Tag Archives: refurbish

Retro Console – A lesson in Paint Washing – Sold

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I absolutely adore retro furniture pieces. This console was pretty gaudy, but gaudy makes for great details. It would be perfect for my paint washing technique.

First a light sanding using 220 grit sandpaper to remove any glossy areas. This is important for proper paint adhesion. Next I applied two coats of a satin turquoise paint. It was nice but not yet finished. When you have a piece of furniture with so much detail in the wood work, it begs to be highlighted. Paint washing is my technique of choice.

It’s rather simple really. Just take ANY water based paint and add water. That’s it. For my black wash I mixed 1 part black paint to 3 parts water. This makes for a really wet and soupy paint.  I used a regular paint brush and applied the wash to my painted console (in small sections at a time). I then used a larger DRY brush to remove most of the wash. Use paper towels and keep the dry brush DRY. Paint will settle into the crevices with only a small amount remaining on the “flat areas”. You can control how much color you want by how much you apply and then remove.

Love, Love, Love how it turned out!

Bling for the Bedroom – A Silver Nightstand – Sold

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What a fright! This little diamond-in-the-rough had seen better days. The previous owners “wallowed” a hole in the back, I assume, for a clock cord, or something else??? Anyway, it was solid mahogany and the shape was adorable so I snatched it up for my “bling” project.

After repairing the hole in back, I lightly sanded the entire piece. The finish on the drawer was “crazed” (covered with fine cracks) so I left that alone. You’ll see why in a sec. Now for the crazy part. I actually used Rustoleum Spray Paint in a CHROME color to paint the nightstand. It creates an elegant look without the expense and labor intensive process of applying silver leafing.

I really like how the crazing looks with the chrome paint.

A coat of MinWax Paste was applied as a protective finish.  Pretty sweet!

Shabby Chic Turquoise Headboard – Sold

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Just a plain ole out-dated headboard ready for new life.

I knew I wanted to give this headboard a shabby chic feel so I added an onlay (wooden applique) that I purchased from Lowes. After finding the center of the board, I used wood glue and small nails to attach it to the headboard.

This onlay comes unfinished so I used a wood stain marker to give it some color.

After a light sanding to dull the existing finish, I painted the headboard this gorgeous turquoise color. I let it dry then distressed all edges.

I then gave the whole headboard a quick coat of this silvery metallic glaze to add a bit of glamour, (see my Turquoise Armoire post to see how glazes are applied).

I think it’s lovely.

Shabby Chic Diamond Bench – Sold

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Just a plain ole bench. Nothing special but the solid construction.

But now it has pizzazz and character! I’ll show you my “how to”.

I first sanded the bench to remove any glossy top coat. There was no flaking or peeling of the finish so a light sanding sufficed. I then painted the bench using a creamy off-white color. I prefer to use eggshell as opposed to flat or satin.  I applied two coats of paint for complete coverage. The bench was now a blank slate. I was ready to begin.

This stencil from Hobby Lobby was my inspiration…

and this stencil paint was my color choice. Just a word about stencil paint. It has been my experience that the stencil paint “creme”  takes a over a week to dry.

Not a good thing when you are using it on furniture. You can use the type I have shown or use just regular paint. The secret is to keep the stencil sponge or brush fairly dry or it will seep under the stencil.

Use either a stencil brush or sponge, both work nicely.

It is important to tape the the stencil down to keep it from shifting. Shifty stencils are not nice stencils. I squeezed a small amount of paint onto my Styrofoam plate, then spread it around so it was not too heavy and dobbed away. You can “pounce” the brush or sponge or you can move it in a circular motion, just keep it fairly dry. It is rather time consuming but well worth the work.

The paint dried very quickly allowing me to break out the palm sander right away (my favorite part). I usually do my sanding by hand but I wanted to give this bench a really heavy, distressed, aged look. I used 100 grit sandpaper for all the detailing and then switched to 220 grit for a quick sanding of the diamonds.

After distressing the bench I finished up with a coat of mocha glaze, (see my posting on the turquoise armoire to see how this is applied). This further ages the piece.

I love it! What do you think? Be sure to “sign up” on my blog so you’ll be updated every time a new post is written. :)

Vintage Shabby Chic Headboard and Footboard -Sold

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So, here’s the before. It’s a terrible picture I know. I really liked everything about this headboard and footboard, well, except for the color. Now, don’t get me wrong, I really adore wooden pieces but I wanted to try a new metallic glaze I found and this set was going to be perfect!

