diy | desk to nightstand

We are in the middle of re-decorating our master bedroom. After painting and wallpapering (post to come), now it's time to put all the furniture together. I didn't want to spend a small fortune on something from a big box store - it's not something I 'pictured' for this room. I needed to find the perfect nightstand. 

We got rid of our old night stands, which are less than a year old but they just weren't working for me. I wanted to find that perfect piece, the one that just completes the look, makes everything whole. So began my search for the perfect night tables. My search went on, and on, and on. 

Weeks later, and not to mention an annoyed husband that didn't have a nightstand, after I had searched every store, looked online, looked at garage sales - nothing. Couldn't find a nightstand. And then it hit me. I have to think outside of the box. While I was fully prepared to refinish something if I needed to I thought If I'm refinishing it anyway why does it have to be a nightstand already? Why can't I make something into a nightstand? Why can't it be a small dresser, or desk, or shelf?

Game changer, right there. I immediately went online and searched for a second hand item on a local buy/sell/trade website. Bang, I found a desk. Solid wood = sturdy and well made. Some dents and scrapes = putty&sand. Knotty pine = paint it. I was pumped. I immediatly thought, there is only a piece of wood on the top marrying the two sides together. Why not cut it to separate the sides. There - matching night stands. While my husband wasn't as excited as I was I knew he had faith in me as he offered to help. Well, more like I voluntold him. :D

We picked it up for cheap. Brought it home (in the rain! good thing it's made of real wood) measured and cut the sides equal. We took some orbital sanders to it to scuff the polish off. Used some putty to fill in the holes, and one more sanding session. 

Dusted them off and painted them with two coats of antique white malemine paint (Same as our kitchen). Once the paint was dry we installed new hardware. Voila! Now commence nightstand love.

So there you have it folks, sometimes the thing you are searching for may not be as obvious as it seems. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and think outside the box.

When our 3 year old son saw me painting he got so excited and asked if he could help too. I didn't really want him using the melamine paint as it doesn't easily come out off clothes and skin. And I wanted to make sure the finish was as good as it could be... so I had him paint the back. No one sees the back anyway and he had a BLAST helping me paint. 

that's what family is for

Why is it that someone has to be in a serious condition to get the whole family together in the same room? 

As we sat in the ICU waiting room of the hospital, I looked around the room and saw Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, other relatives, close family friends, and Grandma. Everyone was chatting. Everyone was nice. No fighting. No arguments. Everyone in the same room with one thing on their minds - Grandpa. 

Two by two, we all took turns stepping in to see Grandpa, who at this point is sedated, hooked up to machines, and not breathing on his own. It was hard to see him like that. Such a strong man looking so frail. 

Earlier that day (Saturday, Aug 17 at 4:00am) Grandpa had had a stroke and fallen out of bed, hitting his head on the end table. He was rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital and attention was given right away.

Back in the waiting room (now about 1:00pm) the mood isn't happy but it is warm. Warm with the love of the whole family. Together. 

I look at my son, who is almost 3 years old, and he knows where we are and why we are here, but I don't think he fully understands. He must be so confused. Seeing Grandpa in the bed hooked up to all these machines. Seeing Grandma crying. Seeing all his elders very sad, some crying, some holding it in. 

I tried my best to be open and honest with him as this is the first family member he has witnessed in this condition.

Fearing the worst and hoping for the best. Although we are not all together at this moment physically, we are all still waiting, still hoping. I know that each one of us is in each others hearts as we wait for more updates on his condition. 

Having everyone together and cooperating with each other was humbling but at the same time very depressing. I'm just glad that when it all boils down, we all have each other to lean on. It's how Grandpa would have wanted it.