IKEA LATT MAKEOVER

A few months ago, I was searching for a small table set for E to use.  I was weighing my options of either buying a complete set or buying the pieces separately.  I didn't mind having to paint the items myself if it meant the pieces would be cheaper.  IKEA has always been my go-to place for modern yet affordable items.  Here were the cheapest options:

{photo credit: LACK side table, SVALA children's chair, MAMMUT children's chair, LATT children's table and 2 chairs}

The LATT set was the winner.  (Did I mention that the table top was completely wipeable too?  Love that.)  So later that week, I headed over to IKEA and made my usual stop at the clearance section first...and what did I see??!  Yep, that same set for just $15!  Since it was originally used as the floor display, it wasn't in the best condition.  The wood was chipped in many areas and the table top had a few scratches.  However, it was still sturdy and had no major defects.  I was an extremely happy mommy pushing it to the checkout lane :D.  Here's what it looked like when I brought it home:

Sadly, it took me a whole month before I finally got to working on it.  Finding time to work on projects is super hard when you have a very needy toddler o.O  After a month of looking at it in its horrible state I was determined to start; I took the opportunity during one of his naps!  Here's how it went...

For my project, the materials I used were (most were found at Lowe's):

• 3M sanding sponge (medium)
• Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 primer/sealer (I used this because I already had it, however, next time I would choose regular primer paint instead of spray paint to avoid the splotches.)
  
• Olympic 8 oz. sample interior ultra white
• Miniwax 64444 semi gloss polycrylic protective finishes, 1/2 pint  
• 2 paintbrushes + 2 plastic trays
• drop cloth
• dust protection mask
• about a yard of fabric (preferably outdoor fabric for easy cleaning)
• 10 round craft mirrors (can be found at Michaels or Hobby Lobby)
• Elmer's spray adhesive
  
• small flat blade 
• painter's tape
• 2-3 sheets of newspaper

First, I started out by sanding down the table and chairs over the drop cloth.  (Make sure you wear a protection mask unless you want to be breathing in all that dust!)  This will ensure that your paint goes on smoothly when applied.  I used a piece of dry cloth to thoroughly remove any leftover sand dust. 

Next, I taped down newspapers over the table top and seat tops with painter's tape since I wasn't going to be painting on them.  

After the pieces were ready to go, I carefully primed each piece and let it dry for an hour.  Ok to be honest, I was a little impatient and waited only half an hour.  The pieces were already dried! Really! ;) 

I then started applying the "ultra" white paint. I painted 3 coats for the desired look and then waited an hour for it to dry.  Professionals probably would've waited half an hour to an hour between each coat, but I did not have that luxury.  I had a napping baby who could wake up at any minute!  So, please forgive me as I'm sure you all have much more experience in painting then I do!  

Finally, I applied 2 coats of the polycrylic to seal and protect the paint.  I finished this part just in time before E woke up.  Thank goodness!  

Later that night, after E went to sleep, I picked up from where I left off.  I brought in the pieces and took apart the chairs with the screwdriver provided by IKEA.  It probably was better if I had painted the parts separately, because the paint started tearing a little as I pulled apart the parts.  But oh well... this was the best I could do with the time I had.  

So I slid off the seat cover and sprayed it with the spray adhesive.  I then laid it facing down on the fabric I had picked for the seat tops and cut around it.  I found this cute fabric at Joann's awhile back when I was trying to make shoes for E.  I loved it so much, but wasn't able to find any other uses for it later on since it was kind of "kiddie-ish." 

 

Unfortunately, this last part of sliding the fabric covered seat back on was the most frustrating part of the whole process.  It took a lot of huffing and puffing and the help of my small blade for it to finally slide through the little slits o.O.  Here was the result:

Then I remembered I had some left over craft mirrors from a previous project and decided to use it for a little extra character :)

What do y'all think?? I personally love it :D It's one of my favorite DIY results yet!  The whole process took me about a total of 6 looOonng hours, but when E woke up the next morning and saw it, his "WooOoaahh" made it all worth it :)