The $25 Foyer Makeover

I spent $25 total for 1 yard of fabric + a quart of paint, shopped my house instead of a store, painted some furniture, used fabric in a creative way, and got stripe happy with a wall.

{Before and After a $25 Foyer Makeover: all items are the same in the two photos, just updated with paint and fabric}

It's a fresh look for our home with lots of positive energy.  It has personality and I think that's difficult to achieve in a pass-through area.  Don't you think the "after" feels much friendlier?  I know whenever I open the front door I'll greet my visitor with a big smile on my face because this space just makes me grin.

Already. owned.  everything.  Just in need of updating and restyling.  Still need to do a bit of accessory styling, but let's call that Phase II.  How about a look at the details ...

{Detail elements from the $25 Foyer Makeover, left to right: horizontal wall stripes, silver leaf detail on round mirror painted Cayenne Pepper, fabric panels under glass surface on credenza top}

{A 1980's credenza restyled with paint and fabric insert panels}

Resources

Wall color is Seashore Dreams in Eggshell by Mythic Paint.
Stripes are Spring Mint in EcoSpec / Eggshell, by Benjamin Moore.
{The foyer is open to our Great Room ... Seashore Dreams is used in the adjacent front sitting area and Spring Mint is used in the TV / Activity zone.}
Architectural moulding is One Coat Super White in Semigloss, by Pratt and Lambert.

Credenza
Color is Dill Pickle 2147-40, EcoSpec Eggshell, by Benjamin Moore {left over paint}.
Top coated with Safecoat Acrylacq, Satin Finish (water-based, low odor lacquer replacement).  The combination of a flat paint (eggshell) and the soft sheen from the lacquer replacement produces a smooth factory-like finish.

Mirror
Color is Cayenne Pepper (8-14) in Satin Accolade Paint, by Pratt and Lambert.
Silver Leaf, Rub-N-Buff applied around mirror edge

Credenza Panel Fabric
Robert Allen Fabric, Crystal Lake pattern, Midnight color, 55% Linen / 45% Rayon

Tips from What I Learned
Hubby didn't want me to do anything "non-reversable" to the glass on the credenza, so etching or adhering something directly on the glass wasn't an option.  I decided to wrap the glass with heavy-duty contact paper - which is totally removable, and to glue fabric to that.  This worked perfectly for the door panels.

When it came to the glass inset panes on top of the credenza the same contact wrap + fabric worked fine for pane #1.  Not so for pane #2.  Seems that the cabinet wasn't manufactured with the highest level of precision, and although both openings fit the cut glass, once the extra thickness of the paper + fabric was added, pane #2 was too big.  Drats.

Didn't want to use the power sander to remove that much wood because I was concerned I wouldn't keep a straight-edge.  Same with using a router to resize the opening ... and I had concerns that I might make the opening too big.

Plan B was to use scrap wood and build a simple box frame (like stretcher strips for canvas) that would fit inside the two openings on top of the credenza.

With fabric wrapped and stapled to the frame it was inserted from inside the cabinet, is flush with the surrounding, and the glass panels lay across the opening as the cabinet was originally designed.  Score!

Looks great and is actually a far better approach for the top panels since they are totally protected from anything sitting on the surface.  I had planned to use a fabric sealer to protect the fabric but that's no longer necessary.  Yay for failed ideas!

Let's talk about the mirror for a moment.  I used a brush to paint the mirror.  I avoided needing to cut in around the mirror edge because the frame had a silver leaf edge adjacent to the mirror.  When I primed the mirror I primed slightly over the leading edge of the leafing but not all the way to the mirror.  After the color {3 coats} was applied, I used Rub-N-Buff to restore {and enlarge slightly} the silver leaf band.  I needed to keep a rather clean but not perfect edge to my silver leaf and I had to come up with a way to apply the paste other than my pudgy, non-precise, finger.

Yep, I found my precision tool of choice in my makeup bag ... dual ended cotton tip {disposable} applicators for eye makeup.  The end with a chiseled point was perfect for drawing lines.  The flat round end was perfect for applying large amounts of leafing then buffing to a shine.  Actually, this process mirrored applying eye makeup! {sorry, I couldn't stop that pun from jumping on the screen}.  And when I went a little heavy on the leafing, or outside my edge line, I found "nourishing" nail polish remover {the lite version not the full power remover} removed the leafing! and didn't damage my paint!!  Of course, that was a lucky off-the-top-of-my-head discovery as I was running around yelling words I won't write here because of my major mess up with the leafing.  Whew!

How about one more look at the finished foyer, 'kay?

{Display case / credenza restyled into foyer table using paint and fabric.  Horizontal stripes on wall added for additional pattern and to cover wall damage that was repaired.  Accessories already owned.  Total cost of foyer makeover is $25.}

Yep, I rummaged around and found the lamp a mate (also already owned, just in storage).  I like symmetry and this feels like a good starting point for accessories.  And I have to mention that in real life the mirror is neither neon or blaze orange as it appears in this photo ... my amateur photography skills probably gets the credit for that.

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If you have any questions about my projects I'd be happy to answer them but I think I've covered the how-to's for the unique aspects of my project.  So if you'll indulge me a bit, I have to mention a somewhat ironic coincidence I totally didn't plan ... 2 years ago today (7/9) I started painting this very foyer as the first step in a redo.  The walls were primed on the 9th but in the wee hours of the 10th, our house fire happened.  Yep, that was two years ago.  BTW, the fire had nothing to do with the fact I was painting, just sayin'.

I didn't plan this foyer project to coincide with this "anniversary" ... had it not been for the recent monster storms in the mid-Atlantic area and resulting power outages this project would have been finished about two weeks ago.  But two years later I finally have a good start on that foyer redo.

If you haven't already read our Fire Safety PSA, I hope you'll check it out before you leave ... click here or you can always find the PSA button to the left on the sidebar.  Thanks for that.  And thanks in advance if you choose to Pin or otherwise help spread our Fire Safety PSA message.

So, what do you think about my foyer?  $25 well spent?  Or both my money & time wasted?  I'd love to hear any suggestions you have for accessories or more.   I'm considering extending the stripes around the proper foyer area, but that can be an "upgrade" and might have to wait until the fall.

What about you ... any plans to paint furniture or do a makeover on the cheap at your house ... would love to hear all about it!

I have more furniture reveals coming soon ... oil-based paint dries very slowly in this humid weather ... this time from my dining room.  Hope you'll check back, or, if not already a Follower click that little button in the sidebar so you'll automatically know when my paint is dry!

Keep cool folks,

Robin

Sharing with these great parties:
Recycled Bottles and Vases Become Beautiful Centerpieces: The 181st Metamorphosis Monday    betweennapsontheporch.net {Metamorphosis Monday}

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Blog Hop:
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