Thursday, May 22, 2014

A Girly Dresser Makeover and Piles of Roses

 
Finding beautiful, quality furniture pieces to paint has been a little more difficult for me these days than it used to be.  I don't get out to shop the sales and thrift stores as much as I used to.  So, when I get a call from a friend who has a piece of furniture for sale, I am pretty excited...and when said friend says I can have the cute piece in exchange for a few days of pet sitting...even better!
 
 
(A favorite Instagram shot of our little house guest)
 
Just look at that sweet face!  And now take a look at this sweet dresser!  Did I get a great deal or what?  Thanks a bunch Mrs. G.!

 
I have been long overdo for a girly pink furniture makeover!  This dresser seemed a good candidate for a soft, feminine look!

 
I chose Antoinette for the exterior of the dresser.  Two coats covered it well and I painted it on thickly and unevenly for a rustic look that would later be accentuated with a paint wash. 
 
 
I purchased this gorgeous Do it Yourself Chic applique at The Purple Pear!  I applied it to the drawer front with an epoxy and allowed it to dry completely before painting the drawer.  Old White and Pure White were mixed to create the off-white color for the drawer fronts.
 
 
I used the same paint colors and techniques on the hardware, and then distressed them back to show off the pretty details.  They were then clear waxed for durability.
 
 
I had fun painting out the details in this beautiful applique.  Many colors were used here...are you ready for the line-up?  Louis Blue, Antoinette, Cream, Old Violet, Paloma and Versailles, followed by a wash in a French Linen/Pure White mix! 
 

 
The French Linen wash was also applied to the entire dresser.  It softens the look and gives it a nice aged patina.  I used only clear wax to finish off this piece as the wash provided an aged look similar to what I would normally achieve with dark wax.
 

 
My Eden roses are out of control right now!  I just can't get enough of these beautiful blooms!  I look forward to them all year long!  It was fun having piles of them to use for a little photo shoot.  Of course I don't let them go to waste.  All of the blossoms you see here are now hanging in little bundles to dry for Fall crafting.
 
 
I am excited to unveil this pretty, completed piece to it's former owner when she picks up her precious pooch this afternoon...and then it's off to Camas Antiques to beautify my booth and wait for the right customer to come along and whisk it away!
 
Thank you so much for your sweet visit today!
 
Best Wishes and Blessings!
 
Amanda

 
 
Sharing With:
Inspire me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
 Before and After Wednesday at The Decorated House
What's it Wednesday at Elephants and Ivy
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
 Friday's Unfolded at Nancherrow

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Guest Post at The Purple Pear!

I had the great honor of writing a guest post for The Purple Pear blog this week! 



Please head over to read about my inspiration for this little table makeover!

 
 
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
 
 

Friday, May 2, 2014

Mystery Paint Finish for a Pretty Provincial Dresser

 
Yesterday I put the finishing touches on this French Provincial dresser and delivered it to Camas Antiques.  I had purchased it just a few days prior to fill an empty space in my booth after having sold a large table. 
 
 
I liked that it was in good condition and ready to paint and I knew I wanted to do something unique with it, as the style is not uncommon.  I also knew I wanted to keep the color neutral so as not to limit it to a bedroom.  It is really a great size and shape for a dining buffet or even a console for a large TV. 
 
 
I started by pouring a little French Linen, Country Grey and Pure White onto a paper plate.  I played with these 3 colors a bit on a sample board and eventually came up with this finish simply by brushing a little of each color in the same direction, overlapping in places and working quickly before the paint dried.
 
 
The drawer pulls were a little brassy and dated to start off with.  I dry brushed them with each of the three colors, then waxed with both Annie's clear and dark wax.
 
As you can see, I did a little distressing around the edges of the drawers and the base of the dresser before sealing with clear wax.  I also added just a touch of dark wax in a few places. 
 
 This dresser kind of took on a life of it's own.  I wish I could say that I was inspired by something specific to create this finish, but I really just chose the color palette and went to work creating.  When all was said and done, I was really pleased with the paint finish and overall look of the piece, but I couldn't quite figure out what it reminded me of. 
 
I posted a sneak peek photo on Facebook and asked my friends there to tell me what this finish reminded them of.  It was fun to read all of the different ideas.  I think the most popular idea was driftwood, but a few also mentioned calico cats and fur.  Our Bootsie kitty doesn't quite have the same coloration of the dresser, but I can see how the gradation of color in his fur could be reflected in the paint finish, and I have seen some lovely calico kitties with a very similar color scheme!
 
So, what thoughts or images come to mind for you?
 
 
Special thanks to Bootsie for posing so perfectly for this photo!  He was rewarded with special kitty treats and lots of loves, of course!
 
Thank you so much for stopping by!  Enjoy your weekend!
 
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
 
 
 
Sharing With:
Inspire me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
 Before and After Wednesday at The Decorated House
What's it Wednesday at Elephants and Ivy
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground 
 Friday's Unfolded at Nancherrow