Over the course of our remodel, we hired a dear friend Mike to handle some of the larger painting projects.  Mike is a professional painter with 20 years experience, and a wealth of information when it comes to choosing paint products.  Mike has taught me a lot about painting, and is always available when I have questions about what products I should use.

So when I picked up a buffet and hutch back in August at the local St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, I knew I wanted to give it a fresh coat of white paint.  Most of the time, when I’m brushing or rolling paint on walls or furniture, I choose latex for its quick drying time and easy cleanup.  For this hutch, I wanted a paint job that was extremely durable with a very hard shell glossy finish.  Oil based primer and paint was the answer.

Here’s the Before and After:

When choosing primer, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of available products out there.  I’ve used most of them, oil and water based, and in both spray and brush application.

Choosing the right primer really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

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Congratulations to the following two winners of the $50 dollar gift certificate to CabinetKnob.com, chosen by Random.org. 

#11  Lisa from Transforming from Glory to Glory

#164:  Kathy from Creative Home Expressions

I simply cannot wait to see what these ladies create with their win.   Many thanks to my friends over at CabinetKnob.com for their generous giveaway !

About a month ago, I scored a beautifully detailed buffet and hutch combination from the local thrift store.  I paid $100 for a solid wood gorgeous vintage piece with incredible detail.  The only problem?  It was blonde wood, and the stain had bleached out in certain spots.  In other areas, the finish was chipping, and the entire piece was in need of a little TLC. 

I worked in several stages with many layers of both oil based primer and paint.  It took me over a month to finally finish this project.  My friends, I’m pleased to show you my latest transformation:  this bright white and beautiful buffet and hutch.  I even painted the rear of the hutch my version of a watered down shade of ‘Tiffany Blue’ – the same color as the walls.

Hello gorgeous !   Welcome to the family.

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Hi all !  Do you have a harvest or holiday craft or recipe you’d like to feature ?  Does your family have a special tradition you’d like to share?  Is there some decorating or seasonal project you’d like to showcase ?

The week of November 23rd (Thanksgiving Week) is Guest Blogger Week.  You don’t need to have a blog to participate.  All I will need is an article and a few good pictures.  Send me an email if you’d like to be a part of the week’s lineup.  I only have room for ten, so let me know soon.

Image: Southern Accents

Cheers to all of you in this upcoming holiday season,

Kate

One of my absolute favorite places to relax and getaway for an afternoon is the southern corridor of Sonoma on Highway 121.  Along this route are three of my favorite wineries, an amazing European Antiques store, and my favorite high end salvage shop.  I always take visitors to Viansa winery, a little piece of Italy in the southern part of Sonoma, built on a hilltop to capture valley views.  Guests love to snap photos of the architecture of this winery, with its tiled rooftops and terra cotta colored walls covered with climbing ivy. 

Whenever visitors come to town, this is where I like to take them for an incredible afternoon.

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