I’m super excited to share with all of you, my favorite piece to date!
Anyone who knows me, knows I’m about as scattered as they come. I drive myself bonkers on most days because my mind is always going in a million different directions. I’m REALLY good at starting projects and can multi-task with the best of them, problem is… I’m HORRIBLE at getting it all finished. Maybe I fuss with stuff too much and maybe if I didn’t have so many things to work on all at once, I could do better.
They all get finished eventually, what can I say?
Anyway… this antique buffet is one of those projects. During the holidays, we were asked to be one of the key speakers at the West Michigan Women’s Expo in downtown Grand Rapids. I did enough work on it to have it “camera ready” for our press release photo ~ which we shot out in the parking lot while huge snowflakes dropped on our head ~ literally!
I had enough worked on it enough to pull off the photo shoot but it still needed some fine tuning before it was ready for a price tag. Lets back up to the beginning so I can explain all the steps from start to finish.
This is how she looked when I bought her
I didn’t have enough time to start and finish a piece the way I like, so I had to just make her “camera ready”. It already had great bones, just needed some color. Hmmm, what would David Bromstad from HGTV do? I bet he’d slap some color on it! With that in mind I layered on my first coat.
Let me tell you, I got some pretty funny comments when I posted this picture earlier on our Facebook Page. One lady was like “OMG, where did you find THAT?” I laughed and said “I JUST painted this!” lol
I thought that was funny, but I had a vision in my mind on how I wanted it to turn out.
Cathy had just finished painting a highboy with American Paint Company’s new Peacock from their Limited Edition Ellis Collection which is sold in pints. You can see the post on her Retro Highboy here. There was still about 1/3 of the pint left in the jar so I took it and diluted it with water. ps – there’s a giveaway to win a pint of this. Click HERE to see how. Update… Congratulations going out to Karen Claussen who won this giveaway!! Thank you to all those who entered and for all our loyal followers!!
The paint was still thick so I added more water, and More Water, and MORE WATER until it was almost the consistency of milk.
Guess what?
Even with the small amount of paint I started with, I was able to cover this entire piece! How cool is that?
I love how thoroughly it covered using such a thin coat because that meant I didn’t have to do much distressing to reveal all those colors underneath!
I love distressing, that’s where I feel most creative, but why put on more just to take more back off?
Remember the goofy array of colors I slapped on for my base coat?
I simply grabbed a damp rag and started wet distressing until I liked how the other colors pulled through.
It’s always a bit of surprise when I do this, but I’m pretty geeked with how it turned out.
What do you think?
Wet distressing makes everything feel oh so nice!
I sealed everything with the best dark wax eva ~ American Paint Company’s Dark Wax.
All natural, no pre-mixing, buffs up to a breathtaking finish! I wish you could all see it and feel it in person!
Oh wait, you can ~ well, some of you can. It’s one of many new pieces available now in our Shizzle Design booth at Not So Shabby in Holland, MI. Update: sold
You will also be able to see this piece on Channel 13’s Take Five. We’re filming a segment Monday morning on re-purposing furniture and this piece is coming with us. Hope to see you all at the show! If you missed that post, you can find out more here.
Want to learn how to create finishes like this on your painted furniture? Join us for one of our upcoming Shizzle Style Furniture Paint Workshops! We’re experts in the field of chalk & clay painting and share our deepest Shizzle tips only during our workshops. Grab a couple girlfriends and learn how to create beautiful finishes in a super relaxed, fun workshop at Shizzle Design, 2018 Chicago Drive, Jension, MI 49428. Stop in or call our studio at 616.669.1414 or register on our Online Shizzle Shop here.
Did you know that…
- We’ve opened up a Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, Michigan 49428? This is where Cathy and I paint our furniture but we want our customers to know that we’re here for you. We encourage everyone to stop in any time to buy paint or to get your questions answered.
- We’ve taught people from all over the United States and Canada how to paint furniture Shizzle Style using chalk and clay paints? Join us for one of our super fun workshops. Learn hands-on in a relaxed environment. Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
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- We have numerous Pinterest Boards Stop in and check out our extensive portfolio ~ Pin us on Pinterest
- We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
- We sell American Paint Company Paints & Supplies our of our Shizzle Design Paint Studio (headquarters) 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI 49428 as sell as several other locations in the greater Grand Rapid’s area. Click LOCATIONS to find out where we’re located. We also ship the paint domestically and internationally through our Online Shizzle Shop.
Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers
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Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s
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Click here to see Funky Finishes
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Linking up to these GREAT Parties!
Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party
The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday
Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday
Redoux – Friday Link Up Party
Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend
Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special
Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays
Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday
a hui hou ~ Shelly
Beautiful Shelly! I’m like you,,,,have a million irons in the fire and spin around w/my hair on fire! I love this peacock buffet. That’s exactly what I would do w/the colors. White is so borrriiingg! lol. Seriously, great colors! I can never find those buffets out here for under 400 bucks.
“before” furniture has gone through the rough here too!
I absolutely love this piece. I like all your pieces, but i bellieve this is my favorite. Thanks for showing your technique in layering the colors.
Thanks Yevon!!
Not only gorgeous, but inspirational! thank you for sharing with all of us that follow you!
Thank you Leigh! You’re welcome!
Thanks so much for posting this, Shelly – I have been anxiously awaiting the “how-to” on this piece! It is beautiful! Your ability to “see” the end product while you appear to be randomly painting on the base colors is amazing!! Thanks for sharing your methods!
Your welcome Linda!
I absolutely LOVE your distressed furniture piece! I love how the colors ended up and it is just beautiful!
Gigi @ Old World Patina
Thanks Gigi!
Found your piece on Miss Mustard Seed. That is so beautiful and what and interesting technique. Something I have never seen before. Great job.
Thanks Andrea!
You inspire me constantly! You rock, Sista!
Ha Ha ~ thanks Maria!
Brilliant effect with the color layering technique. I am a big fan of distressed furniture and enjoy picking up new tips and product info. along the way. Thankyou.
Thanks Andrew!!
I love it. It is so unique and the colors are great!!! I have gone crazy over peacock blue and I must control myself. Have you ever compared Annie Sloan paint to this one, please? I have not bought/ordered any chalk/clay paint because it sounds too good to be true and I am terrified I will ruin something. I really do want to try. I just want to make sure I get the easiest and best to use with a great look. Just discovered you on Hometalk and I’m so glad. Love your website.
Thank you Debbie. Yes I have compared that and many others to our all natural chalk, clay & mineral paints from American Paint Company and this is hands down our choice for the type of work that we do.
Minutes ago I watched your picture frame video. It’s amazing what you can do with colors. I got to your site because I’m trying to figure out how to combine a couple colors to give texture and patina to a metal flower vase. Ha! I suspect you’d laugh at the idea of only two colors. Anyway, I love what you are doing. I saw your link at the Knack of Time link party. Ann Marie @ Iris Abbey
Thank you!! I don’t laugh at anyone using one or two colors. It all depends on the piece and the look you want. That’s what’s so cool about the paint, you can create whatever suits your fancy!
Shelly this is your best work ever!!! You work well under pressure! I love how all the layers of colors come through. Good luck at your upcoming speaking event! What an honor!!! I wish I could be there to cheer you on.
Thanks Karen! I’m pretty geeked with how it turned out too! It’s been quite the whirlwind the past few months. We rented a 26′ U-haul for all our furniture and could never have pulled it off without all the love and support of so many awesome friends and family members. Our entire team was such a hoot. It was like having a booth full of wild and crazy Karen’s. I was in my glory to have everyone meeting each other, wish you could have been here too!
Love this piece.
Thanks Susie!!
OMG! I LOVE IT! i WOULD BE SCARED TO DEATH TO PUT THIS MANY COLORS ON A PIECE, BUT YOU HAD A VISION OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE COMPLETE. YOU INSPIRE ME TO “GO FOR IT”!!!
Try it, you’ll like it 😀
GORGEOUS! Aren’t you brilliant to put all that fun color underneath! I’m featuring your buffet in this week’s Power of Paint Party Spotlight!
That’s AWESOME!! Thank you so much!!!
Shelly, this is the first time I’ve visited your site. All I can say is “Get outta my head!” I swear, when I started reading this post, it looked like I wrote it….:)
This buffet is stunning and totally speaks to me. It has all the coloring I like to apply in my own chalk-painted creations. And I totally agree about distressing. I can’t wait for that step to see the magic happen when all the layers are revealed. I do much smaller pieces due to a space shortage, but I’m not satisfied unless I have 4 or more color layers.
Nice to know there are painterly kindred spirits out there!
Creative discussion – I am thankful for the facts , Does someone know where my assistant could acquire a blank TAR-1406 form to use ?
Beautiful! Question…how long did you wait before you wet distress? Was the paint dry? I’ve heard you need to wet distress before the paint completely dries. Love your work!