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Sideboard Buffet in Annie Sloan’s Emperor’s Silk Chalk Paint

Okay – sing it with me now and don’t get mad when that song is stuck in your head the rest of the day.  I found this wooden chest un-noticed in the corner of a resale store partially hidden by other missed treasures and came to it’s rescue shortly before the store went out of business.
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It was love at first sight.  I loved the look of all the hardware and the fact that it offered so much storage.  I knew the moment I saw it, it needed new legs and a d2011-06-04_28ash of red.  Of course I had no idea at the time HOW this would be accomplished, I just knew it needed to happen.

These are the kind of thoughts that constantly bounce around in my brain.  I have no control over them, they just enter and take over my mind.

I could hardly wait to get started.  I grabbed my Annie Sloan Emperor’s Silk Chalk Paint and slapped on a thin coat.  Then I found some legs for it.  I stacked boxes under the chest until it was just the right height then held them up against it to get the visual.  I’m weird like that.  Always need the visual.  PERFECT!  Just the look I imagined!

At that point, I was stuck.  How can I add tall legs to a piece?  It sat in my garage patiently waiting while I flew off to Maui for a family reunion.  Cathy waxed it while I was gone and when I returned there she sat, still anticipating her new legs.

I just couldn’t wrap my brain around how to attach those long legs in a way what would provide stability and still be all squared up.  I could have gotten the job done, it just wouldn’t have been done professionally.  Introduce Tim – he’s one of my lifelong friends who just happens to have a God given talent for carpentry.  He also happens to have the coolest, to-die-for, workshop on the planet and is a perfectionist in areas where I have no patience.

He knew immediately the best places to make the cuts and also had the coolest Japanese knife/saw to get it done accurately.  He made it look so easy, but I’m telling you, there’s a skill to it.  He was ready to bop me over the head about ten minutes into it, but we persevered.  Several hours later after meticulously squaring, cutting, drilling, sanding, gluing and clamping…. she had her new legs!

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I touched up the paint and Cathy gave her one final glazing, okay two or three, but she got her done – lol!  Cath also finished off the inside with a cork tack board and fabric liner.  This would be a fabulous addition to any dining room or entry way providing lots of storage for treasured or seasonal items.

We just dropped her off to Not So Shabby and she’s proudly showing off those legs as you walk in the front door.  Come check out our new space!

 

Since this post, I’ve learned so much.  I worked around the clock for a year using these products but continued to have difficulties achieving a quality finish with their wax.  I tried other several other waxes by different companies, some were hard, other’s were a little easier to blend in and work with but also had those terrible fumes.
I experienced months of recurring respiratory problems and even with my exhaust system, I was advised to remove as many chemical hazards from my environment as possible or find another line of working order to get well.I replaced toxic, hand burning, chemical strippers with citrus based strippers (which work better anyway), pulled chemically laden paints, waxes, glues… and started searching for better products.
That search eventually led me to the products I choose today ~ American Paint Company’s all natural, eco-friendly chalk and clay based mineral paints.  From the first time I tried  them, I was sold.   I know that sounds so dramatic, but after everything I went through, It was a God send.  This type of paint is so much easier to work with.  It spreads easier, covers better, adheres well and the wax and finishes have been life changing for how much work I can accomplish on any given day.
For my style of painting, I can achieve a much more superior finish and can create it much faster eliminating the stress of working so hard to achieve something that’s easy with a chalk and clay mixture.

I love these paints so well that I decided to share what I do with our followers.  We proudly offer American Paint Company Paints locally in the Greater Grand Rapids area and sell worldwide on our Online Shizzle Shop.  

shizzle design paint studio 2018 Chicago Drive Jenison MI American Paint Company CeCe Caldwell's Paints retailer buy chalk clay instructor workshops paint retailer 1

