Inspiration: DIY Dresser Re-dos

Here are three Before & After dresser projects that have jump-started the inspiration for my aforementioned endeavor. 

Apartment Therapy: Mid-Century Dresser Repainted

Apartment Therapy: Three Storage Pieces

Design Sponge: Jutta's Dresser

My First (big) DIY Project?

So you may notice that the title of this post is a question.  That is because I'm kind of a little "scurred" for the project that I may be setting up for myself.  Maybe my fellow design fanatics out there can help me out.  I found a GREAT deal on Craigslist on this simple, yet versatile Shaker style set.  This dresser is being sold along with two matching nightstands for a truly unbeatable price. 

I immediately responded to the post with the hopes of gearing up enough guts and energy to tackle this as my first Before & After project.  But, I gotta admit...I'm a little afraid that the task will seem too overwhelming once I have the furniture in my bedroom, thus leaving me with some nice-but-plain-generic furniture.  Then, I fear I will have to question why I ever let go of my white IKEA Malm Dresser.  Especially after seeing this Malm upgrade on Apartment Therapy:

So what do you guys think?  Any suggestions?
I'll do a Before & After roundup, but I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

To DIY For: A Perfect Painting Starter Project

I gotta give a big shoutout to Jan at Poppytalk for squelching some of my DIY fear this morning with her Weekend Project post.  If you're like me, you see others' DIY projects and think "Oh, that's soooo cool...and EASY!  I'm TOTALLY gonna try that."  Three months later...you still have the same white walls, or the same plain furniture, or the same ugly bedding.

Well, maybe all we DIY dysfunctionals need is a good starter project.

Poppytalk featured a paint-dipped furniture idea from House and Home that seems pretty darn simple and painless.  Using a thrift store chair and a coat rack from Urban Outfitters, Senior Design Editor Cameron McNeil used two contrasting paint colors to achieve an asymmetrical paint-dipped look.  Just cover the chosen piece in the base color, and when dry, tape off the area where your accent color will be.  They make a point to add that you should avoid painting the piece exactly half and half.  That way you'll be sure to get the desired "dipped" look we're going for.

I'm all for trying this out on a cheap thrift store find.  Being an Urban Outfitters fanatic, I happen to know that the Coming and Going Coat Rack pictured above will cost you about $70.  It just doesn't make sense to me to spend so much money just to throw a bit of paint on something.  So definitely try this out on some gently used items that just need a bit of sprucing up.  Have fun!

How Cool! - Hand-painted Headboard

Wow.
This is soooo cool to me.
It looks like this is being reflected by some kind of projection...like it's made of light, no?
These headboards by moodlemoodle are actually painted!

What A Lovely Accent!

I've been wanting to paint my walls and have been going back and forth as to whether or not I want to paint all four, or just do an accent wall.  An accent wall would definitely be more budget friendly, and for a first-time apartment painter I should probably keep the difficulty level down towards beginner-intermediate.  Here's what I'm working with.  The model is my best friend Harold, visiting from NYC...hi, Boo!

 Living Room

Taken from the couch in the living room, facing the entryway.

So I've been researching single accent walls, specifically in rooms where all the other walls are white.  Here's what I've found for inspiration:

 Nicole Sassaman's foyer on Decorpad

Mansi's Orange Accent on Apartment Therapy

 I like the idea of a patterned accent wall.  Whereas, I don't really want to go the wallpaper route, this patterned accent wall on Decor8 has me inspired.

Now this is more my speed...and much easier.  An accent color with a wall decal print like these ones on T&R might give the affect I need to tie together the painted wall with the white ones.

Take a look at a few more wall decals I enjoy after the jump!