All New Shabby Chic Thread!

Twinkles08

Kevie192 wrote: »

Hmmm, for some reason people on this thread like to pretend I don't exist! Perhaps I should get the hint...

Please don't think that:pIt has been extremely quiet on here in the last few days.
With regards to painting,I think brushes do make a big difference as does preparation (sanding down etc).I borrowed some small brushes from my dad the other day and they are pants.Even though I'm using farrow and ball as norm the finish is terrible.
By the way your have to get in line for the dresser,behind me!Ha ha

lostinrates

Kevie192 wrote: »

Hi everyone

Some excellent finds on here... I REALLY love that dresser - would look fab in my living room.

I am so envious of all your painting... I always seem to get bad brush strokes when I paint wooden furniture. Any advice here, before I put down my brush for good? Is it the quality of the brush perhaps?

Kevin x

I guess a lot is about practising. Are you overloading your brush? Sanding between coats? brushing in different directions? I haven't painted for ages so I guess I'll be relearning soon.

tiff

I think brush quality is important, my step Dad uses Harris brushes that dont lose hairs, there are no brush marks at all on my dresser and he used Laura Ashley paint (dont know if that makes a difference either)

agatha_misty

Kevie192 wrote: »

Hi everyone

Some excellent finds on here... I REALLY love that dresser - would look fab in my living room.

I am so envious of all your painting... I always seem to get bad brush strokes when I paint wooden furniture. Any advice here, before I put down my brush for good? Is it the quality of the brush perhaps?

Kevin x

Hi Kevin

I'm quite new to all this too, my first project was a table but the brushmarks showed through a little. At the moment I am painting a wardrobe which we have had about 6 years now, its a large 'cheapy pine' one from Ikea and to get round the brushmarks on the large areas I have been using a mini roller and tray - just make sure you leave the coats to dry inbetween as directed on the tin, Good luck :T

agatha_misty

xxvickixx wrote: »

Crusty, you have been hard at work. Love the dresser, it's so pretty the way you've um, dressed it!
Claire gret bits from the boot sale. Tea cup candles sound adorable.

As promised the tray, sewing box and mugs...

Before and after...



My sewing box:


I painted the wicker on the tray with the CK paint and glued a Laura Ashley paper sample on top, I plan to give a few coats of varnish but it's quite wrinkly, any thoughts?
I'll do the box up another time as I think it will take me a while and it's not so awful that I need to do it straight away.

I ordered the lovely paper for the bathroom, I really can't wait!

Wow I am loving the tray - Is that Laura Ashley summer palace wallpaper I can spy? :rotfl: I love this paper !!.
Those mugs are lovely too - very pretty

crusty_toenail

Hi Kevie and Twinkles,

sorry just on now, so didnt see your questions re brushes and chair painting etc.

Kevie we bought cheap brushes at the start and they tended to leave more brush strokes and hair went straggily after a while, so buy good quality brushes.

When varnishing don't put too much varnish on at the one time as it can run and leave drip mark thingies.

Twinkles we sanded down the wooden chairs, applied one coat of primer, and 3 coats of homebase classic cream. Don't prime below varnish only paint.

The best varnish we found was Homebase Quick Dry Varnish (satin) n Walnut. We did the fireplace, dresser top, chair backs and seats with this. It was much better than the Ronseal Walnut which gives a reddish colour.

I really can't stress enough how easy it is to do a dresser. We sanded on Friday night after work, primed later that night, and pained and varnished on the Saturday. Then went to Dunelim Mill and got some cheap decorations to put on it!

hope this helps you to DIY, you get such a reward knowing you have created it yourself!!!

xxvickixx

agatha_misty wrote: »

Wow I am loving the tray - Is that Laura Ashley summer palace wallpaper I can spy? :rotfl: I love this paper !!.
Those mugs are lovely too - very pretty

Yes indeed it is, it's the nicest paper I have ever seen but there was no way I'd be allowed that on the walls!

xxvickixx

Lost, of course I will post pictures. I'm quite happy with the way things are going so far and although it's not perfect I think it's pretty presentable. I took some before photos so you can see the difference when it's done.

I'm wondering whether it's a good idea or not to paper the inside of the doors, they are shaker style and have a flat square panel that I could cut some paper to fit. The reason being it would save quite a bit of painting and sanding and would look pretty. I think one roll would be plenty and I might be able to pick up a bargain roll somewhere. I have two glazed doors which seemed a good idea at the time, however they just show off our clutter so I might paper behind the glass too...

If this is madness and there'sa good reason why I should not do this please someone stop me!

lostinrates

xxvickixx wrote: »

Lost, of course I will post pictures. I'm quite happy with the way things are going so far and although it's not perfect I think it's pretty presentable. I took some before photos so you can see the difference when it's done.

I'm wondering whether it's a good idea or not to paper the inside of the doors, they are shaker style and have a flat square panel that I could cut some paper to fit. The reason being it would save quite a bit of painting and sanding and would look pretty. I think one roll would be plenty and I might be able to pick up a bargain roll somewhere. I have two glazed doors which seemed a good idea at the time, however they just show off our clutter so I might paper behind the glass too...

If this is madness and there'sa good reason why I should not do this please someone stop me!

I'd be concerned it would peel up and look ragged with use. Also, I'm quite messy an have to wash down my cupboard doors once/twice a year/...varnishing might be as hard work. My plan was to paint the inside a colour I love that would be too much for the outside...a cerise or a violet, or chartreuse. Something that made me happy but wasn't on display. Like good, matching underwear

CraftyDeb

Wow this thread just keeps growing. Crusty love all your makeovers - your dresser looks completely different painted - so fresh and I love how you accessorised it. Love the chair makeover - sorry can't remember who it was as I'm doing this from memory! lol