How to fix a stripped screw hole in no time!

I moved into my home in December 2013. Since then, my son's door has loosened up out of the frame because the silly painters put the wrong screws back into the holes and now the correct screws are too loose. I kept tightening the screws only to have to do it again two weeks later (or less) - this has been going on for near four months  now. I was fed up and decided to fix the loose screw holes!

Unbeknownst to me, it's a simple job. I searched the internet and came up with matches, toothpicks, or any wood that is small enough to be smashed into a hole. My addition to this method is a dowel. This method requires NO dry time and NO wood filler. You're back to new in no time!

Here's what you'll need...

1 small dowel, the smallest diameter available at Lowe's in my case

Toothpicks - I used these ornate toothpicks, since they have a flat end (good for hammering)

Good scissors or wire cutters

Hammer

... and here's the method

How to Paint Perfect Stripes on Furniture

I am painting this Crate and Barrel china cabinet - vintage and antique furniture is of WAY higher quality, by the way - and wanted to paint stripes on the bottom drawer. I have painted stripes before on furniture only to be frustrated because the paint bleeds through the furniture to make what could be a perfect stripe imperfect. Fortunately I distress furniture, so I can sand the seepage away - but I'm a bit of a perfectionist and knew/know now that the perfect stripe can be painted!

It's a very simple technique.

First, tape up your stripes; and make sure to use a level to ensure that your stripes are perfectly straight. On my china cabinet I painted three stripe colors but this technique works for as many layers of stripes as you can fit on to your piece of furniture.

Vintage Cedar Chest or Side Table Needs a Makeover

In January I purchased this 1950s vintage Lane cedar chest with a pull-out drawer off of CL. I drove two towns over from Cohasset to meet this gentleman who had literally piles of stuff in his garage. It was 5pm and dark when I drove up - admittedly some alarm bells did go off but I looked around and decided it was safe enough to walk over and buy the darned chest. Overall, the situation was a little weird (and I am happy to still be alive), but my new chest has great bones and is in desperate need of a makeover!!

Vintage Chest's Makeover in Detail

Chair and table ensemble need a bit of love

Oh wow, how my new passion for DIY keeps me busy! I finished up this chair and little table combo recently and I really like how it turned out! It was a lot of fun and I learned a ton!!

I purchased this cute little set on CL for $30. Don't know if I overpaid but the chair is very good quality. Does anyone know anything about this style of chair? I couldn't find anything with my resources. The chair has a rush weave seat and there are no screws on the entire chair! The table was a bit rickety - but trusty screwdriver fixed that right up so no problem!

Here's How I did it!

TV Console Needs a Trip to the Spa!

Welcome back to A Wilder Finish!!

I'm excited to share this project with you. My parents are close to retirement - well, my Dad is already of retirement age but continues to work - and they have a home north of San Diego that they plan to move into in a couple of years. In the interim, my mother purchased a town home and some inexpensive furniture from CL. As you can see in the picture below, some of the pieces are not too appealing. But in her mind, this furniture means nothing to her so she isn't concerned with its look - their pieces are all in California.

Yay DIY furniture refinishing!

My son and I traveled to Houston for a visit over Valentine's Day weekend - it was just a mommy and son trip, where daddy stayed home. "Mom", I said, "let's take this old and tired TV console to the furniture spa!" It was my Valentine's Day present to my parents. They were pretty excited about it, so I guess they do care.

 

 

Here's the Project from Start to Finish!