One Adorable China Cabinet

I’ve been painting furniture for a couple of years now, and sometimes I feel I should have found my own favorite style, or at least one I am “better at”. My specialty. So far I can’t say I found that, and I wonder if ever will (do I need to?)

I love to try and explore all paints, finishes and techniques. I see beauty in each one. For my house, I like rustic, farmhouse, and a little bit of industrial. If you know who Joanna Gaines is, it is easy to understand what I mean. I love every single thing that woman does.

On the other hand, when it comes to painting, I don’t have a favorite.
I don’t own any French Provincial or Mid Century Modern pieces, but I absolutely love painting them. I find those gigantic Jacobean buffets breathtaking, and can’t wait to paint the one I bought for a steal on Craigslist, but again, I would not keep it.

I love shabby chic, rustic, weathered, coastal, high-gloss and metallic finishes… I want to do all of them, if possible in the same week, so I don’t get bored.

Most of my work so far has been custom orders, so I don’t get to choose what to do. My customers tell me what they want, and off I go play with my messy toys.

With this cute hutch or china cabinet (not sure what is the proper name) I could finally experience the delicious freedom of choice. My sons’ school will have its annual silent auction, and I offered them a refinished piece as one of the items for the action. I got to choose everything! The piece, the colors, the finish, the techniques… It felt sooo liberating!

I follow several wonderful blogs and social media pages from people in this business, and one technique I am obsessed about is layering. The fascinating texture and depth of two or more colors mixed in a rustic finish is just irresistibly beautiful.

This is the third time I get to try it, and although it is not exactly the look I was envisioning before I started, I am pretty happy with the result.

How I did it:
1 – Primed the whole piece with Rustoleum white primer spray.
2 – One coat of homemade chalk paint of Ben Moore Harbor Haze (pale blue)
3 – One coat of Valspar Sculpting clay (light gray)
4 – Heavy sanding (80 grit) so the blue would show throug in some areas
5 – Light distress on all edges so the original wood shows through
5 – Dry brush with white paint
6 – Dark wax on the edges

It took me almost 5 days to finish, not including the forced break during the insane low temperatures of last week.

Let me know what you think.

Love,

Patricia.