Shabby Chic; Volume III

MrsCrafty

Fay wrote: »

Hi everyone, I am looking for some advice. I have some old melamine fitted wardrobes that I will replace at some point but I just don't have the money yet. But I would like to renovate them if I can. I will replace the sink and worktop and thought I might try painting the wardrobes-you can see from the pics that the majority of the surface area is mirror.I've had a quick look on the internet and a lot of places recommend special melamine paint, but I would really like the shabby chic look from chalk paint. Has anyone painted wardrobes (melamine) in it and if so do you have any advice for me? I've attached a couple of pics and will also post the button pics I've been making, not totally shabby chic but they are cute and very easy and cheap to make!

You can do the melamine, just ask at the diy store, you will need a base to key the paint to.

But I had to post about your mirrors, after you've shabbied the doors up, those mirrors would look lovely with a stuck on flounce in each corner. The type of thing you get for covering the bottom half of your window.....will go off and look now.

MrsCrafty

something like this

http://windowfilmworld.com/etched_corner_decals.htm

T'would look divine

Fay

MrsCrafty wrote: »

something like this

http://windowfilmworld.com/etched_corner_decals.htm

T'would look divine

Oh I can't open it at work, will have to look later. Thanks.

lemonslice

I love all the before & after pictures, i picked this beauty.. up at my local charity store for £7.50, [IMG]http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/<a href=[/IMG]


Im new to the world of crafting so it isnt perfect and it was my very first go at decoupage, slight failure as i didnt put enough coats of glue before i varnished, but hey ho, the areas of map I cut out are sentimental, where we married, first date, first house etc,

after sanding spray painted in black gloss .. now sits proudly in our bedroom [IMG]http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/<a href=[/IMG]

emma_kate

hullabaloo84 wrote: »

hi everyone,

I love all the before and after pictures on this thread. You're all so creative! I've been inspired to have a go at my first mini project. I've got a corner telephone table thats currently mahogany and with a clear varnish. I'm guessing I need to 1) sand it down 2) prime it with wood primer 3) paint in chalk paint 4) varnish - is this the right steps?

And one other (probably stupid) question - what's the difference between eggshell paint and chalk paint or is it the same?

Thanks

It sounds lovely. If you are using chalk paint you do not need to sand or prime. That's why we like it!
First step should be sugar soap to degrease. Then chalk paint. Then either wax or varnish for protection as the chalk paint is very matt and will mark easily if you don't do this.
If you were to use eggshell you would need to sand and prime first. But as it has a hard, satin finish it needs no wax or varnish.
Chalk paint can look quite textured as it's thick and you will see brush marks in it. Eggshell is very flat and you shouldn't see any brush strokes.
Hope this helps...

Taadaa

I love the button pics, I made something similar for my mum using pearl effect buttons in the shape of a heart.

I have got a question..

Does anyone know the name of the thing I am about to describe, and whether you can purchase it in sheets?

I want to call it rattan but when I searched this something that looked like wicker came up. The stuff I am after is flat, and has lots of patterned holes in it. It's straw coloured, flexible but quite tough...imagine the patterned MDF you get in the middle of radiator covers, but it's much much thinner. When I was a kid I had a rocking chair that had a wooden frame and this stuff formed the seat and the back. Sometimes you see it in the middle of door cupboards, well that is what I want it for. Can anyone help from ym garbled description? I have got a look in my head and I want to try and recreate it. EDITED FOUND IT!! Its called cane panelling

Also, a request for tips:

does anyone have any tips for NOT seeing paint lines? Drive me mad. I have got a cupboard to paint, thinking shall I just use a roller?

and

where do you buy your ESP from? Any recommendations? Ditto for lint free cloths for waxing. I tried to use wire wool as suggested on a bread bin and it took some of the paint off :eek: in fairness I was a bit lazy and hadn't primed it although it had a good sand

Thank you!

meames_2

Taadaa wrote: »

I love the button pics, I made something similar for my mum using pearl effect buttons in the shape of a heart.

I have got a question..

Does anyone know the name of the thing I am about to describe, and whether you can purchase it in sheets?

I want to call it rattan but when I searched this something that looked like wicker came up. The stuff I am after is flat, and has lots of patterned holes in it. It's straw coloured, flexible but quite tough...imagine the patterned MDF you get in the middle of radiator covers, but it's much much thinner. When I was a kid I had a rocking chair that had a wooden frame and this stuff formed the seat and the back. Sometimes you see it in the middle of door cupboards, well that is what I want it for. Can anyone help from ym garbled description? I have got a look in my head and I want to try and recreate it. EDITED FOUND IT!! Its called cane panelling

Also, a request for tips:

does anyone have any tips for NOT seeing paint lines? Drive me mad. I have got a cupboard to paint, thinking shall I just use a roller?

and

where do you buy your ESP from? Any recommendations? Ditto for lint free cloths for waxing. I tried to use wire wool as suggested on a bread bin and it took some of the paint off :eek: in fairness I was a bit lazy and hadn't primed it although it had a good sand

Thank you!

I painted a little cabinet that had a bit of this in it but it buckled slightly. I'll try and find the pic

chalkysoil

I bought ESP on Amazon.
Re lint free - I used an old cotton tea towel that was white gone pink that had three red stripes on it's ends, it was about 40 years old. Waxed paint now has tiny red threads in it

emma_kate

Taadaa wrote: »

does anyone have any tips for NOT seeing paint lines? Drive me mad. I have got a cupboard to paint, thinking shall I just use a roller?

and

where do you buy your ESP from? Any recommendations? Ditto for lint free cloths for waxing. I tried to use wire wool as suggested on a bread bin and it took some of the paint off :eek: in fairness I was a bit lazy and hadn't primed it although it had a good sand

Thank you!

Try a roller or an eggshell paint?
Lint free cloths=old t shirts! I sawed the handle off a fat paintbrush and that's my waxing on brush (rather cheaper than Annies!) and use my husbands old t shirts and vests to buff off.

emma_kate

Here's my attempt to shabby chic-ify my kitchen by removing the dated tiles and replacing them with easipanel boards that resemble tongue and groove. It's not finished but you get the idea. I found it hard to do as this house isn't level anywhere but I'm thrilled to bits with the results so far.