paint, but I decided to leave it with just the original cracking since it was a kid’s nightstand. 

Once the final coat of paint dried it was time to wax. You’ll always want to start with the light wax, then add the dark wax once the light comes to tack. DO NOT over wax! You’ll just want to whip your brush around the wax, then offload the brush onto a little spare piece of cardboard, then brush the wax on your furniture. Just use light, gentle passes, kind of just whipping your brush around the piece.

amy howard chalk based paint

The final look is gorgeous with the light and dark wax getting into the crevices and brush strokes of the paint!

amy howard one step paint and wax

And here is the final nightstand in Ellie’s bedroom!

white plank wall girls bedroom

cracked patina nightstand

cracked patina amy howard nightstand

I love the subtle cracked patina on the drawers.
And the new simple hardware goes nicely with Ellie’s new twin beds.

cracked patina Amy Howard furniture makeover

nottoway blue nightstand

amy howard painted furniture

Crazy cute, right?

I’m almost done with her bedroom. Now I just have to paint the matching chest, build Ellie some bookshelves, and hang artwork on her other wall. But we are so close to knocking this room off our new home checklist!

white plank wall girls bedroom

And I already have a couple other projects in the works using the Amy Howard at Home paints from Ace Hardware. Can’t wait to show you guys what this paint can do!


 Want to get in on the fun? Go enter to win a $500 Ace Hardware gift card and a trip for 2 to an Amy Howard Workshop!  Hurry, the giveaway ends on October 26th!

Screen-Shot-2015-10-15-at-12.38.48-PM

Stay tuned because tomorrow I’m giving away $100 gift card to Ace Hardware so you can stock up on some of Amy Howard’s One Step paint and complementary products!

 

amy howard cracked patina nightstand

 


If you want to see more projects from the Ace Hardware team,
check them out HERE!

AceBloggers2015 Lockup

 I am a member of the Ace Bloggers Panel and Ace Hardware has provided me with materials for this project. I was also compensated for my time and this blog post. All opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Ace Hardware.

 

Linking up to I Heart Naptime and Thrifty Decor Chick

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Comments

  1. cassie @ primitive & proper says

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    ERIN!!!! i had to use all caps and exclamations all over because i am in love! the nightstand and the space! what a lucky girl you have.

  2. Brynne@TheGatheredHome says

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    This is amazing! I just adore the color plus that gorgeous cracked patina on the drawers! And don’t get me started on the adorable room! Ellie is one lucky girl!

  3. Kara says

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    I saw that paint at my local Ace last week and wondered how it worked. I’ll have to grab some. The nightstand is simply gorgeous!!

  4. Krista says

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    🙂 Love It! Her room is looking great!
    You make the painting look so easy…flawless results!
    Side job of redoing old junker pieces & selling them is in your future!

  5. Jenny says

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    That is perfect! I love the color! I love that there is no sanding or priming. I hate all of those steps.

  6. Emily says

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    LOVE everything about her room! What a lucky girl!

  7. Kelly Keitzer says

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    I am looking at this again because I love what you have done to her room. I keep coming back and looking and the bedding. You might have listed it elsewhere, but where did you get her bedspreads! I love them!

    • howtonestforless says

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      Well thank you!! The bedspreads are from Anthropologie!
      http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/35146604.jsp?color=095&cm_sp=PRODUCT_DETAIL-_-RECOMMENDATIONS-_-35146604#/

  8. Lori Guill says

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    Beautiful room! Do you know the brand of the bed? I love that headboard

  9. Alayna @AlaynasCreations says

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    Very pretty – the nightstand and the room itself. I have tried a few furniture refinishing projects and the part that always gets me in the final finish. I have yet to experiment with wax but I’m wondering if it will hold up better than poly or some of the other finishing products.
    I am co-hosting the #HomeMattersParty link party this month and would love to have you stop by for a visit. The current party is open through Monday night. http://alaynascreations.co/2015/11/13/home-matters-linky-party-63/

  10. Cheryl says

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    Very beautiful, you did a fantastic job!!

  11. Audra @ Renewed Projects says

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    I.love.this.nightstand!!!! Such a gorgeous makeover! The color, the crackled paint…it meshes so well with the AMAZING plank wall and pretty bed frames. Can I move in? lol

    • howtonestforless says

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      Thank you so much Audra!!

  12. Robin says

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    The nightstand is absolutely gorgeous and every detail in this sweet room is perfection! thanks for linking with Monday Funday! ox

    • howtonestforless says

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      Thanks so much Robin!

  13. Marie at The Interior Frugalista says

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    Oh my gosh, I just LOVE everything about your daughter’s nightstand makeover! The color is gorgeous and the crackling detail on the drawer fronts is perfection. After seeing a few projects and videos from the Amy Howard workshop, I am inspired to try this product. Love that they offer light and dark wax. Your daughter’s room makeover is coming along beautifully too – love that wall!

    • howtonestforless says

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      Thanks so much Marie! You have to try the paints. They are simply amazing!!

  14. Jenny @ Refresh Living says

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    The nightstand looks absolutely perfect in her room. Everything in Ellie’s room is just beautiful!!

    • howtonestforless says

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      Thank you so much Jenny!

  15. Kati | Houseful of Handmade says

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    Gorgeous room! I would have loved a room like that as a young girl (but I agree, that stage was pretty sweet). Cant wait to see what else you do.

  16. Mary-the boondocks blog says

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    This is such a beautiful room. There is a crispness to the whole space. I really like the paint you used and the cracking effect was just subtle enough without looking sloppy at all.

  17. Beverly says

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    What a beautiful bedroom. Love the night stand and the color you choose.
    Thanks for sharing Wake Up Wednesday,
    Bev

    • howtonestforless says

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      Thank you Beverly!

  18. Christine Cook says

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    Absolutely beautiful!

  19. Lisa says

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    Absolutely adorable!!!! It is truly one of the prettiest things I have seen in a while!!! The room is going to be amazing!

    • howtonestforless says

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      Thank you so much Lisa!

  20. Rita C at Panoply says

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    Erin, what a great job you did in this room! Well-deserved feature on the Scoop! Merry Christmas!
    Rita C at Panoply

    • howtonestforless says

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      Thank you so much Rita! Merry Christmas to you!!

  21. Liz says

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    It turned out so beautiful! I love that color, and great tutorial. I’d love an invite to join your group Pinterest boards, if you have any openings? (I couldn’t find any place to comment on Pinterest) thanks, much. 🙂

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