Shabby Chic; Volume III

emma_kate

That's lovely! You can't go wrong! And don't forget older furniture is far stronger than modern expensive tat that falls apart a few years on!

emma_kate

http://go.tipjunkie.com/dc/1986/lindauerdesigns.com/how-to-create-your-own-nyc-subway-furniture-design/

This is REALLY COOL! All you need is a very plain chest of drawers you woudn't normally look twice at.
And, I'm wondering if you could use this same technique on your Audrey chest because it's going to be even easier than stencilling and those vinyl wall art thingies are all over ebay and probably cost the same as a stencil?
I can't wait to try this!

Over here I guess it would be called Bus Blind Art.

emma_kate

http://www.flor.com/blog/reverse-stencil-dresser/

Oh yeah! It can be done And it has a name. Reverse stencilling! How cool (and easy!) is this?
And you can cut out the whole dangerous sanding operation and the primer stage with your chalk paint. I'd roller it on.

emma_kate

Gosh I hate putting pictures on here! I can NEVER remember how to do it!
Anyway, this is an old 1930's piece of Lebus furniture with the before shots on the right. It was in a sorry state! And the after shots are on the left. I'm painting a mirror to match as it had lost its original one.

prepareathome

emma kate that is beautiful......

I want to ask.....have decided I will actually start on a trolley that was given to my mum and dad as an engagement present in 1956. It is made up of two circles with three shelves and my sister painted over it with emulsion so it went with mums bedroom years ago. Sadly mum passed 5 years ago and everyone knew how much I loved the trolley so there was no argument on who got it. Its sat in my living room ever since and is a pale lilac which does not go with the room.

I would love to strip it down back to its original wood but that is impossible unless I paid someone to do it as hands could not cope not even if I had an electric sander which I do not.

So what would you suggest?

I have ESP that I bought for chest of drawers/dining set so would using that then a wood stain work or should I paint it. Not sure what colour rest of furniture is dark oak colour(except dining set but I want to do that in old white with deep coloured seat covers). Floor is honey pine flooring which only had put down last year so will not be changing and anyway I love it, makes the room feel so warm. I have gold coloured curtains at the moment, light ivory/cream leather couches. Walls are just white as I seem to have collected up an art gallery and you can hardly see any plain wall but love all the pictures. Even my throws are cream. The dark oak furniture consists of a corner cabinet - covered cupboard below and glass one above and a matching glass door cabinet of waist height, an occasional table with bow legs that our fish tank sits on and an old treadle sewing machine that hides beneath its table ( that is just a bit lighter than the other two but is from 1922). My treadmill seems to be a bit of a fixture in there in front of fire place - oh yes I put that in myself about 15 years ago as couldn't stand the old 1930's one,some I like but hated this one so took it out and put in a fairly plain wooden one including proper base and surround as it suits room best and it is painted white as is all paintwork.

So what do you think should I or can I stain it dark oak after using ESP or should I go for something completely different - it lives at end of one couch just as you come into living room, so is almost first thing you see. Then room opens out and big space in middle which I like all furniture apart from treadmill around the wall ( dining set in alcove) and silver tv on silver stand in bay window.

Thanks

pjran

I love it when you show the before and after projects :T

Thank you, I need some inspiration. Love the reverse stencilling.

chalkysoil

I have ESP that I bought for chest of drawers/dining set so would using that then a wood stain work

I don't think so. Stripping emulsion off is fairly easy though.

If it were me I'd either chalk paint then wax it or emulsion then wax it - probably in old white or similar.

chalkysoil

here's a little table I've recently finished ( still got about 12 bits half finished though ..)
can't find a before pic, but it was brown waxed pine. I used A S chalk paint in Original white and clear wax.

feefeelalabelle

hi all......ive fallen in love, you lot have inspired me soooo much, your blogs are my night time reading lol

so my house is going shabby chic soon (he doesnt know yet!)

i think i have my ideas for the house sorted but in stuck on the living room, we bought some real expensive black leather sofas last year so i cant replace these they have chuncky chrome feet...............how on earth can i do shabby around them

ive searched all over for weeks now to try to find a way to incorporate the black but i lack inspiration ...........please help xx

emma_kate

Hi Prepare at home, Chalky's right, you wouldn't use wood stain over esp as this is designed for dyeing raw wood.
Stripping is a nasty business but wouldn't require a whole lot of sanding just scraping and scouring with wire wool and rubber gloves. I recently used wilkos stripper which comes in a white container (like pva) and I was pleasantly surprised by its lack of smell and it's innability to burn like hell if I got it on my skin (which you shouldn't!) but it was slow! Don't let it dry out and do give it the full amount of time on the instructions. If your trolley has fiddly bits it will be a total pain.
Is there anywhere you can take it to be dipped? Not all wood/ furniture survives this but if it's solid it might be okay and they should be able to advise you of whether or not it'll work when they see it.
Failing that, you could use chalk paint like chalky soil suggested or, even easier for your hands, spray paint. I've just used some Wilkos spray paint in black satin and I'm really happy with it. (they don't pay me!) As it's been emulsioned you can get away without priming so just take it out onto the lawn, test which way the wind is blowing, and off you go! Better to do lots of thin coats than thick ones as it will run and spoil it. If it was waxed at all you'd have to use Annie Sloan chalk paint though.

Chalky, that's lovely! You'll have to start selling your pieces!