meta name="p:domain_verify" content="83432fc69a1d6df071f49df584f9d839 Laurl Designs: April 2013

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Faux chalk painting- another furniture flip, part one

I have been working on the chalk painted and dark waxed concept in my head and on a couple or end table for a couple of weeks. First there was a lot of research in the how-to, what it actually is, what it is trying to emulate, etc.



Then I looked at how people are doing this from their own "pantry" without having to purchase the expensive brands. Then I ran across Jenine at A Bit of Whimsy blog post (click here to see her blog post) on alternative dark wax- which was exactly what I was looking for and a great resource!


The other part of this project that was a hold up was that I wanted to choose my own paint colors, not be limited by a brand. So, I opted for Benjamin Moore's Aura line of paints (low to no VOC and excellent coverage) and combined it with Jenine's alt. dark wax concept.
I decided I probably should not add to the plethora of posts on this concept unless I could enhance the knowledge base or improve on the concept. Since I am posting, I have decided that I can. I am bringing to the table the concept that I did not see in many of the posts during my research. The idea of thoughtful aging.


This patina we are creating is based on the look of years of aging and caring for furniture. Which means, we are trying to create the look of wear and also of "build-up" on grime being waxed into furniture. My tables are streamlined and from the 40's to 50's, so they do not have a lot of detail for grime to be lodged. But they would have had grime and wear around the handles, as most pieces would and a build-up on the table top where they would have been waxed with pledge, probably weekly, if this was the original finish.



For balance of finish, I added, lightly, some dark streaks down the legs and some general smudges.










Here are the key areas for any distress on a piece or furniture:
Chairs-
scuffs on the feet
nicks on the lower leg
scuffs on any projecting parts of the legs like a cabriole knee or banding
wear on the front of the apron from legs rubbing against it
wear on the sides where you would put your hands to pull up to a table
wear on the seat- mainly on the front edge
grime on the back of the seat around any spindles or splat
grime around the attaching point of the arms to the back and seat
wear on the top rail of the center back

Tables-
scuffs on the feet
nicks on the lower leg
scuffs on any projecting parts of the legs like a cabriole knee or banding
wear around handles
grime around handles
grime in any detail work- mouldings, banding, etc.
nicks, dents, scratches and dings on the top and any top mounting edges

Other furniture pieces-
scuffs on the feet
nicks on the lower leg
scuffs on any projecting parts of the legs like a cabriole knee or banding
grime around handles
wear around handles
grime in any detail work- mouldings, banding, etc.
grime and wear anywhere that one would normally place your hands

Notes on wear~
Be consistent with sanding, if you sand your wear spot below one handle do the same on the rest unless there is a use reason why you would not. For example, on a large chest, you would grab the drawer pulls different if there were at eye level as opposed to near the floor.
Grime can be inconsistent.
When you are distressing a piece, or adding wear, think about the person who would have put the wear on the piece. Decide who they are and how they use the piece BEFORE picking up the sanding block. When you understand the person, you will make better and more consistent choices on what you are doing to the piece and the finished piece will look more authentic.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Going public- the store

As I have mentioned about three weeks ago, I was working on a project of opening a space in an antique types shop. I feel like I am ready to make it official and invite you to my grand opening!

You can find me at space 6 at Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills! Here are some shots I took today of the space. I'd love to hear what you thought and, as always, I am available for interior design services from small projects like paint and upholstery to total makeovers!








Thursday, April 25, 2013

cell phone cases make statements

I have a love hate relationship with my cell phone... this week it's all hate, actually. I am that person that switches phones about every 5 years, so when I stumbled on to this lemon, my thoughts strayed to a new phone... as well as moving back to my old carrier. Unfortunately, I've got another 9 months on this contract.

So for now, I will dream of the day I can have a new phone and enjoy window shopping for cell phone cases. Here are some of my finds.


Custom Cell Phone Case- Brass Knuckles
Tough guy, huh. Bling-y brass knuckles cover. Possibly more comfortable that I think!


