All New Shabby Chic Thread!

midnightraven3

here we are

http://www.jamjarshop.com/shop/product.asp?catid=3&pid=20

i have the gingham ones already
lakeland do them

and if you order before tomorrow
EASTER10 will get you 10% off

so i ordered lovely flip top bottles and a trug, just to make it worthwhile:D

tara747

midnightraven, can I come round for tea?

That reminds me, I keep my Bonne Maman jars and lids to use for storing things in, they are sooo pretty, even outside the kitchen.

midnightraven3

anytime tara
our kitchen is always a welcoming one
and there is always room for another one!!:D

glad i am not the only one who loves their pretty jars
everywhere!!!:T

annie-c

Thanks for the lovely comments

I must confess though, I m not an arty type at all. Everything I have done I have taken advice from people on forums, blogs and links found by asking Dr Google.... :j

The dresser took about 5 days all in all, not of constant work, but the odd hours here and there, allowing for paint to dry etc.

My top tip would be never ever to skimp on preparation and to buy the best quality materials you can afford... there is a point in every project at which I wish I had never started, and I am always pleaed with the result but I would never want to repeat any project again, due to poor prep.

It is important to sand down the surfaces to be painted properly, to give a good key for the paint to stick to. A mouse sander is invaluable for this! Primer/undercoat is also important, with a light sanding with very fine sand paper between coats. Always always give each coat time to dry properly, and take your time painting to get a fab finish.

Long Bank Holiday weekends are great for makeovers as you can start a project off, go out for the day, do another coat etc. Good to wait for dryer warmer weather too as you can do the sanding down out of doors and the warm air dries the pait quicker

midnightraven3

i asked this on the shabby chic thread, but no one seemed to have an answer for me,
have you ever used ESP? i am about to tackle a monster of a dresser, and it has very detailed doors, i have read a lot about ESP and it seems just the ticket, but no one else seems to use it so i was wondering if it wasnt as good as it claims or if peeps just hadnt heard of it

it preps even glass and tiles for painting

zippychick

midnight - I have no experience myself. Have you tried searching the DIY forum? Just a thought.

Seakay

I used ESP on formica(?) cupboard doors in a place I rented so that I could paint them. It worked really well.
A friend of mine used it on bathroom tiles so that he could paint them rather than replacing them

midnightraven3

ooooooooh no i didnt zippychick, thank you
i shall do that

its roughly £25 for the ESP, but when you take into account sanding and undercoat etc it works out i would think the same
this dresser will be used daily, so i need to get it right first time, and i am having a wall down, dresser in, and then a kitchen island built, so once its in, its in! i cannot afford mistakes, or it will need re stripped in situ

midnightraven3

did it stand up seakay? to the daily rigours of a busy kitchen?

tara747

midnightraven3 wrote: »

anytime tara
our kitchen is always a welcoming one
and there is always room for another one!!:D

glad i am not the only one who loves their pretty jars
everywhere!!!:T

Thanks!!!

*gets coat*