Evening Plum by General Finishes

Happy New Year to all of you!  It's been awhile since I've shared a post.  Since much of my work is similar in nature, it doesn't make sense to keep posting the same ole same ole.  But this transformation brought about some good learnings for me, and hopefully you'll find something worthwhile in this post to help you with a future project.

I forgot to get a good 'before' picture...This is the best I have...sorry!

Hopefully you get the idea...1970s blonde oak.  It's a piece from the Hooker Mainline collection for you MCM fans!  :)

My friend, Tamy fell in love with it and wanted a deep pink color.  We looked at a Sherwin Williams paint deck and she picked Dynamo.

I was fully prepared to dip my toe into the world of using Webster's Chalk Paint Powder.  I thought I'd get a sample pot from SW, add the Webster's and be good to go, right?  WRONG!

For starters, the sample paint from SW is awful!  It took me about 10 coats on a paper plate just to get full coverage so Tamy could see the actual color in her home.  I wasn't interested in painting this piece in this bright color, only to have her say, "I don't really like it"!  :)  After running into poor coverage issue, I found upon reading about this, it is a known issue the SW samples are thin.  Okay, I'll just have Benjamin Moore match the color.  Their paints are excellent quality.  I get a quart from BM, closely follow the directions on the Webster's package and start painting.

NOT GONNA HAPPEN!  The paint with the chalk powder was thin...3 coats and I wasn't getting the full coverage I've come to appreciate from ASCP & General Finishes.  Thank heavens Tamy also loved a picture of a piece done in Evening Plum from GF!

Here are the drawers, in my dining room, getting their second coat of Evening Plum:

I love General Finishes paints.  They cover beautifully!  No conversation, no back talk...just very well behaved!

I'm cruising along with the project and realize I need to address the 3 drawers hiding behind the doors.  Hmm....we need to do something special.  White, black and gold.  Tamy zeroed in on a stencil from Royal Design Studios:  African Plumes Furniture Stencil.

Are you ready for some "After" shots?

I cleaned up the hardware and then added some Gold Rub N Buff.

I used a gold pin, Graphite and French Linen by ASCP for the stencil.

Four coats of General Finishes High Performance Gloss Top Coat was the finishing step for this stunning dresser.

My take away from this project:  No Webster's Chalk Paint Powder until I understand better what I did wrong while mixing it or using it.  So if you've had good luck with the powder, please let me know your secret!  :)

On another note, hopefully the quality of my photos will improve in 2015.  The staging and photographing of my pieces is my least favorite part of this process.  But I'm optimistic you'll see some improvements in the coming year!  :)

I hope you found this post helpful or informative!  That's for stopping by!

Robin

Linking up to:

Miss Mustardseed

A Little Sparkle with Black is Never a Bad Thing!

Old, tired, cracked and peeling veneer.  What can I say?

 But if you look closely, there are some beautiful carved details on each side and on the top drawer.

After lots of repairs (drawer guide replaced, veneer gluing and wood filling), a soft black was what the doctor ordered.  I used a combination of ASCP Graphite and General Finishes Lamp Black.  You might ask why combine them, RPK?  Well, I didn't want a deep black from the LB, but wanted a darker black than Graphite..So there you have it!

I didn't want the highlighting of the carved detail to be too gold, so I added a bit of my silver wax to the gold wax to make a champagne color of gilding wax.

And here's the sparkle....I love the knobs!

I've found there is always a lot of sanding needed when working with black.

And there it is...a gorgeous Chippendale style chest, reloved and ready for another 50 

years!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Vintage Vanity/Desk in Antique White

I've done a lot in Antique White lately....and if you follow along, you know the drill.  Strip the top, shellac the base to keep from having any bleed through issues, and then paint, sand, paint, sand, paint, sand...and then finally paint and sand!  :)  A little light distressing to show off the gorgeous details.  Let the pictures speak for themselves:

The lovely lady who spotted this also inquired about some chairs and stools.  I had this stool in my inventory along with a classic Rose Back Mahogany chair:

Clean, pretty and classic....

Thanks for stopping by...

Robin

Linking Up At:

Miss Mustard Seed

Finding Silver Pennies

Elizabeth & Co

Vintage Chest in Need of Some Veneer Removal

I took in a pitiful looking vintage chest that had good bones, drawers worked well, but the veneer on the top was messed up.  I had not attempted to remove veneer up to this point in my "painting career". Oh, what the heck...let's give it a try.

It was a little tedious, but with some patience, and elbow grease, it all came off.  The wood underneath was not very pretty, so I painted the entire piece.

The base coat is Old Ochre, and the top coats are layers of a custom mix of Duck Egg nd a smidge of Provence.

I needed to replace the top knobs, so I chose crystal to complement the overall feel of the lovely, vintage look.

I loved the vintage look, so I opted to distress this piece more heavily than my general process or distressing around the edges.

The pulls were imperceptible, but with a little paint, you can see the lovely detail in them.

I tried some pretty white knobs, but the new owner opted for the crystal knobs.

She's going to use it in her new baby's room!  Isn't this fun?  I bet the original owner would be thrilled to know this piece has a new life with a new life!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Linking up at:

Elizabeth & Co

My First Mid Century Modern

Reloving vintage furniture has been a great joy to me for the past few years.  I've limited myself to classic chippendale, some early american and depression era furniture.  I came upon a mid century buffet a few weeks ago...and have long admired the transformations of others (especially Reeves @ The Weathered Door).  I decided to bring it home and give it a try.

A wonderful client spotted it when I posted this 'before' picture on my FB page and claimed it.  A few weeks later, and after some discussion, I sent her some of my own paint swatches....

Very professional looking swatches, wouldn't you agree!  Ha!  Anyway, it works for me and the folks that want a custom color....

Here is the finished piece....

I finished it with several coats of the General Finishes High Performance Satin Poly.  It leaves a lovely sheen without being to shiny!

I love the way it turned out....I know it's not everyone's style, but if you like straighter lines and are looking for the proverbial 'pop of color', this is a style and color for you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Linking up at:

Miss Mustardseed

Finding Silver Pennies

Elizabeth & Co.

Savvy Southern Style

French Linen for a French Dresser

When a client came over to pick up a desk and chair, she mentioned also needing a dresser for her bedroom.  I asked for forgiveness as I took her into my very messy shop.  I lifted the blanket off of this nine drawer dresser made by Dixie:

It was a little tired, but she felt confident that an "RPK Relove" could transform it.  Her vision was the same technique I used on this vanity which was mostly Paris Gray.

As I got into it, the Paris Gray on this piece started to look like a battleship....so the layering began.

Here is a picture of the one of the drawers before any top coats or glazes:

It's Old Ochre, Paris Gray, French Linen and then Old White.

The top stripped beautifully....original hardware....and here it is:

Although I started with one plan for this piece, the transformation evolved as I started to see it come to life.  The softening of the Paris Gray with French Linen and Old White really helped create a the final piece.

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Linking up at:

Miss Mustardseed

Vintage Side Tables

When I spotted this pair of vintage side tables (at the right price), I knew they would find a loving home soon after an RPK Relove.  

 I had already started the prep when the light bulb went off "Don't forget to take a Before Pic!"  Tada!

A little stripping and sanding of the top revealed another beautiful wood grain just screaming to be stained.

I used General Finished Java Gel Stain, with several coats of their High Performance Satin Poly.

A little light distressing....

Love the rungs....such pretty details with these older pieces...

And one small surprise as I put on the finishing touches...What slight difference do you see in these two pieces?

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Linking at:

Elizabeth & Co

Savvy Southern Style

MissMustardseed