Thursday, June 10, 2010

~A DREAMY SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC MAKEOVER~

~SO FRENCH...SO FABULOUS~
Shabby Cottage Chic Wonderful
(I'm Thinking I'm Gonna Keep Her)

You know...when you love what you do you just LOVE WHAT YOU DO!  I'm not sure I'll EVER NOT LOVE turning furniture that has lived long past it's prime into lovely, attractive pieces for my home or for resale.   
~HERE SHE IS AGAIN~
(In Case You Missed The Before Shot)

Ever feel like that?  Do you ever get a rush when you find some junky, but amazing, little thing hidden in a dark corner of a tag sale or thrift shoppe and know in your heart it has HUGE potential?  I have a sneakin' little feeling you do!  YOU DO!

Still, if I drag ONE MORE THING HOME my Mr. AGPMan might just KILL ME!  If it wasn't for the nickles, niCKleS, NICKLES I earn he probably would.  I volun-tell him to do A LOT of stuff! :)

Anyway...

Earlier this week I began the makeover on the French Provincial Furniture I yapped about snagging from a Craig's List Ad last Saturday (I posted about it HERE if you want to go back and read it...it's just from a few days ago).  After doing some initial LIGHT sanding on the pieces (they were all in great shape!) I gave everything a couple coats of my favorite Primer, ZINSSER.  Now...I know I've blabbed about this before!  But, if you are a NEW FOLLOWER then you might have missed me singing the praises of this amazing product!  I love it.  Smooth as butter!
~ZINSSER PRIMER~

After allowing a couple of days for curing I painted all the French Provincial pieces out with Behr's Cottage White Paint in Satin.  Now peeps...I did this the old-fashioned way.  No spray gun here (although I do use one for SOME projects).  There's just something about the look and feel of hand brush painted furniture.  True Shabby Cottage Chic!  And, I personally like the outcome much better when finished off with a soft sponge brush vs. the one I get when I use the paint machine.  Takes a lot more time to do but I personally think it's less trouble in the long run!
~REMOVE YOUR HARDWARE FIRST~

Now...here are some tips for you...  Things I've learned over the past twenty few years about painting furniture.  If you are NOT going to use a paint gun, REMOVE the hardware first.  There is no way you are going to get a good, flat surface for your paint if you are trying to get your paint around handles and knobs.  It's worth the trouble.  Even if you plan on going back and glazing (or antiquing) a piece later on it's still worth the hassle.  Less drips, runs and globs.

~SPRAY KNOBS FIRST~

I ALWAYS spray paint my metal knobs and handles with Krylon Spray Primer BEFORE painting them out by hand.  This gives a good base from gripping the brush paint.  Once dry I chose to distress the ones you see with a small piece of sandpaper before attaching to the furniture!  

Once all the hardware was back in place I lightly distressed all the pieces.  Because the furniture was originally fairly light in color it isn't a dramatic effect, but it's a noticeable one just the same.  I love it!
~CHEST OF DRAWERS~

Here's a shot of the Chest while it was drying!  I'm soooo impatient.  That single most UNDESIRABLE TRAIT has gotten me into LOTS and LOTS of trouble during my life... :( :( :(

Today I'm back in my studio as I have lots of things in the making...  

"I owe!  I owe!  So off to CREATE I go!"

Blessings as you live a wonderful, jammed packed, creative day...

Love to you~

35 comments:

Tanza said...

Ooohh my gosh Rebecca,
Just stunning, beautiful, and PeRfEcT for the Romantic Cottage loving girlie !! It has the softest sheen to the paint (makes wipin' off)Soo much easier .. I'm always amazed how FAST you get your work done, especially cuz I KNOW you are quite the PERFECTIONIST .. would never sell something that you wouldn't proudly display in your own beautiful home !!

I LoVe seeing everything you make over .. Quite the blessed one you are .. Now, goo run, and get back to paintin'.. Happy day sweet friend ~
HugGeRs ~tea~ xo

Denise@alloverroses said...

