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I don’t show a ton of the goings-on in my house these days largely because there’s not a lot happening as far as home improvements or decorating changes are concerned.  We are transitioning the guest room to Calvin’s room, but other than that, things have pretty much stayed the same.

We are changing a few things up, though, and I must say that it’s been refreshing for me.  I love making tweaks and changes to a space, even if it’s just for the sake of things looking a little different.  Spaces can start to feel stale when they are too stagnant, I think.

For a while, I’ve been wanting to change out the nightstands in the master bedroom.  I’ve been on the hunt for two antique washstands or chests that were about the same size and shape.   It’s been tricky to find, but two pieces finally found their way to me.

As a reminder, here are the nightstands we’ve had in the room for a few years.  They are both painted in Shutter Gray over French Enamel with some decorative painting.

(Sorry for the Christmas picture!  It’s the best one I could find where you could see both nightstands.)

I always liked how the blues played against each other and were a little unexpected, but I decided I wanted them to be “quieter”, so they didn’t compete as much with the starched fabric wall treatment.

So, I painted the new nightstands in MMS Milk Paint Linen and just oiled the tops with Hemp Oil.  And here is the result…

Here is how the washstand looked before…

I really love it and, as a bonus, it functions a lot better than the cabinet I was using. I also like that it goes all the way to the floor.  Underneath the old cabinet was a playground for dust bunnies.  I know they’ll still be there, but at least I don’t have to look at them!

Jeff’s new nightstand is just a shade taller than mine and the style is slightly different, but otherwise they look almost identical.

Here is how his looked before it was painted…

…and now…

This one was missing the casters, so I added some from my stash.  Our bed is so high that the cabinets really needed that additional height from the wheels.  I also like that it elevates the pieces a little, so it doesn’t look so heavy on the floor, if that makes sense.

Even Jeff said he really likes the change and he doesn’t normally have an opinion on that sort of thing.

 I will be selling our old nightstands and I’ll post pictures, dimensions and prices soon.  

Back in the studio, I finished painting the latest landscape dresser on Friday and plan to do the finishing work tomorrow.  You can see a preview on Instagram and I’ll share the full reveal later this week…

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    33 Comments

    1. Judy

      They look stunning!

    2. Angela

      Sigh…..I have always loved those blue night stands. Besides the fact that I live in Ontario, Canada my room is way too small for them. The new ones do look nice. Looking forward to seeing the finished dresser.

      • Debbie

        Hi Angela….I’m in Ontario too. Sarnia. Have a great day…yes those blue stands are great

    3. Barbara

      They look great Marian. I forgot to ask about them Friday, sorry. I did notice they were missing in the studio:-) they really lighten up your bedroom. So happy that Jeff loves them as well.

    4. Ramona

      The beautiful wall really shines! You nailed it again with your amazing paint!

    5. JeanFB

      Absolutely love them! And I love how you took the more interesting piece, design-wise…. my hubby wouldn’t even notice the difference, but the “fancier” one would make all the difference to me! 🙂

    6. Wendy from Oldlakegeorge.com

      I just received some Miss Mustard Seed in Linen from Amazon! and they delivered it on a Sunday!
      Life is good! Thanks for the inspiration.
      Wendy

    7. Ashlea

      As soon as I saw the little thumbnail I thought “Oh yay! The new nightstands!” Your bedroom is so beautiful and unique- I always feel inspired by your home. What a sweet little change. love em!

    8. Jodi Jackson

      Ohh that’s such a cute nightstand! I LOVE you bed. I know you didn’t paint it but maybe you can do a tutorial on how to get that look??

    9. Betsy @ Happily Ever After, Etc.

      I really loved the blue ones but the new ones add a certain lightness which is nice! Both are fabulous just different… and there’s something to be said about Jeff liking the new ones! Haha!

    10. Elizabeth

      LOL, that says a lot when the hubs comments! Nice work!

    11. Iolo's dad

      Wow They look great, have you considered tiles for the upstand ? I also love your wallpaper it would look great in our master bedroom I’m paying the walls with Farrow and Ball Hauge Blue 🙂

      You fill me with so much enthusiasm!

    12. Ginger Valdes

      Love them! They pop against the walls. I think as lovely as the blue tables are, they were competing with the wall treatment. SEE! Such an improvement, your man even likes it!

