we're getting a Nino!

After 7 months of being certified for foster care, we're getting a {Nino}!  We've been waiting to have a little boy in our home who needs some extra love, and we finally got the long awaited phone call.  We're not sure how long he'll be here, we're just going to to take it one day at a time and make the most of each moment.  For privacy purposes, we can't post pictures, but I can tell you he's six years old, has curly red hair, and a light sprinkling of freckles across his nose.  He loves swimming, animals, all kinds of food (yeah), and has the sweetest little raspy voice! 

Here's the dresser I recently finished for his little boy belongings.

I found it on CL and it was the perfect size for the room I've been working on upstairs.  I paid a bit more then I like to pay for a used dresser ($65), but I had been looking a long time for a specific size that would fit right under the window and this one was perfect.    

I liked the original stained wood but decided to change up the drawers and spray them black.  I used this brand of spray paint found at Home Depot.  It truly is twice the coverage and it goes on really evenly. 

Then I added some character to it with some paint splatter and I hit it a few times with a big, heavy chain to add a few dents.

I sanded it around the edges,

and took some small nails and pounded them in the corners of the drawers to look like worm holes.

I'm really diggin' the industrial look these days and I decided I wanted some cool, old casters for the feet to give it a little height, and to add another element.  Jilly just so happened to have these laying around in her back yard (for real) and she gave them to me.  I know.

My man and I spent some quality time in the garage fastening the casters on the bottom of the dresser,

and making blocks legs for the back of the dresser which I stained to match the wood.

I spent some time looking for the right pulls for this dresser and I finally decided to use jute, similar to the rope I used on the {anthro knock off }.   It's inexpensive and unexpected.

This rope is a little thicker and I tied the handles just a bit different. 

Simple and easy.  I didn't waste any time getting it upstairs and placed in the perfect spot.

Here are some other projects I've completed in the Nino's room lately.  I think we're ready! 

Click on the picture to see the DIY tutorial.

I made these roman shades with my friend Cindy who runs a professional work room.  I found the fabric at the "mother ship" Creative Home Fabrics in Phoenix for $3/yard.  It was imperative that these babies were blackout lined to give the nino a few more hours of slumber after the sun comes up:) 

P.S. There was no sewing involved in the making of these shades.  Not one stitch.  It's all done with double sided, professional sewing tape and scissors.  Who knew?   

I snapped a few pictures of us "working".  We had ridiculous fun chatting and catching up, and consequently, they took us entirely too long to finish.

But it was worth it. 

Cindy is a great friend with a laugh I could listen to all day.

It's AMAZING the things you can do with all the right tools and gadgets.  How am I ever going to go back to sewing on my kitchen table? 

We even used some potentially dangerous power tools without the assistance of a man.

On Wednesday afternoon, my family will be waiting anxiously at the door for the moment he arrives.  I have a feeling this will be a great learning experience for all of us.  I've got two crossed fingers and a prayer that it works out for the best.  So it's onto a new and exciting chapter in our lives:)