Simply Reinvented

Distressing Tutorial

2013-05-16T16:00:00.001-05:00

I’m so happy, happy, happy to {finally} have the distressing video posted on the blog! I tried my best to talk less since I had several youtube comments that I talk too much in the other tutorials. {sniff, sniff} It’s OK though…I own it because my excessive talking is completely intentional. My goal is to give you as much information as possible so that you don’t waste your time watching the video only to be like “what about this, when do I do that, she skipped that step…”. I always find that extremely frustrating so I imagine many of you do as well. So, with all of you readers in mind, I tried to find the balance between information and time. I hope you find it helpful!

Here are a few pictures taken just after I distressed this piece {before waxing}. I will add a link to the blog post featuring the final staged pictures once they are posted. Feel free to ask any questions below in the comments section!

Chippy Striped Chest

2013-05-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

Hi readers! I’m super excited to show you the before and after of this chest. I think it’s no secret that I’m a type-A girl who likes to have a plan before starting something new {or at least know which direction I’m heading}. Some of my favorite projects have been those where I allowed the creativity to flow and let things evolve naturally {and it feels pretty darn good, so try it}. This piece is the perfect example!

I knew that I wanted to use milk paint and that was the extent of my plan. Now, if you haven’t used milk paint before then #1-do it and #2-know that it is different from any other paint you’ve used and it will do its own thing {and that’s the beauty of it}. If I want to achieve a chippy look then I use milk paint; If I simply want the piece to look distressed then I use latex or chalk paint.

This is chippy…

This is distressed…

You can control distressing but you have very little control over chipping. Now, I used Old Fashioned Milk Paint’s Snow White. Milk paint comes in a powder form and is packaged in these small brown bags. At the local retailer in Nashville, it runs about $14 for enough to make a pint.

It will include instructions for mixing but the ratio is 1:1 {powder:water}. After it’s mixed, it will be thin, runny and smell weird. Here’s a look:

I applied 3 coats of milk paint to this chest for a fuller coverage. You will notice as the paint dries, it will begin to crackle, flake and chip. Usually it will do this before you even apply another coat and that’s OK. Just paint right over it until you have the preferred number of layers {resist the urge to flake it off..seriously, it’s tempting but don’t.do.it}. After the piece is dry, run a spackling knife {or sandpaper} over the flaky areas and work over the entire piece. Now, if you are going to freak out, it will likely be during this step. Again, you can’t control milk paint…think of it as a stubborn Taurus {like me} who wants to do its own thing. Go with it. It will turn out natural and imperfect. When you have things looking the way you want it, seal with 2 coats of paste wax or spray on a non-yellowing topcoat in a matte finish. {If you are applying any other detailing, like these stripes, then hold off on waxing until you have finished.}

Even with all its chippy goodness, this piece just didn’t seem complete. I decided to tape off a few stripes on the drawers/top and painted them a pale gray {ASCP Paris Grey + ASCP Old White}. Hint: remove the tape before the stripes have dried completely for a crisp look. I then sanded over the stripes to blend and distress them.

After distressing, I sealed the piece with 2 coats of paste wax and added striped burlap for the handles. Pale neutrals, stripes, chippiness and burlap…just a few of my favorite things!

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Embracing Change

Big Boy Blue

2013-05-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

One of my friends is expecting her second little one next month. I’m currently working on the crib for the nursery but it’s not the only room receiving some new treatments. She sent over this cabinet that she found at the flea market to refinish for her son’s big boy room.

I love the color scheme. We used Sherwin Williams Rainstorm on the entire piece with accents of Benjamin Moore’s Lemongrass followed by medium distressing.

I love pieces like this that are playful and fun but not too “kidsy.” I’ll be featuring her home on the blog soon and can’t wait to show you her amazing taste and how this piece looks in M’s big boy room.

The One That Didn’t Get Away

2013-04-25T16:30:00.000-05:00

I had good intentions…really, I did. You see, I had some custom mixed paint leftover from a recent piece and didn’t want it to go to waste. I decided to add a little more Sherwin Williams Turquish to brighten it up and knew this was the perfect piece to use it on…

I took the power sander to it and it chipped perfectly…and then I was stuck.

I loved the color, loved the finish but the hardware was such a drag. Even painted it was just, well, boring. I was looking through my extra hardware when I found some jute and started wrapping the handles. I intended to start with one to see what it looked like and I just kept wrapping and wrapping until I had wrapped 15 handles.

