Rustic French Country Milk & Chalk Paint Grandfather's Clock Makeover

Today I'm sharing a rustic French country painted Grandfather's clock that I made over using both Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint.  I love using both types of paint on the same piece and have been doing it for a couple of years because I really like the crusty, rustic, layered effect that I can achieve by layering ASCP and MMS (with bonding agent).

Reader Painted Furniture DIY Help #2: Maureen's Chalk Painted French Linen Armoire Cabinet

The second reader painted furniture piece in this year's series is Maureen's armoire. To tell you the truth, I wondered if someone would have an armoire to paint this year after Nancy's  fabulous armoire which we transformed using ASCP Provence with dark wax, last year so I was really excited when Maureen messaged me about her pine cupboard. 

If you haven't seen Nancy's cabinet, you really should (click the link above to view the original post). It's one of my most popular painted furniture projects with over 7,500 pins and shares to date!

10 Minute Makeover: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Miss Mustard Seed White Wax

                                                                     Ten minutes.  

                                                                                                                                                   Literally. 

That's exactly how long it took for me to make over the frames on these two fabulous owl prints using Annie Sloan chalk paint in "Graphite" and some Miss Mustard Seed White Wax.  

                                                                          Ten minutes.... including the four minutes that it took me to put the tape around them so that I didn't make a big mess all over the glass.

American Paint Company Paint and Wax Review: Piano Bench Makeover

Today, I'd like to introduce you to yet another furniture paint brand: American Paint Company clay/chalk/mineral based paint and clear wax.  I'm using the color "Dollar Bill", a beautiful medium blue green (slightly more gray than MMS Kitchen Scale and more blue than Annie Duck Egg) and "Home Plate"  a warm neutral white (a good compare to MMS Ironstone or Annie Old White) with clear wax to make over a piano bench.

Chalk Painted Child Dresser & Painted Furniture Care

Today I'm sharing this darling blue and white, nautical-inspired dresser makeover using Annie Sloan chalk paint and Valspar textured lime wash as well as giving you alternate paints to use for this look. As I was writing this post I also realized that I have never discussed how to care for painted furniture so I'm also sharing a few tips about how I care for and maintain my painted pieces which have been finished with wax.

Chalk Painted Mason Jar with Paper Flag Banner

As I'm writing this post, I'm wondering to myself whether or not anyone will actually read it.  After all, there have been hundreds of posts about painted Mason Ball jars over the last couple of years. Chalk paint, milk paint, spray paint. Yes, I realize that pretty much everyone has already painted mason jars and used them for parties...and pencil holders but you know me, I don't like to rush into things.

Help with YOUR DIY #4: Chalk Painted Vanity and Mirror Transformation

Today I'm sharing the big reveal for the final transformation in my "Help with YOUR DIY" series: Sadie's Vintage Dressing Table with Mirror. This piece is a little different because, instead of helping her to paint this piece, Sadie commissioned me to paint it for her. If you were wondering whether I'm available to custom paint furniture, the answer is absolutely, Yes! If you're interested, send me a message and we can discuss details.

Free Help with YOUR DIY #1: Rachel's Chalk Painted Corner Cabinet

Things have been a little slow around the Refined home since I put most of my "projects" into a storage locker in late May.   Needless to say, it's been a three weeks and I'm looking for something to do.

Roadside Rescue Side Table Chalk Paint/Tinted Wax Makeover: Before and After

Have I ever told you about Amnesty Day in our village? I know that I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago on Facebook and I'll bet that some of you wondered what in the heck I was referring to while others of you who know me and who happen to live in the Western Chicago 'burbs probably just laughed to yourselves...

Before and After: La Craie Gray and White French Painted Cabinet Makeover

By now you probably know that I LOVE painted furniture...especially when it's French!  I also love a good before and after so I'm especially glad that you stopped by today because I'd love to tell you all about my very first experience with La Craie paint and to introduce you to my latest "junk to jewel" painted French furniture transformation...meet Linnea.

French Rooster Kitchen Lamp Chalk Paint Makeover

I like to think that I usually have a pretty good eye for detail but sometimes,  I've got to admit that I'm completely oblivious.

Take this lamp, for example.

DIY Chalkboard Wall Calender

Dear Thistlewood Chalkboard Wall Calender,

You big hunk (of amazing roadside rescue "junk"), I adore you.  I want you. No, wait,  I need you in my life.

French Style Side Chair Makeover {Chalk Paint and Vintage Linen}

Can I just tell you that there's nothing like fracturing my wrist to make me want to reupholster furniture...

                                                                                                                                  ...no, really, I mean it.

Side Table Makeover {Painted Furniture}

Have you been watching the PBS series, "Downton Abbey"?  I haven't...that is....until last weekend, when I purchased Seasons one and two on DVD and finally sat down to see what it was that everyone was talking about.  I have to admit, I was hooked after the first episode.

