When I posted this sideboard on my Facebook page, it was a big hit...with lots of lovely comments. I thought maybe you would enjoy reading my process for transforming this one.
Let's start with the before:
Pretty piece, gorgeous fluted legs and very beat up top.
After some stripping and sanding, the gorgeous mahogany is revealed.
I moved forward with my vision....stained top, but what color? Hmmmm..It had been a long, cold winter in Southeast Virginia, so I thought a bit of a bright, springy blue would be perfect.
It's a combination of General Finishes Persian Blue, and Annie Sloan Louis Blue.
We live near the beach in this part of the country, so I thought some clear, updated pulls might be a nice change from the original, oval brass pulls.
Quite a bit of 'shabbying' on the legs and fluted areas....
The top got a custom mix of General Finishes gel stains. I mix a little Antique Walnut and Java....and use it as a stain. I apply it and wipe it back. I'm not looking to cover up the grain, but to bring out its beauty. I think some folks apply Java on thickly to cover over a very flawed top? I've not tried that technique yet. Maybe one day...but for now, I'm looking to see the gorgeous wood grain~
And the picture below is why I don't blog very often. The camera is NOT my friend. Look at those legs....Don't they look wonky? They really aren't crooked, I promise! I know it must be the angle, or lense....but I took over 100 pictures of this one piece...and could not get a decent straight on shot without the legs looking crazy! Oh well....
So here she is all done...and from a side view, no wonky legs!
As it turned out, she's going to be living in a beach house at the Outer Banks in North Carolina! Looks like my color name of Beachy Blue was spot on!
Thanks for stopping by....
Robin
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