Before I begin divulging all my woodworking secrets, I have to show you what got me so excited. It’s Martha Stewart’s Metallic Mercury Glaze from Lowes!

I really didn’t know what to expect. Figured I’d just have to try it and see for myself.

 The old finish was rather dull. I like dull finishes. Makes for less sanding. However, it has to be done, so, using 220 grit sandpaper (I buy this in bulk), I sanded only enough for a good paint adhesion. After all prep work (and an iced tea refill) I started painting. It took two coats of a soft, creamy white paint for complete coverage. Oh, and I like to use eggshell instead of flat, satin or semi-gloss. After the paint dried, I opened the jar of metallic mercury glaze.

Working in small sections, maybe a foot square, I used a paint brush to apply the glaze. I then took another DRY brush and lightly swept over the wet glaze to remove any excess glaze and the brush marks. I swept up, down, across and horizontally, until it became one with the base paint. Keep your dry brush DRY. If you need to, take paper towels and wipe off any buildup. Move to the next section and continue applying and then dry brushing the glaze. It takes a while to get the feel for glazes but it is worth all the trial and error. Using the dry brush gives it an aged look and lots of character.

After the glaze dried, the edges were lightly distressed to accentuate the curves and add subtle definition.

An unexpected bonus for me was the light-catching sheen from the silvery glaze. I really liked the outcome and am anxious to try the other metallic colors that are available.

Yep, that’s just a box-spring, I snapped the photo before the mattress was in place.

Shabby Chic Polka Dot Chest -Sold

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Well, here’s the before picture. What a sad little chest. There were actually four drawers, but only three really nice ones. It was time to experiment. I decided to move the top drawer, (the decorative one) down one level. Now I had a very nice top cubby hole. Hmmm, I see potential here.

With solid wood construction and dove-tailed drawers, it would be worth the work needed to make it extraordinary. I envisioned something whimsical.

I was itching to get started, BUT, before I could do anything creative, I had to make a couple of repairs.

The sides of the chest near the bottom had some wood damage. With glue, new trim and clamps it was as good a new.

Next I prepared my cubby to receive a shelf. Existing side-drawer-guides were already in place, but I still needed a support at the back of the chest. This piece of wood was measured, cut, and screwed into place. I then used half inch plywood cut to size for my new shelf. I used an iron to apply real wood veneer to finish the raw outside edge of the shelf before painting and installing (see my Turquoise Wardrobe post for further details)

I gave the entire chest 2 coats of Gliddens, Satin, Sea Spray paint. Woo Hoo! NOW for the fun part.

With a ruler I marked the center of the drawer as well as the center of my polka dot stencil.  I aligned these two marks and taped the stencil to keep it from shifting. Shifty dots are not nice dots. :) I used a mixture of my sea spray paint and some pale yellow paint to stencil the dots. It is best to keep the brush on the dry side when stenciling. When the center section was completed, I moved the stencil over, aligning with the existing dots and continued stenciling until I ran out of drawers. (I like stenciling)

Next came the gentle art of distressing. I took my trusty 100 grit sandpaper and defined each and every edge on the chest to give it that time-worn look.

 The final step involved brushing a coat of Ralph Lauren’s Tea Glaze all over the chest. I love how it transforms the piece, giving it depth and character.

My finished Shabby Chic Polka Dot Chest. I really like it a lot. :)

Upscale Shabby Chic Checkerboard Buffet/Dresser -Sold

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I purchased this great piece at an auction. It fit my criteria – top notch construction, solid wood, dove-tailed drawers and a lovely mirror, bonus!

I knew just what it needed to become extraordinary.

Of the nine drawers, only 4 were in perfect condition. The others had scratches or some other goober, (yes, I said goober). I also did not care for the reddish mahogany finish.         It was time for an overhaul.

After removing all the hardware, I applied paint stripper to the 4 good drawers and the top of the dresser. Since I was going to re-stain these pieces, it was necessary to strip everything down to the bare wood.  This is VERY important, because if you don’t, you’ll end up with a blotchy finish. Give the stripper time to do its magic and then scrape it off with a putty knife. It should come off in rolls.

After I removed the old stain, I wiped down the wood with mineral spirits to remove any stripper residue. A light sanding with 220 grit sandpaper was the final step before re-staining. I chose a Dark Walnut stain and a topcoat of MinWax for protection.