I put all of the drawers back in, stood back and knew I wanted to keep it. I grabbed my husband to take a look at it and somehow it ended up in our living room. So, I really did have good intentions to sell this piece but it looks like it’s a keeper {for now, anyways}.

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Apple Green Chest

2013-04-17T18:42:00.002-05:00

It has been a beautiful spring week here in Tennessee. This is my favorite season because it is full of life and color. Everything is beginning to bloom and the grass is becoming greener by the day! The changing season is even apparent in my color choices lately…

This piece was old and had certainly seen better days. Nothing a little TLC and paint couldn’t fix! I mixed some paints I had on hand to achieve a beautiful apple green finish to liven it up. I then distressed it heavily, applied a light coat of antiquing glaze, and finished with clear wax. Even the hardware was refreshed!

What is your spring go-to color?

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The Knotty Dresser

2013-04-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

I don’t know about you but I am so looking forward to summer. Clearly, that is what I was dreaming about when I redesigned this dresser.

I have been dying to incorporate rope handles and have been waiting for the perfect piece. As soon as I saw the rope-carved detailing on this Broyhill dresser, I knew this was my chance.

My pinspiration piece can be found here. I loved her piece but felt a more nautical, less industrial look would suit this particular dresser style best. I used 5/8” rope and just tied it in a standard knot on the outside and inside of each drawer.

This piece was refinished in a classic navy, Sherwin Williams Rainstorm, and features a medium distressed finish with a clear wax.

This knotty nautical look has me ready for summer! Bring on the sunshine and sand…

Linking up at:

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Chevron Desk

2013-04-09T16:10:00.001-05:00

I have been suffering from some major mom guilt lately. You see, my sweet little Sophie is a coloring, drawing, writing, cutting, gluing machine. She mainly sets up shop at the kitchen table which she is perfectly content with, that is, until her baby sister reaches up and swipes her masterpiece. As you can imagine, this causes a meltdown and we immediately go into Operation Recovery, chasing our happy piggy-tail and glasses-wearing Ellie throughout the house until the artwork has been returned {and hopefully only minimal damage has occurred}. All this to say that Sophie needs a desk in her room so she can have her own space to create without fear of those little hands snatching her stuff. We found the perfect desk a few weeks ago but I’ve been so busy with custom and inventory pieces that it has just been sitting, waiting…and so has Sophie {very patiently with her chosen colors in hand, I might add}. Finally, I put those pieces on the backburner and we finished the desk!

Isn’t it precious? Here is the before…

Sophie chose Sherwin Williams Turquish for the desk and I added a quick chevron pattern with some white I had on hand. The chair has a base coat of SW Turquish topped with a bright pink that we already had.

Her favorite part {besides having her own space} is the chalkboard inside.

Ahhh…it feels so good to get rid of the mom guilt and see an overjoyed little artist at work!

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Reader Q & A ~ Common Problems

2013-03-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my sweet and loyal readers, I receive tons of questions via email, blog comments, and Facebook. Today, I want to take a second to cover a few of the most common issues readers contact me about, particularly problems they run into when reinventing pieces.

I watched your wax tutorial and was very careful not to use too much wax on my piece. Even after all of that, the finish still looks streaky/uneven/blotchy….what did I do and how do I fix it? This is, by far, the most common question I get from readers. First, let me say that I know how frustrating this can be! Let’s talk Annie Sloan clear wax since this is the product 99% of you with this issue are using. It is normal for a freshly waxed piece to have this appearance. Wax can take up to 30 days to fully cure, or harden. I find that as long as I have buffed the piece well {no drag when wiping with a cloth} then the finish will even out as the wax cures. This process typically takes a couple of weeks for most of my pieces. If I’m being honest, I do run into the blotchy/streaky wax issue with the AS wax but rarely with other brands. I still love this wax and use it often but if you are extremely frustrated, try another brand before you give up.

Are there any other wax brands you use? Yes. Minwax Paste Wax, Briwax, and Johnson’s Paste Wax are all great options that are readily available. CeCe Caldwell also has a wax that I hear great things about and hope to try soon.

Are there any alternatives to wax? Yes. You can use a wipe-on poly or polycrylic. Polycrylic even comes in a spray can for easy application but it is a little pricey at almost $12 a can. Just be sure not to use polyurethane or the like to seal a white or cream piece because it will cause yellowing. Polycrylic or clear wax is a better choice.

