Before & After: Nicole’s Wardrobe Makeover

(Before photo by: Jeremy Greive)

Built-in wardrobes are a rare feature in Sydney apartments; most of the places near the beach (where I live) are older buildings that have little storage space.  So, I had open concept hanging racks for.EVER. and felt like I lived in a teenager’s room as a result.  A room just never feels that tidy when all your clothes are on show…plus, my room probably wasn’t actually all that tidy ;)

For a long time now, my thrift store outings have involved hunting for the perfect (and spacious) wooden wardrobe that I could hide all my clothes in.  Finally, I found one with a great body, pretty feet and nice old-fashioned embellishments…in cedar, so it just had to be painted.  This is what the wardrobe looked like when I bought it, and this is what it looks like now:

I was also inspired by this post of Justina’s to add the old French keys hanging from green velvet on one of the door handles for the ‘new boho’ finishing touch.

I added a bunch of plants for color; my favourites are the ones that drape down the sides- it’s so easy to do this with cacti, succulents or air plants like ‘Old Man’s Beard’ (Spanish Moss *not pictured) because they don’t need too much attention or water.

Here’s how to get the look:

What you’ll need:
Lovely wooden wardrobe, look for features like pedestal feet and decals.
Medium grain sandpaper
Paint Primer
Paint in your choice of color
Plants! Cacti, Succulents & air plants that don’t require too much attention or water.

What I did:
1. I cleaned the whole piece of furniture inside and out with a vinegar and hot water solution and an old rag.
2. I sanded it back, so the surface was rough for painting.
3. I PRIMED it as a first coat (I am so glad I listened to my mom about this- it makes all the difference; seals, protects and prevents the paint from peeling).
4. I painted 2 coats in a matte finish.

{Project by Nicole Valentine Don for Justina Blakeney est. 1979.}
For more Nicole, visit her blog and follow her on pinterest
After photos by: Fiona Galbraith