  • Did you know…

    • Shizzle Design is a small family owned business in Jenison, Michigan.  My sister Cathy and I work, paint, ship and teach our chalk and clay paint workshops out of the same space where we paint all our furniture.  We are truly humbled to be known as a leader in the world of chalk and clay paints.
    • Instead of hoarding our knowledge, we empower DIY’ers by sharing our years of experience.  Stop in for paint and we’ll offer you honest and knowledgeable answers for all your chalk and clay paint needs.
    • We are so blessed to have taught people from all over the United States and Canada.  Join us for one of our super fun hands-on chalk and clay paint workshops.  Learn in our casual & relaxed environment.  Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
    • Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints.
    • Did you know that you can get these sent directly to your inbox and that it’s FREE?  It is ~ what are you waiting for?  Enter your email in the right hand column of our blog to stay in the loop.
    • We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page.  We share all sorts tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page).
    • Pin our posts on Pinterest ~ Find all sorts of inspiration here.
    • We sell our painted furniture in our Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI 49428 and at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
    • Shizzle Design is an Authorized Retailer for American Paint Company Paints.  We offer a large inventory of chalk and clay paint and supplies at our Shizzle Design Paint Shop /Studio,  2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428.  We also stock several other shops in the greater Grand Rapid’s area, to find out where, click LOCATIONS.  Not from Michigan?  No worries, we ship paint and paint supplies worldwide 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

    Shizzle-Tips-and-Tutorials3[1]

    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

A hui hou!

Shelly

63 Replies to “Sideboard Buffet in Annie Sloan’s Emperor’s Silk Chalk Paint”

  1. Wow Shell, it turned out beautiful! Nice work! We’ll have to head out to the store and see it in person, if it doesn’t sell first. Kami

    Reply

  11. I LOVE it!!! Absolutely gorgeous!! The color is perfect and the way you decked her out if beautiful.

    Thanks so much for linking up to Knick of Time Tuesday.

    And yes…that song is stuck in my head now!

    Blessings,
    Angie @ Knick of Time Interiors

    Reply

  13. What a beautiful piece! I love that color and am determined to find “something” one day to use it on!
    I can’t believe you added the legs, you really can’t tell at all.
    Wonderful work.
    Came by from Shades of Amber

    (www.scrapmebaby.wordpress.com)

    Reply

  18. Love that you put legs on this piece! I’m a new follower and I’ve given you a Versatile Blogger award over at Between the Rafters. Plase stop by and see who else got the award and maybe become my newest follower! Thanks! Amanda

    Reply

  25. Fabulous! Did you use a glaze to “glaze” ( I know that sounds ridiculous) or did you use wax? Just curious as I have some ASCP Emperors Silk and can’t seem to get the tone that I want.

    Reply

  27. Found you on Miss Mustard Seed and I would not have thought to put this on legs! But you did and pulled it off beautifully! The inside is fab also!

    Reply

  31. OH my gosh…this is the little trunk that could…could become a beautiful 4 legged…beautiful table…wow!! It turned out amazing. Oh’ I’m following …I can’t wait to see what you do next. P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such kind comments. Have a lovely weekend. Bobbie

    Reply

  34. Love that you thought to put legs on the chest. Nice job. My husband is in Zeeland today and flying home here in SC tomorrow, maybe one of these days I will make the trip with him to check out your shop, that and visit my family on the Lake Huron side of the state. Found you on 551 East Furniture Design.

    Reply

  44. What a unique piece! I love it. Never would have thought to put legs on it – and it turned out just beautifully. I’m digging the color too. 🙂

    Reply

  48. One Word:

    WOW!!!

    This is one gorgeous piece, you did such a fabulous job!!! I am so happy I found your blog thru Sarah’s link up party @ Three Boys!

    ~*Jessica
    thevelveteenrabbitblog.blogspot.com

    Reply

  49. Hello, I’ve just become a follower of your blog when I saw what you have done with that chest. It’s soooo lovely. My eye is on you! By the way I am from Ankara, Turkey:)

    Reply

  58. This chest is so beautiful! Found you thru your link today from Donna’s Funky Junk and just kept clicking! Your stuff is outstanding. Wish I lived in Michigan!

    Reply

  59. I was looking up Annie Sloane Emperor’s Silk on Google Images and saw this table. I HAD to click through because of those legs! And then to see they weren’t there originally and that was your idea to add that shape. Those legs are sexy gorgeous genius! I will have to swing through Holland sometime – we’re near Chicago and my family is in Michigan. Love your furniture makeovers.

    Reply

    1. Thank you!! Yes, that was a tricky one to figure out. If it wasn’t for the help of my carpenter friend who had all the specialty cutting tools… I would never have been able to do it.

      Reply
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