I’m confused about distressing…do I wax first or distress first? Either. If using ASCP, Annie recommends waxing first then distressing {I say follow with another coat of wax after distressing}. Others will say they think it is easier to distress first and follow with the wax. Right now, I do both and don’t really have a preference.

If I’m using the dark wax, do I have to apply clear wax first? Always, always, always apply a thin coat of clear wax before applying the dark wax. If you apply dark wax directly to a freshly painted piece then it will stain the paint. The layer of clear wax also makes the dark wax easier to work with.

Do I need to apply another layer of clear wax over my dark wax? No. Remember that clear wax acts as an eraser for the dark wax. If you apply clear wax over your dark wax then you will remove all of the hard work you just did!

How many coats of wax do you apply? I apply at least 2 thin coats of wax to most pieces. I do prefer 3 coats on the top of a dining table or other surfaces that will have heavy use and moisture.

Will a waxed piece of furniture be durable and will I need to rewax it? Wax gets a bad rap sometimes. Once it fully cures, my waxed pieces are just as durable as those sealed with polycrylic. Take for example our dining table. It was painted and sealed with 3 coats of wax. This is our main dining table where we eat family dinner every night and the favorite spot for art projects of the 3 and 5 year old! I clean it with Greenworks cleaner and have had no issues. I recommend rewaxing your pieces yearly, as needed.

Can you mix chalk paint colors to create more options? Yes. I rarely use a straight color anymore. The paints mix so easily so why not customize! Just be sure to mix enough to cover your entire piece with 2 coats so you don’t have the headache of trying to match the exact shade. {You can also mix chalk paint and latex…find out more here}

I love your wax brush but my stockist doesn’t carry it or I don’t know where to buy one? Stylish Patina offers two sizes of these wax brushes in their online store. I have the large brush.

What brush do you prefer to use for applying paint? My go-to brush is my Purdy 2 1/2 inch sash brush {angled}. If you take care of your brushes by rinsing them out after every use, it is worth paying a little more for a good quality brush that will last a long time.

Can I glaze over spray paint and do I wax it first? You can apply glaze over any paint. The only time I seal the piece with wax before glazing is if I am using chalk paint. Otherwise I paint, glaze, then wax. {You can find the glazing tutorial here}

How do you paint super shiny pieces (think Queen Anne cherry pieces)? Do you have to prep them? I have to be honest in saying these are my least favorite pieces to paint. Why you ask? They are prone to bleed through and there is nothing more frustrating than that. I prefer to use chalk paint on these pieces for the simple fact that it will adhere without having to prep the piece. Sanding these pieces during the prep stage is just asking for bleed through to happen…trust me! You can still distress the piece by sanding the edges but do not sand the piece prior to painting. Just don’t! If you are more patient than me and use latex then primer is your best friend. You will need to lightly sand the clear coat to give the primer something to stick to and apply at least 2 coats of primer followed by 2 coats of paint. Seal as you normally would.

In one of your tutorials you mentioned a distressing tutorial. What happened to that? This is one of those situations where you have good intentions but then life just moves faster than you sometimes. Ever have those? We rearranged our living room which took away my perfect filming spot! Filming takes more effort than it appears to. You have to have great light, open space, and quiet! Unfortunately, I haven’t had a lot of time with that combo but I promise I will get to it. Thanks for being patient with me.

Sheww…there were also lots of questions about the business side of things so I will cover those in an upcoming post. Thank you all for being so supportive and encouraging in your comments and emails! Keep the questions coming and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Happy Easter!

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Winner, Winner

2013-03-08T22:09:00.000-06:00

The winner of the wax brush giveaway from Stylish Patina is…

Ashley Hughes!

Congratulations Ashley! Thank you to everyone who entered and shared it with their friends. A special thanks to Stylish Patina for sponsoring this amazing giveaway. If you would like to purchase a wax brush, visit their online shop!

Glazing Tutorial

2013-03-04T17:00:00.000-06:00

Glazing is one of those techniques that is very easy but can be super intimidating {even for experienced DIYers}. Well, sweet readers, I hope to give you a confidence boost today with this easy-peasy glazing tutorial. Let me start by showing you why you want to glaze in the first place…

See how those details pop? Now you can accomplish the same look by applying dark wax, BUT you are limited to one color…dark brown. If you’ve been reading for a while then you know I like options. Take this settee, for example. It has been reupholstered in a medium gray velvet and the wood frame has been painted white.

