This post journey started with... Wood you like to change? ~ part 1 and it can be read here
Since then I have worked on several wood pieces for our townhouse. It seems sanding, painting, distressing, faux finishing, and finding satisfaction with the results has become my favorite weekend habit. After I finally complete all of the items that can actually FIT in our little piece of heaven on earth, I will need to find another venture. Until then here are some of the new-old editions, before and afters. Please pardon the before shots. I took some of them with my iPad and could not get a crisp photo. Also ignore the dirty painted carpet on the floor and stairs. A few months ago I allowed the professional house painters to leave both uncovered and finally it's all getting ripped out this week to prep for
french herringbone solid wood flooring.
Entry Table
I have had this table for 13 years. It was a minor purchase with the intention to be faux finished, back when I tried working for a business in the area of interior design. I never got around to revamping it. Yes, many years ago I dabbled in the field, but back then I lacked patience for indecisive people (like myself) who were wanting quality furnishings with either limited funds, or had unlimited means but were too frugal (unlike me). It seemed what both wanted was free advice, because the "do it yourself" attitude was becoming popular from the growth of HGTV. Austin was at the start of its heavy transplanted population and McMansion housing boom. Many of those earlier transplants really
favored lower prices over value. Like the prices for furniture they ran and bought at
Rooms To Go, or the Room Store to fill their new large spaces.
favored lower prices over value. Like the prices for furniture they ran and bought at
Rooms To Go, or the Room Store to fill their new large spaces.
Thank goodness both Austin and I have changed. Now, I love to share ideas and explore options that are $ friendly and Austin has become an interior savvy and chic people filled city. My only concern is that it's gotten overcrowded with an average of 170 people moving here daily! However, having transplanted here in the early 1970s myself and experienced some of the best things Austin has to offer, I do understand why people move here.
(back to changing the wood finish)
The table's dark finish was dreadful to my hubby and did not work well with the Texas-French Country atmosphere of our townhouse. I combined sample pots of paints I had hanging around to create a french gray color, along with applying a Miniwax wood stain mixture of part Classic Gray with Espresso. It stayed on for a view hours and then was removed with mineral spirits. This created the streaks and uneven color on the legs. Next, I re-painted the top and x-bottom with square sections with a darker gray. Afterward applied Valspar clear crackle glaze to that, followed by my sample paint mixture. I slapped on the color with my brush, instead of using normal brush strokes to create texture. Once it dried, sanded to distress it to get the effect I desired. It was a timely process waiting for the layers to dry but… IT WORKED!
TV Console Table
I purchased this console table from the eBay store Center Stage Antiques. Its dated look had a high gloss finished top. A console was needed that would allow light thru. It sits in front of windows and its new paint job had to be simple to compliment the fireplace masonry next to it, in the living room. I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color Cocoa and finish it with light distressing and Howard's Citrus Shield clear paste wax. A long antique french harvest basket will sit on the bottom shelf soon.
Step Stool
The top of the mattress in our bedroom is 35 inches off the floor and now that I have gotten older wiser, the use of this small step stool to get my 5'3" self in the bed every night to keep from feeling like I'm crawling up a hill makes sense. The red had to go. I used ASCP in a combination of French Linen over Country Grey. But, after distressing it a bit I liked some of the red showing and finish the piece with Howard's paste wax.
Etagere
This is one of my favorite purchases ever. I watched this etagere in Neiman Marcus Last Call like a hawk for over 3 years. It was kept in the restroom hall covered with china and boxes so I believe it barely got noticed, or the reason could have been that the original price tag was a holy cow amount of 3217 dollars, and then the first marked down was only to 2899. SHEESH!
I knew one day they would have my ideal price… 75 percent off another markdown with a 20 percent off coupon added to that. Yes, I shop there often and know how they roll, lol. A few years ago on the 4th of July I sped over there because I knew this was the moment. Sometimes a holiday can feature great shopping bargains and my claimed prize was purchased for a taxed total of 323 dollars! It may not appear to be, but is very heavy. Before moving the original color stayed put for a while. I gave the wood section and some of the stuff placed on it a much needed makeover with white paint. The rest of the etagere is wrought iron with two glass shelves.
