New House Journal: Painting the Antique Sideboard Buffet

We've been working weekends at the new house, and I've been spending at least one day a week there working on my own. We tend to work on bigger jobs on the weekends, then I do some things that I can get accomplished on my own without Hubby's help the rest of the week. OK ... some days are just spent doing laundry and resting up for the next round of fun.

What will go where?

The last week in August is normally when I'm bringing out some Fall goodies, trying to subtly ease into the Fall scene. Creeping in would be just a few little dried leaves and grasses; I might even sneak in a nonchalant small pumpkin or two. Big BUT here, instead of decorating, I'm surrounded by packing boxes and my house looks like the inside of a U-Haul store.

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?

Snow Owls on the Mantel

It just wouldn't be October on the Mantel without my little Snow Owls. A few years ago white owls were the latest addition to the Fall Scene, and that reminded me of what a fad owls were in the early 70's. All the poor homely little ceramic owls that had been packed away or sold at garage sales started to make a comeback on the shelves of flea markets and antique malls. They were still homely, but I had a plan...

Jelly Cupboard Paint Makeover

I've long been a believer that a can of paint can be a room full of mismatched furniture's best friend. No matter where we've lived or what my current style might be, I've always had a mix of odds and ends; new pieces, antiques, hand-me-downs, and flea market finds. Each piece has a story or memory that keeps them there, but sometimes too many finishes, colors, and wear and tear can make trying to pull a room together totally a nightmare.

Keepin' it Real, Folks

In an effort to blog more "Real Time"

I had a decision to make.

Do I show you what I'm working on today

...or do I not?

I'm choosing to share a project in progress.

Now I know many of you will want to bop me 

for thinking this needs to be painted.

That's ok, I've taken a few jabs this last day or two.

We talked about "being real" and trying to be more 

in the moment on our blogs.

Not to make a "production" out of every blog post,

or strive for perfection.

But to just be ourselves.

So, I'm sharing what I'm up to today...

I've had this little jelly cabinet for about 30 years.

It's not old (in furniture years) 

and it's been moved all over creation and then some.

It has chunks of wood missing and deep scratches and gouges.

I know, you can't see them from here.

But I need something in this spot behind Hubbs' Chair.

I don't want something dark and "noticeable".

Too much of that already.

I'm thinking "blend in" has become my decor motto.

Especially in a small space

with too much furniture already.

This spot drives me crazy.

Nothing I've tried fits, or looks right.

It's one of those odd spaces, due to furniture placement.

So I need something to take up the negative space

and cover up this wall that feels lopsided.

So I'm in the process of painting it.

First coat is French Linen ASCP.

Not sure where I'll go from here.

But I'm blocking the Hallway traffic 

so I'll have to get it figured out pronto.

Thank goodness for chalk paint.

I did not want to sand this thing.

Have you entered the Canvas Pop Give Away?

Endless possibilities for your own canvas art...

See you all Wednesday Evening for 

joining in with:

Savvy Southern Style

Back to painting.

xoxo,

Concrete Pedestal for the Dining Room

One thing I've learned in living in this new house, that's smaller and "Open Concept", is that keeping a sense of "flow" is very important. Having a Kitchen, Living Room, Entry Hall and Dining Room that are all one big space can present some challenges in decorating.

We made it, and a look at "French Linen"

We survived the move, and actually things went pretty well. That's because we've been "moving" in stages. We've had the furniture from the storage units delivered first, and then we moved some boxes from the storage unit and lease house, then Friday came the furniture from the lease house. So it's been much easier and more organized than any thing we've attempted before. The house was painted, cleaned, and ready to go, so that's part of what made it easy. Plus, we were mentally and emotionally ready; we've been working on this house since the end of August.

If you read my previous post about the French-y coffee and end tables, then you know that I was getting ready to paint them a shade that would "blend in" to the walls, rugs, and sofas. The antiqued white that they were before at the old house was just too "white" and imposing. 

I wanted to use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint this time, so I tried mixing, Paris Grey, Coco, and Old White, but Paris Grey has a blue undertone and that wasn't working. I needed a gray/green undertone to match the new sofas. So I picked up some French Linen and that was exactly the right color to throw into the mix. I just added a little Coco, and a little Old White. (If you live close by to the Springfield MO area they carry ASCP at The Baglady Boutique on East Republic Road)

(love the details on these tables)

...and after a few coats, this is the color they turned out. Pretty close to my original little oval accent table that worked perfectly.

