Buffet in Basil w/ a Textured Linen Dry Brush

I usually start decorating for Christmas once Thanksgiving is over. 

This year is different. I want to decorate...TODAY.

Since I still have two weeks, I will use my decorations for staging this gorgeous buffet I painted. 

Here is a quick before and after with many, many pictures to follow. 

If you made it through all of those pictures, you're a trooper! 

Now for all the details. 

I used basil by General Finishes for the base and I dry brushed a thin coat of linen. 

I loved the dry brush because it showed so much texture on the wood. 

Plus the linen ties in with the white pulls. 

I sprayed the metal circles on each corner with thin coats of oil rubbed bronze, metallic gold and aged copper spray paint to have them blend with the gold on the pulls. 

I found the pulls at Home Goods.

I am so happy with how great this piece turned out! 

The Incredible Hulk Lives in My Basement

Hey friends!

Our basement is a work in progress. I grew up in Texas and I didn't lay eyes on a basement until I moved to Missouri five years ago. 

Our basement is partially finished and the finished part serves as a family room, playroom and office. 

There is a lot going on and it's usually cluttered with papers and toys. 

Lots of toys!

Our old, ancient TV sat on top of a massive coffee table and the electronics and cords were out in the open. I was not a fan of the mess. 

I found a beat-up dresser on Craigslist and the hubby and I used it to transform the TV area into a nicer family room. These pictures are not the best but I just had to share this dresser and how we hide our electronics.

Please ignore all the toys in the reflection of the TV. 

YIKES!!!

 This is the best part!!

My husband built a shelf, removed the face of the drawer, and added a piano hinge so we can hide all the electronics when we aren't using them. 

I didn't fix the cords before I took this picture (kinda wish I did now). 

I call this piece The Incredible Hulk. In person, the green looks like The Hulk....but in a good way. 

I mixed emerald and lamp black by General Finished Milk Paint to get this color. I used a black glaze to darken the color and bring out some imperfections in the wood. 

I am so happy with how it came out but even happier that the cords and the bulky electronics are hidden. 

I'd love it if you would visit my Facebook Page. 

You'll get sneak peeks and tons of behind the scene's stuff. 

Helen 

When Coastal Blue & Lime Green Come Together

One of my favorite things to do is mix paints to make custom colors! I had some extra general finishes lime green & coastal blue and decided to see if the colors would work together.

 

I didn't measure. I added and mixed until it was a color I liked. If I had to guess, I would say it was 3 parts lime green mixed with 1.5 parts coastal blue. (I'm guessing)!!

I think they make a perfect color. 

 

What do you think of this color? 

Are you of fan of custom colors?

I'd love it if you followed me on Facebook. You'll find tons of behind the scenes photos.

Helen

Linking up:
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Should I Paint That Part......

Have you ever wanted to paint a piece of furniture but had no idea where to start?

Have you painted a dresser and put the drawers back in only to notice there is still unpainted wood? 

Yeah, I've done that!

 

I thought I would write a post that helps answer the question.....Should I paint that part?

There aren't rules as to what you should and shouldn't paint. That's purely a judgement call. 

Some people paint the back of a dresser and other's don't.

My rule is: If you aren't going to see it, then don't paint it. Just my personal rule though, not right or wrong.

BUT there are parts of a dresser you won't really see that should be painted. 

 You don't see the inside of the dresser but parts of it need to be painted. Old dresser drawers get pushed in and they aren't flush with the front frame which can expose the "unseen" parts. (see 1st picture). 

How much should you paint? 

 Certainly not the whole inside but just enough so when the drawers are closed and pushed all the way in you don't see wood.

I taped off the sides so I would have straight paint lines. Normally, I don't tape but this piece is being sold and it needs to look nice... even if it isn't being seen. 

 I can get away with two coats of paint on the inside. Keep in mind, it doesn't need to be perfect except for along the edges. 

It looks so clean and pretty. 

What about the back? 

I do not paint the back but I do paint the back frame. 

I asked some of my painting girlfriends and they gave me their input on painting the back. Jessica from Dear Emmeline, Cassie from Primitive & Proper and Allison from The Golden Sycamore are all amazing blogger/furniture painters who don't paint the back of pieces either. 

The only exception would be a desk or something where the back is exposed and will be seen. If it won't be seen, save your paint. 

 

I usually paint the top of the frame but since this top was stained I left it natural.

Drawers fall in the category of not being seen but parts of them need painting too.

There is nothing worse than having a pretty painted piece of furniture only to see over-spray or paint on the side of the drawer when it's opened. If you get paint on the side of a drawer make sure to sand it off! 

I paint the very edge of the drawers and the top of the drawer.

 

There you have it! 

That's how I do it and a little attention to detail goes a long way. 

