What has my paint brush been up to? I’ll show you! Here are my most recent projects and what’s in the pipeline…

Click on smaller images to enlarge…

The Corner Cupboard

Last year I finally found a corner cupboard that I loved for my dining room. There was only one problem with it. It had a barn red interior that wasn’t done well and looked horrid in the room. Also, it had no plate rails, which were essential for storage and display. No worries - I got out my paintbrush and paint and got to it.

See what I mean?

First I had to paint and seal it. Red paint is notorious for bleeding through. I got some Zinsser BIN Primer and Stain Blocker. It needed two coats.

I used Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint for the interior. It was going to need two coats of that as well. I made up a recipe of… 1 part Provence: 1/2 part French Linen: 1/2 part Old White. I liked it, but I wanted it lighter and to have a washed look. So my second coat was …1 part Provence: 1/2 part French Linen: 2 parts Old White, diluted with 1 part water. That did the trick. (It also took several hours to figure out! Lots of math, people….🥴)

We also had to replace the hardware - it was decrepit and wasn’t big enough.

The last thing we did was paint and install the plate rails. I used the thinnest trim I could find at Home Depot. After all the painting was done, Chip nailed them in and I put a coat of clear wax on it, and buffed it the next day for a satin finish.

And here is the piece today - filled to the brim. A pretty and very useful piece.

Bedside Tables for Master Bedroom

I didn’t want a matching set. I needed a larger piece on my side of the bed for actual storage, and there is more room on that side. Chip’s side is next to a window, so that piece had to be a little lower and smaller. The bed is massive, so I couldn’t have pieces with super feminine and/or spindly legs. The search was on and took the better part of a year.

I found the chest at an antiques place, and the table, at the new showroom of a local designer. But they both needed to be white washed to go better with the gray bed and soft room. I didn’t want to hide the beautiful wood grain, just change the cast a little. Pull out the paintbrush again…

I took the original hardware off (which was replacement - not original to the piece - I think the chest had had major renovation). It was too ornate for the room.

There was a finish on the chest, so I had to take that off with mineral spirits. I just rubbed it on and off, and let it dry overnight. I got my trusty chalk paint out again and used the same Original White. I painted it on, section by section, and then wiped it back off, with a wet rag. Painting, dipping in water and wiping. Section by section.

I also painted two coats of the paint on the drawers themselves. After the painting was all done, I gave all surfaces a coat of clear wax and buffed it well the next day. We replaced the hardware with something a little simpler, in unlacquered brass, and I got simple, scented drawer paper for the drawers.

The key escutcheons had not been put on yet. The lamp has been on order for 10 weeks…🤯

before…

after…

before…

after…

I did the same thing for the table…Still looking for a lamp for this spot- it needs to be tall and skinny…but thicker than a buffet lamp.

Various Garden Objects…

These sat in the garage for weeks waiting for me…The pots were all chipped up - I can’t find the picture of them, but they were in pretty bad shape. The pedestal is part of a nautical sundial from my mom’s garden at the River House. They all needed some TLC.

Tichacek’s Weathered Bronze Finish to the rescue. I’ve posted about it before, but I love this stuff. I have it on almost all my pots, my armillary, birdhouses, terra cotta garden figures, a hose pot - it’s great! It’s been around for years - my mom used it all the time.

I chipped all the big flakes off and then gave the pieces a good sanding. Then you apply a coat of the Franciscan Brown base coat. These needed two coats. I let them dry overnight between coats.

Then you paint on the Verde Patina and wipe it off quickly with a dry rag. Start on a spot that’s not front and center, to get the hang of it…Voila!

See - it’s got a brown base, but after you wipe the green on and off, it looks like weathered bronze or copper. So cool.

My Little Table

Last but not least, I have had this table forever. It has survived its’ shabby chic period on my porch, with the once popular “ crackled glaze” (Hello 90’s!) And it had no business on my porch for so long - the poor thing got black mold on it. SO - it’s been sitting in the garage for months waiting for it’s third life.

I sanded the top mess off with my little power sander. And I bleached the legs where the mold was. I am waiting for the bleached part to dry. Then I will begin to sand and paint it. Stay tuned and I’ll show you the result in your inbox soon, if you subscribe! Once it’s done - I plan to put it in the laundry room for an extra surface for folding laundry or flower arranging, etc etc….

what’s up next in the painting pipeline???

….the mantel in my den. It’s not pretty wood and when I stripped and stained it, back in the Ice Ages, I got it way too dark. So it’s getting washed or painted to closely go with the trim next to it, which is BM Monroe Bisque…..This should be interesting!! 😜

Thanks for reading ladies. Happy May!