Broken Space Heater - Porta-Fireplace (help me think of a cooler name please)

Dad's broken space heater. It was nice and gutted and just this empty frame when I saw it in his garage and asked him if I could have it.

(I really should take more care to snap quality pictures that do these beauties justice) 
I used ASCP in Provence.  When I started this project my plan was to dry brush this piece in Old White to highlight all the raised areas and designs and corners, etc.  I'm actually glad I decided to just distress it, it looks fantastic.  Sealed with Clear Wax.
** The candle holders shown here were ones I was considering using for this.  I'm so glad Dad scored the replacement candlebra he did at Goodwill - looks so much better.

(see? Beautiful end result - terrible picture.  I'm going to replace this picture with a better one ASAP, I'm just in a hurry to get the final pic up already - I finished this project over a month ago)
We added a backing-panel to it for support, safety, and esthetics.  The mirror we attached to the back is from a big heavily wrought iron-framed mirror I've had in the closet since we moved here almost a year ago.  It was banished to the closet because there is simply nowhere in this house to put it without it looking out of place. 

The best part? THE MIRROR WAS A PERFECT FIT FOR THE BACKSIDE OF THIS "FIREPLACE"  (I love when things come together like that!!)  Not only that, but now I've got a large wrought iron decorative frame that I can turn into a headboard alternative for the master bedroom (I've been trying to come up with alternatives to traditional headboards since 2011 -  no joke. I'm can be very wishy washy until I know what I want.)   Now I've got a good starting place to jump off from and I'm recycling it into something useable - and I love that!)

Storage Cabinet - Thrift Store Find - Paint & Podge

Another one of Dad's thrift store finds.  I painted, papered, distressed this piece, swapped out the hardware, and added bead board backing to it to make it nice and sturdy.

(Before)

(After)

These colors are custom ones I came up with by mixing other colors together. 

The inside shelves are painted and papered (decoupaged)

Swapped out the hardware.

Grandpa's Rocker

He's always bringing stuff home for me to paint.

(Before)

(After)
Chateau Grey, Clear and Dark wax

Budding Furniture Painter

Working alongside Mama... 

We should have named him "Cool" (like in that movie)

Moldy Plant Stands - Ombre...

...and custom ombre colors at that (I suppose technically all ombre paint jobs are somewhat custom, what with mixing the white with your main color to take it a few shades lighter, however on this particular project I used different main colors and mixed with white...and then mixed them together... I know, I'm fancy, I can't help it).

(Before)

Moldy top. Spores. Yum. 

 

(After)

Painstakingly tedious but thoroughly enjoyable.  Didn't crop my sock out cuz it's awesome.

Bar Chairs - *DUMPSTER SCORE!*

Neighbor put these out with the trash. Dad dragged them over to our house and asked me to make them pretty. (I also scored an old dresser from the same "trash" pile that's been waiting for my attention for going on five months now... hoping I'll get some inspiration soon...but I digress...) 

Dad has the same burgundy & green color scheme going on in the kitchen that I've noticed is quite popular with that age group (am I the only one who's noticed this?)

(Before)

(After)

Primer Red (ASCP), Clear &  Dark Wax

He loves them. So much so that he went out the next day and got a burgundy valance for the window over the kitchen sink, and burgundy and green curtains for the adjoining living room.  Oy vey.

Tunes: Country.  Country music is a new thing for me. Surprising. I have a ginormous crush on Miranda Lambert. Listening to a lot of her and Pistol Annies. What a doll. She's adorable.

Train Table Make Over

Train table - Before. 

Train table - After. 
ASCP in Emperor Red & Napoleonic Blue. Clear Wax. 

Painted the underside (which we're now using as the top) of the table top with Chalkboard Paint (my first time using this stuff)  It's groovy.  Sky's the limit as far as train track engineering. I think we'll get more mileage out of this table top and (hopefully) he will stay entertained by it for longer  chunks of time.

I'm thinking of doing something permanent on the other side of the table top - like gluing a really cool track design into place so it'll stay put (like the train tables at the Children's Museums) but I'm on the fence.  

Tunes: mixed playlists - Fleetwood Mac, Beck, Johnny Cash, Counting Crows...

Modern Desk to Rustic Desk in a Week

This was the picture "J" sent me when she hired me to re-do her current desk.  She was moving into a new apartment and needed her living room to double as office space. 

"Before"

"After"

Two coats of Annie Sloan "Chateau Gray" + two coats of Primer Red + Clear & Dark Wax

I love the way the Dark Wax looks on both of these paint colors. "J" does too. 

Distressed with cut up pieces of hand-held-sander paper. 

 

Storage Cabinet / Media Console **NEW Paint Line** ("Plaster" Paint)

There was a door on this cabinet, but it broke en route from thrift shop to my house (which is okay because it was an ugly, dated door anyway). 

Worth noting:  I had recently learned of a local company that sells what they call "plaster paint" (I won't name the actual company because I don't wanna hate...the lady that sells these paints was really very nice and accommodating to me).   When I asked her what the difference between plaster paint and ASCP was, she told me that there was really no significant differences in the actual products. Plaster paint is (apparently) the American-version of ASCP, it comes in 3 different size options (compared to Annie Sloan's 2), and is a few bucks cheaper (I'm assuming because it's manufactured here in the USA?)

