Saturday, December 15, 2012

Parisian Can Can Chest

Feeling a bit melancholy today,
so we decided to paint something
 totally fun and whimsical

Inspired by Parisian Can-Can Dancers...

Girly, feminine soft pink 
mixed with sophisticated Paris Grey
add a touch of glam with golden gilding...
It's a bit Moulin Rouge






Recognize this piece? It's the Drexel Touraine Chest!

The mirror also turned out lovely


We really love this piece...
it's the perfect mix of elegance and whimsy

While painting, we imagined this in a nursery
or a young girl's room...

but it would certainly be fabulous in a big girl's boudoir, too!

You can find this item in our ETSY shop

Monday, December 10, 2012

Red Velvet Make-Over

Remember this dresser?

 Sad, sad, sad...



Someone had tried to spray paint her red...
it didn't work out so well!

Well have a look at her now!


We repainted her in Annie Sloan's Emp Silk Chalk Paint
with lots and lots of dark wax to make the red rich and dramatic


see that gorgeous gilding along the raised trim?
Yeah...that was NOT fun to do...
but it really makes the dresser, don't you think?

 We had to use clear wax on the white areas,
 but not on the gold or red areas...
that was also not the most fun thing ever!
But so worth it

We gilded the bottom edge and the shell detail on the legs,
but it started raining on us, so no pics today!

Even the hardware got a make-over!

It's hard to believe it's the same dresser, isn't it?

We're finishing up a mirror to accent this gorgeous dresser...
but all the moisture in the air today kept the paint from drying...
watch for that tomorrow!

It's tomorrow, and I finished the mirror!






 

I can see this piece in so many settings, from elegant to boho chic...
Where would YOU use this piece?

Thursday, December 6, 2012

REBECCA MONCE IS OUR NEWLY DRAWN WINNER!

PLEASE SEND YOUR SELECTION TO ME AT 
STILTSKINSTUDIOS@GMAIL.COM

THANKS!

Modern Masters Winner

The WINNER of the Modern Masters Give-Away

Has yet to contact us...

Hey Nicole, are you out there??  
(Nicole of  Twice Treasured and My Life as a Disgruntled Housewife)

Your Google page doesn't have any contact info :0(

If we don't hear from Nicole before 8pm tonight (Eastern)
we are going to draw another winner...
on that note, if you'd like to enter between now and then,
please feel free to do so! 

THANKS!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Gilded Grey Touraine Dresser

It's not a big secret
that my favorite colors to paint together are
Paris Grey and White...
add some gilding, and I'm over the moon

 Add to that the fact that the piece
being painted is
Touraine by Drexel...
yeah, I'm a happy girl!

 see all that gilding?
here's the story....
I patiently taped of all around the trim 
on the drawers after painting them...
gilded them, and removed the tape.
Along with the tape, off came the paint!
BOOO!
so I touched up the paint, after sanding it smooth
only to decide I really wanted to wax or glaze the piece
The problem, of course, is that once you apply wax or glaze over the gilding paste,
the paste comes right off...GRRRR

 Talk about a big production!
I ended up touching up all the gold trim by hand,
sealing just the gilded area before applying glaze
then sealing the gilded areas again once the glaze was dry

 On the top, we stripped off the hideous yellow paint
and refinished it with a gorgeous grey glaze

 I knew I wanted some interest to settle into the textured paint
but didn't want to go the usual route, with dark wax

 I used a dark grey glaze to add some interest
and I'm really pleased with the outcome!


I mean, really...would you just LOOK 
at that Serpentine body and curvy legs???  

You can purchase this dresser in our Etsy shop

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Modern Masters Give-away

It's a PARTY!

OK, not exactly a party,

but a GIVEAWAY...!


Did you LOVE the finish on these pieces?



We used Modern Masters paint
and we're THRILLED with the outcome
(you can find the post HERE)

Know what else we're THRILLED about?

An awesome give-away, that's what!

Here's what you can win:

Metallic Paint Collection Options
One Quart and One 6 oz. container – Any color OR
Four 6 oz. containers– any color

OR
 
Metal Effects Kit (includes all)
One Pint Primer
One Pint Reactive Paint – their choice of color
One 4 oz. Solution or Rust Activator
One Spritzer Cap
One Pint of Permacoat Xtreme [Rust Only] 
I know...awesome, right?? 
So...you in?
Here's what you need to do:
Post here about your FAVORITE MM color(s)
If you don't already, follow Modern Masters on FB and Pinterest

Want some extra chances to win?

