Grandfather Clock Makeover

Today I'm going to show you the clock that Natalie at A Turtle's Life For Me featured when I did the guest post last week on her blog.  

I'm going to walk you through the process of how I took this grandfather clock from dark and nice (I think it is nice -- but I wanted better than nice) to light and fabulous in just a few easy steps.

  

First of all, the back story of this clock.  It's a little personal so don't feel uncomfortable. :)

Long story short, I have a two year old daughter and I am ready for another baby.  I thought I was pregnant twice just to find out that I wasn't.  The day I got this clock was one of those times.  So I was feeling sorry for myself that day and I thought, "what would make me feel better now?"  Answer: craigslist.  I opened my laptop and started searching.  I typed in "grandfather clock" and  a handful of posts came up.  Most were in the $300+ price range but there was one that was $45 and said it had to be gone STAT.  I asked if the hubs was on board if I got it.  He was.  When I called, I negotiated the price to $30 and we jumped in the car and burned rubber over to her house.  She wasn't there so I paid her mom and loaded it in the car.  Then I started feeling bad because I knew she needed the money more than I did so I took another $5 to her parentals to give to her.

I started the transformation process by removing the hardware and the doors.

Then I took out the pendulum and the drawer.

Next I covered the face of the clock.  Note:  If you do this, make sure whatever you use to cover it isn't porous.  The spray paint will go through.  I'm still banging my head against the wall about another project.

I also put the chains in a grocery bag and taped them out of the way.

Then I started to spray paint.  I used Rustoleum's Heirloom White.  I decided not to sand this for a couple of reasons.  First is that I planned on putting it in a place where it wouldn't get touched often, and second is because I was planning on distressing it so if it got a scratch or two, no biggie.

This is after one can of paint.

Here it is after 2.5 cans.

Next I did the drawer.  I did sand this because it is the biggest flat surface on the front of the clock and I wanted the paint to really stick to it.

I covered the glass for the door.  And yes, I used electrical tape.  We just moved and my painter's tape is in a box somewhere unknown to me.  It's all about improvising, amigos.     

The little pear shaped deal-e-o was not attached so I painted it and hot glued it in place.  I also painted the drawer and the doors and reattached them.  

Then I closed my eyes and prayed that everything worked out as I slowly tore off the cover on the face.  (Notice the painted hands.  Wear gloves!  Or at least don't get a mani beforehand).

Phew!  It worked!

Next I took a very fine grit sand paper and distressed along the sides and around the edges.  

It's a little hard to see in the picture but here it is all distressed.  I may do some more but I didn't want to over do it at first (like a short hair cut -- you know what I'm talking about).  

Here it is all at home in it's place in our dining nook.  I love it!  I almost forgot to replace the pendulum but ha!, it needs that to function.  I replaced it and now I feel like I'm in Europe every time it dongs it's low-pitched dong.  

If you're thinking about doing a grandfather clock, I highly recommend it.  It's really easy and the results are phenomenal (my opinion, obviously).  

 

Love, Kelli

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