I loved the idea of supporting a Made in the USA version without having to compromise on the quality of a  product that I have come to adore (and who doesn't want to save a few bucks in the process?).

This cabinet is my first experience with plaster paint (not to be confused with chalk paint - because there IS a significant difference, in my humble opinion).  I'm 2.5 coats into painting just the inside of the cabinet at this point and I hate to say it (but I'm gonna because I'm notoriously - at times brutally - honest by nature and you don't do anybody any favors by lying to them - particularly if they're looking for comparison reviews on the two types of paint, so... ughhhh I'm gonna say it ....)

I'm not happy.

see?
(I'm really sorry really nice plaster-paint-lady!)

Compared to ASCP, the coverage is clumpier, unevenly textured once applied, but not so thick that adding a bit of water will help it. I don't know, it's weird. (Perhaps if I had started with plaster paint and then tried to work with chalk paint, I might feel differently...but I doubt it. What I love most about chalk paint is the versatility of the formula and ease of use, particularly for inexperienced painters)

Also worth noting is the smell. ASCP has virtually no smell, whereas the plaster paint does smell very much like traditional paint (canned paint, not spray paint). 

I did buy a few colors in  both pint and quart sizes and will try to use them. I'm thinking I'll either mix a bit of the plaster paint with the chalk paint to play around with color and consistency.  I might also be able to use the plaster paint as a top or "finishing" coat if I mix it with a bit of water and layer it over a nice healthy coat of the chalk paint. Whatever I do, notes will be kept here for my reference (and yours too). You're welcome.

The second coat of paint causes the first coat to peel off, despite the fact that the first coat has had a few days to dry. Very frustrating...

Worked through the challenges, vowed never to cheat on AS again, and here 'tis!  (I added some ASCP accented areas in Florence - couldn't resist)  Not sure yet where I'm going to put this. There is a hole in the back that I can take an Exacto (sp?) knife to should I need to feed electrical/cable cords through it.


I don't know what's up with the formatting on this post...no luck troubleshooting why it's acting like this?? Grr... #plasterpaintfail

Heritage Dresser

Again, I failed to take a "Before" pic so I'm uploading this one which was taken by the person who I bought this bedroom furniture set from. I was really after just the dresser (had an idea for a Father's Day gift for my dad) so I ended up selling the matching nightstands shortly after purchasing this set.

So, when I showed Dad his gift (via pics on FB since we are not living in the same state - yet) he melted, and died, and cried and laughed.  Says it's the best Father's Day present he's ever gotten. This piece is a family heirloom that will be passed down for generations.

My dad is the smartest, most interesting person I know, I wish everybody could know him.  I can't wait to get this to him so he can enjoy it.
"Heritage not Hate"

Tunes: Mixed playlists, mostly Nirvana, The Doors, Smashing Pumpkins. Lot's of classic rock.

Mid Century Modern Coffee Table

Tunes: RHCP (Stadium Arcadium), plus some random newly discovered B-side stuff.

Broken Dresser Drawer = Paper Station

Another freebie from the same friend who gave me the other freebie (isn't she lovely??) 

{Annie Sloan} Chalk Paint = MAGICAL.  No sanding-prepping-priming-stripping-nada! Just clean the piece of furniture with gentle soap & water, make sure it's dry, and you're ready to start painting! (or taping....and then painting)  Paint colors: Graphite and Henrietta w/Pure White used on the drawer emblems (is that what they're called?) Finished her off with Clear wax & buffed to a shine with a lint free cloth.

For now the "Paper Station" is serving as a mail center in the kitchen but when we move in a couple of months, I'll probably put this in the office and use it as a printer stand w/paper & supplies storage underneath. 

Papered & podged the insides of the drawers. "Oooh...Aahhh..!"

Tunes: None... Streamed the (2nd) Benghazi trial through my iPAd and watched that while working on this. 

From Her Coffee Table to My Accent Table to A Client's Media Console

The lady bought this table from Hobby Lobby for $299.99?! (I found the price tag inside) She added wheels to it and used it as a coffee table. I bought it from her for $20 (Craigslist) It looks like a filing cabinet but the drawers are small (8"x8" at most). 

This piece popped my {Annie Sloan} CHALK PAINT cherry (sorry)  Paint color:  Provence, sealed with AS Clear Soft wax. Scrapbook paper mod podged onto the drawer fronts and new drawer pulls.   Haven't yet decided how to take advantage of the storage/drawer space here, so for now they sit empty.

Distressed with sandpaper and "antiqued" with Annie Sloan Dark wax.   

Stripped, Sanded, Painted, Primed & Papered

I'm really bad about remembering to take my "Before" pics, but I'm working on it.  This bookshelf was slathered with multiple thick coats of white, oil based paint when I scored it (free from a friend).
Swapped out the hinges & cabinet door pulls too. 

I discovered Annie Sloan Chalk Paints shortly after finishing this bookshelf makeover so  I'll post this "Before" pic in lieu of the missing bookshelf pic.  Now that I've found my paint soul mate, I don't anticipate having to suit up like this ever again due to noxious fumes, lead chips and saw dust. Yay!