It came out beautiful! I am impatient too! I want it finished immediately! lol I got an estimate to have my bedroom set redone in white and distressed. I almost choked! $5,000 - $6,000 I said WHAT! It's still stained wood! lol
Have a beautiful day!
Denise

Nancy's Notes said...

Oh the rush Rebecca, know it well! It's the best ever! Thanks for all the painting tips, got such a kick out of reading your post! I love your humor, it's just great!

Not let that dry now!

Nancy

Patty C. said...

Looks Wonderful :)

Unknown said...

Another wonderful re-creation by you, Rebecca! It was lovely before, now it is awesome ... enjoy! Don't forget to show us where you place it within your home, dressed in all its glory with your beautiful treasures adorning it.

Have a beau-TEA-ful day ~
Hugs, Marydon

Brenda ~ The Heminger Farmhouse said...

OMG!! I'd be keeping that beauty myself too!! Dreamy is an understatement! Now I can't wait to see the other pieces finished :) I too have little to no patience...as soon as I bring something home, I want to get right to work on transforming it! But sometimes I have to wait if the weather isn't cooperating :( Darn!! LOL :)

Have a wonderful & creative rest of the week and upcoming weekend!

Warmest Hugs, Brenda

Anonymous said...

G A W G E O U S !!!!!

i love it!

ciao bella
creative carmelina

Anonymous said...

It came out so very beautiful.I have one just like it in my bedroom. I bought it at the salvation army many years ago.I painted it, and still love it. Great job....Kathy

Lisa said...

Rebecca,
You need to keep this gorgeous piece! It is simply toooo beautiful to let go. I missed the primer class, so thanks for the review.:)

Anonymous said...

Hi Rebecca,thanks so much for all the sweet comments. I'm so happy you enjoy my blog.I would be more then thrilled for you to post about my blog!!Thank you for that. I bought the carpet last year at the carpet store where we live in new jersey. The color is naturel wild oats.I'll have to find out what company makes it.I thought that the color would go with everything.Thanks again,Kathy

Mosaic Magpie said...

Rebecca,
I can see why you would want to keep them. Thanks for telling us about the primer. A good paint job is all in the preperation. My Mother had recently used the Behr paints and said it was the best she has ever used. So you seconded that opinion, I'll use it for my next painting project.
Debbie

Mari said...

HELLO SWEET PEA....
WOW WEE HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE TURNED OUT!!! I DONT BLAME YOU ONE BIT FOR DECIDING TO KEEP THAT BEAUTY :)I KNOW I WOULDN'T PART WITH HER EITHER :)

HUGS TO YOU DEAR ONE~XOXO~MARI

Simply Debbie said...

Hello Sweet Rebecca,
Beautiful transformation. Who would not be proud to own something for their home that you spent putting such love into.
You, girlie, have been blessed with an amazing talent.
A sad week-end in a way as we are helping move Richie and Megan to Lawrence, Kansas. I know it is only 4 1/2 hours away but I have become accustom to seeing him every day since Amy went to heaven.
But I am very happy for them.
love to you precious friend
Simply Debbie

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Thanks for the tip about the products you use.
I would keep the dresser too! It's lovely. I think all of your treasures are lovely.
I have a FEW pieces that need to be painted...blog or paint???
Warmly,
Deb :)

Anonymous said...

LOVE!!! Wonderful job, Rebecca! ♥

Margie said...

Very Pretty! I always love to see your furniture make~overs! Margie:)

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Rebecca,
I just finished one similar to yours just a few weeks ago and yes, I kept it!
It was just too pretty to sell. Maybe I will get over it soon! LOL

Your tips are great. I like painting with a brush also. However, I have never tried that product for priming.
I think I might try it.

hugs
Sissie

Ginger said...

Oh Miss R. you did a wonderful job and it is beau-teeeeee-ful!!! I would keep it too. You always transform your furniture into such pieces of beauty. Thank you for a refresher course in painting furniture. Thanks so much also for welcoming Tammy to blogland!!

Hugs to you
Ginger

Lisa said...

