DIY Paint Technique

Greetings! Are you ready to learn a little DIY paint technique? I couldn't wait to share this with you, it's the first time I've tried this method (with wax paste), so I hope you have successful results like I did. I won't kid you, this technique has a lot of steps, much like the Ball Finial Technique, but totally worth it in the end. Patience is good to have when starting a project like this, but honestly, I used my craft heat gun to speed up the drying processes. :) As I'm sure you know, the craft and hobby stores are packed full of garden accessories and that's where I found these great pedestals. I have no intention of using them outside and after this technique, it's indoor use anyway. They are made of Terra cotta/clay and have a painted finish already, but it's pretty wimpy and I wanted a more of a distressed finish.

Here is what you are going to need:

Garden pedestal (your choice of size and style, these 2 are from Hobby Lobby, 50% off)

Acrylic paint (Burnt Umber and Sandstone) Wax Paste (for furniture)

Sandpaper, fine grit

Chip Brush

Old Towel Spray Sealer

After you've gathered all you supplies, start by painting out the entire pedestal in Burnt Umber. Depending on how detailed your piece is, two coats may be in order to get all the nooks and crannies.

Let your piece dry completely (or use the heat gun). Next, open your wax paste and use an old towel to rub over the pedestal specifically in areas that would naturally have wear. Let the wax dry completely, about an hour (I really waited an hour on this step). I hope you can see the wax in this picture:

Now you are ready to do the top coat of Sandstone acrylic paint. Keep the brush pretty dry, meaning not too much paint, and just hit the surface, leaving some of the burnt umber exposed. Let the top coat dry completely.

Now, using the sandpaper, gently begin sanding on the edges, concentrating on the areas where wear would naturally occur. Because of the wax paste, the top coat sands off really easy and appears to have "chips" out of the paint instead of a sanding appearance, although some of that is present, but it's not a bad thing.

Finally, a burnt umber wash is next. Dilute some burnt umber in a bowl with water and wash over the piece. Let it sit for a minute or two and use a towel to pounce off quite a bit of it, leaving it in the crevices.

I did one side at a time, you don't want it to dry on, just age out the finish a little more.

After everything is dry, give the entire piece a coat of sealer, I like to use flat vs. gloss.

The finished product!

Pedestals can be used for a lot of different things around the house, like under lamps, or bases for cloches, but I wanted to put a couple of my cylinder vases (that you've seen a kagillion times :) up on them for hurricanes.

I put a little sand (to catch the wax and level out the candle) and a little moss for a little springiness

It makes quite a dramatic statement, I loved it instantly, I hope you can see how big it is (about 20" tall). I think I want to do a smaller one too, I have smaller glass vases that would look great as well, and I'm thinking on the mantle would look great. I hope you give this technique a try, I know you'll love it! Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're inspired!

Inspiration Monday: Palmer Weiss

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. Palmer Weiss, a well known designer, is what is inspiring me today for Inspiration Monday. Based out of San Francisco, she has a wonderful design aesthetic that is a wonderful mix of modern and traditional with a touch of funky thrown in, I really admire that! It's not an easy thing to accomplish, but she does it really well, doesn't she?

I love the lantern above the table here as well as the slip covered chairs. My favorite part, however, is the ornate mirror over the streamlined console, beautiful.
Other notables, the use of garden stools and the trellis fabric on the side chairs.

Now in this room, I am instantly drawn to the orange and interesting coffee table. Other notables, zebra rug and orange details on the furniture.

The chandy here is divine and the grass cloth wall paper creates such a dramatic background for all the white, love it.

Another colorful room, the chevron drapery and I love the upholstery on the chair in the foreground. Other notables, the Foo dogs in a fun color and rams head, and the kitchen looks well done too.



Interesting lighting and wall color draws me here, the green and natural elements are well done.

Ok, another interesting chandy, feeding my lighting fetish, she's a girl after my own heart! Other notables, Chevron runner and green damask fabric on the bench in the eating area.

Check out more of Palmer's portfolio here.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you are inspired by Palmer as much as I am! See you tomorrow for Works For Me Tuesday, I've got a great DIY project to show you, you're gonna love it!

Weekend Links

Here are a few links to peruse this weekend. I like to call it virtual window shopping! Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Vilmie Figur Pillow Covers

This scarf is such a fantastic yellow, I love the whole outfit really! I don't think I can pull off the shoes though!