Striped Maple Natural Wood iPhone 5 Cell Phone Case
I love wood cell phone cases! Especially when you can opt for exotic woods.
Htc One S Doctor Who, doctor who htc one s, doctor who htc phone case, Htc One s Case, htc one s cover, htc one s phone case cover tardis
Tell the world you're a Whovian... well only to other Whovian to everyone else you will look like a Anglophile with this Dr. Who Tardis cell phone cover.
iPhone 4/ 4s and 5 Case - Vintage Damask - Retro Cell Phone Cover - iPhone Hard Case- Old Damask Floral Lace Pretty
Mmmm, damask! Pretty, pretty cover!

Iphone 4 case, Beautiful peacock collage, Iphone 4s cover, Iphone 5 case (9596)
This cell phone case reminds me of scrap book paper! And is it interchangable!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Mercury glass- vintage, new, and always sparkly

Mercury glass is a great way to add sparkle to the home and a perfect wedding table scaping item or give-away! Here is a collection of mercury glass candle holders, including some you can find in my space (number 6) in Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills.

Set of Three Mercury Glass Candlesticks (6.5 inches, 8.25 inches, 10.5 inches tall)

candlesticks from Petal and Forrest

Mercury Glass Votive Candle Holders Silver Tea Light Votive Set
A 2nd life vintage- set of warm glow candlesticks


Available at Laurl Designs at Interiors and Antiques
 


Capri Blue Mercury Glass Jar Candle from Anthropologie

Available at Laurl Designs at Interiors and Antiques

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The next furniture flips! the tables

First, I was TOTALLY into chairs, now it's tables. By the end of this weekend, I plan to refinish and paint two side tables purchased from Scott's in Atlanta and finish my make-under project. As well as dwell on a table for a client.

Here's the line up!


 
This pair is going from medium wood tone with a gold finish to...
 
 
Or maybe a blue like this...

Then there is this treat of a bedside table... maybe a stain, maybe a paint job, maybe both! How cool would this be with the interior of the shelves painting a contracting color!





Sunday, April 14, 2013

What's the word, hummingbird? communicating with design speak


There are so many design terms from around the world and I am, like most Americans, I use American phonetics to figure out the pronunciations... which might be "correct" or might not. I was speaking with a fellow designer and referred to ikat as I-cat, you know...
 
Textile Trend: Ikat instead of EEE- COT. I quick corrected myself, embarrassed of my faux pas and my bad habit. She laughed and said she does that all the time with that word. There are many of those words,
 

DAM-ask or da-MASK

 pill-i-ster or PIE-laster



that I would always prefer to speak correctly. However, though pronunciations, for some, indicate knowledge, I think it is understanding of the meanings and applications that convey the true knowledge.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Furniture flipping- the under makeover

I have been acquiring furniture to remake and when I saw a mid-century modern piece on a local "Craig's list" like site, I jumped on it. It was blond wood two tier table with great lines and I picked I up the next day.  Though I thought the table was well made and heavy for it's size, I didn't realize the quality I was getting until I put it in the car. I would have felt guilty writing a check for dramatically less than the value of the piece. When I turned it over to lay it in the car I saw this logo on the bottom of the piece.

I knew I had just struck gold! There was no way I would be painting this piece, but it needs some TLC.
Heywood Wakefield is synonymous with 1950's "mid-century modern" style, as well as really good turn of the century wicker. These table are most popular in two shades of blond- wheat and champagne. As the company name, without any of the historic pieces and information, was purchased in the recent past, the formula for the original finish has been lost. They do have a new formula, manufactured by Sherwin Williams, which they are using, but it does not perfectly match the layered lacquer that was originally used.
I have read many a forum, advertisement, "for sale" listing and opinion on refinishing, DIY, and how-to's on how to solve the table top condition issues. The posts advise everything from "do nothing", the equivalent of "do no harm" to the medical practice, to "DIY it with my fabulous and expensive product!" I lean toward the do no harm- though I would like to find the product that would just melt the lacquer a smidgen!
To refinish or no to refinish, I can't answer the question... yet. I do not that for now, I am very excited to have the piece and though the original plan was to purchase and resell, I think I will be living with, and enjoying, this piece for a while!


Please know that the images used are not the actual images of the piece but ones I found on the web of the identical piece, though in perfect condition- unlike mine. Once I find the solution to my needs, I will post before and afters of the actual piece.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

An ottoman by any other name, still sits as awesomely!

