Tuesday, March 4, 2014

To distress or not to distress...................

As you know furniture talks to me ( sometimes it sends me mixed messages - and I have to start all over again - other times it's clear as a bell - right from the beginning )

There are pieces I do where distressing would take away from the beauty of the piece - and so they are left as is such as this one ( HERE ) instead of distressing I did a " driftwood " finish on top using wax and left the body clean


Some pieces are content with just a quick white wash ( super easy white wash HERE )


or dark wax for a quick " antiqued dirty look " HERE

applying dark wax to furniture


And then some pieces ask for distressing ( " cheating " distressing HERE )



and every now and then one whispers  "please, go all the way " ( HERE )


But the piece I'm working on right now?

It was begging for just a little distressing around the corners and details - and to precisely do that I used my sander and tilted it to an angle that would only " outline " the edges................
Of course you can do it by hand - but this took seconds for each drawer ( as opposed to precious minutes LOL )


There's something particularly beautiful with ASCP Graphite and small bits of wood peaking through -
the old worn look is so Restoration Hardware ( ish )  -


it's not even waxed yet and you can see how this looks so naturally aged, right?

and the great thing about this is that IF you decide you DON'T like the distressed look - it's simply a quick coat around the corners and it's removed in minutes.  I think a lot of people are afraid when painting furniture - but there's nothing you can't fix - absolutely nothing :)


oh oh - it would appear electrical sanders speak to me too - I can hear it yelling from downstairs -
" hurry up will ya - come finish this piece already "

I'm coming - I'm coming !!!
Sorry have to sign off now - these things are very temperamental :)

( I had to google temperamental - spell check kept correcting me - who else thought it was spelled
TEMPERMENTAL LMHO??????????????

I hate spell check - it's removed another false belief I had in myself..................

Much live leve luve LOVE,

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Glitter Glue and Paint

Monday, March 3, 2014

I Paint Furniture ...................

Good morning All !!!

Lately for some reason I've been seeing people get upset about wood furniture being painted -
( not here - more on Hometalk to be honest with you )

There's a lot of beautiful wood furniture out there - I know that - some pieces leave me drooling at times ( not often because I truly love painted pieces ) so I kind of - sort of- get it - that it troubles some people to see a perfectly fine piece of antique or vintage  furniture covered up ( and in their minds " destroyed " ) with paint.

I GET IT - and so I never go to someone's site and say - YOU SHOULD PAINT THAT -

And to those people - I say - NEVER paint a piece of furniture - it's obviously not for you - and you can, after all, do whatever you like with a piece that you own.

But, there are, many many people out there that are very close to getting rid of a piece just because they're sick of looking at it - or because they've inherited it and don't like it very much - or they want to hold on to a piece for sentimental reasons but want it updated to fit the decor in their home because it just doesn't " belong " and then there are those that are thinking of the environment and don't want to put a piece in a landfill.

These are the people I paint furniture for.

It's their decision - and they always go from hating it to loving it.

They are not Antique dealers - they are not looking to hold on to a piece for financial appreciation down the road - they are simply people who are looking for an updated solution to something that is theirs to do with what they choose.

I hope I'm not offending anyone - I SO hope you know that - it would break my heart if I thought I was - I just want to clarify what I do - and gently remind you that often my customers come by the blog.

If seeing wood furniture get painted upsets you - this simply isn't a blog you'll be enjoying any time soon :)

A HUGE facebook page ( they had over 120,000 likes )  featured this piece recently ( most of you will remember it I think? )



and a LOT of people thought I shouldn't have painted it - that this piece should have been left alone.
I'm wondering what they would have had me tell my customer?
NO, SORRY, I REFUSE TO PAINT THIS???

I don't take personal offence, honestly I don't - I'm really too thick skinned for that type of thing -
just thought I would put it out there though - painting furniture is what I do after all !

And I will be starting on this later today :)


The customer has decided on ASCP - Graphite - Even though it comes with a certificate


and a Crest


It's a gorgeous piece - and a pure joy to work on - except for a couple of scratches that were easily filled - it's in incredible condition.  And even if it's painted it'll be beautiful in a different way.


You'll see - I promise - you'll see :)
( and it's much darker than it appears in this photo )

Have a great Monday -
Much love,


Sharing With
The Winthrop Chronicles                           Chase the Star                       My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest                                      Miss Mustard Seed                I Heart Naptime
Funky Junk Interiors