Monday, May 13, 2013

Springtime = creative juices flowing!

I'm finally getting some energy back and not in such pain. (yea!). The mister has been requesting I clear out my work space (AKA the garage) and since I've been feeling super creative lately, I decided it is time to get busy! I am reminded of my favorite quote from the movie, "Shawshank Redemption", "You can get busy living, or you can get busy dying". Since I have no plans on dying today, I'll just get busy instead.

A while back, I wrote about the antique buffet I scored at GW (Goodwill). Built, I am guessing, in the 1940's. It had a pretty rough paint job, but has great bones about it and in otherwise great shape. Not really sure what I wanted to do with it, I started by stripping the top with my favorite citrus stripper (not to be confused with Gypsy Rose, which is a totally different kind of stripper). Once the top was bare, it revealed itself to be a beautiful cherry wood. Score! All the top needed was a fine sanding and some new stain.
before

I painted the rest in ASCP Old White, but it was too white. As with every project I work on, it evolves and sometimes gets multiple colors. So, I ended up going with ASCP in Old Ochre. Old Ochre is one of my favorites. It is a creamy color with slightly yellow undertones. I topped it with three coats of clear wax. Speaking of wax, I can't remember if I have ever talked about furniture wax in any sort of detail? There really is a difference in quality of waxes, so get a good quality like Annie Sloan or Hemmet's. You usually have to go to an antique store to get some of the better waxes. Big box stores just don't carry the really good stuff. I know some people swear by Minwax, but trust me, go up a step and get something better. You will be so much happier. I've been using AS waxes because they are super creamy and easy to work with. You can apply with a wax brush and let it sit a couple of minutes and start rubbing off the excess. I actually use old t-shirts because they don't deposit lint on everything and if who doesn't have old t's around? When I run out, I run to my local GW, and they have bags of them for dirt cheap!

After my beauty was all stained, painted, painted, and painted, and waxed, waxed, waxed. I took the original hardware and spray painted...yes, spray painted the hardware in Rustoleum's spray paint for metal in Aged bronze. I love it! Are you ready to see what it looks like now?
What do you think? Leave me a note, I would love to hear from you!

4 comments:

  1. Wow, Wow, and Wow!!!
    I am loving this!

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  2. Thank you! You should see what I am working on today!

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  3. Hi Holly,
    I love this piece! I cannot wait until I have some time to get creative on some stuff from your favorite salvage yard: GW!

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  4. I have no doubt you will do great things!

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