Shabby Chic; Volume III

caledoniaquine

Cute, love the books as well.

lostinrates

Ok, will grab a photo of the bottom half tomorrow.

This is the top half...as much as i can get in one shot. Atm, especially with the cat helping.

emma_kate

lostinrates wrote: »

Ok, will grab a photo of the bottom half tomorrow.

This is the top half...as much as i can get in one shot. Atm, especially with the cat helping.

If you don't want to mask off the mirrors perhaps they can be removed from the back? This is your best bet for getting a really professional finish BUT it might be tricky to reassemble so make sure you can put them back in before you start dismantling it!
If you can't take the mirrors out you can cover them with newspaper and masking tape.
It might have old build up of polish, being an old item so you might want to sugar soap the wood before you paint. You can get spray paint in a primer if that's how you choose to paint it. Just remember lots of thin coats are better than one thick gloopy coat that runs everywhere! Chalk paint would be a great option on this, especially if you want to distress and have the dark wood showing through. Also old polish isn't so much of a problem for chalk paint.
It's going to look lovely!

chalkysoil

I chalk painted a retro mirror today & didn't mask it at all as the chalk paint rubs off the glass with a lolly stick or cloth. When I paint fiddly bits of carving, I dry brush in a stabbing motion and wipe off any excess paint or bits I want to show as distressed. Somewhere .... there's a tutorial video on dry brushing. I think I found it on Pinterest. If I find it again I'll post a link.

this isn't it but worth a look http://www.turnstylevogue.com/2012/03/diy-pb-knock-off-candlesticks/#

pennib

That's an interesting technique chalky. How well does this paint wear?

lostinrates

Oops, still have not got a shot of the bottom bit with fiddly carving.

I have never heard of chalk paint.

emma_kate

I have never heard of chalk paint.[/QUOTE]
It's the furniture painters friend as you don't need to pre sand or prime before painting. You won't find it in the DIY store. Google Annie Sloan paint and see if there's a stockist near you. It's designed for furniture painting.

pennib

You can also make your own chalk paint. There are some recipes on google.

chalkysoil

pennib wrote: »

That's an interesting technique chalky. How well does this paint wear?

I haven't been using it long so can't say for certain, but once waxed it seems as good as any other paint. You can varnish it, but I haven't got round to it yet.
Slapped some on a melamine side panel of a kitchen wall cupboard yesterday, it's still there today! That I will varnish sooner rather than later.

emma_kate

I've just done a little piece on my blog about my experimentation with MILK PAINT which is the 'other' furniture paint. It's less readily available here but you can get it.
For the paintaholics amongst you!
http://paintedstyle.blogspot.co.uk/