I love looking at before and after photos. I think it has something to do with seeing the potential in something and knowing it can be transformed to something useful and beautiful.

 I always get a little bubble of excitement to see how people take something that is past its use-by-date and make it wonderful.

So after cleaning out my wardrobe, I had a large bag of clothes that I took to my local thrift shop. While placing the bag in the outside collection bins, I noticed two gorgeous bed side tables through the window, that just needed some love.

I went in and to my surprise they were solid wood and were only $50.00 each. So I asked the assistant, if I could take both and she said if I did, they would give me discount - both for $80.00!!

I already thought they were a bargain but, of course, I didn't say no.

I tucked both of them into my car and was really looking forward to transforming these budding beauties !!

Yes, both had a little damage but nothing that couldn't be fixed.

So, I removed the handles that were bent and broken and went about sanding them.

Ok...these thrifted bedside tables don't look like beauties just yet ...

After wiping them down with a damp cloth (to remove the dust), I gave them a good clean with disinfectant to make sure they were clean.

I used a primer that blocked the stain from coming through and rolled it on with a small roller. This was probably the tricky part because when I went to remove the drawers to paint them, I found out the they didn't come out at all. They were made so well that they were encased in the frame. Yes good quality but a pain to paint.

So I brought the thrifted bedside tables inside and went ahead adding 3 layers of primer with the drawers just sitting open slightly.

And then two coats of water-based enamel. I let each coat dry over night and for the next day, to make sure they didn't go tacky and each coat was fully dry before the next coat went on.

 With music on, painting is therapeutic ... 😉

I am still on the look out for the perfect handles for these beauties but I have found some plain ones for the time being. I would really love some crystal handles... but haven't found the right ones just yet. It is fun searching and looking for the perfect handles to add that little bit of glitz.

 They are the perfect side tables for next to my bed and with their glossy finish, they are easy to clean. Pretty, useful and thrifted!!!

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