My Pretty Thrifted Painted Bookends
Spray paint is magical, isn’t it?
As much as I dislike to use it sometimes (because of the smell), it’s one of those products that can take the ugliest thing and make it look like it jumped off the pages of HGTV magazine.
In this case, however, these little bronze bird bookends weren’t ugly–they were cute as heck!
I spotted them at the thrift store recently and knew the were coming home with me!
And for $2.99 on a discount day, I pounced on them!
But I’m not a “bronzy” kind of chick, and as cute as they were, I knew that a quick “pssssh, pssssh, psssh” from my left over spray paint from my painted door mat would be perfect!
Here’s what they looked like before painting them.
BEFORE
And here’s what they look like now!
AFTER!
This was the only spray paint I had on hand (the paint left over from my pretty painted Welcome mat).
You probably remember them from my 9-year-old son’s mid-century modern dresser makeover I showed you the other day.
My son is an avid reader.
I’m talking book-in-hand 24/7 if he could. In fact, he used to get in trouble in first grade for taking out his books and reading in class while in class while his teacher was talking. HA!
I plan to put some book shelves up in his new room soon, but right now, he can stash his books on top of his new dresser with these book ends.
Right now I’m working on my family room for my 30-Day September Makeover Challenge so when I’m done with that, I’ll move to his room! (Pst–you should totally join!!)
I almost regret painting them, though.
It wasn’t until I looked at that “BEFORE” shot that I saw how pretty they really were with their patina.
…..Or it could have just been my mad photography skillz that made them look better than they really looked. HA!
Because in the thrift store, they were cute…..?…..but there weren’t screaming “Leave-me-bare!”
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Oh, well.
They were only $6.00, plus a discount.
If I ever truly regret painting them, I’ll just do a post on “How to Remove Spray Paint When You Totally Screwed Up!”
So tell me, what do you guys like to spray paint? And have you ever painted anything that you later kind wish you hadn’t?
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I like the before and after. But I do feel the before would be best suited to a boy’s room and the after to a girl’s room or “girl-cave”.
True! I probably would have left them alone if the dresser I had done for him was a lighter color. I needed something that would contrast with the dark dresser top.
Cute I like the after maybe not in a boy’s room.but you have other places in your house where they will be great.its your color.
You’re right! (I’m a little addicted to turquoise…). LOL
I think Sue is on to something. I think the pastel color doesn’t look like a boys room color. Antique them and see what they look like. It will help bring out some of the details and will look nice with the wood grain on top of the table. Or try them in another part of the house.
Debbie, I’m working on my family room this month for my 30-Day September challenge and I am thinking I’ll be using them in there! We’ll see. The walls are going to be greenish-bluish and I think the turquoise birds will just blend in too much. Maybe a bright yellow!
antique them a little, they will take on a different personality of their own 🙂
Great idea! Yeah, one person did email me and say they looked “flat” now, so you’re probably right–just to bring back some texture!
Gut check…. I’m still head over heels! You’ve got me eye-balling a bronze pheasant that’s looking a little drab & dreary….
Birds may not be traditional for a little boy’s room, but I think they’re perfect for a budding nature lover.
Do it, Vicki! 🙂 Send me a “BEFORE and AFTER” pic when you’re done!
I think they look wonderful painted. It really gives them a light airy feel
Thanks, Terri!! 🙂 Great to know they weren’t a total loss!
I don’t think i have ever regretted spray painting anything. 🙂 What I can’t believe is that you only had one can of spray paint on hand! Have you SEEN my stash? Too many cans, enough room.
I liked the before and I like the after. I guess I’m not much help. Great deal Serena!
gail
LOL, Gail, well let’s put it this way: I have maybe 5 cans, and the only color that really had that I could have “seen” the birds in is turquoise! LOL. I’d love to know how many cans you have. I could tell hubby, “SEE??! Gail has even more than ME!” 🙂
I liked them before and after. The before looked very rich though. Painted they are modern.
Well said, Ellen. I agree. Cheers, Ardith
Agreed. Two entirely different looks. I happen to like both ways, and even wonder if oil bronzed paint would have looked good also. The neat thing is, I wouldn’t have thought to spray paint them, and they came out very clean and modern looking.
Hmmm….I like the idea of oil bronzed paint. I will probably end up using them in my family room which I’m making over this month, on some shelving, so maybe I’ll try that? I think I may make him his own painted bookends out of wood! Pull out that jigsaw and do some cool cut-outs of something! 🙂 We shall see….. Thanks, Judy!
Hi, Ellen! Yeah, that’s a great word for them: “rich.” They did, didn’t that?! You can really see the wings and stuff!
Thank you! 🙂
Stop sweating over a $6 (less the discount) purchase! You spend more than that on a cheeseburger and fries. They look much more modern and fresh with the paint vs. the fuddy-duddy look of yesteryear. But here’s the thing – they don’t really look like they go in a boy’s room with the pastel color, even though blue is a boy color. So what you do is fix the kid his bookshelves and then grab those birds for yourself! They will look great with your other things in your craft area or in your bedroom. I love the way you can visualize what things can become. You always inspire me!
You’re so right, Marilynn! I can’t even go a burrito from Chipotle for that amount! HAHA!
Yeah, I knew they didn’t “go” in my son’s room, but 1) I reeeeaaallly wanted them turquoise, and 2) they’re the only bookends that I had to store his books, so I figured, he could rock the turquoise for awhile. LOL. I’ll probably end up using them in the family room, which I’m working on for our 30-Day September challenge. I’m planning on putting up shelving in there, and I think they may make a great addition. I’ll have to spray them a different color (yellow maybe!) since the walls will be a turquoisey green color! They’ll blend in too much.
Thanks, Marilynn, for keeping it in perspective! 🙂
No regrets. I love them!!
Thanks, Kathy! 🙂