I love it!! Thanks for sharing I will think about this for my set! I am moving things around to get them in my room and would be great to do this!!!
They look great♥
Hugs, Lisa

Rebecca said...

OMGMGMG!!! It is FABULOUS!!! Thanks for all the wonderful tips! If you don't keep it...I want it!!! BTW, I have put your giveaway on my sidebar...and I am already a follower. I'm going to be blogging about it tonight! It is such a fabulous and generous giveway, indeed! Ok, gonna scoot so I can get my post up!

Huggles,
Rebecca

Rose said...

just beautiful. thanks for the tips you shared. rose

Dolores said...

Oh my, it turned out so beautiful, but then.... your work is always beautiful.
Rebecca..... do you ever rest?

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

This turned out just as beautiful as I thought it would, Rebecca! Is it in your bedroom yet? :0)

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Tammy Neal said...

Hi Rebecca!

I know that sense of excitement that can be experienced when you paint an ugly piece of dark furniture a pure shade of white. I have painted every single piece of wood furniture in my home, all of my kitchen cabinets, all of my bathroom cabinets, every base board in the entire house and I even took the doors off the hinges in every room to paint them white too. It is really amazing how a few coats of white paint can transform a piece of furniture and you have done an outstanding job with this piece . . . yet again! Thank you so much for sharing your tips with us and thank you for being you . . . a darling, sweet, hilarious, and very talented beautiful woman. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your comments. It is encouraging to us newcomers when someone with so much talent and experience bothers to check us out. Blessings to you my sweet friend! xoxo Tammy

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Rebecca,
I just love the way it turned out!! Just gorgeous!!
And thnaks so much for all of the great tips on painting and using primer!!

Hugs,
Debbie

cottagepinkperfection said...

Another masterpiece! I do the same thing. I drag stuff home to refurbish and sell, and I can never part with it. It's an addiction. LOL! My husband knows better than to tell me no more. Can't wait to see what you do next!

Hugs,
Marie

Pondside said...

Just joined your site - I've dropped by before, but now I don't want to miss a post. Thanks for your generous sharing of tips - it's a big help to a novice like me!

Jennifer said...

Rebecca, I prefer hand painting too. In fact, when I was younger and in my first apartment, I actually painted walls with a brush (But I am so over that now)
I am also an artist, so that could explain the brush preference, but like you, I think the brush strokes just give a piece more personality.

Now, why don't I find stuff like this on CL????

Carol said...

Ohhhhh,,did this Before & After transmation turn out ~BEAUTIFUL~ or what? I am thinking that would be a piece of furniture that would be hard to part with. Love the gentle, elegant curved lines on the bureau drawers.

That Craig's List is a neat place to visit. I am seriously going to search for an antique double/full bed for Little Miss "A's" room. With all your paint instructions I think I can do a makover.

Have a great day Creating..I don't see any grass growing under your feet..you are one BUSY woman.

Blessings
Carol from Good 'OL Texas

Victorian1885 said...

Good morning Rebecca
Your new piece turned out perfectly! Can't wait to see the other pieces..have a good weekend my friend!
Hugs,
Wanda

Laura said...

My FAVORITE thing about this post, besides the wonderful instructions is this:

volun-tell!

I love that!

Laura

VM Creation Atelier said...

OH,my dear Rebecca!-)*

Million Thanks you for placing my button on the sidebar by you enchanted beautiful place here!

Always with Love for you,
***Violetta***

Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss said...

I've seen a lot of white painted furniture. I've even painted quite a few pieces white myself in my quest to go cottage style but this piece is absolutely STUNNING! I love the beautiful curves and details. You did a wonderful job making it look fresh and new again. :)

Sandra said...

Hi Rebecca! How are you? I hope you are doing great! I haven't posted in my blog in a little while because I have been so busy. I love love this piece! Girl, you did a great job! I think it matches the table I had bought a while back. It is beautiful! Have a wonderful Sunday!
Sandra

Deanna said...

Rebecca, this is sooooooo pretty...luv it!

You have done a fabulous job on this piece.
God bless,
d

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