Shabby Chic; Volume III

EagerLearner

TBOS yes definately clean and sand your wooden surfaces before painting, unless you have just bought new unpainted pine etc for example.

I have used F&B with no probs, expensive but a lovely matt finish.
Eggshell is a pretty standard finish for wood, all shops should have it and I always get mine from Homebase.

B&Q have similar paints to F&B, their own version of luxury paint type thing, I used one can't remember the name but the name of the colour was 'Crochet', looked great.

anguk

TryingToBeOldStyle wrote: »

Wow you have all done some fantastic work!!

Im new to all this (new to just decorating lol!!) Anyway we'd like to repaint our bedside tables and a couple of other things and I was hoping for a bit of advice please

I guess we have to sand them and then paint them? Ive seen that you mostly recommend F&B but Ive just had a quick google and there seems to be very mixed reviews about their paint, is it really good or bad? What are the other alternatives? Also where do you get it from? Ive seen that post people use the 'eggshell' finish but you can't get that in Homebase, B&Q etc.. so where do you all get it from?

Thank you in advance! I hope to be posting pictures of my make overs soon

I have a painter friend and he says most professionals don't rate F&B at all, he reckons it's a "store-brand quality paint with an expensive price tag because it's fashionable at the moment", he likens it to buying designer clothes just because it's got a "name". I can't say if that's true or not because I've never personally used it (mainly because of the price) but I do think they have a lovely range of colours. I've always just used Crown or Dulux eggshell or satinwood when painting furniture.

Bibbitybob

TryingToBeOldStyle wrote: »

Wow you have all done some fantastic work!!

Im new to all this (new to just decorating lol!!) Anyway we'd like to repaint our bedside tables and a couple of other things and I was hoping for a bit of advice please

I guess we have to sand them and then paint them? Ive seen that you mostly recommend F&B but Ive just had a quick google and there seems to be very mixed reviews about their paint, is it really good or bad? What are the other alternatives? Also where do you get it from? Ive seen that post people use the 'eggshell' finish but you can't get that in Homebase, B&Q etc.. so where do you all get it from?

Thank you in advance! I hope to be posting pictures of my make overs soon

I don't rate F&B emulsion (get trade paint mixed up to match ) but I love their eggshell for painting furniture. It may be pricier than other brands but I find it goes further (less coats needed) and applies better when new, although when the tin's a bit old it's not as nice to work with. I buy my F&B eggshell from Homebase.

Definitely sand, undercoat and paint. If you have time I'd suggest reading through this thread as there's lots of tips from people who have painted furniture.

Do come back and show us your makeovers! :T

Bibbitybob

I bought some lovely shabby chic bits from the car boot this morning - bright red vintage paraffin lamp, enamel hanging basket, bright plant pot, fisherman's basket/hamper (LOVE this!!), silk flowers and a piece of floral oilcloth, all for less than a fiver (all on my blog, but happy to put photos here if anyone's interested).

I've been very exciteable this weekend because OH & my Dad finally put my new Summerhouse up for me - cue lots of painting and prettifying! I still need to paint the inside but we had my parents over for a BBQ today and decided to pretty it up anyway. Just wish I could remember where the other curtain is!!

LJM

that looks great bibbitybob x

TryingToBeOldStyle

That looks wonderful bibbitybob!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your advice, Ill have a look in homebase for the F&B paint then, I looked online but it just lists their emulsion

When you're painting things like hanging baskets and mirrors what paint do you use then? Ive been having a read through the thread (backwards but who said it needed to be read the right way lol) and Ive seen that some of you use spray paint for items, would you use that for mirrors and hanging basket type things?

Ooooo Im so excited and looking at your pictures has made me even more excited!!!

Oh one last question for now, we don't have a sander so Im hoping to find one at the carboot tomorrow, is it a belt sander I need?


Hmmm ok this really is the last question.... how far does a tin of F&B eggshell go? Like would one tin do a welsh dresser? Or a table and chairs?

annie-c

TryingToBeOldStyle wrote: »

That looks wonderful bibbitybob!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your advice, Ill have a look in homebase for the F&B paint then, I looked online but it just lists their emulsion

When you're painting things like hanging baskets and mirrors what paint do you use then? Ive been having a read through the thread (backwards but who said it needed to be read the right way lol) and Ive seen that some of you use spray paint for items, would you use that for mirrors and hanging basket type things?

Ooooo Im so excited and looking at your pictures has made me even more excited!!!

Oh one last question for now, we don't have a sander so Im hoping to find one at the carboot tomorrow, is it a belt sander I need?


Hmmm ok this really is the last question.... how far does a tin of F&B eggshell go? Like would one tin do a welsh dresser? Or a table and chairs?

Spray paint would be ideal for hanging baskets and mirrors but go very easy with it and build up light layers as otherwise it will run.

I used approx 1 litre f and b oil eggshell for a small welsh dresser. It goes quite far. Best to do a couple of light coats rather than one thick one. For any carved bits, you need to wipe most of the paint back off the brish so it coats without dripping or collecting in the nooks and crannies.

A belt sander is good for doing large flat surfaces evenly and removing all the existing paint varnish (eg a table or dresser top). A mouse sander is best for just roughing up surfaces and getting into corners and along small areas. For table and chair legs, I find it best to fold a sheet of sandpaper into a strip, hold an end in each hand and use a sawing motion to rub the finish off by hand. I use all three methods. I have small hands and find that the cheapy brand sander sold in lidl, Asda etc are better for me to hold. The 'mansize' brands eg Black and Decker etc are designed for men and are harder to hold. Unless you are going into business the cheapy brands are more than good enough for occasional use. My hand sander was £10 in asda and my belt sander £25 in Aldi, both with free sandpaper.

Bibbitybob

TryingToBeOldStyle wrote: »

When you're painting things like hanging baskets and mirrors what paint do you use then? Ive been having a read through the thread (backwards but who said it needed to be read the right way lol) and Ive seen that some of you use spray paint for items, would you use that for mirrors and hanging basket type things?

Ooooo Im so excited and looking at your pictures has made me even more excited!!!

Oh one last question for now, we don't have a sander so Im hoping to find one at the carboot tomorrow, is it a belt sander I need?


Hmmm ok this really is the last question.... how far does a tin of F&B eggshell go? Like would one tin do a welsh dresser? Or a table and chairs?

I'd use spray paint for hanging baskets, and depending how decorative the mirror frame is - if it's fairly plain I just use regular paint.

I've never used anything but sheets of sandpaper. And electric sander would be nice, but I wouldn't say it's a necessary expense. I just make sure the surface is nicely distressed, then plenty of undercoat & primer.

I think I used a full tin for my round table & 4 chairs - lots of fiddly bits and two coats on each. It goes a long way.

TryingToBeOldStyle

A huge thank you to you for answering those questions Im really glad I joined this thread, you're all very friendly and helpful :j

annie-c

Just to add, when you paint the mirror frame, it is well worth removing the mirror glass first, even if it is a faff, removing the staples. You can leave it and clean the glass after, but you get the best finish by removoving it.

Further to bibbity's comment above, if the frame is very plain then I often use a washing up sponge dipped in the paint and wipe it onto the frame. Gives a really smooth finish!