I know…boring. Those gorgeous details are hidden and the fresh paint just doesn’t fit the age of the piece. The dark brown wax wouldn’t compliment the cool tones of the fabric so I decided to custom mix a glaze with dark gray/black tones. Here’s what I did:

You’ll need:

Martha Stewart Tintable Antique Effect
dark gray acrylic craft paint (any brand)
black acrylic craft paint (any brand)
mixing cup
cheap chip brush
bowl of water
clean cotton rags (I cut up old t-shirts)

1. Start by mixing your glaze. {For all you fellow type-As, there are no precise measurements needed.} I started with a few tablespoons of Antique Effect in my cup. I then added several drops of both gray and black craft paints. Add a little at a time, stir thoroughly and then add more as needed until you reach your desired color. Notice that my small cup was only half-filled with the glaze mixture and it was more than enough to cover the entire settee. A little goes a long way.

2. Now it is time to apply the glaze. Dip your brush into the glaze then blot off any excess glaze onto a paper towel or rag. Working in small sections, brush the glaze onto your piece. Be sure to work the glaze into all the details. {If your piece is upholstered like mine, be gentle. The glaze is watery and you don’t want to splatter glaze onto your pretty fabric!}

3. With a damp rag {wring it out well}, use long strokes to wipe the glaze off. Keep folding to a clean section between wipes. Continue wiping until you reach your desired look.

4. Continue repeating steps 2 and 3 until the entire piece is complete. Be sure to rinse your rag thoroughly before starting a new section.

5. Seal your piece as you normally would. I prefer paste wax and applied 2 coats followed by light buffing.

Look what a difference a little glaze can make…

Do you have a go-to glazing recipe? Feel free to share…

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Giveaway from Stylish Patina

2013-02-28T17:00:00.000-06:00

Boy, do I have some exciting news for you today! First, let me say that if this is your first time here, welcome! I hope you’ll take some time to look around {and stick around by following me via facebook or twitter}.

Now, if you’ve ventured this way before then you know how much I love my wax brush. Anytime that a reader emails me with a wax dilemma, I start by suggesting they use a brush for application. In fact, one of the most common questions I get from readers is where can they purchase a wax brush like the one I used in the wax tutorials. The problem has been that readers are spread all over the country {well, actually the world} and may not be near a stockist or their stockist may not carry the particular brush I use. Problem solved, my friends! Stylish Patina not only carries these amazing wax brushes in their online shop but they are also an Annie Sloan stockist and retailer of milk paint {which I’m hoping to try very soon}. The best part? You can shop online and have your favorites shipped right to your house.

Ok…so here’s the exciting news. Kelly from Stylish Patina has been so sweet to offer a giveaway for a large wax brush to a very lucky reader!

Giveaway is now closed.

Good luck everyone! Be sure to visit Stylish Patina to order your wax brush if you aren’t the lucky winner this time around.

Antique Library Desk

2013-02-22T16:30:00.000-06:00

A few posts ago I mentioned Chalex {chalk paint+latex}. Well, I am hooked! I tried out a new chalex recipe on this beautiful antique library desk.

Here’s how the desk looked before she was livened up with color…

When I first spotted her, I imagined a gorgeous chippy turquoise {not too blue, not too green} and dark antique hardware.

I achieved the finish by mixing Valspar Secluded Garden, ASCP Chateau Gray, ASCP Aubusson Blue, and CC Pittsburgh Gray. I then broke out my favorite mouse sander and went to town. The desk was sealed with clear wax and subtle hints of dark wax around the edges.

I love an unusual find like this and paired with a bright finish = perfection!

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The Barnwood Treatment

2013-02-20T17:00:00.000-06:00

Hi readers! I just can’t wait to show you what I was up to this past weekend. Let’s just say I was up to my ears in barnwood {well, faux barnwood}!

{Seeing this picture still makes me squeal!} As you can see, I took a break from furniture to tackle a ceiling for some amazing Refresh Home clients. Their new home is un.be.liev.able and I was so happy to be a part of it. Here is the before…

The clients wanted this pine plank ceiling to look like old barnwood. I was more than pleased with the end results.

I know that I will receive a lot of requests for a tutorial for this treatment but I’m keeping it in my back pocket for now. While I share the recipes for almost all of my finishes, I am planning to market this to clients so it would not be a smart business move to divulge everything. Thanks for understanding, sweet readers! Have you tackled a faux barnwood project?

