“I would like some advice on some pieces of furniture for my bedroom. I am new at this and really don’t know where to start.  For my bedroom I’d love some color mixed with black, grey, and white.  I want to mix in new pieces of furniture (like a headboard) with old/repainted night stands and an old chest.  What color do you think I should paint them?  Should I brush paint or spray paint? Any thoughts or ideas you have would be greatly appreciated.”  ~ Mina

The answer is completely subjective and depends on so many factors, your favorite colors, the space itself, and of course the style of the piece of furniture. I like to think of it this way.  If you’re looking for a piece that will harmonize with other players in the room then choose a classic or more neutral color, like cream, gray, or black, and then pull color into the space with your wall paint, textiles, and accessories.  But if you’re looking for a showstopper, or one that will be a focal point and be more dominant in the space, then by all means, choose a brighter color.

There’s a great source of inspiration for painted furniture and a site I absolutely love. I wrote about Somerset Bay two years ago, and I find their entire collection so inspiring, every color is spot on.  

Take a peek at a few of their classic neutrals …

These colorful pieces are all so gorgeous too . . .

All images via Somerset Bay

What we’re seeing more and more, especially on blogs, is real people being more confident with their color choices on furniture, and I love it!  For even more images of boldly painted furniture, visit my Color Inspiration file on Pinterest, it’s filled with many inspiring pieces to give you plenty of ideas! 

Finally Mina, there are three basic ways for you to paint those endtables and/or that bedroom chest. You can brush paint, spray paint, or use Annie Sloan chalk paint, all three yield beautiful results.  New hardware or knobs is another way to add color and personality too, so enjoy the creative process of transforming your piece!

What about all of you?  How do you go about making the decision of what color you should paint a piece of furniture in your home?  Have you chosen a bold color and loved it?  Or do you opt for classic black, white, or neutrals?

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Check out this media wall built by Yellow Brick Home, absolutely fantastic Kim & Scott! 

How lovely is this painted stair runner by Anna at Take the Side Street?  Consider me inspired! 

Nothing like a fresh coat of white paint to refresh an older piece like this china cabinet by Natty by Design. 

Hello gorgeous, how about this painted zebra lampshade by Bon Temps Beignet?  Fantastic!

I love this French style buffet by Julie at Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss and the accompanying ‘if you give a girl a buffet’ poem, reminiscent of the popular children’s books by Laura Numeroff.

Here’s a great organization idea, stained crates inside a painted hutch by Faded Country.

How pretty is this dining room set repainted by B.E. Interiors?

I love spray painted branches like these by Behind Closed Drawers, they are a simple way to have big impact, and they work for all seasons. 

Speaking of spray paint, Lynda of Focal Point gave her outdoor patio set a new look with some spray paint, and a few other small splurges. 

This bright and cheerful playroom by Emily at Remodeling this Life is a space any child would love!

You really can paint leather?  Will wonders never cease.  Check out Karen’s ottoman at Shabby Sweet Cottage.

Miss Mustard Seed is at it again, this time with another beautiful dresser.  Loving this version!

Here’s an inspiring decoupage desk by Kelly at Back to Domestics.

Good day sunshine!  I have always loved this fresh yellow dresser by Domestic Adventure.  Love the number knobs!

Here’s a swanky gray with gold credenza makeover I spied over at Courtney Out Loud.

Create your own DIY chevron art like Marci at Timber and Lace.

And there are six new chevron chairs over at the House of Wood. 

Download the pattern to paint your own Ballard Designs inspired floral paintings by Maria and Bryan at Our Lake Life.

Finally, I’m dying to try this idea, using screen print ink and tape to create beautiful patterns on fabric.  Check out Cyndy’s fabulous screen print fabric pillows ! 

I’m so grateful to each and every one of you who linked up your projects ~ I love seeing all the great things going on in blog land.  Thanks for sharing your tips, tutorials, and your unique creativity. 

Have a fabulous weekend!

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I’ve received several emails lately inquiring about paint colors in my home.  Shelley recently wrote,

“Dear Kate,

I’m curious if you would mind sharing the paint colors on your walls in your dining room, stairs and entrance hall?  I so want to take my dated golden oak stair rail and replicate what you did with yours with the gel stain and glaze!  Thanks for the inspiration…now only if I can get a dose of courage as well.  I love your home!  Simply beautiful !  ~ Shelley”

Sure Shelley!  Some of the colors in my home are straight out of the paint can.  Others I’ve tweaked by blending my own color.   

In our living room is Benjamin Moore’s Affinity ’Tranquilty’ but I had the guys at the BM store tweak it by pulling two drops of blue out of the formula to make it a hint grayer, so we dubbed it ‘Tranquility Tweaked’. 

