Saturday, February 27, 2016

Before and After : Vintage Bassett Lowboy 10-Drawer Queen Anne Style Dresser

I. Am. LOVING! The gorgeous bold, vibrant color of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Greek Blue. It is such a lovely, clear blue, and a total knockout/standout color for any accent piece! When I bought the paint, I was told that it was very popular, but some people seem to have trouble with it. The only thing that I can seem to line up with this idea is that the paint looks a little lighter/whitish when you distress it, but by dusting off the surface and wiping with a damp, lint free cloth, the clear and gorgeous color returned to those areas. So just be sure to clean off all dust before you seal your piece!

Doesn't the gold hardware seem even.. well, gold-er? ;) The updated color definitely makes the hardware stand out and appear more golden and radiant. Also, I frequently find that the hardware screws over time have difficulty holding the metal firmly in place, often when the wood has been worn back over time. Often you can put a washer between the head of the screw and the back of the drawer to help it find a solid grip! This can help prevent damage to the front of the wood surface as well.

What are your favorite color palettes?  Do you favor the classically chic neutrals, or love a bold color pop?

Before and After : Vintage Thomasville Pedestal Table in Old White

I am always so excited when I have just the 'perfect' piece on hand when a client is searching! For this project, one of the Red Door Lane customers was trying to find a vintage pedestal table for their kitchen, and I just happened to have one on hand that had not yet been photographed and listed online! (Just goes to show, you can always reach out and ask - we might have something that's still in a pre-inventory status!) This was a beautiful, solidly built piece that I just knew would be a perfect match :) Luckily they agreed, and loved the idea of a dark stained top and antiqued, distressed white pedestal base.

This color scheme is gorgeous, classic, and super versatile! They even used a blend of Old White and Pure White on their kitchen cabinets for a fresh, clean updated look. Here we used General Finishes Java Gel Stain and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White for the base and apron around the top of the table. I hope this piece is super happy in her new home!!

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Before and After : Depression Era Chest of Drawers in General Finishes Milk Paint

This is one of the biggest furniture transformations (and they're all big to me!) so far! This sweet chest of drawers was an estate sale leftover with broken trim and handles, but the son saved it and knew it would find just the right home with a refinisher. I'm so blown away by the Before and After on this piece, and so grateful to be able to help it find a second life!  We did some patching and sanding, with an allover sand to follow to help the Milk Paint adhere.

For this dresser, I used General Finishes Milk Paint in Basil, a soft sage green with some gray tones. I put on two coats of paint, then distressed along high points and edges, and almost left it with the more uniform paint, but I'm glad I didn't! A friend had given me some Winter White glaze to try, so I painted it on and wiped it off for a color wash, let it dry a bit, and then came back to dry brush on a bit more of the glaze for a chic and antique look. We replaced the trim with a resin flower, which I painted in a blend of Basil and Snow White, and found some chic crystal style knobs to replace the hardware.

What a huge facelift! This highboy had a great structure, but was definitely a diamond in the rough. I can't wait to see it find a new home and be loved by another family!
 Here's one more - look at those legs!! Do you have a piece that's in need of some love? If you're in the Austin area, I'd be honored to see if there's some magic we can work with it!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Before and After : Vintage Bassett Chest of Drawers

This has to be my favorite style of chest of drawers right now - tall and beautiful, with tons of storage and a lot of character! I love love love serpentine fronts also. So when my friend texted me photos, I knew we were a match made in heaven! This sweet vintage Bassett French Provincial chest of drawers went to the front of my to-do list and got a custom blend of some of my clients' most recent favorite colors : Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White, French Linen, Duck Egg, and Louis Blue. I mostly blended the color, but left a small amount of variation so the layers would be a little distinctive. Next, I used washes of the color to blend it out, but leave the subtle color differences. I gently distressed for  a gorgeous, perfectly imperfect, shabby chic look.

Isn't she beautiful? The overall look is a little bit of a gray / "greige" for a gorgeous neutral. I can see this one in a master bedroom, or even a nursery!

What colors of paint have you been using lately? Try blending some of the cohesive color-family remnants and send us the photos! I'd love to see and share them!!