Before and After : Pine Bookcase

This bookcase belongs to our awesome neighbors who were *sniffle* moving away.. but just back in to Austin. It was originally a light pine color, and they wanted a more vintage feel to it. They had their hearts set on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old Ochre, with an accent of Duck Egg. We decided against distressing since the pine was so light, but instead I put a touch of Dark Wax over the sealant on the edges and in the corners to add just a bit of dimensionality and age to the piece. There is a LOT of square footage, nooks, and crannies in this sort of bookcase, and due to the high wear surfaces I opted for Pure Earth Paint's Diamond Coat (now called Rock Hard) to seal. The updated antique hardware is exquisite, and was gifted to me from one of my fantastic clients! It brings a gorgeous stately vintage/antique feel to this previously modern-look bookcase.

Thanks for everything, guys!! I hope this bookcase is a perfect accent piece in your new home!!

Another photo with a closer view of that gorgeous hardware and the dark wax detailing after the break!

Home Project : Murphy Bed

Home projects seem to be few and far between since work has been so amazingly busy, but we were able to finish this lovely Murphy Bed with a hardware kit from Rockler, a little elbow grease, and a LOT of help from my mother in law cutting boards and assembling pieces!! We chose Seagull Gray and Snow White milk paints from General Finishes to help integrate this piece into our guest bedroom. There were SO MANY tiny pieces of trim that I individually painted that I think next time we might try painting them with a coat or two as full boards before cutting them apart and then just doing final coats to make sure we got all of the sides and edges.

It looks like I managed to not get a great "before" photo on this one (still looking - I could swear I had one!), but just imagine a giant light-colored unfinished wood box, because that's pretty much what it looked like before the paint and trim :)

It saves a TON of space, and folds out into a Queen sized bed! Perfecto! I also framed one of my daughter's awesome paintings because it fits amazingly with the modern/industrial chic vibe we plan to add in to this room. More on those projects soon(ish) ;) !! What other DIY home projects have you tried? I'm looking for my next great adventures!

Before and After : Antique Davies-Putnam Console Table in gilded Onyx

This beauty was absolutely a no-brainer for me to pick up!! I am still completely obsessed with the long fluted legs, and wanted to give this late 1800's/early 1900's Davies-Putnam Console table a chic, sleek modern update. I sanded the scratches out of the top, then hand-painted it with Pure Earth Paint in Onyx, sealing with Diamond Coat in Matte (if you're looking for this product, it's now called Rock Hard) for a soft, barely-there sheen with a lot of protection. This classic look was enhanced by just the smallest amount of accent gilding on the drawers and Rub n Buff on the drawer pulls.

This chic update to a classic drop-leaf table will be a stunning, versatile accent for many years to come! I hope the new owners take photos of it in its new home for me! :)

Before and After : Custom Vanity Set and Cheval Standing Mirror

I am so honored when clients select a full suite of furniture to update their new spaces! These clients selected a gorgeous 1950's Thomasville vanity as well as a Lexington Queen Anne style flip-top desk/vanity, and a standing mirror.

We started with the Thomasville vanity, which they envisioned with creams, taupes, neutral grey/brown, and gold. For this project we made two custom blends of Annie Sloan Old White and French Linen - a darker shade on the body and a lighter shade on the drawers. The gilded accents are absolutely STUNNING!! I now want to gild *all the things*!!

 

 Next we worked on the Lexington Queen Anne style desk / vanity and a cheval style standing mirror in a gently distressed, shabby chic look. To create this look I used layers of Old White, French Linen, and Coco blended together, then lightly sanded at high points and edges before sealing with Pure Earth Diamond Coat. Since they were in the same color family, I worked on them side by side as a Project Pair. Aren't they lovely?

These colors are super classic and will always be chic! Which is your favorite?