Monday, January 30, 2012

The Little Table that Could

Finally, I finished this one!  I am not thrilled with the results but overall it turned out well.  If you want a look back take a look at this post to see the issues I had covering this with chalk paint.  It’s always the smallest projects that take the longest!!!
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I painted with Old White and then used Annie Sloan’s dark wax to cover.  I really like the color it turned to.  I used too much dark wax to start but learned that you can brush on additional clear wax over it and then wipe away.  The disappointment was that I wanted the dark wax to stick in the turns on those legs but it kept wiping out.  I think I just need more practice with it.  And I’m ok with that :)
In case you missed the before shots here are a couple….
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The table was in parts when I received it.  I had to basically rebuild it.  It looks good but I wouldn’t sit anything too heavy on it.  Glen is pretty light and he loves sitting on this table!!
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This was after three coats of chalk paint.  I had some issues with coverage but after I primed it with Kilz things went smoothly. 
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Not sure if I want to keep this one or sale.  Maybe I will decide once we sell a house and know where we will be living.  Unless I get an offer to purchase :)
What do you think?  Anybody else a little scared of the dark wax??
April


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Sunday, January 29, 2012

New Home Pictures

I had planned to share with you my finished table that I painted this weekend….But I thought instead I would share with you some great photos I took today over at the neighborhood we developed so you could see this adorable house in all it’s glory.  I took pictures when the house was finished and shared with you guys but I went over and lightly staged the home and took a few more. 
We currently have this house on the market and I don’t think it will be long before it sells because it is a real charmer.  But if our house sells first I’ll be happy to move in :)

Here you can see the Virtual Tour but take a look at my still shots below.


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IMG_0332Love these wide plank hardwood floors
IMG_0330 All the doors in the house have an old style
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IMG_0354 This Dutch door is one of my favorite touches
IMG_0351 Bead board in the breakfast nook
IMG_0340 Master Bedroom
IMG_0342 Master Bathroom
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IMG_0344 Bonus room or Loft
IMG_0349 The other side
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IMG_0348 Bedroom 2
IMG_0345 Bedroom 3
IMG_0347 Second Bath
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Hope you enjoyed the tour!

See more info on the neighborhood and development at Glen Iris


I’ll be back soon with the table make-over…
April

Saturday, January 28, 2012

I’m a Bird Watcher

I love it.  I swear I am a cat in another life.  Here are a couple shots from my backyard.  Excuse my feeders they are a mess.

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Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

April

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Updated Twin Bed

I have been busy painting this weekend.  I am still working on the table I mentioned last week but I got a new Chalk Paint color, French Linen, I had to paint something with it. 
This bed was a perfect candidate, it is another estate sale find,  remember my Mom bought a whole lot for $15 including a dresser, bed, cabinet door, antique drawers and a pie safe!  I have had some really great projects from that sale.
IMG_0098 This one went from scratched up and dull to wow with just one coat of chalk paint!  I was so excited to only need the one coat on this one.  I then waxed with the clear wax then the dark wax.  I love this new color! It’s a mix of green, khaki, and grey. 
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IMG_0184 I love the details on this bed.  The knobs are missing from the footboard but still this has a nice simplistic design.
IMG_0177 The spindles on the footboard are my favorite.
IMG_0172 Here is a shot of me in action, nappy hair and all :)
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IMG_0181 What do you think?  Do you love this color as much as me?!? 
Hope you have all had a great weekend!
April


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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Chalk Paint Does Not Cover Everything

I was hoping to share a little easy project with you this week but no such luck.  I started working on this table last Sunday.  I at least put it back together…a little crooked but whatever :)
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I just wanted to paint it Old White and wax with the dark wax to show off those legs.  Here is what it looked like after one coat of paint.
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Here are some shots after the second and THIRD coat of paint!!!
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So the whole point of using the chalk paint on this one was to avoid the priming step.  I wanted EASY.  Since Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint is said to need no primer and prep work I was a little ticked that I’d used up almost all of the remaining old white that I had on this to try to “cover” this one.  So, I emailed the “contact us” page at the company website.  And Annie emailed me back!  I was surprised she emailed herself.  She gave very helpful advice and I thought I would share with you guys. 

My Email…
>Message:
>Hi! I have used chalk paint on many projects and have had great success.
> I
>have had to use two coats of paint on most projects but I've always
>been happy with the finish with no primer. I recently started work on
>a small table that was in bad shape, old stain and some water spots.
>The original stain seems to have a red tint. I have used Old White on
>the piece and the red is bleeding through. I applied my third coat of
>paint tonight and the red is still bleeding through in various spots.
>Any advice? Is this typical? I really don't want to continue wasting
>paint if it is going to continue to bleed through. Just wondering what
>some thoughts would be, I can always prime and re-paint but I had hope
>to avoid all those steps with chalk paint.
>Thanks,
>April

Here is the reply…
Hi April
Occasionally I find a piece of furniture that this happens with and it was a particular stain that was used. No amount of paint will stop it and so I just get my knotting which is use to block the stain from the sap of knots coming through, and coat it al over. It is extremely quick drying so I use a pad of cloth to dab all over. Then I repaint and you will find it is fine. Knotting can be found in any ironmongers, hardware type store - get clear if you can , or buy clear shellac - it's the same thing!
I'm glad you have had success with the chalk paint before this!
Annie
>Annie Sloan Paint
>33 Cowley Road
>Oxford OX4 1HP
>England
>0044(0)1865 247296

Of course I emailed her back in thanks.  I didn’t want her to think I was unhappy because I love Chalk Paint, it is awesome stuff.  I had never even heard of knotting, but did a little research on the internet and it stops wood knots from bleeding which is kind of of what I thought after reading her email.  However, I don’t think that is what has happened to this table because there are no visible knots and it is way more splotchy.  I think I am going to spray prime it with Kilz on the top and try repainting.  If that still doesn’t work I’m throwing it in the dump….jk :)  I’ll just try shellac, that will stop it! 
Have any of you had any issues with chalk paint?  Or painting disasters lately?
April