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{Primp}

Chalex, Huh?

2013-01-29T17:30:00.000-06:00

You may be asking yourself “What in the world is chalex?” Well, my friends, I will show you…

Or maybe this would better explain it…

It all started when I chose Sherwin Williams Turquish for a custom desk. This was one of the those colors that looked amazing on the chip but was whoa bright in the can. I found myself looking around for something to mix with it to tone it down when I spotted the Aubusson Blue Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on my shelf. Then I thought…can you mix latex and chalk paint? Hmmm…the answer is YES!

Using a 50/50 ratio, it mixed quite easily and the coverage and dry times were comparable to chalk paint. The same went for distressing and waxing {the color deepens just like chalk paint}. How exciting, right?

So, in the spirit of celebrity name fusion {you know, Brangelina, Tomkat, Billary, Kimye}, I give you chalex. Catchy, huh? So, feel free to spread the word of the newest couple in town…chalex {chalk paint + latex}. Have you created a chalex color?

Linking up at:

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Classic White

2013-01-28T17:30:00.000-06:00

I love color and plan to showcase a lot more of it BUT I still get weak in the knees over a classic white piece {especially when it’s a curvy triple dresser with amazing hardware}.

This dresser was part of a large custom order that I completed recently. Here’s how the piece looked when we unloaded it…

Beautiful lines and details but an outdated finish. I chose Creamy by Sherwin Williams, a beautiful classic white, followed by medium distressing and clear wax. The hardware was left in it’s original finish. Look how it just pops against the brighter white…LOVE!

My only regret was that I was not able to stage it {or the other 5 pieces} because it was SO solid and heavy. Sometimes you just have to use the workshop photos to keep it real, I guess. What is your go-to color for a classic white finish?

Smoky Mountain Love

2013-01-22T16:30:00.000-06:00

I grew up within an hours drive of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you have never been, GO! The views are amazing and the people are southern sweet. When I first saw CeCe Caldwell’s color chart, I was drawn to Smoky Mountain Gray {and not just for the name}.

This is one of my favorite CeCe colors. It is the perfect smoky blue and worked great for this piece for my friend’s bedroom.

If you missed the post giving you the lowdown on CeCe Caldwell’s paint, you can check it out here.

Linking up at:

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CeCe & Annie

2013-01-04T17:00:00.000-06:00

So, yesterday I showed you a table refinished using CeCe Caldwell’s Paint in Vintage White. As promised, I’m giving you the lowdown on my experience with this paint. Here is the pedestal table that you saw a peek of in the last post.

CeCe Caldwell’s Paint is an earth friendly, non-toxic, no VOC, chalk and clay paint. {You can read about all of the great benefits of the paint here.} Not only is it earth friendly {even the packaging is made from recycled materials}, but the color options are really nice. This pedestal table started out as white painted over oak. I was hoping for a layered effect so I used 1 coat of Pittsburgh Gray as my base coat and then topped with 1 coat of Smoky Mountain.

The final color is a smoky blue with more gray tones and not nearly as light/bright as it appears in the picture.

I know the number 1 question will be “how does it compare to ASCP?” Here’s my opinion {for what it’s worth}:

Price: {similar} CeCe=$32.95/qt ASCP=$36.95/qt
Availability: {same} Only available through a stockist/retailer
Coverage: {similar} Coverage was the same, except for Vintage White (CeCe) vs. Old White (ASCP). I do feel that ASCP Old White covered better on the first coat but the result was the same after the second coat was applied.
Consistency: {different} CeCe is thinner than ASCP and didn’t seem to thicken as I worked with it. I did not have to add any water, but you are able to with both.
Colors: {different} CeCe’s pallet seems to be earth tones while ASCP offers a French color pallet.
Mixability: {same} Both paints are easily mixed to offer endless color options
Adherence: {similar} Both paints adhere without sanding, stripping or prepping. However, I stained a few raw wood samples with Danish Oil, wiped it off and then immediately applied both paints. ASCP adhered fine but CeCe did not. With that said, I had no problem with CeCe adhering on any furniture pieces. I don’t know of any time that you would use Danish Oil and then immediately paint {except for making samples} so this should not be an issue.
Dry time: {same} Both dry very quickly, especially when compared to latex.
Brush strokes: {same} Both paints are meant to give a hand painted finish and therefore you will see some brush strokes, which I prefer. {strive for character, not perfection}
Ease of distressing: {same} Both distress very easily and sand off into a fine chalky powder
Sealing: {similar options, somewhat different result} Both paints offer the same sealing options and sell specialty waxes. {I used Minwax Paste Wax instead of the CeCe Caldwell wax for these pieces} I have to say that I found it easier to wax the CeCe pieces. Any streakiness upon application disappeared as the wax dried and there was ZERO streakiness after buffing. NONE at all. This was not due to the difference in the wax because I have used Minwax on ASCP pieces and not achieved the same results. This was true for both the white and deeper color pieces.
Cleanup: {same} Both can easily be washed out of brushes using only water. {love that!}
Value: {same} Both paints lasted over several pieces so a quart does go a long way.

