Sneak Peak

This is SO FAR from being done but, just to get your interest peaked!  Hopefully I finish it this weekend.  Wish me luck!  Also remember about the great Kidlark giveaway, here.  Don't miss out on this awesome prize!   

A Muse for Shelves

A muse for someone that refinishes furniture can come from all sorts of places.  I love looking at antiques and trying to bring old furniture back to its original glory, but sometimes the pocket book doesn't allow for it!  Working with what you have can make the best refinishing projects, and the best muses.

My client Kim that got the Antique Refinish to her dinning room table, has this beautiful Andover Cabinet from Pottery Barn.It has that old rustic look with all the modern conveniences.  For example...those drawers, not drawers at all (except for the top row), it's a cabinet.  Those tricky Pottery Barn people!  This was a great piece of furniture she had in her living room, and it made for a fabulous muse.

Above the table on the wall were these two long shelves. 

 

Everything else in her living room was a beautiful dark mahogany wood, so the orange on the shelves was standing out, and not in a good way.  In stepped the muse and away I went.

I first painted them a Navajo White color.  When that was dry, but still a little tacky I took my sander and with a 220 sand paper lightly took some of the paint off to give it the rustic look.  The reason I choose to not wait for it to be completely dry was because I wanted a Venetian plaster effect.   I waxed it, gave it some scrapes and bruises with my putty knife and finished it off with a brown glaze and polyurethane.  They turned out great, and look fantastic on her wall.

What things in life become your MUSE? 

The Pinterest Piano

I love Pinterest!  It is an addictive past time of mine.  Why can't I be one of these smart people that come up with these novel ideas like Facebook, Twitter and now Pinterest?!? 

Recently I have noticed a lot of "re-pinning" of the piano I refinished.  What I love about Pinterest is that you can see the ripple affect pinning something has.  All these "repins" are from people I have no idea who they are!  The thought that my work is now out there in the Pinterest world for all to see is extremely exciting for me.  That means this adventure is for real, and people like my work! 

This piano has been in my family for over 30 years.  It is the piano I grew up playing, albeit short lived!  I wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons, but was never in love with the style of it, at all! 

(I never took a before shot when I started refinishing it, probably because I was so excited to just change it!  So this is one I cropped from a different picture so you could see.)

I opted not stripping the piano because I wanted to have some of the dark wood show through when I gave it my "Rustic" touch.  Rather, I used an 80 grit sand paper and took the high gloss varnish off as much as I could without scratching the wood.  I painted it with a cottage white latex paint.

  

Then I took my sander and had fun. 

The bench got a new look as well.  I love mis-match furniture, so making the bench a different color was the plan.  I first painted it with an aqua latex then when that dried I painted over it with the grey.

I lightly distressed it enough so that you could see the two-tone paint effect, as well as the original dark mahogany wood coming through.

Every piece of furniture has a story to tell.  Don't be scared to take risks and don't be scared of change...you could end up with something beautiful!

Happy Pinning!

Weekend Project

I am excited for the weekend to be here, how about you?  However; I am not excited to live in Arizona this weekend where the temperatures are suppose to be around 105-107 degrees!  Seriously!  Doesn't Mother Nature know it is the first day of Fall?  That means I am not suppose to be sweating while sitting completely still!  I bet you live some place beautiful with seasons, don't you?!?  Maybe one day I will join you.  What is better blistering heat or frigged snow? 

Regardless of my complaining I have work to do!  This beautiful table of a client of mine is getting a new look.  It has been in her family for 3 generations.  I LOVE furniture that has a story to tell! 

The top will get a new coat of stain  

The knobs will be replaced with something that makes more of a statement, and the beautiful band detailing will be given new life.

The bottom will be painted a soft linen white, and of course when we are done it will say, "Thank you for making me beautiful again".

I love my job! 

Antique Refinish

While in California, I met with a client who was in need of a table face lift!  She hated her dinning room table, but didn't want to get rid of it until she tried seeing what it would look like refinished.  I went to Kim's house and met with her to decide what look she should go for.  She and her husband live less than a mile from the beach, must be difficult!  They have the most adorable beach cottage, but something was missing.  There wasn't enough blues used in her home.  What says beach more than the color blue, right?!?  The only room that had blue was in the living room and it looked great.  So that was it, we were going with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Duck Egg. 

Before the table and chairs were screaming "make me pretty again"! They looked like this(my before picture of the table didn't turn out, but this gives you an idea)...

After the "Face Lift"...

I painted the entire chairs with ASCP, then put a clear wax all over.  After the wax dried I distressed corners with 220 grit sand paper block. Touching it up with dark wax to give it that aged antique look. 

The top of the table was stripped and sanded with 220 grit sand paper.  I left some patches of the old stain to give it character when I re-stained it with Annie Sloan Dark Wax.  Using the wax to stain is a lot faster and still gives a great look.
 


Next came the fun part.  Taking my hammer and beating it up!  This is great to get your aggression out.  I also added divots into the wood with a sharp blade.  I used ASCP Paris Grey and detailed around the edge of the table, and in the new, but old inspired divots on the top of the table.

She loves the way it looks, and I couldn't be more pleased!  What do you think?

Grand Opening... What will you win?

I am so excited to finally have this day arrive.  Thank you for visiting The Rustic Alley blog for the first post!  Aren't you all excited to say that "I was one of the first readers of The Rustic Alley!?!"  For months I have been working up the courage to become an "official" blogger so I can share my refinishing creations, sell my furniture, and post all my other diy projects! 

  

With the encouragement from family and friends I am making this dream a reality.

 

For as long as I can remember I have loved design and have loved making things.  When I look at something my brain just goes to that place, "what could I do to make it better?" or "how can I do that myself?"  So starting my refinishing business has come naturally.  I would love to take your un-loved furniture...

 

and...

transform it into a one of a kind treasure!  Email me at therusticalley@gmail.com, I would love to hear from you.    

With the support of great businesses I am bringing you some awesome GIVEAWAYS!  Each week you will have the chance to win different prizes from cash, baby accessories, jewelry, stationary, photography session, and a vacation!  What other blog that is just starting can bring you all that?  Make sure you keep coming back each day to see what is going on at The Rustic Alley.

This weeks Giveaway

Jameson Monroe is one of the hottest sites on etsy right now for child accessories.  These fashionable sisters have created the most adorable headbands, blankets, bibs, jewelry, leggings and the list goes on! 

The winner will win their choice of one of these headbands



The Skinny Collection



and this adorable black flower headband (unfortunately this precious baby doesn't come with...bummer!)



Black Satin Ruffle



To enter you must:

1. Sign up as a Follower to my blog and "Like" my Facebook Page.  (you can do each without leaving this blog)

2. Leave a comment saying why you would love to win! 

For an extra entry:

1.  Facebook, Tweet and/or Blog about this giveaway also about this new blog called The Rustic Alley.  Once you did send me another comment with what you wrote, or the link to view.

The winner will be announced Monday September 19th.  GOOD LUCK! 

Thanks again for stopping by, see you again tomorrow.