A Few of Our Favorite Things

No, I did NOT get a "before"

I know...I'm really terrible about that

close your eyes and visualize very light golden pine...

yep, you've got it. 

Not pretty.

Nothing, of course, that a little paint won't fix!

I call this my FAVORITE THINGS dresser

because I used some of my favorite products to complete it

 I've really come to embrace these dramatic triple mirrors...

they really make a huge statement!

(also, that little sign sums up my life...

it's not perfect, but my hair sure is!)

This is a much better representation of the true color

I used Luxe Grey from Amy Howard at Home's One Step Paint line for the base

(and on the hardware)

The hardware simply received two coats of OSP, wax, and Dust of Ages

Our wax of choice is Carnauba Wax from Real Milk Paint Co

I wanted the body of the dresser to be a bit more dramatic

(not as soft as the hardware)

so I used a custom blend of General Finishes Glazes

I'm crazy about how the glaze settled into the oak, highlighting the grain and the wear marks

(I know they are fabricated to mimic age, but who cares...they looks amazing!)

Here's a run-down of a few of my FAVORITE THINGS:

One Step Paint from Amy Howard at Home

Geneneral Finishes Glaze

Carnauba Wax from Real Milk Paint Company

What are your favorite, "go to" products?

M~

Whitewashed Grey Dresser

I was down with Strep Throat for almost TWO WEEKS...

I'm not sure what was worse...the Strep or not painting!

(OK, Strep was the hands down worst of the two...)

I was incredibly eager to get back to work

This dresser had been awaiting paint for several weeks

and I'm quite pleased with the outcome

The wood was pretty enough, but sort of orange and quite dated

I debated on going very fancy with colored panels and gold leaf details

but I've been craving softness and gentle distressing lately

For this soft, romantic finish I mixed 

AHaH's Luxe Grey One Step Paint (OSP)

 with Black OSP

(3/1 ratio)

Then I glazed the paint using White Glaze from General Finishes

The white slightly lightened the grey, 

settling into the recesses and brush strokes

You could use a glaze, like I did, or a white wax,
 or even a watered down white wash
all would give you a similar look
I like to use what I have on hand, and I had glaze

I lightly distressed the edges while the glaze was still a bit damp

then sealed the entire piece with clear wax once dry

The hardware was painted Ballet White OSP

then waxed and finished with Dust of Ages for a lovely patina

Wouldn't this piece make a wonderful bathroom vanity?  

Available at 607 Vintage MarketPlace

Thanks for stopping by!

Michele

Sometimes, Less is More

So...this bed

So many options!

I struggled for weeks over what color/finish it "needed"

I finally settled on Luxe Grey from Amy Howard at Home

highlighted with white and some gold leaf

In theory, it worked

In reality, it was a lot of "look"

 if you know what I mean

The bed just didn't need it!

I switched gears, keeping the Luxe Grey

but highlighting with only Dust of Ages

So. Many. Details.

This bed took me WEEKS

(primarily because I could NOT work on it continuously...had to break it up!)

In retrospect, it's totally worth it

(well, it WILL be worth it when it sells!)

I had BIG plans to stage this bed...

a queen sized air mattress, pretty ruffled bedding, lots of pillows

HOWEVER,

I had a BIT of trouble setting it up alone!

So for now, it's staged just like you see it in the above photo...propped against the wall!

This gorgeous tallboy seemed like an ideal companion for the bed

It's just a "little" fancy...so it doesn't compete 

with the Baroque fabulousness of the bed

I wanted the hardware to look like antique, tarnished silver...

I'm really quite pleased with how it all came together...

proof that sometimes, 

less really is more 

Thanks for stopping by!

Michele

Weathered Grey French Desk

I saw this gorgeous vanity/desk on Facebook

a picker we buy from was selling it, and I was literally a minute too late...

Someone else beat me to it!

I was thrilled when that person offered it to me, 

because it was just too much of a project! 

Yep, it was a HOT mess!

Just look at her now...

We used One Step Paint from Amy Howard at Home in Selznick Grey

followed by an application of white dust over the damp wax

The top is "pulled and cracked" to reveal bits of the creamy white beneath

(Bauhaus Buff)

The white dust gives a really beautiful weathered look to the grey paint

We wanted to age the Buff trim, too

so we applied Dust of Ages (a greyish dust)

 mixed with a more brown colored dust

 We wanted the original hardware to look weathered, as well

so we applied white dust followed by Dust of Ages

The shape of this desk is amazing...

we've only had one other Kidney shaped desk before! 

Love this?  

You can find it in our Etsy shop

Overcast

It's raining buckets today in "sunny" Florida

The skies are grey and cloudy

The perfect day to introduce you to our newest Real Milk Paint color

OVERCAST

This little wash-stand has the sweetest details...

Doesn't the detail at the top remind you of waves?

We opted for a slightly cottage/beachy vibe

(watching the clouds roll in at the beach in the summer is always AMAZING...

and those memories inspired this piece)

OVERCAST is the perfect grey, in my opinion...

mid-range, not too cool, not too warm

not too dark, not too light

as Goldilocks would say, "it's just right"!

We dry-brushed a bit of watered down white milk paint to provide a beachy feel

and add some contrast

As always, milk paint distresses naturally and beautifully

The outside might look old and distressed

but inside, the drawers are minty fresh and clean!

If you haven't checkout out the new colors from Real Milk Paint Company,

we encourage you to do so...and thanks for stopping by!

Lush...

I grew up in the late 70's and was a teenager in the 80's...

you know what that means, right?

Lots and lots of PURPLE!

Purple eyeshadow, purple eyeliner, purple leg warmers,

purple jumpsuits with big shoulder pads...

purple bikinis with matching sunglasses

and of course, His Royal Highness of Purple...

If it wasn't purple, I didn't want it!

It's taken me quite awhile to come back around to purple...

but now I favor a more bohemian version...

with a touch of grey for a sexy vibe

This sure isn't 1980's purple!

We custom mixed this color using a little of this, and a little of that

The hardware is divine, don't you agree?

We really wanted the smokey grey trim to stand out, 

so we outlined the top and bottom lips in 

glamorous silver leaf...the contrast is dramatic and eye-catching

Wondering about that fabulous grey metallic?

It's from Modern Masters!

How lucky am I to have found these gorgeous lavender roses?

The dresser is so lush, a dozen just wouldn't do!

Love this dresser?  You can find it in our Etsy shop!