Before & After - Bedside Tables

Last month, I completed one of my biggest furniture re-dos to date: two gorgeous, curvy bedside tables. When my friend, Monica, first showed me the pic, I knew they would turn out awesome. They were heavy, solid tables with ornate curved fronts and sides. Monica didn't like the finish, the tops had scratches and water stains, and she was looking for a pop of color in her all-brown bedroom.

Here's the before:

And here's the inspiration photo of what Monica wanted the tables to look like:

Monica provided the light blue paint in flat. For the bases, I gave them a light sanding, primed and painted two coats with a brush. But then I ran into problems... Instead of a soft, light distressing, I ended up with peeling paint. 

It was a major headache, but I stripped the bases and drawers completely before starting over. I'm not sure why the primer didn't hold. My only guess is maybe the surface was oily. I've heard about "difficult" pieces. These fit that description. 

Once everything was stripped, I started over. After a soft distressing with a sanding sponge, I used two coats of dark wax. The wax gave the tables a beautiful shine and picked up all the brush strokes. I can't over-emphasize how much better it looks with wax. 

For the tops, I used two coats of dark walnut stain and dark wax. I wish I had better pics of the finished product, but those suckers are heavy, and there are a lot of steps between the little house and where I stage photos. 

Notice the hardware? It's what I used for my whitewashing tutorial here.

So here are the tables again. Monica, if you're reading this, I'd love a pic of them in the room! And if you ever decide to sell them, let me know. They really are gorgeous.

If you're interested in having me refinish a piece of furniture for you, please send me an email at aliciaslittlehouse{at}gmail{dot}com. I typically charge $25/hour plus materials.

Thanks for stopping by!

How to Whitewash Hardware

I love it when I find a piece of furniture with beautiful original hardware. The curves and ornate details can be so pretty... but also very "old lady." Sometimes those old brass knobs and pulls can make a shabby chic piece feel very dated.

One solution is whitewashing. There are probably several ways to do this, but here's my version.

Materials:

Paint Thinner

White or cream paint

Chip brush

Bucket or mixing container

Satin finish spray polyurethane

Towel

To begin, wipe the hardware down with paint thinner. I like the Kwik Strip safe paint thinner. It works well and is not as strong-smelling. Wash with soap and water and let dry.

Once the hardware is clean, mix your paint. Pour a dollop of paint in a small bucket and add a little water. I usually don't measure it out. You want it to be thinned a little so the paint is transparent. If you have too much water, it won't adhere well. If that happens, just wipe it off and add more paint. I used a satin finish cream color, but any finish would work fine.

TIP: If you don't have anything on hand, have the hardware store mix up a sample size. These are only a few dollars, and they really cut down the cost of your projects.

Now that your paint is ready, apply it using an inexpensive chip brush. Let it dry, and take a towel to wipe the paint off slightly. You can do this as much or little as you like. Then, follow with two coats of spray polyurethane. 

Voila!

I love the way it turned out!

If this isn't your style, you can also spray paint hardware. Make sure you clean it well, spray it and finish with polyurethane. You don't always have to spend money on new knobs and pulls to give your furniture a fresh look. Many pieces can be updated with just a few dollars.

If you need help giving your furniture a face-lift, contact me at aliciaslittlehouse{at}gmail{dot}com.

Before & After: Teal Side Table

I picked up this fun little table at a yard sale a few weeks ago. I loved the curved edges and overall shape. The best part: the top drops down for easy storage.

The top was peeling a bit, so I sanded it down until smooth. The finish was very thin, so instead of priming, I opted to sand the entire piece. I followed with a custom blue-green color I mixed from some paints I had on hand.

I then distressed it, antiqued it with walnut stain and finished with wax.

I went for an extreme distressed look. I love how the dark finish shows through. I realize this amount of distressing is not for everyone, but I love it.

Here it is with the side folded down:

This little guy is for sale. If you're interested, send me an email at aliciaslittlehouse{at}gmail{dot}com. If I don't hear from anyone this week, I'll be taking it to sell at The Nest.

Before & After: End Table

I picked up this lovely end table at a garage sale a few weeks ago:

It had that old spotty finish on it, but I loved the curvy legs, size and shape.

I coated it with a can of spray primer (Kilz) and sanded it down smooth. Then, I painted it with two coats of cream paint in a matte finish. Next I applied a gray glaze, making sure to leave color in the cracks. I then distressed it by hand and finished it with two coats of wax.

I loooooove how it turned out!

It's for sale at The Nest Antiques. I hope it goes to a good home.

Need help transforming a piece that has great potential?

Send me an email at aliciaslittlehouse{at}gmail{dot}com.