I’m going to admit, before the new baby was born, I was getting completely burnt out on furniture refinishing. And it wasn’t so much the painting that was wearing me down, but the business of it all. I was DONE with Mr. Craig and his little list. People from CL wanted me (and usually persuaded me) to give away my work for little to nothing. That on top of the hassle of flakey people not showing, nervousness about people coming to my house (even if it was only the backyard), and the work put into putting up and keeping up nice ads, it was becoming not worth my time, quite frankly. Plus, I felt completely boxed into painting pieces a nice, safe white or black, or ivory, because I was petrified that if I didn’t paint things “safely”, they wouldn’t sell, and I’d have them sitting around here forever.
But when I started bringing pieces into a local boutique in November, I told myself that I was going to start taking more artistic chances with my furniture refinishing. After all, people can go to any store and buy a white dresser. What people are willing to pay money for are pieces with character. Sometimes old pieces have an inherent character that painting it white enhances. I’m not against a nice coat of white paint when a piece calls for it! But I was getting a little tired of tying my own hands when it came to artistic expression. So I decided to loosen up a little, take a few more chances with color an design, and I’m already having a ton more fun! My mind is absolutely swimming with ideas and possibilities. So in 2012, I’m bringing the fun back! And I hope you enjoy it around here as much as I do! :)
So, in that spirit I present to you this very fun project!
I got this great headboard at a local thrift store.
It certainly had character to spare, and (I’ll admit it) I was tempted to paint it white. ;) But at the urging of my Twice Lovely Facebook Fans, I decided to take a chance on a color that I’ve been wanting to use for a while now, CORAL!!
I’m a big coral fan. I think it’s a color that is just going to keep gaining popularity in interiors, fashion and other modes of design in the upcoming year. In fact, I know the Pantone people have some complicated algorithms and such to pick the color of the year, and while they were close in 2011 with the pinky “Honeysuckle”, I really think in retrospect 2011 was the year of Coral. But who am I anyways? ;)
But, I digress…
I painted a gray primer, then a high gloss coral that I had color matched to Coral Isle from Krylon. I hand distressed with some medium grit sandpaper so that the gray primer and just a touch of the dark wood showed through on the edges.
I paired her up with this simple, but sturdy modern dresser.
Someone remade it once before, but it was in need of another update. I painted the body in the same method as the headboard, first with gray primer before finishing up with the high gloss coral. But I wanted add some pizzazz to this boxy gal and try out a new method that I haven’t used before by adding a fun fabric to the drawer fronts!
I bought this great fabric quite a while ago and have been waiting for the right project to use it on. It’s called “It’s a Hoot, Birds in Flight” in Marshmallow by MoMo for Moda, but in looking around the internet for the purchasing information to share with you (in case you love it as much as I do), I found out that it’s all sold out and pretty hard to find around.
I painted a hearty coat of Mod Podge on the front drawer faces, then applied the fabric to the fronts, let that dry, then added 3 coats of polycrylic (my fave is Verathane) to protect the fabric and make the drawer faces cleanable.
With the finishing touches of some spray painted handles (Lagoon from Rustoleum) and some Hobby Lobby pinky faceted crystal knobs, she’s ready to go!
Now, if that’s not fun, I don’t know what is. :)
You know what else would be fun? How about a giveaway?!?!
I only used about half my “It’s a Hoot” fabric on this project, so there’s a generous yard left(actually about 1 1/6 yard plus some extra bits), and I thought someone might like to have it. :) Look at it again. Isn’t it cute?!?!
We’ll make it simple. Just leave me a comment here telling me you’d like to win some adorable fabric. Maybe share what you’d like to do with it as well.
I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday night.
Linking to:
I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Family Ever After, Meg and Mum’s, Tatertots and Jello, C.R.A.F.T., Sassy Sites, House of Grace, Mod Vintage Life, Primitive and Proper, Domestically Speaking, Somewhat Simple, Miss Mustard Seed, The Shabby Nest, Freckled Laundry, My Repurposed Life, 5 days…5 Ways, Domestically Speaking, Thrifty Decor Chick