Dated Buffet turned Rustic Beauty

This was a very fun piece to do for a client of mine. We actually adventured out together to get the piece from a place that clears out estates. This piece came straight to my garage and will soon get to join my client in her home. She is going to use this buffet as a TV console, which I think is a brilliant idea! 

Here is the wonderful before! It has great structure and detail so I at this point I already knew it was going to be a great piece to paint.

We wanted some extra dark detail to pop through in the end when I go to shabby it up, so I use Annie Sloan Graphite to paint around the edges. 

Next come a coat of Paris Grey. After painting the top I decided the next coat would be darker so it would contrast a little from the whole body of the piece.

Here I am adding in dark accents to the deepest parts of the trim, and Using a mixture of Old white and Paris Grey for the the edges of the doors and on the trim of the doors.

I also used the lighter mixture to trim out the top edges and the drawer edges. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but the top is now a darker grey mixed with Annie Sloan Graphite and Paris Grey

The sanding begins!!!!

This is the first time I have spent more time sanding than waxing.

This is before waxing

                                  This is before waxing

And here she is done after clear waxing

I wish I could have taken pictures of it in my house, but I couldn't move this puppy myself, so in front of the garage it is.

Sophisticated Grey Side table

    This sad little side table was found at the thrift store just begging to be taken home, so of course I heard it's cry and took this baby with me. I have had it about a year, it has spent  a lot of time on the covered deck waiting and waiting for me to get to it. Finally it didn't have to wait any longer.

The finish on this table it flaking all over, so it is going to have to be completely sanded first

    After putting 2 coats of grey chalk paint I realized all the mahogany stain was bleeding through and making it look pinkish grey. I was hoping the grey was dark enough for this to not happen, but I wasn't so lucky. I had to spray a coat of Zinsser Shellac over the whole table. Nice thing is that is dries fast.

I realize now I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the process, but basically I painted a 3rd coat of paint, then tapped off the section I wanted to stencil. I used French Linen and painted the stencil. I then used Old White to accentuate the spindle and other trim pieces. I decided to not wax this piece and used a satin polyurethane to protect it.

I love this detail!

Classy Little Dresser.

   Classy Little Dresser

This cute little dresser was quite a find. Sometimes Craigelist can be hit or miss, but once in awhile you can find a deal that you can't pass up and this dresser was one of them. It is from the 1930's and is in wonderful condition. The construction of this piece is quality all the way around and I wish every piece I bought was as well made as this one. I went simple on my makeover on this one, because I wanted as much of the natural wood as possible. I think the most of the wood is a burled walnut. It is hard to see in these photos how gorgeous the grain is.

I just love the hardware, and it is in great condition, so I do not have to do a thing with those.

I guess I didn't take any "during the process" photos this time or I can't find them, but the process isn't any different on this piece than on most of what I do.

I stripped the drawers and top down, because I wanted to keep them wood, but the old shiny varnish had to go. Once stripped I sanded and stained the wood in an antique chestnut stain.

The body of the dresser I painted in Old White, Annie Sloan chalk paint. I think I had to do about 3 coats of paint. 

I usually do one thick coat of paint and then I do 2 thinner coats of paint. I like a smoother finish so I lightly sand out the rough spots, and do what distressing I want to do. After that is the clear wax and this little cutie is done!

I had to convince myself once again to not keep this dresser, I just love true antiques. The lady who bought this dresser is going to use it in her baby's room not just for a dresser, but for a changing table. I love that idea!