Custom Refinish - Vintage Pedestal Table in Antique Walnut and French Linen

Let me open with sharing how very honored I am to be referred by designers to their clients, and also to be able to reincorporate a beloved family piece into a new space!! We updated the top of this one with General Finishes Antique Walnut gel stain, and the base with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen - this is pretty much the perfect 'greige'!

This client's table was passed down from his grandmother, and due to heavily abrasive cleaning products, the surface had become tacky/sticky to the touch over time. Thankfully the top was a thick solid wood, because we had to sand it back pretty far to regain a smooth touch. But you could tell, even with the bare wood, that the grain was going to be stunning! Read more to see how I achieved the stain!

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!!

Before and After : Pine Bookcase

This bookcase belongs to our awesome neighbors who were *sniffle* moving away.. but just back in to Austin. It was originally a light pine color, and they wanted a more vintage feel to it. They had their hearts set on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old Ochre, with an accent of Duck Egg. We decided against distressing since the pine was so light, but instead I put a touch of Dark Wax over the sealant on the edges and in the corners to add just a bit of dimensionality and age to the piece. There is a LOT of square footage, nooks, and crannies in this sort of bookcase, and due to the high wear surfaces I opted for Pure Earth Paint's Diamond Coat (now called Rock Hard) to seal. The updated antique hardware is exquisite, and was gifted to me from one of my fantastic clients! It brings a gorgeous stately vintage/antique feel to this previously modern-look bookcase.

Thanks for everything, guys!! I hope this bookcase is a perfect accent piece in your new home!!

Another photo with a closer view of that gorgeous hardware and the dark wax detailing after the break!

Before and After : Custom Vanity Set and Cheval Standing Mirror

I am so honored when clients select a full suite of furniture to update their new spaces! These clients selected a gorgeous 1950's Thomasville vanity as well as a Lexington Queen Anne style flip-top desk/vanity, and a standing mirror.

We started with the Thomasville vanity, which they envisioned with creams, taupes, neutral grey/brown, and gold. For this project we made two custom blends of Annie Sloan Old White and French Linen - a darker shade on the body and a lighter shade on the drawers. The gilded accents are absolutely STUNNING!! I now want to gild *all the things*!!

 

 Next we worked on the Lexington Queen Anne style desk / vanity and a cheval style standing mirror in a gently distressed, shabby chic look. To create this look I used layers of Old White, French Linen, and Coco blended together, then lightly sanded at high points and edges before sealing with Pure Earth Diamond Coat. Since they were in the same color family, I worked on them side by side as a Project Pair. Aren't they lovely?

These colors are super classic and will always be chic! Which is your favorite?

Antique Chest on Chest in Layered Paint Finish

I apparently managed to not get a "Before" photo of this antique chest on chest style dresser / chest of drawers. But I really liked the way it turned out, using layers of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in a Florence blend, Primer Red, and Aubusson to accent the original shape and style. I'm always a little nervous when I try something different, but often end up loving the results! This is one of those times - the carved details on the side and the beautiful antique texture of this piece really pop now; what do you think? Most of the layering you see below is from the primary paint application; however, I also did distress back gently at the edges to ensure I captured the natural wear points as well.

This also shows you how much lighting can impact the appearance of these paints. They are so nuanced and beautiful that the light/shadow balance and other colors in the room can really pick up on different details and look like a virtually different piece! I think of them as chameleons - they can blend into all sorts of spaces and still look natural and beautiful.

Before and After : Vintage Highboy Chest with Ombre Drawers

I have wanted to try some new-to-me details lately, so I took a foray into Ombre! This vintage French Provincial chest of drawers was beautiful, but had some broken trim at the bottom that we removed, puttied, and sanded smooth. Then I painted the body of the dresser in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paloma, and poured some out into a sealable container. I added about two tablespoons of Old White to the Paloma, blended well, and painted two coats on the bottom drawer. I continued this until I had painted two coats on the top drawer to create a subtle gradation, and used the lightest color to highlight the floral detail as well.

I loved the end result!! I also did a small touch of sanding for just a hint at a shabby chic finish. I wanted to preserve the beautiful vintage feel of this chest of drawers. I adore the serpentine front as well! Note: I have seen Paloma described as a neutral taupe / gray color, but I found it to have a cool, almost purple undertone as well. It was beautiful, though, and I'll also be excited to see what it looks like with dark wax the next time I use it! This was a Project Pair with a Bombe style chest of drawers that is using Paloma as the under-layer beneath bold, modern metallics :).

Before and After : Vintage Coffee Table and Chair for Donation Project

I realized that I have been so busy, I haven't put together any Before and Afters for a while! So I'm thrilled to share some of my favorite recent projects with you. First is a donation-based project in collaboration with Red Chair Workroom in Austin. They redesigned a space for a deserving family and gave them a bright spot of color to see throughout their day! The vintage coffee table and chair were painted with Annie Sloan Pure White chalk paint and sealed with Pure Earth Paint's Diamond Coat in Gloss to give it the shine the designers were looking for. The Before and After is below - can you believe these are the same pieces? The upholsterer did a great job on the chair as well.

I feel blessed to have been able to contribute in even a small way to doing good for a family that could use a little sunshine! Thank you for including me in your Revolution Redesign project! I am honored and look forward to working with you again in the future.