Weathered Gray Finish for the Spring Cart Refresh

Last post I shared my inspiration pics on giving my black goat cart a freshen-up for Spring. I had a plan to use Chalk Paint as I had a few colors on hand from previous paint projects. There are a few go-to colors that I have used in combo for most all my furniture painting. What is that old saying about plans?

Here it is in black, just like I bought it about 10 years ago. It's a reproduction, so there's no problem in painting it. I actually like it in black, but it's pretty limited for seasonal use. Like I have said, it's great for Fall and Halloween, but just doesn't line up with my palette for Easter, Spring, Summer, and Christmas.

I was wanting to do a "Restoration Hardware" look with a dark weathered gray base and lots of sanding. But when I started looking through all my paint supplies, I was completely out of ASCP Coco and my sandpaper was worn down to the bare nubs. So I used what I had and it came out a little different, but still a look that worked for me. I'm really partial to Coco because it has that dark mushroomy-taupe look that works around here. 

source 

I did a coat of French Linen on top of the Black, and started sanding with my pathetic sandpaper bits, but it just wasn't working. I next did a light coat of Paris Grey mixed with a dark rich brown from Valspar, called English Tea Party. Paris Grey by itself has too much blue undertone to use here, since everything here at the house, from furniture to wall color, has a brownish-taupe base undertone.

sorry, real working photos here.

Still lighter than I wanted, but I used the English Tea Party Brown

 watered down for a wash on top.

This is the same technique I've used before to give the appearance of a "distressed"  piece. The darker color collects in the grooves and from a distance you can't tell that it isn't sanded down. This finish works well if you have a piece that doesn't have a good color at it's base. I wouldn't want to use a sanding technique if my base coat was orange or purple ...  just sayin'.

This was a little wash stand that had been at our family home when I was a kid. It had been used in our farmhouse Entry and then later in the upstairs bathroom. Right now it's in my lower level family room. You can read the one and only post I've done on my basement HERE.

Back to the Goat Cart...

I've never used the ASCP waxes because I like a quicker-finish project. A light rubbed coat of the Minwax Wipe-On Poly really works well, even though it is an oil based product. It dries in about an hour, and it's easy clean up. Just use an old T-shirt or cotton undies and you can get by without using a brush. what? can we admit we sometimes wear cotton undies? OK, well then go get one of your hubby's old pairs.

The cart still has a slight blue/grey undertone as you can see in the pic below, but I think it blends with the rest of the shades of grays. It's never good to have only one color with painted pieces; gets a little boring.

Just a little photo-styling here.

The bird print is now on the Entry Console, and the basket is back in the Kitchen.

The cart is on the wall next to the Entry Console.

I'm looking forward to fluffing it up for Spring and Easter.

Hope you're having a great weekend, 

it's been raining for what seems like days...

joining in here:

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Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

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Inspiration Monday at Refresh Restyle

The Scoop at Worthing Court

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Keep in Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

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Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Design Showcase at Shabby Fufu

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Thursday Favorites at Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

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