French Provincial Bedroom Set

I bought this Bedroom set with a very clear picture in my mind of how I was going to finish it.......This set couldn't have ended up farther from were I started and I love it!

Originally I wanted it to be ASCP Pure White, super clean and feminine, I had this in my mind for a long time....then I was like hmm Pure White with some dark wax to age the router details and then that was firmly in my mind for some time........This is when I started to flip flop and held back completely on painting the set as I couldn't make up my mind.  After about another week I was like nope I'm doing Pure White with Duck Egg in all the router details so I wake up before work one morning and see this picture.......

Before I could change my mind again I started painting!  And I kept painting and painting and painting....... I have been working on this set for more then 3 weeks.  Granted their was a trip to Vancouver in there and my husband getting horribly sick with the flu and of course my day job kept getting in the way.  

Lets me give you a quick run down on how this went.... drill holes in eight drawers for new hardware fill sixteen old holes from previous hardware, sand, repeat.......sand, repeat......sand, repeat.  

Paint all drawers in two coats of Duck Egg, hand paint all router details in Pure White.  

Catch a glimpse of two drawers in the right light that I didn't sand the old filled holes down enough....sand, repaint.....repeat.  We haven't even gotten to the structure of the set yet...... which I did in ASCP Pure White.  I must say that it wasn't the easiest colour to work with and took a lot and I mean a lot of coats to get the coverage that I wanted.  Four very long coats later and more hand detail painting on the top of the mirror and the router details on the side of the dresser.  It was time to move to the headboard......I'm not going to lie I will be very happy to never see another figure eight anything that I have to hand paint or wax/buff again!  I spent more then a few nights after work staying up till 3am or so with my little detail brush.

After all that I wet distressed to achieve the look and I wanted and then finally started to wax and buff.  Then I decided I wanted to line all the drawers with the wallpaper left over from my coffee and end table project.

Finally the set is complete and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out......so much so that I tried to convince my husband we should swap it for our current bedroom set.  It was a no go so this gorgeous set is for sale.  Here's the end result.......

Sincerely,

Sasha

A Labour of Love Revisited......

After all the research, time and money on product I spent with my wallpapered coffee and end tables I still hummed and hawed over the strength of the finish and if I was comfortable with the durability.  I decided it wasn't enough and set forth to make it stronger.  Now I was worried about a reaction with products so I set myself up a little test piece of wood and went through the whole process again......

You got it; two coats of the spray on the wallpaper before adhering to the wood, adhering then two coats of Modg Podge on top followed by two more coats of the spray sealant.  This alone took hours to complete with the dry time for all the layers.  Once I got this far and let everything set up for a couple days I did two more coats of Varathane on top.  I was most worried about a reaction from the Modg Podge products with the Varathane.  Nothing noticable instantly or after a few hours I went to work and ten hours later nothing adverse........I waited over a week to make sure there wouldn't be any adverse reactions and am happy to say there wasn't!  So off I went to the tables themselves and did another two coats of Varathane on top and am finally happy with the end result and can feel good sending these off to their new home knowing they are durable with a strong washable surface.  There going to look great in their new home and brighten up Karen's living room along with the rustic cabinet she just couldn't leave without.

Sincerely,

Sasha

The Snowball Effect......

I have been going non-stop the last six days and my poor house looks like a bomb has gone of inside it.......outside too I must admit.   With the weather being nicer yesterday and today I have finally been able to get going on the bedroom set thats been stored under my deck for quite some time now.  I spent most of last week before and after work drilling new holes in all the drawers to change the hardware, filling and sanding, filling and sanding them......

I had plans for this dresser since I first scouted it and had planned to paint the whole thing white & do some aging in the router details.  This was firm in my head till I started using all my new ASCP products and all the endless possibilities.  Thats when I thought I had settle on Pure White for everything and Duck Egg in the router details.......Saturday morning I had a different inspiration and before I could change my mind again I got my brush moving.

Needless to say I decided to go fancier then I originally intended and it's taking me longer then expected.  Thought I would have all the painting done by today...........This is very typical of me, have an idea thats way more complicated and jump in without thinking of how much more time or effort its going to take and then get frustrated when it's taking longer then I think it should.  Sometimes I just have to step back, laugh at myself and remember that its a hobby meant to occupy my time and be an outlet for stress & creativity.  Deep breath, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

This piece has so far been a lot of fun, difficult and I can't wait to show you the finished project.  Its had its ups and downs and a life of its own in the sense of the direction and end result.  I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I have.

Sincerely,
Sasha

A Project Gift.........

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog all week.....between waking up early to get a little time in on the furniture before I head to work for the day then when I get home buffing for what seems like forever......(more on that later!)

Here's a coffee and end table my husband picked up for me as he knows my love for anything with interesting legs/feet. This is my last project with my home made chalk paint only ASCP from here on out!  These tables were stained a horrible colour and it was completely taking away from the beautiful details.  They look amazing white and actually ended up working so well with my living room chairs I haven't moved them to my for sale storage yet......They are for sale.

Sincerely,

Sasha

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint......

Today is a big day for me, I received my ASCP order this morning and can't wait to get started with this new product.  I have lots of inspiration and ideas not to mention the furniture to try it on....... So much in the works right now can't wait to share it all with you!

Sincerely,
Sasha

My First Project.....

This little antique liquor cabinet caught my eye and just wouldn't leave my thoughts, I finally showed the picture to my husband and to my surprise he totally loved the piece about as much as I did.  It cost more then I usually like to pay for things I want to up cycle but since I was keeping it for my own home I relented on this one.  This was my very first chalk paint experience and boy was I nervous!  I am thrilled with how it turned out and it gives me such joy to see it everyday in my living room.

 Sincerely,
Sasha

Rustic Cottage Cabinet & A Plant Stand.....

Here's two of my projects I just finished up late last night, aren't they charming...?

 Both are painted in chalk paint, distressed and finished with varathane.  Unfortunately I don't have before pictures of the plant stand......sometimes I just can't hold the paint brush back long enough to snap a picture.  It was originally just a plain flat black and you could barely see the beautiful details since it was so dark, now its a stunning fresh piece sure to attract attention.  This cupboard I almost didn't pick up, it was on the rougher side and made up entirely of reclaimed wood.  I'm happy with the end result and how a fresh coat of paint and hardware change the look of things drastically.  I grabbed this hardware off a desk I just picked up and think it looks pretty good although I originally was thinking black hardware......

A few more picture.....

Both these items are for sale, check out my facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-the-Chic-in-Shabby/495169327210303?fref=ts

Sincerely,
Sasha