Now it was time to work on the painted pieces. Remember, the other drawers were not perfect. Two had missing wood on the corners. There are a couple of ways to fix this but I’ll show you what I did.

I used my small electric sander with 150 grit sandpaper to GENTLY feather the edge so it’s smooth all over. I could have filled it with putty but I wanted wood to show through when I sanded later.

Easy peasy nice and smooth!

After lots of sanding and cleanup, I was ready to break out the ole paintbrush. By the way, I don’t skimp on the quality of my brushes, yes – it does make that much difference. I painted using a creamy, off-white color. When the paint was dry to the touch, and this is my favorite part, I used sandpaper to scuff the edges to reveal the warm walnut color underneath. Shabby Chic furniture has such a cozy, time-worn feel. Ahhhhhhh…

Where was I? Oh yes, next up was the final step to perfection. Glaze. I apply the glaze with a brush as I would paint. I then “remove” the excess with a dry brush. The glaze I use softens the whites and brings even more character to each piece. The original hardware remains with this beauty and the drawer runners were waxed for extra smooth movement.

It now awaits a new home.

Why not treat yourself to something extraordinary :)

Upscale Shabby Chic Vanity- Before and After -Sold

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This is the “before” photo. For the most part, this vanity was in decent condition. It had the normal wear and tear you’d see on a piece 30-40 years old. BUT, I knew it could be better. I wanted it to be extraordinary!

I removed all hardware and then sanded it to remove the glossy finish. I then applied 2 coats of Fleecy paint by Valspar. When the paint was dry I used sandpaper to accent the edges and give it a time-worn look. A mocha glaze was brushed on to further age the vanity. The vanity stool was refurbished the same way. A soft, deep mocha, and very textured fabric was used as a new seat covering.

I was very pleased with the outcome. It now has a new home with a beautiful young lady.

Go and make something extraordinary!

Upscale Shabby Chic Dresser- Before and After – Sold

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I purchased this piece over 25 years ago. It was vintage and plain white in color and style. It, however, fit perfectly as a dresser in my infant son’s bedroom, . A few years ago my daughter-in-law (hey Sarah), claimed it and also used it as a dresser, and then as a buffet. When it was no longer needed, she returned it to me. It now had a very special brown mustard “treatment” and no knobs. Uh, hi…

Well, I really didn’t need it anymore, so I thought I would do something extraordinary with it. I would let it go to a new home. I could already see it. It would be lovely.

The existing paint finish had pretty good adhesion. I only needed to do a light sanding to smooth out  the rough areas. Before painting, I added this onlay (wooden applique). See my Turquoise Wardrobe post to see how this is done.  I then applied 2 coats of Sea Spray by Glidden. When dry to the touch, I used 100 grit sandpaper to scuff the paint here and there, thus exposing the paint color underneath. A tea-colored glaze was brushed over the dried paint to add depth and age. The interior of the drawers was painted a crisp white and the solid oak top received a new coat of stain. Our local Hobby Lobby had the glass-like acrylic knobs for half price. FYI- they’re always 50% off.

I also refurbished this headboard and mirror and sold the three pieces as a set. :)

Go and be creative!

Upscale Shabby Chic Piano Makeover – Sold

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Don’t have a before photo on this one. I’ll just tell you what I did to transform this jewel from a piano with a flaky pecan finish to a gorgeous, eye-catching playable piece of furniture. (The photo makes the wood look a bit orange)

With a professional “tuneup” this piano was brought into great playing condition. The exterior was the problem. Our options were to completely strip it down to the bare wood and re-stain it, leave it as it was, or sand it and add a couple coats of paint. The first idea was not an option. Too much work and not at all exciting. The second idea was discouraging and the third was just blah! THEN my daughter-in-law (hey Lauren) suggested I Shabby Chic it. Ahhhhh, ok, now that sounded interesting.

I quickly became schooled in the disassembling of  Pianos. Working parts, like piano keys and sound boards, were not disturbed. Large pieces like the wooden piano key cover were removed and rest was papered and taped. After a thorough sanding it was time to commence with the fun stuff.  I used a small 4″ foam roller to apply 2 coats of Onyx Black paint (Satin). When this was dry to the touch I sanded all edges using 100 grit sandpaper to expose the pecan finish underneath.

I polished the brass, reassembled the piano and applied two coats of MinWax for protection and a nice overall sheen.

Easy Peesy! Don’t be afraid, go turn that ordinary piano into something extraordinary.