TRIAL AND ERROR - deco vanity and stool

The final post regarding the projects 6 lovely ladies and I did during

a workshop we had was on this fun Deco Vanity.

While buying another item at a yard sale George and I were approached by a neighbor

asking if we would be interested in a dresser he had.

So off George went to investigate while I finished loading the van.

Needless to say his vanity come home with us.

I showed the ladies how I apply appliques with finishing nails and glue and

I repaired one of the drawers with more glue and a couple of clamps.

We discussed different repairs that could be done to damaged veneer,

as we did have some lifting in areas of this vanity.

I showed them how I fill hardware holes to make way for new handles.

Tutorial can be found here

Everyone got to try the Rustoleum trigger spray can when

we painted the new hardware in oil rubbed bronze.

They all got a little tip how I position new hardware without a measuring tape.

5 of the ladies brush paint the vanity while Sonja painted the mirror frame.

I couldn't believe time flew so fast it was now 3 o'clock and the class was over.

We chatted a little and went over a few more questions before everyone left.

I started working on the vanity later that evening and over the next week got it finished.

I know the ladies are eager to see the finished results and I have been very excited to show them as well.

I titled this post TRIAL AND ERROR because many of the initial things we started with

changed over the course of the week.

The hardware changed again to complement all the curves ...

 

The interior got stripped and stained dark brown ...

The cabinet was heavily distressed to show the details in the veneer and the black trim ...

And that brings us here ...

I just adore this piece and after all the waxing and poly the finish is so smooth and soft,

but I felt it was still missing something.

HERE

I had this little round side table hanging around waiting for a new purpose.

After painting and distressing,

I bought some great fabric, some foam, and started upholstering.

I may even still add some button tufting.

I trimmed her legs by 6 inches and added new nylon feet

Now she's perfectly chic!

I've heard from most of the ladies thru the week.

All have been buying supplies and starting projects at home.

Now we just need them to send pictures on how their projects are going.

NO PRESSURE LADIES!

The other projects we worked and can be found here:

THE INQUISITOR, HER ASSISTANT, AND UPHOLSTER'S WIFE

and

A NEWBIE, A MOOM WITH MAD SKILLS, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Sharing with:

THE INQUISITOR, HER ASSISTANT, AND THE UPHOLSTER'S WIFE - chocolate slab coffee table

The first project the workshop ladies tackled was to learn how I

use stain over my signature white paint.

and then how to finish the wood top with the same stain.

The table was finished in a typical medium wood color with a glossy finish.

(NO BEFORE PHOTO)

I started with showing them how to degloss the wood legs and apron to accept

primer and eventually paint.

The questions flowed easily for everyone especially Danielle.

Her good friend Nikki was so eager to get supplies at the end of the day

she was ready to drive off and leave Danielle behind.

We went over mixing and straining primer and paint thru for the sprayer.

Everyone got a chance to hold the spray gun and give it a try.

My experience running crews of 20 workers all the way down to a single

assistant is quite extensive however I've never come across a group that

meshed so quickly and used each other so supportively.

They got to feel how wax can help move the stain around once it starts to set.

Kelley got right in where I left off doing a fabulous job.

A few ladies even tried the belt sander when we first started to strip the table top.

We still had to get to a drawer repair, changing out hardware, including spray painting it

and using wood filler so we had to keep moving on so I would get to finish this coffee table later.

That evening I sanded the edge of the top and stained it.

I started applying the wipe on poly the next day.

Sanding with 400 grit between many many coats.

This is how it look when you sand with 400 grit.

A very white chalky dust.

Once I got the thickness I wanted one last sanding before waxing.

The final coat of wax adds a soft warm feel to the finish.

A NEWBIE, A MOM WITH MAD SKILLS, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER - beach cottage tables

This is the first glimpse at several posts I'll be writing this week about the workshop

I had at our home on Sunday.

Two of the furniture pieces we worked on were a pair of provincial tables

that George purchased at a local community yard sale.

Here you can see a few of my wonderful ladies caught on camera by

Sonja the sweetest girl and a fabulous photographer.

She only had her IPhone to shoot this but go check out her work:

http://www.sonjaspaetzel.com/#/Portfolio/Editorial/1

These tables were in great shape so all they needed was some TLC and a new look.

They were also perfect candidates to show the ladies

how fun and quick chalk paint and wax can update pieces. 

I wanted to show how I try to work with pieces rather than against them

so I asked the ladies to mask the tops off  with newspaper.

European Paint Finishes a great inspirational blog for me and others,

had just did a posting that morning of the perfect color combination

that would accent the pretty blondish wood surface we had on this pair of tables.

So I tinted the chalk paint to achieve a soft grayish blue

and the tables bases were sprayed with it.

The ladies got to see how quickly the paint dries and how nicely it applies with a sprayer.

Between my 6 girls I had complete newbies (as Stephanie confessed quite quickly)

some girls with a bit of experience,

and I had Lisa (I'd hire her any day of the week) a mom with mad skills.

All the distressing on these tables were done with wet sponges,

thanks to George lending us his extras from the kitchen so everyone could get in there.

Once they were done giving them a great aged look I showed them

how to apply wax and how to buff the wax after it was dry.

The surface of the side table did have some marks and staining which I sanded out

before showing them how to apply the wipe on poly to refinish.

I think the ladies did a remarkable job.

I'd love it if you would also let them know how

you think they did by leaving a comment below ...

Next time we'll have

THE INQUISITOR, HER ASSISTANT, AND THE UPHOLSTER'S WIFE

and I'll show you how this coffee table turned out.