Once Upon a Time: Child's Story Time Seat

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a tiny foot rest, that came to live in a house in the suburbs.  It was a sad little foot rest. Really too small to be of much use but just too darned cute not to hang on to.

Rust Remover - Failing "Grace"-fully

Meet "Grace". Back in February, (Yes, you read that right, I said "February", four months ago, don't mock me. At least it was 2012) she looked like this:

"Grace" and I go way back. I bought her at an estate sale in 1985 from my friend, Grace. I've had her since I was single. She's been a china cabinet, a linen closet, and most recently, storage for my sons' WarHammer Army. Poor girl, banished to the basement where I'm sure that she thought I'd forgotten her.  I thought, back in February when I hauled her upstairs from the dungeon basement,  that I would refinish her using Tea and Rust. I also thought that I'd have her done by Easter. I also thought that I'd be win the lottery last weekend because I actually played. Clearly, sometimes, I have no clue.  I abandoned the rust idea after two weeks of misery coupled with finding this post at one of my favorite blogs French Country Cottage. It had the most glorious grey armoire in it.
                                                         

After seeing that cabinet, the decision to paint "Grace" grey was an easy one.  Pretty much any decision would have been an easy one after the "rust debacle." Well, other than what color the hairdresser should highlight my hair this time and what to make for dinner, but other than that...

 One of my favorite sayings.

 Here are the deet's on Grace's makeover: Since I'm storing linens in this cabinet, I painted the interior using latex paint: Leftover Benjamin Moore,Tranquility on the walls and BM Bavarian Creme on the shelves. Then,  I painted the entire exterior of the cabinet, using ASCP in Paris Grey as the base then white washing using thinned ASCP in Olde White. The carved details and trim were painted using homemade chalk paint made from Benjamin Moore Tranquility,  a custom blue/purple color and ASCP, Olde White.  I followed with a light sanding to gently distress just a few places.

Then, I applied striped scrapbook paper to the two pediments using Matte Mod Podge. The remaining design, and the words in the center of the top valance, I hand painted. I used the original hardware after I rubbed it with a little silver rub n buff and sprayed the plastic parts for the lower cabinet pulls with white spray paint made for plastic.

After it was dry, I waxed with clear wax. I'm still not sure, I may put some dark wax just in the carved areas but right now, I'm happy that, for the first time in  FOUR MONTHS,  it's out of the middle of the hallway and no one has  to worry about stubbing their toes or poking their eye out when trying to get to their room tonight.

 

  I added a few of my favorite things: old lace, lavender, some transfer ware, my sons' baby cups, and other stuff that was just hanging around on the top of the dresser and a chair in my bedroom and making it nearly impossible to dust without spending ten minutes moving everything and forcing me to sit on the bed when I wanted to read.

SO much better, don't you think so? I'm saving the rust for another project. Because I'm willful...and I'm not going to let a jar full of rust get the better of me!

xo,




Linking to:
At The Picket Fence
Bliss Ranch
Cedar Hill Ranch
Domestically Speaking
Freckled Laundry
Full Circle Creations
Funky Junk
Get Outta My Head Please
KraftyKat
Live Laugh Rowe 
Miss Mustard Seed
Primp
Tatertots and Jello
The Bold Abode!
The Creative Paige
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Uncommonly Yours

Featured at:

Updating Bath Vanities: Chalky Paint Recipe

 
Last night, after work, I updated two bathroom vanities and a mirror for friends of mine. The vanities are in a home that they will soon have available for rent.  All of the pieces were in good shape but were a little dated. My friends didn't want to spend the money to replace them and they also wanted something that would blend in with the fresh, updated, neutral, decor that they chose for the entire house. (Sorry for the color in these photos but it was night and there was no natural light available.)

 

Since the painters who were painting the rest of the interior were using Benjamin Moore White and I didn't have an ASCP color that would match, I made my own chalk paint.
Chalky Paint Recipe:
2 parts paint, 1 part Plaster of Paris and just a little water. That's it. Mix well and you're on your way!
I've made and used this recipe, the one that calls for unsanded grout, and actual ASCP.  I'll admit that ASCP is, hands down, the easiest of the three to work with but for these applications, I sand well and  once the wax is on, I really can't tell the difference.

 I almost forgot to take a "before" photo of the mirror!

The entire project took just over six hours from start to finish. This included removing all of the hardware, wiping down the cabinets, painting, distressing, and then putting it all back together when I finished. I even reused the original knobs and hinges! I ended up using about 3 cups of paint and 1 1/2 cups of Plaster of Paris to do this project.

 

 

Not too bad for a few hours on a Tuesday night! 

xo,

S

Linking to:

Primitive and Proper 

"Enamel" Tag Tutorial and My First AS Chalk Paint Piece

As I mentioned in my last post, I got this chest last fall at Nellie's Barn Sale. I've been too chicken waiting for just the right time to paint it.  Sunday evening turned out to be the "right time". Since I had been painting the dining room anyway, I just rinsed the latex paint out of my brushes and brought out the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.