Stretching Beyond Your Comfort Zone

You are never too old to learn!  I started painting furniture not quite a year ago.  Since then, I have learned what blogs are, joined Facebook (yes, you read that correctly!  I just joined FB in April and have 170 Likes!  Ha!), tried to learn how to use a camera and I just got my first smart phone! WooHoo!  My brain is soooo stretched, but my hubby and two adult children have been amazing support and encouragement. I so appreciate all of their help!

Anyway, moving right along!  While a client was looking through my inventory, she fell in love with this older Thomasville buffet.

I’ve shied away from ‘custom’ work, but when she started discussing her vision for the piece, it was clearly in sync with mine.  She requested a bit of contrast around the doors, which is what took me out of my comfort zone.  I thought “Why not?”  What’s a little more stretching?????

After stripping the top, I could see it was in great shape and would be beautiful with a dark walnut stain.  For the base, I made a custom mix of ASCP Coco, Paris Gray and a smidge of an oops of Graphite and Coco leftover from another project.  Two coats took care of the base.  I used a wash of Old White all over to add a bit of depth and also used Old White in the inset of the doors and carved areas around the legs.  It really wasn’t that difficult painting the contrast.  It is more in the planning than the execution.

A coat of MissMustardSeed Clear Wax (and I’ll say it again…I love this wax!) and then a second coat of clear & dark wax mixed together.

This late 1950s/early 1960s buffet has now started its second life with a great young couple who are expecting their first child in a few months. 

Reloving furniture has brought so many young couples into my life…as they start their families, looking to create their first homes.  It has brought old & tired, classic pieces of furniture into my life…looking for a second start.  And it has brought a lot of new “firsts” into my life over the past year….and hopefully there will be lots more stretching. :)

When I began this journey, my slogan was “Breathing new life into old treasures”.  Little did I know then that I was the old treasure who would get a new life!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Linking at:

Elizabeth & Co.

StoneGable

MissMustardSeed

Finding Silver Pennies

Layering Paint Colors

I’ve used washes to create depth, but this was my first attempt at using layers.  I’ve had this chest for a long time.  It was spray painted in white in the early 90s.  I loved the shabby /cottage look, even back then!  Ha!  However, it has been stored in our attic for many years.  After seeing so many lovely pieces painted with multiple layers, I thought this piece made a good candidate for trying that technique.

The original coat was white and in good condition (sorry no before pictures).  I added a base coat of Old Ochre (ASCP) and then a mixture of Provence/Florence with a smidge of Old White to soften the value.  A coat of clear wax (btw, I am loving MMS wax...so much easier than ASCP to apply and so silky smooth!) and then some highlights with dark wax.

There were so many pretty details brought out by painting this in multiple colors:

It didn't have the original hardware so I thought crystal knobs would add a bit of glam to this pretty lady.

I think it turned out well.  It was adopted in just a few days and now lives by the bay with Miriam 

Thanks for stopping by!

Robin

Linking up at:

StoneGable

MissMustardSeed

Redoux Interiors