    13. Michelle

      OMGosh!!! I love your new nightstands! They look perfect and they do lighten the area! Beautiful! You have given me some inspiration to look for some in my travels. Great job! Have a wonderful day!

    14. Debbie w

      Marian I love these….you were lucky to find 2….just perfect! Debbie Wilson

    15. Donna Doble-Brown

      Gosh, I just LOVE these new night stands! Big surprise! Haha

    16. Mary

      Oooooo Love the new look a lot!!

    17. Dianne

      Love the new look! Great work

    18. Bshane

      Beautifully done … The new nightstand scare a better “fit” all around. Great job.

    19. Gwen Condit

      Totally love these. I can’t believe how much I do!!! I thought your others were so perfect when you were working on your room but these are super. My mom had her Grandma’s from the 1800’s the same style but a bit bigger. It has so much storage!!! In the 1960’s the in thing was to buy this kit. She painted it a kind of soft green and then there was an antiquing product one applied over it. It’s about 50 years later and I still like it!! It’s actually come full circle!!! But no chippy paint. That wasn’t in? Hers sat flat on the floor. Casters removed to avoid dust bunnies??!!!

    20. Cathy

      This is so funny, I just recently saw your previous bedside chest with the painted design on the front, and thought to myself, it’s pretty, but I couldn’t have it in front of that back wall treatment, it would be just too busy for me. And then I see this post and you said you needed to change it up! Crazy how stuff like that happens to me all the time in my design business, I think something…..and then that exact thing happens somehow, even though I just thought it!

    21. Deb H.

      LOVE the new night stands – PERFECT against that GORGEOUS wall of fabric! SCORE for Marion AGAIN!

    22. Laurie

      I have an old wash stand very similar. Last week I mentioned painting it and my husband goes bonkers. I’m another one who needs change. I can’t stand stale! So I’m pondering colors now and I like your idea of adding casters. I always tell my husband he’s the only thing I haven’t changed in 28 years be happy with that! Lol

    23. Jenn A

      I really like the new night stands. I like the contrast with the wall fabric A LOT. And they look so pretty with their linen paint!

    24. Jami

      My heart just went pitter patter. I love these so much. Now I have to find me something like that for my master bedroom.

    25. Rebecca Turner

      I see what you mean about “quieter” and it is an improvement, however pretty the blue side tables were, because it gives the eye a place to rest. I’m actually working towards a mix of blues in my bedroom, but I don’t have any busy patterns to contend with. That is not meant to be a slight. I love your style!

    26. Cindy Jones

      I really like the change. I always felt the old ones tried to hard to compete with the beautiful wall covering. Loving all your landscape dressers and the fun experiences you’re sharing with watercolors.

    27. Sue Therrien

      Marian,
      I like the new nightstands. You’re tempting me to paint my 40 year old night stands. I have a 1970s matching Ethan Allen dark pine bedroom set that needs some updating. The soft pine is showing the many moves furniture is not meant to endure! Now that I’m in Florida, I think one of your whites or even the pretty blue you used for your parent’s armoire would be nice. I just revealed the ‘ugly’ ticking (as a furniture sales woman called it) on our headboard. So a pure white won’t work, but an antique or cream white would work.

      I have a question about how you hang the plates/platters. I have several antique plates I’ve been trying to hang. The problem is they aren’t actually plates. They are more like shallow bowls or candy dishes. The store bought metal hangers don’t allow the back of the plates to sit flat on the wall. I’m afraid to try the stick on hooks because they would shatter on my tile floors if they were to fall. Do you have any ideas/suggestions?

    28. Amanda Carter

      Where did you get that monogrammed pillow? I really like it! Thanks!

    29. Fiona, Lilyfield Life

      Looks beautiful Marian, can’t believe you found two almost the same! Well done

    30. Bob Dunn

      Ms. Mustard Seed, my wife Susan has been following you for years. You have been a great inspiration to her and her Etsy passion of always putting the customers first. If you are ever in the DC area, I would love it if you would join us for lunch or dinner, Our 25th Anniversary is on the 7th, which is obviously late notice, but I would love to coordinate a meeting. It would mean a lot. You are a true inspiration.

      Bob 703-967-3441

    31. Kate Keating

      Beautiful! Can you show us the other side of the room? For a 360 view? Thank you!!

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