Here’s a list of our recent furniture projects!
Renovated French Chairs
A China Cabinet Transformation
French Sofa After
Furniture Projects
Here’s a list of our recent furniture projects!
Renovated French Chairs
A China Cabinet Transformation
French Sofa After
Hi Cindy, I want to lighten up a French cane chair I found as well as a dark wood four-poster bed. Your furniture projects are inspiring me and your explanations make me feel courageous enough to actually embark. Thank you for sharing your know-how and links to the products you use. I have a couple questions: 1) Do you start by sanding the wood to remove the veneer? Any advice about the process? 2) Do you always paint a prime coat before putting on the chalky white paint? Any advice on this step? With admiration and appreciation, Lisa
Hi Lisa! I never sand the wood before painting if I’m using chalk paint. That’s one of the great things about chalk paint is that there’s usually very little prep work. All I do to prep the wood before painting is to clean it really well with a good cleaner. Sometimes I will prime the wood before painting, especially if it’s mahogany or cherry because sometimes the red in these woods will bleed through. It’s easy to just paint a coat of primer first and then paint in your color of choice. The best primer I’ve used is Zinsser Bull’s Eye Primer. You can find it at Home Depot. It gives great coverage and is a great primer coat for your paint. I hope this helps! Good luck and have fun!
Fantastic, Cindy! Thanks for your quick response. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Hello Cindy, about your French trumeau mirror project, what did you use to attach the old mirror to the MDF board?
E6000 Glue!
Cindy, Do you refinish with French reds in any of your projects you can share?
No, I haven’t done anything with reds. Red isn’t “my color”, so I normally don’t use that hue.
I love the color of the French buffet. What colors did you use to paint it?
Hi Jocelyn! Here’s the link to the post with all of the information: https://edithandevelynvintage.com/a-blue-french-provincial-dresser/
2 questions…
Have you used wax on chalk paint? I have a very simple shelf I’m working on and thought I might give the wax a try
also, are you’re pillows such as the one that says hello darling stenciled?
I love your ideas and great design aesthetic. Thanks for posting so many wonderful things!
Hi Lee! Yes, I always use clear wax over my chalk painted pieces! I love the soft sheen that wax can give a piece. Yes, the “hello darling” pillow is stenciled! I hope that helps!
Hi Cindy,
I love your Bergere chair. It is so beautiful! I have one very similar that I would like to cover. I’m having trouble locating the German grain fabric do you have any idea where I might find some. Thank you so much for sharing. You have inspired me.
Gail
Hi Gail! I would suggest looking on Ebay or Etsy for the German grain sacks. They are sometimes hard to find, but I’ve had good luck finding them there.
Love your style, and you beautiful religious icons!
Thank you so much, Michele!
love your site. want to see more
Thank you, Barbara!
Cindy,
I’m going to check out Pure & Original Classico paint. I have som antique tables & I would love to try my hand at that since I have chalk painted some. I loved the hutch in the pictures you did. So beautiful.
I loved your story! Thank you for sharing your style & getting ideas.
April S.
Oh, April, you are so welcome! You will absolutely love Pure & Original paint! Thank you so much for commenting!
Hi Cindy,
Does the Pure & Original Classico paint dry quickly like chalk paint? What technique did you use to achieve the distressed antiqued effect on the night stands and bombe chest? They’re all so beautiful. I’m familiar with how to use chalk paint, but I’m not familiar with Pure & Natural paint and their finishes. I checked their web site and it was difficult to find any videos on how how to apply and/or use the product. I did order their color card and chalky package deal.
Hi Maria! Yes, the P&O Classico paint dries very quickly just like chalk paint. When I distress a piece of furniture, I usually do a wet distressing with a damp textured cloth, such as a wash cloth. The antiquing is done with my homemade glaze which you can read about in this post: https://wp.me/p5Xug9-1nI. I love P&O Classico paint for painting furniture, and I’ve tried a lot of the chalk paint that is out there. I hope you love it! Thanks so much for commenting!
Please add me to your blog email list.
Merci!
Hi Sharon! I will be glad to add you to our email list! Thank you so much!
I love all your posts. A few years ago we did all the renovations to our home ourselves also. Now I am into painting furniture and your beautiful posts inspire me.
Thank you
Aw, thank you so much, Jane!
Thank you Cindy. Your welcoming site is a pleasure to visit and these reimagined painted pieces are glorious. Thanks for being an inspiration!
I invite you to post recent or favorite new pieces you have completed, to my Pinterest board, as these designs encompass the aesthetic that especially appeals to me.
Hello Cindy, Thank You for a beautiful website. I get up every morning, drink my coffee while enjoying your website. I wondered if you could tell me how to mix darker pieces of furniture with lighter pieces, such as your antique bookcase with the binocalars on it. Most my pieces are dark and I want to start adding lighter furniture and accessories, similar to your rooms. I appreciate your help. Linda
Hi Linda! Thank you so much for your kind words! When I started “lightening” up my decor, I took it one piece at a time, slowly adding and replacing with lighter pieces. Some pieces, I painted to lighten them up, I reupholstered or added light slipcovers to pieces here and there. I didn’t do it all at once. I do mix darker, wood pieces in with the light, but I keep it to a minimum, so that the darker pieces are just an accent. Most of my pieces are painted, but the antique bookcase is French and very old. It’s one of those pieces that I would never paint, and it seems to work just fine among the painted pieces! Just take your time and slowly transition to the lighter palette!
Hello Cindy, Absolutely love your kitchen!! I painted my kitchen cabinets, and have found they are chipping where the handles are, from finger nails. Would glazing them protect the cupboards and do you have a tutorial on Glazing Cupboards. thank you and i truly enjoy your blog.
Thank you Janet! I don’t think the glazing would keep them from chipping. Glazing is just an antiquing with a glaze, for a distressed finish, it doesn’t really add any protection. Did you use primer on the cabinets before you painted?