Hi,
I would like to escort you through a private tour of the behind-the-scenes highly classified process which precedes the beautiful pieces you see displayed here on my site.
To begin overflowing my spare room and garage, I scour, hunt, track and peck to acquire these fantastic finds. I drive all over places to retrieve pieces. Then, I sardine them in my trusty minivan, hoist them on the luggage racks and haul them home. This van is a trooper, doing the work of a pick-up truck. It eases on down the road Beverly Hillbillies style at times, but it safely delivers the furniture to my workshoppe.
Secondly, they get a warm splashy TSP, lysol or bleach bath depending on their lack of cleanliness. Some funky things attach themselves to pieces left in damp barns or cellars. Once scrubbed and smelling fresh as a...well...old daisy, they are wiped down with a towel and then left to air dry. No painting semi-wet furniture.
After drying completely, I assess and address any issues or repairs. Sanding and other techniques are also administered at this point in preparation for the look I would like to achieve. Then, on to the good stuff.
Next, I choose the paint color. If I haven't already had a design epiphany, I grab my shabby little bench, sit and stare at the piece. Dozens of choices and combinations flash across my mind, and I sigh and gaze at the furniture envisioning each one used as this or that, here or there, and if so, what would look best where. If I have already had an epiphany about the design, I grab my shabby little bench, sit, sigh and stare at the piece. I haggle with myself whether I should do it differently than I thought. I drag out a bunch of paint cans and begin holding up lids to get a glimpse of the possibilities. Then I revert to my original idea and carry on.
After the colors have been decided, I jump over to the accessory/jewelry department. Knobs, handles, pulls, appliqués and such are tried on for size, shape and a particular look. Sometimes I wait until the piece is finished before choosing the hardware because the looks are so drastically different than what I start with, it may change the feel of a piece.
Now it is time to paint or stain. Donning my apron which greets all paint splatters and hand swipes, I stock my products and tote them to the work station. I only use the highest quality products and techniques on my furniture refinishing projects such as Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore and Behr for latex or stain, and Old Fashioned Milk Paint if I go in that direction. I make my own chalk paint by combining special order calcium carbonate powder with latex paint. I measure, then mix and mix and stir and stir and shake until the consistency is just right. Then I mix and stir and shake some more to be sure. If I am using milk paint, its the same procedure but different consistency. Measure, mix, stir, shake until just right.
My pal Purdy is now raring to swipe, so I dip it into the paint and start slathering. I prefer two to three coats regardless of paint type. I paint by hand with brushes of various widths. I think when the soft brush streaks of a fine paint job are highlighted by dark wax they are endearing and authentic.
A light sanding is done in between each coat once completely dry. Unless I am using a texture technique then I don't sand and don't wait until it is totally dry, but that's a whole different cupboard of wax. When the paint coats meet my standards, it is time to distress. This part is a blast. I love distressing a piece, and mainly sand by hand, although I have on occasion needed to use a palm sander for more stubborn paint. I simply begin in a spot and shift all around the piece. No strategy. No preplanning. Just good old go-with-your-gut instinct. I step back and evaluate the look and effect, and at that point I figure out if I want it heavily or lightly distressed and continue or stop respectively.
The piece is now ready for protective top coats. I use wax, polycrylic and polyurethane. Again, top quality brands. I mix stain in with clear wax to create dark wax to antique-up the antiques and give another layer of dimension to others. First a coat of clear wax gets massaged into the piece section by section and left overnight to semi-cure. After a light buffing with either a faux wool cloth or 0000 steel wool, the dark wax is rubbed on and left for a couple of days to set and further cure. A formal buffing is the last step to getting that soft sheen for which wax is renowned and favored. I often do between two and four coats of hand rubbed wax to ensure coverage and durability. This is a tedious and back taxing portion of the project, but the results are luscious and worth every creak and pinch of my muscles after hunching, swirling and pressing. Think wax on, wax off and repeat for several hours in squatting, scrunching and stretching positions.
Finally, finally, finally, the piece is ready to put on furniture pretties. Hardware is selected and attached by process of elimination of several lovely choices. Much more agonizing decision making. I knew that would be my glitch with this whole thing. The decisions involved. I like just about everything, mixing styles and colors and genres of stuff together for a very unique appeal.
The piece is now all ready for lights, camera, sit still and be wonderful. After its photo shoot, it makes its grand debut for everyone to view and make it a part of their family.
That's it.
Next piece please.