Marc Jacobs Pansy Print Scarf

I love these plates from Anthro, not too terribly priced either.

Zinnia Thicket Salad Plates

Neck Tie Necklace

This is a DIY project, I am thrifting ties this weekend!

See you on Monday!

At Home Thursday: The Chair, Part 1

I would like to introduce you to my next really scary project. The occasional chair. This is a chair that I bought second hand in a thrift store in Carthage MO for less than 40 dollars and let me tell you, it looked better then than it does now after 5 years in this house.

I originally bought the chair for the master bedroom, but because we needed more seating in the living room, out it came...soon after the discovery of it's comfort, Keegan took it over and it became "his chair" Now, between food stains, candy wrappers, drink spills, dog hair, just plain and disgusting boy things, I am going to have to step in and try to reupholster this poor thing.

The fabric on the arms are thread bare and stained, I just have to try, it 's my duty!

Does this look scary challenging or what! Tufting? Really? I have been watching DIY vids on you tube, I am definitely going to have to get some supplies.


What I know so far is that I want to paint the wood white and then there is the question of fabric choices. I haven't found the perfect candidate yet, but I've been ordering fabric swatches online, I'm waiting for a few more, but these are the choices so far...just remember that the wood is going white.

So far, I've only chosen solids, I'm not sure why, I guess in keeping with the style of the chair. After all you can't really tuft just any fabric. I thought that the chocolate chenille (top right) was going to be the winner, but then I thought of green...as you can see, it's going to be a bit of a process selecting fabric, but it's a fun process! I am waiting on a couple more fabrics and doing some shopping, so here's hoping to a timely decision!

Close ups of the contenders:
Chocolate, Avocado
Both have beautiful texture and the chenille is so soft

Estrella Basil and Portsmouth Basil
I love the woven texture, but look at that velvety softness.....


...decisions, decisions.

Whatever Wednesday: More Cabinet Addition Info

I have still been getting some questions on how we added height to the cabinets in the Kitchen Facelift, so I thought I would try to explain in more detail with an illustration too.

This picture shows the existing cabinets that we started with. These were measured and 1x4 pine boards were cut to fit exactly (we did butt joints, not miter corners on the 1x4's).

This picture shows the 1x4's cut and dry fitted.

Here, the crown molding has been attached to the 1x4's and ready to be attached to the cabinets.

I've done a rough illustration to help visualize the process. Scrap boards are attached lengthwise across the tops of the existing cabinets, the boards are what the 1x4's are nailed to. Justin used a small bead of liquid nails too.






The only after thought we had was to add trim to hide the seam between the cabinet and the 1x4's.


We used pre-primed crown molding, but it was really easy to prime everything and paint two coats of semi-gloss paint after everything was attached.
I used chaulk to make everything seamless, where the crown meets the 1x4 and where the trim is added.

Hopefully this will help any of the lingering questions, if not, let me know. Thanks for stopping by.

It Works For Me Tuesday: Tabouret Stools

So here it is the first of March, doesn't that sound strange? I am beginning to feel the tugs of spring, the weather is becoming more tolerable and I see some growing activity in my flower beds, oh, the anticipation! Grow babies grow! It seems like forever since it's been warm....

While out shopping at Michael's the other day, I spied these cute little butterfly votives (my MIL bought them for me, thank you!), I usually don't like the accessories at Michael's, but they were just way too cute to pass up!

So onto " It works for me Tuesday"...

The Tabouret stool, a knock-off of the iconic Tolix stool, (I wish there was a nicer word/phrase for knock-off...), this affordable alternative found here. I ordered a couple for the kitchen to add a little more retro flavor-flav. I'm working on adding even more detail to the Kitchen Facelift, as budget allows and these fit the bill. I couldn't pass these up, and I'll just pretend, they are under the new counter tops that I don't have.:)

I like the metallic ones too.

The black is great as well.

I love the white and even without a counter overhang, everyone in the family uses them. I love the powder coat finish and they are steel, so I know they will last. They have a handle and easily stack too. They are a little chilly on the bottom in the morning, so make sure you've got thick pj's on. :)

So, if you are looking to add a little industrial vibe to your kitchen, I recommend these for sure.




Thanks for stopping by!