Ottomans, poufs, hassocks, footstool, there are as many names for them as places they come from in the world. They work as foot stools, seating, dog beds, and in a pinch a stepping stool! Here are some great pouf options!



Red or neutral Rose pouf by Surya

Romantic gray linen refinished ottoman
Romantic gray linen refinished ottoman


Houndstooth small pouf from Surya

Studded circular ottoman

Studded circular ottoman



 
Cream Petal Pouf/Ottoman - Rounded Edge

Please contact me if you would like some more information about any of these ottomans!








Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Silver fabrics to shine at home

Inspiration can come from many sources- the silver screen, great jewelry, your new mirrored Ray-Bans. Today I am offered up a collection of fantastic fabrics with a dash of shiny silver for your inspiration.  They are great options for a neutral space. By playing well with greys, yet contrasting, they will add a glint and a wink to a space.

I particularly like the linens with a screen printed silver damask patterns! The collection includes linens to silks, vinyl to velvets, printed to embroidered from maker Vervain to Duralee. If you are interested in more information or yardage any of these fabrics, let me know!

Monday, April 8, 2013

The furniture flipper- beautiful grey dining room chairs

I found these great chairs on a local facebook "trading" page. I love looking on there to see what's interesting and what people are interested in. So, set of four chairs circa 1910's, good bones, solid chairs, honey oak finish.

So the flipping commenced!












First off, I removed the seat cushions for re-upholstering. Then inspected the chair for damages. I was told that there was so veneer "lifting" and there was, but just on one chair. 


After gluing the veneer back and filling voids with wood putty and clean the chairs, I add the first coat of paint. I decided to go with a classic mid-tone grey. These chairs are on the formal side, so I didn't want to go too far with the paint colors. And as these chairs are not for a client, I need to look mainstream for my color selection to appeal to a broader market.







My paint of choice is Benjamin Moore Aura paint. It is low-VOC, paint and primer in one, and thick! My color of choice was- Baltic Grey. I did do two coats, because I needed really durable coverage.















Step three was the glaze finish and admittedly where this whole paint color idea began. I found this champagne metallic paint ( Modern Masters Metallic Paint) when looking for paint swatches... and the wheels started to turn. "How delicious would this look over grey on those chairs," I thought. But I wanted a striated effect, not a flash of opaque champagne. So, I cut the metallic paint with glaze in a 1 to 5 ratio, respectively.


Lastly the fabric. And I went with my second choice. I love this taupe and aqua animal print, but the taupe looked too yellow with the gray. Second choice is a Greek key type lattice pattern in sage grey, ivory and taupe. The finished pieces are a pretty grey with a light pearly look from a distance and a stria of champagne up close. It's an updated chair with a nod to the past. Fantastic!



Have you created some great painted projects? Wanna share?

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Ultimate Blog Party



I've joined the Ultimate Blog Party this week! It's a great way to find new blogs and make new friends from "5 Minutes for Mom".  If you found me though the Blog Party... Welcome!

Please look around and check out my projects, ideas, and hopefully find some inspirations! You can find links to follow me on the right- I am with Networked Blogs, BlogLovin', or Google+.

Or you can click on those cute buttons, at the top right of the page, that I found on Etsy. I'm pretty serious about Etsy- as a fan, shopper, and business owner! If you have found something awesome on Etsy or have a shop, please share. I'd love to find out more about it!

The Furniture Flipper- my new moniker

I have decided to take on a sobriquet... a moniker for the pedantic. Though admittedly sobriquet does sounds fancier. I will be known as the Furniture Flipper! To be used in a sentence like, "The Furniture Flipper strikes again!" referring to a recent jaunt to a thrifty shop, estate sale, of when presented with a particularly good refinish furniture piece, which I refinished!

This has been a Furniture Flipping weekend! Here are some previous finds and some "in process" pieces. Um, yeah. I like chairs! What can I say... they fit in my car easily!

This guy will be re-upholstered in to a peacock of a chair.

This vintage lovely is for a client, it will be living in the pink and orange condo!

This one will need some special love, however,I realized while editing the images that is has the same lines on the turned wood pieces as the set of dining room chairs I am working on. (see below)
 


 Before chair, during chair and some details. ( I will be blogging on the project on Monday with all the details!)