I invested in a ASCP brush, and I'm so glad I did. The paint went on beautifully and no streaking or brush strokes. I've painted a few other things with a regular brush, and now I wish I'd bought one sooner.

 It really gets down into all the little crevices and crannies.

I used liquid poly on these. I know the wax is wonderful, but I had just a short amount of time to get these tables finished and my Minwax Liquid Polyurethane top coat has never let me down. I did one coat plain, then a mix of a Fruitwood Stain and Liquid Poly, then another coat of plain. The liquid poly and stain does darken it a little, but the finished pieces turned out exactly the right shade and matched the sofas perfectly...mission accomplished!

Here's a peek at the Living Room in progress. I'm really happy how things are coming together. All the planning and color matching has paid off. 

I've just done a teensy amount of distressing so far, because it sort of made me nauseous to sand on these things, since I'd spent so much time getting these "right".

Now they blend in with the wall color and furniture instead of looking huge and too noticeable. It's a pretty tight fit in here (as it is with the rest of the rooms). The room size seems bigger because of the high ceilings, but in reality, this house isn't all that big. Cozy and efficient, and we love it.

I don't have much unpacked, so nothing is on the tables yet. I'm hoping to NOT clutter things up, but keep it more simple. We'll see... I DO have that "more is better" gene. The rugs are "busy", but then they help bring all the furniture and colors together cohesively. I thought about a neutral rug in here, but these won out. These close ups make the rug look extra "busy", but overall, they are just what these rooms needed to ground the seating area and pull it all together.

It's cool and rainy, and looks like November around here. Most of the leaves are down, and we had a killing frost Saturday night. The time change has me a little thrown off, but then the moving had me thrown off too. I have boxes lined up in the garage waiting to be unpacked, but I'm trying to pace myself, and not get crazy. I DO want to get out some of my Thanksgiving Turkeys so that may be next. gobble~gobble.

Thanks everyone, for sticking with me during this last rough year, I'm hoping things have taken a turn for the better. You'll never know how much you've blessed me with your encouragement, prayers, and support. you're the best!

Joining in here:

Coastal Charm

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Cozy Little House

A Stroll Thru Life

Savvy Southern Style
Ella Claire
From My Front Porch to Yours
Shabby Art Boutique
French Country Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed

xoxo,

A little "greige" for the coffee table....

or, how to make the elephant in the room 

not so "noticeable".

This is a project I could see coming a long time ago...

The Living Room at the old house was a little more formal than this one at the new house is turning out. The big difference is that I sold my two massive damask twin sofas to my sister (where they look fabulous), and we purchased the Chesterfield Sofa and Love seat in a gray-griege lineny fabric when we moved to the lease house. I loved my sofas, but I knew that wherever we moved they probably would not fit and that was certainly the case at the smaller lease house.

Antique white French-y coffee table and end table.

AKA Momma and baby Dumbo...

Living Room at the old house with the twin Damask Sofas

Living Room at the lease house with the new Chesterfield set.

The Chesterfield sofas are a little more "masculine" in their lines and appearance, than something French-y. I had to choose wall colors and the rugs based on the color of those sofa fabrics. So now to my predicament. I want to use my antique white French-y coffee table and end tables again, which by the way are massive. We had a huge space to fill at the other house, so it swollowed up any and all furniture that came in there. But the new house Living Room, even though it's larger, still has it's issues with traffic flow and TV viewing. So I want these massive things to "blend in" to the room and seating area; not stand out. They look like small white elephants right now, I'm hoping a coat or two of a gray-taupe ASCP mix will work.

I painted this little accent table (below) when we moved to the lease house, just to have a place to set a lamp. I'm hoping to come close to this color finish on the coffee table and end tables. (more taupe and less green) I'm using Coco and Paris Gray, maybe with a little Old White. I'm not sure of the ratios, but I'm getting started this afternoon. The little table is in Benjamin Moore with a coating of liquid poly on top, but latex paints just don't hold up on a tabletop. I love this kind of project, just not a few days before we move. We're planning on the big move this Friday...Trick or Treaters beware!

(see how this little table just melts into the background)

I'll check back in with you a little later on this project.

Keep a good thought for me, 

I'm hoping Greige is their color!

joining in on these parties:

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,