Here’s the formula for the Ben brand (which I highly recommend, it covers in one coat!)

S1  0x  3.0000; Y2  1x  1.5000; B1  0x  20.0000; O1  0x  19.0000

Both the kitchen and the family room were repainted this year with Benjamin Moore’s ‘Camouflage’.   It photographs completely differently in morning and evening light.  In direct sunlight, it’s very sage green, with indirect sunlight, it’s much grayer. 

 The kids’ playroom/game room used to be ‘Beachwalk’ by Behr as seen here, but earlier this year, I freshened the walls with a mixture of the Dutch boy paint from these chairs, and the leftover ‘Camouflage’ from the dining room and family room.   The closest color match is ’Soft Fern’  by Benjamin Moore. 

In the foyer is a color we painted over five years ago and I’m sorry to say, I don’t have the name of it anymore, but I’ve color matched it to these three swatches: ‘Classic Taupe’ by Behr; ‘Sand’ by Laura Ashley for Valspar; ‘Oat Straw’ by Benjamin Moore, Affinity.    

The granny unit (or guest studio) we built above our garage used to have beautiful blue/gray paint on the walls, but when we switched out our couches I repainted them with some leftover ‘Camouflage’. 

Before it was painted, I color matched it to these three close relatives:  ‘Autumn Fog’ by Valspar; ‘Flint Smoke’ by Behr; and ‘Silver Gray’ by Benjamin Moore. 

The master bathroom is another custom blend of 1/3 ‘Silver Sage’ by Restoration Hardware; 1/3 ‘Mountain Creek’ by Glidden, and 1/3 ‘Swiss Coffee’ by Behr. 

The two closest matches to this color are from left to right:  ‘Silver Marlin’ by Benjamin Moore and ‘Silver Mist’ by Sherwin Williams.

Our master bedroom was repainted this summer with Ben Moore’s ‘Nantucket Gray’ ~ a lovely medium tone gray with a hint of olive.  It has a masculine feel, which we both like, especially since I like to add girly things to our room like fluffy lambs wool pillows. 

In my daughter’s room I painted the walls a pale gray green: ‘Thistle’ by Ralph Lauren.  Even though RL paints are not sold anymore at Home Depot (except for their metallics), HD still has all the formulas, so don’t hesitate to ask!

In my stepdaughter’s room, the wall color is ‘Blue Green Gem’ by Kelly Moore.

In the office, I hung the grasscloth wall covering, but I painted the non-papered opposite window wall in a very close match by Valspar called ‘Seafoam Storm’.  The back of the bookshelves are also painted with ‘Seafoam Storm’.    

In my boy’s room, we painted his walls an intense teal but (again) with a hint of gray in it.  It’s ‘La Fonda Villa Fountain’ by Valspar.

In my powder bath is Restoration Hardware’s ‘Silver Sage’ – an easy choice to match the burnout scroll sheer on the window.  BUT, this room is probably getting a bold wallpaper treatment later this year, and some beadboard wainscoting ~ you know me, I like to mix it up!

‘Silver Sage’ is one of those colors that you just can’t go wrong with ~ so it made sense to use it in our laundry room, but I cut it in half with some white to stretch it. 

So there you have it, for anyone who’s ever had any questions about the paint colors in the CG household.  You can tell I’m a fan of blues and greens, as long as they are muddied up with gray.  In my opinion, adding gray softens hues,  reduces a color’s saturation, and creates a more soothing color, therefore increasing the chances you’ll be delighted with your color choice over time. 

That said, regardless of what you choose, paint is simply the easiest way to transform the feel of a room.  Yours truly is guilty of picking up the brush on many occasions and changing the walls in my home simply because the mood strikes!

Are you as guilty as I am of repainting all the time? 

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Yet again, I shopped my house for the perfect solution.  We had a tall tower made up of stackable cabinets (purchased here five years ago) that used to sit in the playroom, but since I now want to find a desk in there for homework and art projects, I decided to repurpose these honey wood cabinets for the lad’s room instead. 

Their size couldn’t be more perfect ~ they now sit right next to his closet on a narrow patch of wall space.  Problem ?   They were all scuffed up and I couldn’t visualize the the honey stain look in his room.  And if I don’t get to paint something at least once a month, I start to twitch.   

Some primer, paint, and crown molding transformed these cabinets in a weekend, and gave his room the splash of color it needed, plus the tower provides fantastic storage for all those toys, books, and collected treasures.

Before & After:

The interior paint came from a sample found at True Value ~ it’s called ‘New Orleans’.   Once the cabinetry was primed (oil based Zinsser) and painted white, I enlisted the little guy’s help. 