Shew…I think that pretty much covers it but let me know if you think of anything I left off! Overall, I love both paints and will continue to use both paints {and even latex and milk paint}. Don’t be afraid to branch out and experiment! You may develop a preference for one or the other {most likely based on their color options} but I think you will be happy with the no prep application and easy distressing that both offer.

Have you tried both CeCe Caldwell and ASCP? If so, feel free to share your thoughts!

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New Year, New Paint

2013-01-03T17:30:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, Readers! I have to say that 2012 has been an amazing year for my family. I no longer have babies in my household {which means we can leave the house with 1/2 the stuff but my rocking chair is collecting more dust} and it has officially been 1 year since I launched Simply Reinvented. We embraced the challenges that 2012 {and life in general} had in store for us and we look forward to seeing what 2013 brings!

I’m excited to show you something new in the first blog post of the new year.

This table was refinished using CeCe Caldwell’s paint in Vintage White…

Those of you who navigate the DIY blogosphere will be familiar with this paint but for those of you who haven’t tried it, get excited because it is amazing! Here is the before…

OK…you know I was dying {and still am} over these quatrefoil chairs! Look how ah-MA-zing they look after their facelift.

Gorgeous, right? These chairs are so versatile that we actually had a hard time deciding which table to stage them with at ReFresh. The 6 chairs look great with the original table, but the fabric and style looks incredible next to our new pedestal table. {there’s a little sneak peek of the pedestal table above} I’m sure they will end up floating between the two {if someone doesn’t scoop them right up}. The table has the same beautiful lines and details as the chairs…

So, I know you want to hear more about the paint that gave me this amazing finish, right? I’ll give you the lowdown {or at least my version} in an upcoming post.

The Jude Cabinet

2012-12-11T22:25:00.001-06:00

I am so excited to share this special piece with you…

This is the Jude cabinet and it is not special because of anything I did…no, it is special because of who it is named for. Meet sweet Jude.

Jude is a happy, beautiful boy with hypo-plastic left heart syndrome. He has endured numerous open heart surgeries, nissen/g-tube surgery, multiple heart catheterizations and intubations, and spent the majority of the first 5 months of his life in the hospital. His mother and I went to high school together and she contacted me back in May to see if I would be interested in a couple of pieces that her family was giving away because she knew that I had started Simply Reinvented. How incredibly thoughtful and sweet, right? Well, this beautiful piece has been sitting around waiting for me to be inspired. {The day finally came last week, thank goodness}

I decided on a layered finish so I painted the entire piece a moss green followed by this beautiful turquoise. You can really see the color variations in person…gorgeous.

One of the panes had been broken during a move and there was no key to open the door so I chose to remove all of the glass. This piece is so versatile so I staged it three different ways…china cabinet, linen hutch {perfect for a master bathroom} and a nursery cabinet.

I always say that painting is my therapy and, boy, is that so true. As I was painting this piece, I just kept thinking of Jude and his family. My youngest daughter has been through 2 eye surgeries and receives multiple therapies. I know how hard this has been on my family and simply can’t imagine what his family has endured because our situation is so minor in comparison. They were so sweet to offer these pieces {for free, with nothing in return} and I kept feeling God leading me to return their kindness. I originally kept thinking of donating my portion of the profits to a charity in Jude’s honor. God put it on my heart to go in a different direction so the profits will be sent directly to Jude’s family. I know the medical bills we have experienced {again, minor in comparison} so, while it may be a small drop in the bucket, I know that every little bit helps. Would you help by saying a quick prayer for Jude and his family this week? Thank you, sweet readers!

The Jude cabinet will be available at ReFresh Home later this week.

