Shabby Chic; Volume III

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

annie-c wrote: »

What do you experts think? Has anyone tried this combination? My kitchen accessories are mixed (I don't like to be too matchy matchy) so there will be accents of red, stainless steel, glass and more cream floating around.

I would love your advice, please! :T

I had it in my last flat in the living room. The red worked well with it (in the form of a red rug, red plant pot, red patterned cushions and a couple of accessories), and the pale colours softened the brightness, IYSWIM.

The kitchen was sugared almond pink - wayyyyy before pink was trendy - mainly because it was the colour left outside the flats by the bins by someone else :whistle: I was laughed at until the pastel kitchen gear started turning up in shops

nannaC

littlereen wrote: »

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63364389@N05/5764985950/

I have recently purchased an old dressing table which I want to paint (I've had a go at inserting a picture above, not sure if it will have worked).
Its oak, but I want it white, my dad wants to shoot me for even considering painting it, so I need to get it right or he might never speak to me again lol.

Firstly, it has handles, and I want to put crystal knobs on - if I get some wood filler and sand it down will the old drill holes be noticeable once painted?

Secondly, I'm not sure what to prep and paint it with. I've had a good read through this thread but am not quite sure with the whole water/oil based debate. The dressing table isn't very shiny, so I think it has minimal varnish if any currently. I want to get a good finish (without brush stroke marks), but don't want the paint to go yellow.

Could someone please recommend whether to go for an oil/water based primer and paint? Also what do you tend to varnish your pieces with afterwards? The table has glass pieces that go on the working surfaces so it will be quite protected from wear and tear.

Thank you!

Hi you can get waterbased satinwood paint, however when ever I paint old furniture I use matt emulsion as you can use it directly onto the bare wood [no need to undercoat] and it dies not tend to leave brush strokes once dry I then rub back in places [on edges, corners near handles to make shabby chic look] I then finish with a coat of water based clear MATT or SATIN varnish. This seals the paint, ready for waxing/polishing, [it is best to test a tiny bit first as it can sometimes darken the paint slightly]

tara747

Hi all, loving your work as ever!!!

I have had the perfect shabby chic day! Discovered a new charity shop with v. cheap clothes and scarves that I can cut up and use for my newfound crafty passion (making cushion covers, rosettes, brooches etc), plus buttons (40 for £2 - some really pretty ones), a beautiful framed picture for £1, an enormous set of threads (about 60 colours!) for £2. :beer: And my mum gave me a necklace she doesn't want anymore with lots of black and clear jewels on it (2 are missing so she can't wear it) - the jewels come off quite easily and will be fab on my brooches!

Also went into a local homeware shop which was having a HUGE sale - I got Kilner jars for £2, a huge old fashioned sweet shop style jar for £1, two Russian doll mugs for £1 each and several floral biscuit tin/coffee tin/cake tin sets for just £2 each! They are absolutely stunning, I almost cleared the shelf! I must post a picture of them on here to let you see them. What am I going to do with them all??? :rotfl: I guess I will be ok for storage for a while...

irishgirl62

nannaC wrote: »

Hi you can get waterbased satinwood paint, however when ever I paint old furniture I use matt emulsion as you can use it directly onto the bare wood [no need to undercoat] and it dies not tend to leave brush strokes once dry I then rub back in places [on edges, corners near handles to make shabby chic look] I then finish with a coat of water based clear MATT or SATIN varnish. This seals the paint, ready for waxing/polishing, [it is best to test a tiny bit first as it can sometimes darken the paint slightly]

I use this method too I use FB emulsion and then use water based varnish over it.

Bibbitybob

annie-c wrote: »

I have just painted my vile lemon kitchen cupboard doors in F & B Dimity (cream). I also have an oak dresser in Dimity. My worktops are natural beech and my flooring is a beige tile. I was originally planning to have cream walls but now think it might be cream overload.

I have some very pretty Laura Ashley emulsion in pale eau de nil, which was going to be used for the spare bedroom, but now I am thinking of swapping the colours over and having the kitchen in pale eau de nil instead.

What do you experts think? Has anyone tried this combination? My kitchen accessories are mixed (I don't like to be too matchy matchy) so there will be accents of red, stainless steel, glass and more cream floating around.

I would love your advice, please! :T

That sounds lovely! I painted my last kitchen cupboards with Dimity, had cream tiles and a pale green on the walls - I loved it! If you look far enough back on here or my blog I'm sure there'll be a pic somewhere

MrsMoo2U

I love the sound of the eau de nil in the kitchen with cream. I would love to change my kitchen cupboards. They are currently green and we have real oak worktops which are gorgeous. OH's house so he chose the kitchen because he wanted it country with a twist. It is lovely but the kitchen doesnt get a lot of light. I am trying to convince him that we could paint the doors but he is quite reluctant and thinks it would be easier to buy new doors.

Bibbitybob

Apologies if you've already read all about these on my blog, but thought I'd show you all the shabby chic door handles I bought last week! Linky here.

They're so sparkly and pretty, I can't believe what a difference they've made. I still need to strip and paint all the doors though, so it's a bit more shabby than chic at the moment.

I picked up these holdbacks from Wilkinson's too - much cheaper than the ones I was admiring in Laura Ashley.

And sort of along the shabby chic lines, because I want to fill them with veggies and cottage garden flowers but my Dad made me some raised beds from recycled wood. Planning to paint them and distress them a bit (plus they'll get distressed naturally outside!). Linky to the pic here.

annie-c

littlereen wrote: »

Thank you! That makes things a lot clearer. So you find water based paitn durable enough on its own? I've heard people mention that it isn't very durable - although I guess that might be down to the quality of paint used?

I use oil-based where possible because I find it more durable (I am quite clumsy - a more gentle person may not need paint to be so durable!). I don't like the chipped paint look so oil-based is more practical for me. If you like the true shabby chic look with sanded edges, then durability won't be such an issue. It is entirely a personal choice and both finishes can look lovely, I am just a bit of a neat freak so I prefer the no-chip look in my own kitchen.

I madeover my dresser with F & B oil-based eggshell 4 years ago now and, apart from a single touch up on the corner of one of the doors, the paintwork is still gorgeous and can be safely scrubbed clean if needed.

F & B no longer make oil based paints but you can get it colour matched at Johnstones Trade centres.

irishgirl62

Sainsbury has half price on nigella bread bin which I so want! from £49.99 to 24.99 I am just waiting for the store to open to check if they have it in stock, seen it on the grabbit it boards and thought I would share it here
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/home_and_garden/clearance/107924844_nigella_blisshome_bread_bin.html?hnav=4294964404

Seakay

Bibbitybob wrote: »

And sort of along the shabby chic lines, because I want to fill them with veggies and cottage garden flowers but my Dad made me some raised beds from recycled wood. Planning to paint them and distress them a bit (plus they'll get distressed naturally outside!). Linky to the pic here.

Love the raised beds - your Dad is really clever!