Corkboard Vanity Push-pin Make-Over

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Corkboard Vanity Push-pin Make-Over

I am so thankful that both of my young daughters share a love for my chippy,

old-made-new furniture style.

My sweet 11 year-old has loved this vintage desk-vanity

as long as she could remember.

And that is because I acquired it before she was born.

It was my "first" freebie find--it was about to be thrown out

and I rescued it from the curb.

When the desk still had its mirror...
(yikes, girl clutter!)

Although it had some damage to its original veneer and finish...I just loved its shape, spindle legs, and the curved mirror it held beautifully between its spindle arms. More than 14 years ago, I drug this piece home, removed the damaged veneer and whipped up a white-primer-paint-wash that has lasted to this day.

I still love the finish and haven't done a thing to it but clean it off every so often. So you can imagine my sadness when, after one of our past recent moves, (4 in 3 years)...the mirror and frame were broken. So so sad :o( One of the spindle arms was broken in two...(sigh).

I couldn't bring myself to be rid of the piece, and it sat in my garage for almost a year until our recent move when it made its way back into my daughter's room--topless.

On a recent visit, my dad helped mend the frame and arm.

And while I thought I would eventually get a new mirror to replace the old speckled silvery one, my daughter and I decided we would try something new.

Instead of a mirror--why not make the space it held a cork board for her notes and jewelry?

So, here is how we did it:

1) I used a piece of foam core from the Dollar store to back the cork roll I bought at Target.
2) I traced the opening onto the foam core and then adhered the cork.

But the cork was an ugly brown and the seam too visible...

(hmm..how to make it Shabby Chic like the rest of her room?)