Shabby Chic; Volume III

emma_kate

esmf73 wrote: »

Help needed please......

Have had a problem with hall walls being uneven, so have had to paper it with lining paper prior to painting. However in some places the lining paper has shrunk leaving a small gap. What can I put over that gap? I thought of a narrow ribbon, glued on, but any suggestions welcome.

We live in a bungalow o hall is long and is heavily used.

Could you use decorators caulk, levelled with a filling knife and painted over? Or line again over the top with paper in the opposite direction? Or paint stripes so no-one can see it?
I think the ribbon might be a bit extreme, it might be one of those things that drives you mad but no-one else sees it?

emma_kate

Hello money savers. Don't be tempted by the decorators caulk in poundland. It is RUBBISH! The consistency was worryingly watery and it's all cracked on drying. Not a bargain.
I wouldn't touch the adhesive either...

chalkysoil

Bought some sugarsoap liquid in Poundland today ... hope that it is ok?

ps Emma I have an Underwood just like yours (only mine is v dusty) Impulse buy about ten years ago or more, will take a photo of it when i can fight my way in to that room x

emma_kate

Haha! Your home sounds a bit like mine Chalky! There's a wardrobe in the dining room waiting for a revamp so I can get rid of it! Two large items of furniture in the middle of the living room that are being worked on. Desperate for my Canadian milk paint to arrive but it's been 5 1/2 weeks! My friend ordered some last week and hers came already so I think I'm just unlucky! (this is direct from Homestead House) It seems much cheaper to order it from Canada than get it from stockists here. If you go to Canadian Ebay theres a shop called Boisseries Lachute who will post to the uk MUCH cheaper and that comes very fast! I know the UK stockists have huge expenses but it doesn't make sense to me.
I'm sure the sugar soap is fine. Just use lots!
Underwoods are gorgeous!

Thrifty_Sister

I have an unpainted/unvarnished chest of drawers in my dining room thats waiting to be painted but other stuff keeps getting in the way lol

What would you folks recommend? I would like to do it matt off white or something keeping it fairly plain then it will go with everything in the room. Do I need to undercoat/prime?

Thrifty_Sister

BTW - big thanks to the person that recommended the Zinsers. Its excellent stuff and really nice to use:T:T

jennieshrew

Thanks for all the ideas for the desk. Its solid oak we think.

At the moment DH is enjoying the old antique smell of it so he wont let me near it with paint. Will have to just make plans for now. Should you leave it if its oak or still paint it ?

emma_kate

Thrifty_Sister wrote: »

I have an unpainted/unvarnished chest of drawers in my dining room thats waiting to be painted but other stuff keeps getting in the way lol

What would you folks recommend? I would like to do it matt off white or something keeping it fairly plain then it will go with everything in the room. Do I need to undercoat/prime?

Is it pine? Unfinished pine needs special treatment because of the knots which continue to bleed for years.
Also traditional knotting solution is only good for use under oil based paints and most people painting furniture nowadays like to use water based paints.
So if it's pine you need Blackfriars problem solving primer to prevent knots bleeding. A few coats especially over the knots! Then paint away...
Also make sure it's not waxed...a whole new kettle of fish...your options are Krudcutter and elbow grease to remove the wax OR Annie Sloan Chalk paint over the top. But your knots still might bleed...
Before painting anything you need to sugar soap then prime. If you are painting in a matt paint like emulsion or chalk paint you will need to protect it but you can get matt varnish so you will still have the matt look you're after. If you're painting with emulsion you should sand but you don't need to with ASCP.
Undercoat is oil based and mostly used under oil based paints like oil based gloss or eggshell so you don't need to do that.
I'm glad you like Zinsser!

lilmisskitkat

Hi all, quick question. If i were to paint the legs on my dining table - i think it's waxed pine - how would i protect it afterwards? With varnish or wax? I have 3 ruffians here so it needs to be hard-wearing!

Many thanks

K xx

emma_kate

lilmisskitkat wrote: »

Hi all, quick question. If i were to paint the legs on my dining table - i think it's waxed pine - how would i protect it afterwards? With varnish or wax? I have 3 ruffians here so it needs to be hard-wearing!

Many thanks

K xx

Varnish would be tougher in case you need to be scrubbing dried on food off! The toughest varnishes are the oil based. It would say on the back that you clean your brushes with white spirit or paint thinners or something, not soap and water.