Leave me a separate comment for each of the following:

Follow Modern Masters on Twitter
Share this contest on your FB Page
Share this contest on your Blog

Personally, I want to try the Metal Effects Kit next!!  

Have fun, and good luck!

Gilded Touraine

We recently scored not one, but TWO 
Drexel Touranie pieces

They were bought from different sellers
for dramatically different prices
(these are seller's photos, not mine!)

This chest is dated 1946...and it has it's original mirror!

the dresser is equally fabulous...

Touraine is my favorite style of French Provincial reproduction furniture
I love the sleekness, 
the delicately curved legs,
 the serpentine front,
 the simple hardware

it's recognizable in an instant!
In fact, neither piece was listed as "Drexel Touraine"
Can you believe that chest was listed for weeks with no takers???

Anyway, I wanted to keep it pretty classic on these pieces,
so I went with one of our favorite combos
Paris Grey and Old White
with rich gold accents

The pieces aren't done yet, but here is a sneak preview!






Yes, yes I did hand paint that gilding!
No, no I did not enjoy it very much!

Hoping to get both pieces completed tomorrow...
we'll see how that goes! 
Wish us luck!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

While the Husband's Away...

My very lucky husband, Kenny
got to head for Austin, Texas last week
to attend the Inaugural Circuit of The Americas 


He was gone for a week, which left me time to tackle some projects
in our own home...much like the cobbler's children with no shoes
our house always comes last

With no one to talk me out of it, 
I jumped right in..

First, I painted the walls a pale grey
the color is called "Abalone"
from Ben Moore


See that giant mirror? The perspective is odd in this photo,
but it's over 5ft long, solid wood, and weighs a TON!

I avoided painting it because there are about 200 tiny staples
holding the three mirrors in place

I didn't love the gold finish against the new wall color,
so I just dove in...
Mack and I spent two hours with Exacto blades, razor blades, and our finger nails 
scratching off all the paint from the glass
(see all those beautiful carved wood details that flow out onto the glass?
Yeah, totally NOT fun trying to get all around those!)


I typically don't paint things white...
but in this  case, it works really well

It's soft and elegant 
I love that it makes a statement, but doesn't hog all the attention
The couch slipcovers stayed the same, as did all the pillows...

 Around the corner, at the front door
we have a closet whose door mysteriously vanished
(ok, *maybe* I tossed it because it was hideous!)


This curtain is actually a shower curtain
It was too short, so I added a gorgeous bit of antique lace
(salvaged from a nightgown!)
I used a tension rod, which meant I needed a pocket
instead of the hook holes you normally find on a shower curtain
I quickly stitched a length of canvas along the top, creating a pocked for the rod
works perfect and looks adorable!

We had a very plain cedar chest under our bay window...
I dragged this gorgeous French cedar chest home from the studio
and painted it Paris Grey with lots of dark wax
the raised details are painted in Pure White
This might be my favorite new piece...
it's definitely Kenny's favorite!

I purchased this fabulous chair at the Salvation Army
it's new (I've seen them at HomeGoods)
but I didn't have to do a thing to it!
I grabbed that table from the studio, too...
you can see it here

Once I finished all of this, I noticed our buffet-turned-entertainment center
looked so DARK...especially with the giant flat screen on top!
The TV is actually going to be wall-mounted, but that is beyond my skill!
(Kenny mounted a flat screen in our bedroom and it's awesome!)


So I stuck some cardboard under the feet, and started painting before I changed my mind!
In the "before" pic, you'll notice some drawer faces are missing...
we removed the body of the drawers, and mounted the drawer faces
with hinges that allow them to fold down so we can store electronics inside


 I wanted a chippy, milk paint type finish
but only brought chalk paint home from the studio...
plus, I did not want the mess of milk paint in my living room...


so I tinkered around and ended up with THIS!

Can you believe that's chalk paint??
Totally looks like chippy, distressed milk paint to me!


The room was looking a little too feminine, so I wanted a rustic,
very old looking piece here...
I couldn't be happier with the end result!
(disregard lack of staging and cardboard STILL under the feet!)

I accomplished all these projects primarily on my own,
in about three days time...
so stop procrastinating, and tackle the things you want to change in your home! 

What have YOU been dying to change but just keep putting off??