I also added some crown molding to the top just to fancy it up a bit.  My kitchen cabinet installer taught me this little trick for adding crown to a cabinet.  These particular cube sections have a rippled edge on top, so there was no flat front section to attach the crown.   No worries.  We simply built a frame out of 1 x 2” strips of wood, and attached that to the top of the cabinet.  

Notice how I can’t be bothered to paint the back of a cabinet that you’ll never see . . .

We allowed just enough space on top and around the frame for the crown to ‘sit’ on.  We cut our crown at a 45 degree angle with the compound miter saw and attached it with finish nails to the frame.   Caulk or spackle any gaps, then paint.   

And since we live in earthquake country, for safety, I screwed the top cabinet to the wall with some of those Velcro straps. 

The perfect stylish storage solution !

I love love love the bright green interior, and the fresh white paint up against his blue walls !! 

Momma and her little mister are quite happy now that his toys finally have a home.

Ah, the magical power of paint.   

I wanted something elegant behind our headboard but also dramatic with a hint of shimmer.  My original idea was to use wallpaper with a subtle metallic pattern, but when I saw Kristen’s wall featured on YHL a few weeks ago, I decided to this was a much easier (and cheaper) way to add the large scale design I wanted without the expense of wallpaper.          

This 13’ x 9’ feature wall was not difficult, but it did take a lot of patience.  I created my own stencil, sketched the pattern on the wall, and then filled in the lines with acrylic craft paint, all in about six hours.  

Supplies: poster board; utility knife or sharp blade; silver colored pencil; level; painter’s tape; craft paint; artist’s Filbert paintbrush. 

How To:

To create the stencil, I found the pattern to inspire me from the lattice pattern rug in my living room.   I traced half of the basic pattern onto a piece of poster board, then cut it with a utility knife.  I folded the poster board in half (vertically) to trace the other half of the pattern and to make sure the left side and ride side of the pattern were symmetrical, then I cut the other half of the pattern.   

You can see the fold in the middle of the poster board in the picture below.   I avoided cutting a small portion of the pattern to keep the inside border connected to the outside border.   

I started in the upper right corner of the wall, secured the stencil with painter’s tape, then traced the first link of the pattern.  I worked my way down the wall, using a level each time to keep the stencil straight.    

I used a silver colored pencil to lightly trace the pattern on the wall ~ the metallic pencil blended better with the acrylic paint than a standard lead pencil. 

I also marked the edge of the stencil as I worked my way down to keep it vertically straight.   

Tracing the entire pattern took about 2 hours ~ once you get going you’d be surprised how quickly you can trace a repeating pattern like this.   

I chose to use acrylic craft paint in ‘Metallic Taupe’ (available at Michaels) because it was a pretty champagne color, and cheaper than gloss paint!  Although you could use the gloss version of your base paint for a subtle effect, or a pearlescent paint like this one.  One bottle of $2 dollar craft paint covered the entire wall  ~ my other tool was a high quality Filbert paintbrush. 

Once the pattern was traced on the wall, I simply filled in the lines with paint.  If you have an ‘oops’ moment ~ and I had plenty ~ just keep a damp rag close by to correct your little imperfections . . .  

Total time to paint the entire pattern with two coats of the craft paint was about 3.5 to 4 hours. 

Before:

After: 

Need more pattern inspiration ?

Here’s just a few more repeating graphics that could be reproduced with a little paint and a lot of patience!!

Images: Graham & Brown; Thibaut; Massucco Warner Miller; Ballard Designs; York Wallcoverings

What’s the next project you’re planning with paint ?  

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So as you know from yesterday’s musings about thrift store hunting, like many of you, I have an addiction to fixing up furniture.  The other day I stumbled across a company called Somerset Bay that uses color on their pieces in the most incredible way and I was completely inspired.   Brace yourself, because these colors will have you wanting to run to the paint store to refinish one of your own in a similar fresh spring shade.       

Now please pause while I pick my jaw up off the floor.  Isn’t it amazing how one brightly painted piece can make a room come alive?  Talk about serious color inspiration.

Do you have any plans to introduce more color into your home this season ?  Do share! 

All images courtesy of Somerset Bay.

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.

For stain blocking or bonding to a non-sanded surface, oil will cover better than latex.  I’ve learned that porous surfaces like raw wood soak up an oil based primer much better than a water based primer.  Oil based primers will resist shrinkage over time.  Most spray primers are oil based, so I’ve often chosen the spray version for quick application.

However, water based primers have come a long way, and can often do what oils can do.  Zinsser’s Bulls Eye in the blue can is very good at doing what its oil based partner does:  sticking to glossy surfaces, stain blocking, and inhibiting rust.  And the water based formula cleans up with water, which is a big advantage in my book.  Cleaning up oil based brush on products is a hassle – it requires the use of mineral spirits or paint thinner.  The best advice I can give in choosing a primer is to simply take the time to read the back of the product you’re considering and ask a lot of questions.