“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share”
1 Timothy 6:18 ESV

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Blue Egg Brown Nest

Frenchy Desk

2012-11-30T17:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! I hope all of you sweet readers had a fantastic Thanksgiving! I scored this beautiful antique desk a couple of months ago and finally got around to painting it.

The piece was in pretty rough shape with the finish chipping on the drawers and the dirt…oh man, the dirt. {I almost forgot the before}

The pictures just do not do the gorgeous detailing justice…

I intentionally left the brush strokes instead of sanding them smooth because I wanted the piece to look aged, not perfect.

I love how this piece turned out but I secretly wanted to paint it turquoise {and definitely would’ve if I weren’t selling it}. Maybe the next time around I’ll just go for it!

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Creamy Stand

2012-11-20T20:19:00.002-06:00

Hi readers! We are gearing up for a busy Thanksgiving weekend {as I’m sure you are} but I wanted to take a second to say thank you to all of you! I hope that you enjoy reading this little ole’ blog as much as I love writing it.

I also wanted to show you this sweet plant stand that is now at ReFresh.

This is another fabulous piece that my mother in law brought down on her last visit {she’s the best, right?}. It was sporting a bland maple finish so I covered her in 3 coats of ASCP Old Ochre followed by clear wax and a little distressing.

If you haven’t tried Old Ochre yet, it is a great neutral option. Richer and creamier than Old White but definitely not a buttery yellow or dark tan like most people think. Old Ochre is also a great option for a base coat and mixes nicely with Old White for a custom color. This color looked beautiful in the shop with the Christmas decor. Try it!

Beachy Dresser

2012-11-15T17:30:00.000-06:00

I recently refinished this piece for a client.

{BTW, promise I didn’t miss a spot on the left-hand side of the second drawer…it’s a string on the hardware} This piece was gorgeous before but she wanted a more beachy look since it was going in her beach house. Here is the before…

I used a custom mix of Annie Sloan Chalk paint and thinned it to make a wash. We decided on a pickled stain finish to change the piece from rustic to beachy. Here is a close-up look during the process {beachy on the left side and rustic on the right}.

The fluorescent lighting in the workshop makes it a little hard to see the difference in pictures but we are all happy with the finished piece.

Stenciled Side Table

2012-11-09T18:00:00.000-06:00

I’m really excited to show you this side table.

It was painted using SW Breezy and sealed with dark wax. I then stenciled a pattern on the top using ASCP Old White. {TIP: Use spray adhesive to seal the edges of your stencil}

Have you tried stenciling furniture?

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Pallet Block

2012-11-07T19:16:00.001-06:00

I have been suffering from pallet block for nearly 6 months. You see, I was obsessed with doing a pallet project so I talked a friend into giving me one. It was brand new so I set it outside to let it weather and then it sat there…for 6 months {needless to say I achieved my goal of getting the weathered look}. I didn’t forget about it…I just couldn’t decide what to do with it. I kept seeing pallet furniture all over Pinterest {like here and here} but I didn’t want to build furniture. I knew it would involve paint {shocker, right?} but I just couldn’t get inspired. Then {finally} I had my husband drag it into the garage on Saturday and saw the back off of it. I know he thought I was losing it but he’s learned to just go with it at this point! I then pulled out all of my cans of chalk paint and just started mixing colors and painting and this is what I ended up with…

I know it may not be everyone’s taste but it is right up my alley and I could’ve done cartwheels in the yard {luckily I do have self-control}. The plan was to hang it in our living room to match some new curtains that my sweet MIL made. We have vaulted ceilings so we need something BIG and this was perfect. So, what did I do? I sent a text to the owners of ReFresh Home to see if they thought it might sell and, long story short, it ended up there and sold in 2 days! I guess suffering from pallet block for 6 months was worth it in the end. Now, I just have to make one for my living room {and some more for the shop}!

Have you completed any pallet projects? Share, please….

Linking up at:

Primitive & Proper
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Miss Mustard Seed
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French Country Cottage
At The Picket Fence

Château Grey End Table

2012-11-05T17:00:00.000-06:00

Ok, you all know how much I love neutral tones but don’t let grey in the name fool you on this color. Château Grey is actually not grey at all but is, in fact, a beautiful shade of green.

If you are familiar with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors, Château Grey is the same tone as Olive but several shades lighter. This is hands down my favorite color to dark wax. It goes from a pale sage green to the most gorgeous olive green with hints of brown. {TIP: lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper after buffing your dark wax and you get even more dimension in your color.}

This would be a great color choice to compliment your holiday decor!