Hi Everyone! This weekend I finished another DIY project that was waiting patiently for me in my laundry room (somehow that’s where all my half-completed projects end up, even though I have a designated craft space elsewhere in the house…Don’t ask!!).
A few weeks ago I bought this mail holder at Michaels for half off.
I loved the shape of it but didn’t have a need for a mail holder. I bought it anyway not knowing exactly what I would do with it or where it would go. That seems to happen a little more frequently than I’d care to admit! But, as I was dreaming up ways to spruce up my mudroom, inspiration hit! I decided it would be a perfect plant holder for an empty space I had on the wall of my mudroom. I hung it up just like it was to live with it a few days and decide how I wanted to alter it. Even though I liked the blue color, it didn’t exactly fit the vibe I’m going for, which I guess I’d describe as modern farmhouse (is that even a real style???). So, I decided to “age” it.
First I removed the silver name plates and filled the holes with wood putty. Then I grabbed my handy dandy palm sander and roughed up the surface a bit. After that I cleaned it well with a soft white cloth.
Next I raided my ever growing collection of paint samples and half empty paint cans in the basement and came up with three colors; Benjamin Moore Advance paint in White, Benjamin Moore Aura paint in Coachman’s Cape and a Benjamin Moore sample in Calypso Blue.
Once I had my paint I just took a brush and haphazardly brushed the colors onto the holder. I didn’t try to cover the entire surface, just brushed the colors on here and there, allowing each color to peak through. This wasn’t a time for precision painting, however I tried to keep all my brushstrokes going in the same direction. After the paint dried I went over the holder again with my sander to rough up the edges and take off any excess paint that I wasn’t happy with.
And, Voilà! Here’s the finished product!
I really love how it looks with the plants in it! I’m now looking around the house to see what else could use a little “aging”. Anything but me…time is taking care of that all by itself!
I still have a few other updates I’m planning for the mudroom, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted with my progress!