If you’re subscribed to my blog or follow our daily updates on our Facebook Page, you’ve already seen the first two posts in this series about our Mahogany bedroom Set Makeover. I shared how we used My Favorite Stripper to refinish the beautiful Mahogany tops in the first post…
and in the 2nd post Antique Mahogany bed in Creamy White, I shared Cathy’s custom mixed recipe for the beautiful creamy white paint color we used for this entire set.
Today, I’m sharing some of the struggles I come across during the actual design process. This is where I tend to stumble and fall.
What do I want to draw attention to?
How much distressing will look best?
What overall look am I going for?
I HAD PLANNED to just do a very light distressing on this set because it had such pretty lines to begin with but once I got that damp rag in my hand, I was out of control like some kind of wild woman.
I must have been stressing the night I was experimenting on this. Yes, I try things out on the actual piece even though I always advise my customers to try it on test boards ~ what can I say? I don’t mind painting over something if I don’t like it but I never want to make more work for others. Anyway… I was stressed out that night and the more anxious I am, the more aggressive I am with my artwork.
Well… I got a little carried away with this one.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE how this foot turned out, just not on THIS piece.
Does that make sense?
I loved the two colors together but on this piece, I felt the highly distressed finish clashed with the elegant style of the set. I didn’t like it distressed this much… at all.
It wasn’t just the distressing I didn’t like, one of our favorite whites seemed too white against the highly pigmented finish on our Mahogany tops. That’s where the ease of mixing chalk and clay colors comes in so handy! Cath mixed up a beautiful creamy white which was far better suited for the color of our stained tops.
We new it was right as soon as the first brush stroke went up against the stained tops. It’s so quick once you know what you want.
We ended up LIGHTLY distressing the feet like this
We distressed the other detailed areas like this
Oh Wait!! I almost forgot the chair…
We chose some really nice upholstery fabric we inherited from dad’s workshop to recover the seat ~ thanks dad 😉
Oops! Hope I picked that bristle out of there!!
You’d think that would be natural for me with all the painting I’ve done, but I still don’t know… until I see it all together
Check out the other posts on this bedroom set at: Portfolio Page!
A hui hou!! Shelly
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What a gorgeous set of antique furniture! You are right – over distressing that piece just doesn’t seem right for it, but your finished results are beautiful!
You are absolutely right. This piece was too elegant for the other finish. It needed that white and you gave it just he right amount of distressing. It looks gorgeous. Wonderful work-always!!! xo Diana
Thanks Diana!
This is beautiful! I love it! these are some great vintage pieces!
-Haley
Thanks Haley!
Very nice. I am not a huge fan of distressing at all. I grew up with distressed furniture – distressed because it was old and beat up! LOL. Sometimes when I look at different blogs I think a lot of furniture is over distressed. Why buy something old to fix it up to make it look old again? I guess its just a matter of taste.
Anyway, came to your blog from Miss Mustard Seed. I do love the finished look for this desk – you did an amazing job!!! WELL DONE!
Yes Marilyn, it’s definitely a matter of taste and everyone has their own eye for art. I have a very hard time painting a piece that isn’t distressed. Prim, proper and clean lines just doesn’t represent anything about me. I love the character of antique pieces so I definitely don’t try to make something look new, instead I work with the charm of the piece and just try to give it new life.
Shelly – it looks so pretty and refined. Thanks for the stripper tip – I hadn’t heard of that one before. I’m love the ones that stay liquid for a long time otherwise they merge with the old varnish – ak! I can relate on the stress while finishing a piece. I just noticed that I somehow “shrunk” my wax brush by pushing the bristles into the shaft while waxing and being anxious about how a piece would turn out. Crazy stuff! Enjoy what remains of the summer! — Pauline
Thanks Pauline!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! I want to do a dining table just like this. So after I sand the top and stain it, what do I apply on top of the stain to protect it?
Jamie
Hi Jamie, I didn’t sand my tops. They didn’t need it. I stripped them with the stripper I shared in the first post of the series. After you stain your table top, you can seal it with anything you want but you might want to go for a super durable topcoat since it’s a dining table. Sealing stain is different than sealing paint. I recommend Varathane’s Crystal Clear Diamond Satin Floor Finish.
Shelly, it is perfectly beautiful! And thank you for sharing your trials and tribulations with refinishing your pieces. It is refreshing and reassuring to know you don’t hit a home run with every piece. At least not initially! It is definitely a home run NOW! Love it!
Thanks Paula, no ~ I stumble every single day. That’s how I learn 🙂
Shelly, I LOVE the creamy white you chose.. I’m a sucker for classic white or off white. I enjoy experimenting with bold colour but the whites look most elegant. Wonderful work!
Because I sell the paint, I’m always having to experiment with different colors but I’m on a cream kick right now. I love it on these older pieces too Denise.
I love that series! It’s in a class of it’s own!
Thanks Patti!
I love the stained top with the painted base. So gorgeous. What a beautiful set of furniture. I am loving it!
Thank you!!
Beautiful! I love that creamy white mixed with stain. The distressing is perfect too! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays.
Gorgeous makeover, as always, Shelly!
I pinned you on my Knick of Time Tuesday Pinterest page! Thanks for sharing at the party!
http://pinterest.com/knickoftime/knick-of-time-tuesday-vintage-style-party-features/
I want to buy it. I love it. But how much is it
Hi Karen, this entire bedroom set sold immediately.