Make sure to protect the paint finish with a couple coats of poly or wax. 

Opening and closing drawers can wear the paint off so you want to make sure to protect it. 

Do you have any tips? 

Dresser: Moss Point Green

I hope you had a good Labor Day weekend! 

We spent ours around the house. Elise watched Ghostbusters for the first time, I worked on furniture and my hubby built me stuff. 

Notice the old wooden "thing" on the wall. I'm drawing a blank on the name...a wooden plank??

Any way, it's super sweet and I'm hoping to use it in many more photo staging op's.

 The old ladder came from my mother-in-laws house when she moved. It's been living in our garage for a while now and I finally found something to do with it. I didn't realize it was 12 foot tall until

 I put it against the wall. YAY, for vaulted ceilings!

 

These shades of green and orange make me ready for fall.

 Are you tired of my bunting? If you are, I have bad news because I am really hooked on it.  I do try to make a new color each time I use one for staging. Maybe a new pattern soon?

 This shade of green is perfect. 

It's moss point green in satin by Olympic One (found at Lowe's).

The original top had that hazy white film on the top and iron marks. I stripped the top and added a dark walnut minwax stain and protected the whole piece with wax. 

I kept the original pulls and sprayed them in oil rubbed bronze. 

I wanted the grooves in the legs to pop so I distressed the legs and lightly along the edges.

I mentioned this green makes me think of fall. Here's hoping it will bring the change of the season!


linking up:
under the table and dreaming

creatively living blog
alderberry hill
nifty thrifty things 

diy showoff
coastal charm
a stroll thru life
inspiration exchange link party
start at home
the 36th ave
tator tots and jello
savvy southern style
all things thursday
treasure hunt thursday
uncommon slice of suburbia
redoux
popp 

Retro Gentleman's Desk

Okay, this isn't really a gentleman's desk.....it's just a desk. However, it is for my brother-in-law Ed and I have been working on it for way too long. I picked it up from Goodwill over a year ago (maybe close to two years ago) and added it to my furniture collection. Ed saw it, needed a desk and I thought it would be a great housewarming gift for him. Well....life happened, clients happened and his poor little desk sat in my basement for a very long time. 

It was worth the wait. Before I show you the after photos please keep in mind that Ed requested manly staging.....not my normal flowers and vases and garland. Apparently to me manly staging means using my daughter's toy dinosaur.   : )

 So manly!!!

I used Cliveden Pasture (at Lowe's) but I didn't glaze this time like I did on these pieces.

I painted the whole thing green and Ed requested I paint the legs and the back brace black. 

No problem.....but it needed something else. I painted the spaces between the legs and the base black as well. 

I used my homemade chalk paint but I did something a little different this time with the baking soda....I will share soon! I sealed with wax and did no distressing. It is a manly desk after all!

This style is different from what I normally do, and I miss my signature flowers, but I'm really happy with how it turned out! 

What do you think? 

Make sure to check out my facebook to stay connected. It's a great place to ask me questions! 

linking up to:
the shabby nest
at the picket fence
tater tots and jello
if it's not baroque
THE SCOOP
under the table and dreaming 

Custom China Cabinet

I have come to the conclusion that I need a china cabinet now. Nothing big and gaudy but something just like this cabinet I painted for my client. I have no clue where I would put a cabinet but I am sure I could find a spot!

 

BEFORE

There was wallpaper stuck to the inside. Instead of ripping it all out which may have been impossible we lined the inside with a thin fiber board and used caulk to fill any gaps. By we.... I mean my husband! I did caulk all of the gaps though.

 



 

 I also removed all of the thick black trim that someone added. It didn't go with the piece so it had to go!

 

AFTER

 

 My most favorite part of this cabinet is the fabric that was used to line the shelves. It just adds so much coolness and a funky factor to this piece.

 

 The cabinet doors and the bottom doors have the original locks.

 

 This cabinet is going to its owner this weekend and I am going to miss looking at it!

My client Sam and her hubby bought and old house from the late 1800's and it is gorgeous. They are slowly furnishing it with custom painted pieces.

I am hoping to take a few pictures of her place and share them with you guys.

 

Here are a few of the other pieces I have done for her. Her bedroom set, a side table for her living room, and I did this dresser to sell and she grabbed it to use as a buffet in her dinning room.

It  might look like a lot of green but it all works so well in their home. There is a brick wall in every room, the ceilings are 20 feet tall (well, maybe not that tall but they are tall), and the palette is neutral with pops of color in each room.

 

 

What's your favorite part of this cabinet?

 

 

linking up:
My Girlish Whims
From My Front Porch to Yours
Southern Lovely
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Handy Man, Crafty Woman
A Little Bird Told Me
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House of Hempworths
French Country Cottage
MMS
A Bowl Full of Lemons
Savvy Southern Style