Numbered Dresser for Any Room!

I used mostly American Paint Company's chalk paints on this dresser makeover.

Before

I began with a basic five drawer dresser that had seen better days cosmetic wise but had solid bones. 

I wiped clean and started in. First step was to get a good coat of base color on. For this, I chose a pale tone of silvery blue {APC's Liberty}. Then I covered it up with a custom darker shade of navy-ish grey. I was much happier with that tone. However, I knew that the first color wasn't a total waste of energy for it provided a great base to paint over as well as it would look great when it came time to distress.

It was now time to think about the agonizing step of painting the stripes on the drawers. I decided to use painters tape and tape off and get to it. Be sure to check and double check your lines to make sure they are straight. Measure, measure, measure!

First was the block of black {Lincoln's Hat} then came the deep brick red {Old Town Paints Red} and finally the mustard yellow {Amber Waves of Grain}. They all came out great much to my dismay. Then after plenty of drying time I carefully traced on the numbers and then painted them on with a white. Whew! That was stressful. 

I was very proud and pleased with how this dresser was coming along. It was perfect so far. However there was my prob the look I was after was a far from perfect look. I started in on my favorite step distress!! I took it outside and hit the whole dresser and all the drawers with the mouse sander. 

Then came the biggest decision what to finnish it. Since it was done in chalk paint I needed to decide on a seal. After doing some test boards with clear sealer, stain, dark wax, and half and half wax I had my decision made. I whipped up a container with a big scoop of each dark antiquing wax and clear wax mixed well. I waxed the dresser for my final step and I love the turnout.

What do you think? You need a numbered dresser in your house!

Transforming Two Old Chairs with Chalk Paint and Fabric

I picked up two rather nondescript chairs at a garage sale. They desperately needed a new look.

I decided to start my project finding material and then choose the chair color that would coordinate with it. I fell in love with a deep red silk-like material with brownish gold bees embroidered on it.

Soft brown was used as the base coat, with American Paint Company's Amber Waves of Grain as top coat.  I distressed both chairs so the original brown and the soft brown lightly showed through. Annie Sloan wax was applied to protect the painted surfaces, after 24 hours "cure" time the chairs were buffed.

 Next step was to upholster the chair cushions and secure them to the chairs.

 I love the combination of the red and yellow, and think the chairs make colorful statement pieces.

Tinting Primer with Chalk Paint

Often times you get your hands on furniture that you aren't quite sure of its history. It's probably had years of wear and tear and who knows what has been spilled on it. I often find myself looking over a piece of furniture with concern...should I prime it? Should I just chance it and just slap some paint on? I have taken my chances many times, only to have a piece totally painted and days later notice "bleed through" coming up. There is nothing more frustrating than old grease stains making an appearance on your freshly refinished piece!

So I decided to start priming most pieces that seemed like they'd have some issues. The brand I use is Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer. I have used both the Zinsser spray-on and the Zinsser paint-on kinds. I prefer the paint-on method. That way I can get the primer exactly where I want it without worrying about "over spray". Plus, you can tint the paint-on primer.

My big problem with primer is....what if I want to distress and show another color underneath but I don't want it to be the bright white primer? Sure, I could prime it, layer another color over top, then paint with my final top color. Who wants to paint a piece of furniture that many times?!

I kept thinking there has to be an easier way — and there is! Go ahead and tint your primer with whatever color of chalk paint you want to distress down too. This is the custom mixed tinted primer I used on a recent project and it worked great!

I measured out 1 cup of primer into a clean disposable container. (Make sure you have a lid that fits, you don't want your primer drying up if you need to step away for a while.) Then start measuring out your chalk paint color tablespoon by tablespoon. You will want to stir in each addition in VERY well. Be sure to keep track of your "recipe" just in case you have to mix up more later. Be on the safe side and just mix too much the first time around. =) Save yourself a huge headache.

I ended up with about 1/4 cup of my chalk paint color to my 1 cup of primer. It went on a lot lighter than shown above and really compliments my finished color well.

I think the finished piece looks much better than it would have if I would have distressed down to the original white primer.

I like the subtle distressed look. And I really like the fact I only had to paint it twice, once with  my tinted primer and the second time with my chalk paint color. After all, the less you have to work on a piece the better it is!

 Note: We always clean all of our pieces with TSP before we do anything to them.