March 24, 2010

To Paint Or Not To Paint?

Hello Friends~ ~ ~

I would like to share with you some of my methods for painting furniture that I have used successfully. Maryjane mentioned on her comment that she would love to paint her furniture, Did I do it myself. Yes! The reason most of us don't just jump in and do it is fear. Can I really do this and how will it look when I'm done? Well gals, if I can SO CAN YOU!


Let me share with you that I was no different before I painted all of this. The only reason I didn't hesitate is that I didn't have time to!

(Please notice below the fancy carvings on the cabinet doors were not there before. I bought them and pasted them on Before painting, adding a sweet little French Touch to the piece)




We had just bought this house so that Mom could move in with us. It was perfect for the situation in many ways but it was and still is decorated Victorian dark! Deep wine red and cream is the color scheme. I love Shabby Chic white but never did it right. Mom loves Victorian and I knew that she would love this house. . and I was right. All of her furniture worked right into the design and colors.

So, what was a Shabby Chic Gal to do. No more time to hesitate about weather to paint or not to paint just choose a color girl and git going! I painted all my furniture white thinking it would lighten up the house without doing a total house redo. That's coming up much later in my budget.

This French paste wax is soft and creamy and the final step of my paint job. No polyurethane finish for me I love the soft glow this wax imparts. It's softer than an English paste wax because the French furniture has all the elaborate wood carving and this soft wax more easily flows into the carvings. It's amazing.


This is a little table I painted last summer.

I have no before and after pictures of the other furniture because this all happened Before the blog and I wasn't in a picture taking mode. Funny how blogging effects your life. Now everywhere I go I've got my camera with me!
Step 1. Lightly sand the piece to rough it up a bit.
Step 2. Paint with KILZ This stuff is amazing, covers everything
Step 3. When dry sand lightly again and do this Before every coat
Step 4. Paint. All my furniture was darker than this table and I put on 2 coats.
Step 5. Let dry for a few days to a week. Than wax.


Ta Da! Pretty white furniture. I did not ruff mine up to age it. That has happened over time and I like the look.
See the corner of the buffet in the back of this picture~ ~It's next on the paint list.
I used Behr Paint and choosing a shade of white was agonizing. I didn't want white white or gray white so I choose a darker shade of white but looking at this furniture you wouldn't guess it. I used "Cottage White" and I'm very happy with the results.
Any questions? Just ask.
Love you all
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

18 comments:

Allie and Pattie said...

I love painted furniture! Allie's room will be all white pieces with a pewter daybed
xoxo Pattie

The Charm of Home said...

Your furniture is gorgeous! You did a great job.
Sherry

Anonymous said...

i Love painted furniture! Beatifull.
Flor

C.J. said...

I just finished sanding, KILZing lol and painting all of my cherry wood furniture in my living room. I love it! If you go on my blog, several posts back you can see what I did.

Wanda Lee said...

Hello there once again sweet lady,

I just had to come by once more to visit and to see what you've been artfilly creating as of late my dear!

How heart warming that you were able to take your dear mother in to live with you!..,

My oh my, and then some!~I just love what you have done with the trim and the white paint!!The whole room and all of your decor is just so warm and inviting; so utterly pretty!

Also, thanks ever so much for sharing all of the steps, because due to time constraints and feelings of inadequacy, I do agree that at times we women do not tackle certain projects when we are fully capable!

~ With the right tools, product, tecnique and joyful confidence we can do this sort of painting project and well at that!..,

Thanks for the inspiration of a job very well done!

I am so enjoying my first,'White Wednesday' and thought I would also pop by to warmly invite you to visit one of my other blogs; Dressings Table Heaven!

Cheers and hugs from Wanda Lee @ Dressing Table Heaven

Kate said...

Hi Ahrisha
So nice to meet you as well. Great pieces and of course I love white!!! You did a fantastic job. Have a wonderful week. Thank you so very much for stopping by.

Warm wishes
Kate

Brenda said...

where do you find the paste wax you use - beautiful pieces by the way...

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Oh you sweetheart Ahrisha! I am so thrilled that you posted this! You have given me the courage to give this a try! Your funriture turned out so pretty and I love the little wooden french touches you have added to it. I am going to print out this post to look at each day, until I do it!

Thank you dear!

Hugs,
Maryjane

The Style Sisters said...

I loved how the furniture turned out! Gorgeous in white!! Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving me a nice comment. I will enter you in for the giveaway!

Karin

Debbiedoos said...

That table looks fantastic white! So Fresh and ready for Spring in Summer! Thanks for stopping over...hope to see you again. You table setting was so pretty, I love the rooster! Have a great weekend!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Thanks so much for stopping by and following. I have been painting furniture and frames lately. My husband asked me the other day if everything in the house was going to be painted? lol

"M" said...

Your furniture turned out so pretty! You did such a nice job. In scrolling down, I love the little vintage hanky napkins on your lovely table setting!
Thanks for stopping by, it's so nice to meet you!

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Looks beautiful. You did a great job. I really love the sideboard with the mirror over it.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Great job on the table and I love Kilz...wonderful stuff! Thanks for the paste tip...I hate poly.

Wildflowerhouse said...

Beautifully done and what a lovely pc. you had to start with.

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

I have decided paint is the 8th wonder of the world. It certainly transforms things, and for so inexpensively too! your stuff is beautiful!

Cathy said...

Thanks so much for your painting tips. I have a piece of furniture that I want to paint and have been putting it off. I'm on my way to get supplies so I can start my project. Great post.

Deb said...

I am a new blogger and found your blog through Cass at That Old House. I see we have a lot in common so I have become a follower now. Love your home, love all the recipes and love, love, love your kitties. Look forward to seeing your next post. Deb