The wood stand for the art pottery piece that hubby and I bought in 1997 during a trip to Denver was painted, and also the frame that holds a small watercolor painting of the Gay Head Cliffs. I purchased it in 2002 during one of my Martha's Vineyard trips with my mother-n-law, who lived in Cape Cod. My hubby's parents lived there for many years before passing and they are dearly missed. The Cape and its two sister islands Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are my favorite areas in this country.
Nightstands
Our old nightstands were too large and rustic for the master bedroom. I desired new ones that would be functional with a shelf, drawer, and storage area to hold objects (cell phone, iPad, notebook, magazines, books) that we I drag into bed with us, on a nightly basis. Most of all, they had to be made of solid wood. Not particleboard, glued, toxic, cheap factory made or imported junk. I decided to take into custody these two ugly ducklings that were found on the eBay shop... Hollywood Antiques Center. They are from the 1950s by an American furniture company called Davis Cabinet and are made of solid maple. I chose them for their perfect measurements for our space and a visual plan. So I thought.
My impatient side took over and this project has become a nightmare. The plan was to paint them, put storage baskets on the bottom and have Carrera marble cut to fit the shape of the top. Somehow I got the idea to forfeit my original plan and crackle the sides, top, and first shelf. It turned into a hot mess! Such a BIG MISTAKE. Instead of getting a small crackled finish I got huge death valley drought cracks that look cheesy and cheap. It really looks bad. Now I am in the process of stripping off the paint and starting over. DIY projects are meant to be fun and rewarding, but can come out looking scary when patience and a good visual idea is not a part of the process. And removing this mess is a waste of time and energy that could be spent on relaxing with a glass of wine. Ha, perhaps I should have been drinking a glass at the start of this project.
This blogs motto is to "create beauty" not ghastly eyesores!
Lesson learned:
Do not rush onto your next project just because the last complicated one turned out great. Also, different woods desire different finishes. These maple nightstands will look better in a smooth white chalk paint finish with a light antiqued silver glaze on the edges. I do plan to get Carrera marble tops and place two light gray-washed natural wicker baskets on the bottom shelves. So now I will go and get busy over the next few weekends cleaning up my mistake and
share the non-scary result photo later.
If you desire an interior change in your home and have many wood items that you cannot afford to get rid of, do not be afraid to paint them despite of possible mistakes, because you can always revamp the item again with a better idea.
One living room wood piece won't be getting painted. It is this 18th century chair I recently won at Austin Auction Gallery, which is in great condition for its age. I'll just clean it up and reupholster the seat cushion in a Ralph Lauren linen fabric.
Some wood furniture is meant to be left in its original finish.
~
You can find info on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint here
For furniture painting tips, a popular painter and blogger, better known as Miss Mustard Seed explains the pros and cons of using different paint types here
~
And till next time remember that mistakes are why erasers were put on pencils!
Linked to
Feathered Nest Friday
Lesson learned:
Do not rush onto your next project just because the last complicated one turned out great. Also, different woods desire different finishes. These maple nightstands will look better in a smooth white chalk paint finish with a light antiqued silver glaze on the edges. I do plan to get Carrera marble tops and place two light gray-washed natural wicker baskets on the bottom shelves. So now I will go and get busy over the next few weekends cleaning up my mistake and
share the non-scary result photo later.
If you desire an interior change in your home and have many wood items that you cannot afford to get rid of, do not be afraid to paint them despite of possible mistakes, because you can always revamp the item again with a better idea.
One living room wood piece won't be getting painted. It is this 18th century chair I recently won at Austin Auction Gallery, which is in great condition for its age. I'll just clean it up and reupholster the seat cushion in a Ralph Lauren linen fabric.
Some wood furniture is meant to be left in its original finish.
~
You can find info on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint here
For furniture painting tips, a popular painter and blogger, better known as Miss Mustard Seed explains the pros and cons of using different paint types here
~
And till next time remember that mistakes are why erasers were put on pencils!
Linked to
Feathered Nest Friday
