Flashback to the 90's Desk revamp

Now if any of lived through the 90's we all dabbled in sponge painting, well there was a time and place and  that time as long since vanished. (thank goodness). 

I bought this desk as you see it in the first picture, and who ever painted it was surely a teenager or someone who couldn't see well. Aside from the sponge painting the paint job on the whole desk was horrible, thick brush stroke going every direction, so the prep work for this one involved a lot of sanding. As usual it will be worth it in the end.

BEFORE

My doggie helper, or at least keeping me company.

I decided to strip the top since the paint strokes were so thick and went every direction, I thought starting clean was easier than sanding forever.

Sanded and ready to go

Green be gone! Already looking better.

I haven't stenciled anything in awhile and I thought this piece needed something extra special.

It is not waxed yet but I thought it would be fun to see it with the hardware on.

 More to come.

Final product!!! Way more charming than it was before.

Jolly Green Dresser Redo

This has been a fun project because I got to do this dresser for my Sister in law. Our husbands are brothers and this dresser is a family antique going back 3 generations. It has been painted many many times, I counted 3 layers and then I added the 4th layer. It was white then an antique glaze over that, then it is was light blue, and then green. I even found remnants of stenciling of daisies on it.

It was time once again for this dresser to be updated so here we go on the journey of the Jolly Green Dresser.

First thing was to sand the many many layers of latex brush strokes off the dresser

Then I wiped the whole dresser down with a cleaner that makes sure the piece has no residue or grease on it.

Ok ready set go!

Green is disappearing fast. The drawers and side panels are a mixture of 1 part Old White to 1 part French Linen by Annie Sloan chalk paint.

I was going to paint the top the lighter color and then paint a strip of the darker color near the top drawer, but then I decided that there was an imbalance of light to dark, so I am going to paint the whole top dark.

I like it much better with the dark top. This is it before the wax goes on, but my work shop got to dark to do the fine sanding and then waxing, so I will wait for the light of day and then take better pictures.

Hard to believe it used to be green!
Final product what a simple yet classy redo!

Chic Linen Grey Nightstands

These nightstands don't have much redeeming value as is, pretty ugly color if you ask me.

But of course I see them as much more than this, and see what they could become. Watch and see the transformation!

The nice thing about chalk paint is that you do not have to prime first. And when you are dealing with a piece that is faux wood and you can't sand it chalk paint it a wonderful thing!

I used Annie Sloan chalk paint here, French linen and old white. I mixed the two together to get a lighter grey and Used old white in the trim and edges. The Top I will use straight French Linen.

It took a very steady hand and a good paint brush to paint the grey over the white. On previous projects I have painted the grey first and white last and let me tell this way was much easier. I actually sand lightly in between coats, because I am going for a smooth finish in the end on this one.

Already looking better

 More work to come. Sanding and painting another coat is the next step, But it is fun to see what it is going to look like.

A little clear wax and they are done! Aren't they cute! 
I think painting the hardware white really softens the whole look.