I would like to escort you through a private tour of the behind-the-scenes highly classified process which precedes the beautiful pieces you see displayed here on my site.
To begin overflowing my spare room and garage, I scour, hunt, track and peck to acquire these fantastic finds. I drive all over places to retrieve pieces. Then, I sardine them in my trusty minivan, hoist them on the luggage racks and haul them home. This van is a trooper, doing the work of a pick-up truck. It eases on down the road Beverly Hillbillies style at times, but it safely delivers the furniture to my workshoppe.
Secondly, they get a warm splashy TSP, lysol or bleach bath depending on their lack of cleanliness. Some funky things attach themselves to pieces left in damp barns or cellars. Once scrubbed and smelling fresh as a...well...old daisy, they are wiped down with a towel and then left to air dry. No painting semi-wet furniture.
After drying completely, I assess and address any issues or repairs. Sanding and other techniques are also administered at this point in preparation for the look I would like to achieve. Then, on to the good stuff.
Next, I choose the paint color. If I haven't already had a design epiphany, I grab my shabby little bench, sit and stare at the piece. Dozens of choices and combinations flash across my mind, and I sigh and gaze at the furniture envisioning each one used as this or that, here or there, and if so, what would look best where. If I have already had an epiphany about the design, I grab my shabby little bench, sit, sigh and stare at the piece. I haggle with myself whether I should do it differently than I thought. I drag out a bunch of paint cans and begin holding up lids to get a glimpse of the possibilities. Then I revert to my original idea and carry on.
After the colors have been decided, I jump over to the accessory/jewelry department. Knobs, handles, pulls, appliqués and such are tried on for size, shape and a particular look. Sometimes I wait until the piece is finished before choosing the hardware because the looks are so drastically different than what I start with, it may change the feel of a piece.
Now it is time to paint or stain. Donning my apron which greets all paint splatters and hand swipes, I stock my products and tote them to the work station. I only use the highest quality products and techniques on my furniture refinishing projects such as Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore and Behr for latex or stain, and Old Fashioned Milk Paint if I go in that direction. I make my own chalk paint by combining special order calcium carbonate powder with latex paint. I measure, then mix and mix and stir and stir and shake until the consistency is just right. Then I mix and stir and shake some more to be sure. If I am using milk paint, its the same procedure but different consistency. Measure, mix, stir, shake until just right.
My pal Purdy is now raring to swipe, so I dip it into the paint and start slathering. I prefer two to three coats regardless of paint type. I paint by hand with brushes of various widths. I think when the soft brush streaks of a fine paint job are highlighted by dark wax they are endearing and authentic.
A light sanding is done in between each coat once completely dry. Unless I am using a texture technique then I don't sand and don't wait until it is totally dry, but that's a whole different cupboard of wax. When the paint coats meet my standards, it is time to distress. This part is a blast. I love distressing a piece, and mainly sand by hand, although I have on occasion needed to use a palm sander for more stubborn paint. I simply begin in a spot and shift all around the piece. No strategy. No preplanning. Just good old go-with-your-gut instinct. I step back and evaluate the look and effect, and at that point I figure out if I want it heavily or lightly distressed and continue or stop respectively.
The piece is now ready for protective top coats. I use wax, polycrylic and polyurethane. Again, top quality brands. I mix stain in with clear wax to create dark wax to antique-up the antiques and give another layer of dimension to others. First a coat of clear wax gets massaged into the piece section by section and left overnight to semi-cure. After a light buffing with either a faux wool cloth or 0000 steel wool, the dark wax is rubbed on and left for a couple of days to set and further cure. A formal buffing is the last step to getting that soft sheen for which wax is renowned and favored. I often do between two and four coats of hand rubbed wax to ensure coverage and durability. This is a tedious and back taxing portion of the project, but the results are luscious and worth every creak and pinch of my muscles after hunching, swirling and pressing. Think wax on, wax off and repeat for several hours in squatting, scrunching and stretching positions.
Finally, finally, finally, the piece is ready to put on furniture pretties. Hardware is selected and attached by process of elimination of several lovely choices. Much more agonizing decision making. I knew that would be my glitch with this whole thing. The decisions involved. I like just about everything, mixing styles and colors and genres of stuff together for a very unique appeal.
The piece is now all ready for lights, camera, sit still and be wonderful. After its photo shoot, it makes its grand debut for everyone to view and make it a part of their family.
That's it.
Next piece please.