Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Chest Redo

I am many things in this world... but a furniture re-finisher is not one of the things I'm best at.  I've made a few meager attempts at it, but it takes practice.  Thank goodness for thrift store furniture! 

I've been working on a piece I've had stashed away in the basement for quite a while.  When I first got it (MANY moons ago) it was just a plain old brown ugly thing I got from the thrift store.  I don't recall how much it was, but back then things were priced pretty well.  That was way before thrifting became so popular and prices starting skyrocketing!  (But that's a whole other topic!)

I am excellent at painting walls... so why not this?  I thought I'd try my hand at it.  At the time (again, MANY moons ago), crackle finish was all the rage.  I didn't want to put it all over my walls, so this was the perfect opportunity to try it out.  Who knows what I was thinking because this is how it turned out.







I KNOW!  Hideous right?  Okay, so do-over time! 

Anyway, it really is a good solid piece of furniture and just the right size to store all of our extra winter blankets.  I wanted to try something a little different and I've seen a few ideas in the blogoshpere that looked interesting.  I had never stained wood over paint, but apparently it can be done. 

So I started with some old paint I had in the garage... I was surprised it could still be mixed up.  But I'm cheap and didn't want to go buy anything special for it.  So it would have to do.  It's just a creamy whitish tan color.  Two coats of that and left to dry.



Next I used Minwax stain in Ebony.  I wanted something different.  Once I got it on there and started to wipe it off, it just looked too gray for my taste.  So I experimented and put some Dark Walnut stain over the top of that.  Ooooh... that looks cool!

I basically had to play around with it and work it onto the surface to get the look I wanted.  So I applied it on with a brush and then wiped it off with an old t-shirt.  Then took a dry brush and worked it in some more.  

When it was FINALLY dry... like after 2 days!... I applied a thin coat of satin poly and added some cute knobs from Hobby Lobby.  Here's how my second attempt turned out.
















I love how some of the previous crackle still shows through! 




I think it looks MUCH better!  But I've contemplated adding just a little something else on the top.  Maybe a monogram?  Or a stencil of some sort?  What do you think?  Any suggestions would be awesome!

And as always, I was born to party!  Click here to link back to one of the many great link-up parties I join each week.  





  

39 comments:

  1. beautiful... love the color. great job...
    i love the top.. maybe want you want is just a splash of a different color accessory wise.
    just a thought.
    lauren

    ReplyDelete
  2. This came out great! I always stain my furniture after I paint it. I just finished a dresser and I am still waiting for it to dry! I like it the way it is doesnt need anything. Just spruce it up with accessories!
    dreaming-n-color.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree with the rest of the peanut gallery! DON'T CHANGE A THING!!!! it is beautiful!!!!! And i dig the way the cracke shows thru too....you hit the jackpot girly!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That looks great! you did a fantastic job.It's perfect just like that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That is an absolutely GORGEOUS Finish!!! Persistence paid off!

    ReplyDelete
  6. we all do crazy things like crackle sometimes and then look back and say, "what was i thinking?" but you have saved it and it looks amazing now! that's what matters! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love it! The layers of stain added so much depth!

    ReplyDelete
  8. That turned out awesome! Love how the stain looks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Don't add anything, I think it looks fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Her makeover looks outstanding! Hop over and join me next week at my NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAYS PARTY…hope to see ya there
    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  11. I refinish furniture and say you did a fabulous job! Bravo! I'm pretty impressed actually. Just add some brighter colored candles and I think you'll have the pop of color your looking for. Add simple white ones and you'll have a slight rustic feel. Beeeautiful my new friend.

    Blessings,
    Shanna
    www.revampedfrenchmaison.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oooh Jennifer this is Gorgeous! You are so talented. Thanks for linking this up to the party this week.

    ReplyDelete
  13. so THAT's how you get crackle to show thru! I've seen it like this on some really high end pieces and could never figure it out. I might give this a try!

    The stain combo is wonderful! Love it! And I don't think the top 'needs' anything! It's perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the detail and the stain looks Fantastic!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, great job!!

    http://willcookforsmiles.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love it!! About 5 yrs ago I crackled my whole kitchen! It was such a job! My husband had to repaint all of those cabinets before we sold the house.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow! I can't believe you did this with leftover paint...
    It looks gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Now that is lovely! I will be honest too, the first time around was HIDEOUS! LOL..not so much the technique but the color...oh but the second time around is gorgeous! Thanks for joining my newbie party.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You did a fabulous job. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful transformation!! Love the new knobs you added too. Stopped over from Debbie's newbie party, Martina

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jennifer, I found you at Debbie's! Love what paint does to old items. Thanks for sharing. Hope you stop in to visit my website, too. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow! It looks fabulous! Great transformation.

    ReplyDelete
  23. hiya visiting from debbis newbie party x that chest turned out really great love the colour and finish x x have to give it a try x tfs hope to see youat mine soon x
    xmaggie

    ReplyDelete
  24. You did a wonderful job! I really like the handles you chose. I have a similar style on my pantry door at Brambly. Take care.

    Ann-Marie

    ReplyDelete
  25. I have recently started painted furniture too and it takes patience and you must forgive yourself. This last effort looks lovely and a stencil would be fun. I was working on a vanity outside and then the pollen blew in and now I am really in trouble. Happy painting! ♥Olive

    ReplyDelete
  26. that is so beautiful! I didn't see it coming out like that! I found you at Debbiedoos :) I am your newest follower

    ReplyDelete
  27. Very pretty! I think a monogram would be a nice touch.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I think you did a great job. Like you I'm hesitant to start painting furniture but I really want to try! I'm stopping by from Hope Studios party.

    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great work! I love the depth and character you added with the stain! You gave new life to this piece! :) Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  30. wow, doesn't even look the same. you did a wonderful job on it. thanks so much for sharing this at my party!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. gorgeous!! i love all of the little nooks and crannies, the details...this looks amazing.

    Stopping by via Debbiedoos Blog. I love love love the idea of a newbie blog hop, so fantastic.

    I wanted to make sure to come and give you a very warm welcome to the blogsphere and let you know we are having lots of fun over on my blog and you are invited!

    There are so many FUN things happening over on Dandelion Wishes!!!
    We are .....
    *Taking Back Monday, one Etsy giveaway at a time. Come enter to win something awesome EVERY Monday!
    *Airing our dirty little secrets with Friday Confessional. Confess, link up, feel better...I promise!
    *Keeping it positive every weekend with My Happy List. What's on YOUR Happy List this week? Post and link up...its a party y'all!
    *Every month we give a prompt for a VLOG..yep, turn the volume up, we are talking video posts people!
    *And there are crownings happening for Queen for the Day...finally, the royal recognition you deserve.

    See something for everyone…come say hello!

    ReplyDelete
  32. It really came out beautiful- I love the finish you chose- it looks so old world lovely now! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. That came out absolutely beautiful. You are so talented. Thanks for sharing at my Swing into Spring party.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thank you SO MUCH for linking up to WHASSUP WEDNESDAY!!! Great entry:)

    Hope to see you next Wednesday!

    xoxokara

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm in love with this! I picked up something similar to this and painted it black, and am now wishing I would have copied you!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Rustic & charming! Love the makeover, looks so much better. :) Thank you for linking up to my K.I.S.S. blog bash last week. This weeks blog bash is in full swing again!! If you haven't already please be sure & link up more of your creativity, I look forward to seeing all your great ideas. :)

    Drop by The Tattered Tag

    ReplyDelete