A Blond Breakfront China Cabinet Goes Brunette…

A client had a breakfront cabinet that she felt was stuck in the 80′s – the color finish – pinkish blonde.   She didn’t want a painted finish -she just wanted it darker. Not an easy fix – finished wood furniture typically requires sanding/stripping and starting with a fresh stain color  -  or, simpler – painting over it with easy paints like Caromal Colours basecoats.

I gave her an option of trying a ‘quick fix’ – using a gel stain and applying it directly over the existing finish.  I forewarned her – you can’t guarantee what  you’re gonna get … the stains can bite into one area stronger than an other… her piece was in lovely condition so she stood a pretty good chance that the gel stain could work for her piece.   I made a trip out to test it on the inside door – this was using a lighter color, but even that was enough for her to say ‘lets do it’…

So I came back with a color called Dark Walnut

and started the piece

My plan was to get it done in one day, but the inside kicked my butt, and I had to take 5 drawers back to the shop to complete

I’ll rate this application at least medium difficulty in terms of DIY ease – I won’t lie and say it doesn’t offer a challenge…  I’d recommend practicing on something of no value before tackling a piece you adore – once you start you can’t go back easily.

I was quite pleased with the transformation, the homeowner liked but didn’t love – she felt it took the piece from the 80′s to 90′s , but she was looking for the 2000′s….  I told her when I returned w/the finished drawers I could take one more swipe at it (just the exterior) since it would be completely dry

This was on the return – it took an extra hour to apply another wash of stain -the first layer took 8 hours…

she loved the results so much

that she sent me home with the matching server

that one I was only able to snap shots of layer one, they picked it up before I took final photos, but even this way its lovely…

Just in time for a Thanksgiving family gathering!     I hope all of you had a blessed day!

My Work Was Featured On The Houzz Homepage!

Hello fabfinisher,

I wanted to personally thank you for being a part of the Houzz.com community, and let you know that your work was hand-picked by one of our writers for a featured Ideabook on the homepage of the site!

Enjoy flipping through and seeing your work in today’s feature.
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/784385/list/Hang-the-Perfect-Light-Over-Your-Holiday-Table

 

My Oak Dining Room Set Needs Caromal Black – But Which Line of Paint?

Our Thomasville dining room set  was one of the first early investments in our marriage.   A hutch , oval table and 6 chairs was purchased  for use in our kitchen, as our old home had a large nook area .  When we moved to our present home it took its place in the dining room.

Here it is this past December – bittersweet looking back at these photos – who’d have known that less than two weeks later my husband would be coming home from work, no longer employed -  after 32 long years?

The set needs to be updated-  I hate the honey oak, and want to paint it black, lightly distressing the edges.  My quandary is this – as much as I love painting,  I hate painting!   I don’t look forward to painting 6 chairs, a table with 2 leaves, and a china cabinet with a bunch of glass panels to tape off.

The Caromal Colours  Reclaim Licorice (black) is so tempting – quick, easy, and covers like tar …. I tried it on a chair ….

(Like those piles of Legos on the table?   Need to get those listed on eBay…. )

I love the Reclaim….

But,   I LOVE LOVE LOVE the  Caromal Colours Texture Basecoat finishes too.   Here the Peppercorn (black)-

Even though the Texture Basecoat will take a little more effort than the easier Reclaim,  I’m not going to compromise – I love the TB paints for furniture finishes.  The paints make it easy to create a soft, kicked back, custom looking finish with substance.  My dining room set has oak grain – and the sampling of Reclaim Licorice  did not cover the  existing grain pattern whereas the TB paint will hide the grain – in my case I’d prefer the grain be gone.

So -  wish me well – no clue when I’ll find the time, but you’ll be the first to see the updates!

For more information about the Caromal Colours textured basecoat Parchment and Caromal Colours Toner ,  head here   distressing paints

For Caromal Colour makeovers

To order sample colors

LET CAROMAL COLOURS ROCK YOUR world!

Head to my store   SHOP.FABFINISHER.COM   for all of your Caromal needs  – including perfect 8 ounce samplers of the Textured Basecoats – a great way to experiment with color combinations!

Sampling For A Smaller Accent Wall…

Client is leaning toward a striped plaster, for a smaller DR focal wall,  but is open to other options as well…

I haven’t had much luck coming up with a striped plaster sample that works, maybe one of these will catch her eye

Each square represents a different color/finish -

I hope one really pops when I drop them off -  I’m not really feeling the stripe thing…