For my buffet and hutch, I knew I would be finishing in oil based paint, so that requires an oil based primer.  Note, you can use latex paint over oil primer, but the reverse is not a good idea.  Most paint professionals will tell you it is not advisable to use oil based paint over water based primer.   I chose to use my favorite bonding and sealing primer: Zinsser’s oil based in the brown can.  (Zinsser has not paid me to say this.  I’ve used this product over the years with great satisfaction so I’m a big fan.)  Note that primers are always tintable, so if your final paint color will be a medium to dark shade, you can always have your paint department tint the primer gray or brown.

Tip for Lessening Brush Strokes: When it’s time to paint, one of my biggest frustrations is when the paint starts to dry too fast and starts to drag on the surface.  Visible brush strokes are maddening.   So here’s the big secret I’ve picked up from my professional painter friend Mike. When applying an oil based primer or paint, the best thing you can do to increase paint adhesion and eliminate brush strokes is to invest in an additive called Penetrol.  It’s like conditioner for paint.  When you mix a few tablespoons of this product into your paint, it extends your working time and creates better flow across your painted surface, greatly decreasing your brush strokes.  This product really helps achieve a smooth glossy surface, which is especially important when refinishing furniture.

Penetrol is only for oil based primer and paint.  You can find a similar product for latex paint called Flotrol.

Be gone vile brush strokes – Penetrol to the rescue !

Why did this project take me a month to finish?  The hutch was really challenging because the side glass panels could not be removed, so I was twisting and turning in all sorts of awkward ways to try to get my primer and two coats of paint applied inside the cabinet and on the shelves.  Since oil take forevah to dry (well more like 24 to 36 hours), I did the primer one week, the first coat of paint the second week, entertained family the third week, and applied the second coat of paint the fourth week.  Then it had to dry and I had to muscle it into my house and up a flight of stairs.  Whew  !

Here’s one final observation.  When painting next to glass panels, I’ve decided not to bother with painter’s tape anymore.  I used tape on the outside panels, but not the inside and I’ve come to this conclusion:  It’s so much easier and cleaner to be old school and use a razor blade to scrape off paint.  And after a month of painter’s tape and a few layers of primer and paint, the tape did NOT come off clean despite all of my efforts.

But if you use a blade, PLEASE don’t do what I did and hack at it with a small blade.   Please do as I say, and NOT as I do.  I have a tool that I couldn’t find that has a blade on the end of a very sturdy handle.  Thank goodness I didn’t injure myself with just this little ol’ rusty blade !

I bought this cabinet not for any dining space, but to house my stepdaughter’s collectibles in her bedroom.  Sadly, the lass is off to college next year, so I’m trying to swankify a space that’s looked too tween for a little too long.  For her final year at home, we are upgrading her room to a more ladylike space with a romantic cottage feel.  This cabinet suits our needs perfectly.  Since it will eventually be a guest room (** sigh sniffle **) it needs to be more adult like.  Plus I love the idea of her having a special place to keep her childhood memories behind glass.

Years ago, we chose a color for her walls that in my humble opinion is a watered down version of Tiffany Blue.  My girl loves turquoise and white, so we painted her walls ‘Blue Green Gem’ by Kelly Moore.  I applied the same paint color to the back of the hutch.

From left to right:  ‘Blue Green Gem’, the Tiffany Box, and the Tiffany Blue color.  Paint swatch images by My Perfect Color, Tiffany Box image from Flickr.

Here’s the final buffet and hutch in her room.

Some Before and After shots:

Ooooh that glossy shine.  It’s worth all the trouble for a piece as pretty as this.

Her room will be finished after a few more upgrades and DIY projects.  Look for them in the upcoming weeks.

The debate goes on between the use of oil based versus latex paint.  There are several helpful articles online.  This one from Home Additions Plus weighing the pros and cons.  EHow has another brief article on advantages and disadvantages.  For a great blog post on latex versus oil, visit Jenny at  Little Green Notebook for her smart observations.

What are your experiences with priming and painting furniture?  Got any tips to share?  Let’s discuss !

First, I tackled the living room fireplace.  I’ve always loved the existing cream marble tile surround and the white mantle, but the brass trim and wood handles?   No thanks.  It looked very dated in my opinion. I really wanted it to be less brassy.  But replacing the doors was cost prohibitive.  So I tried this specialty paint today, and in about twenty minutes, the fireplace was transformed into something I believe looks much more fresh and modern. 

So long brass trim. 

Here’s another glance from afar.

Here’s what I did.

I prepped the surfaces by cleaning the exterior brass trim around the fireplace and taping off the marble tile.  Note that this specialty high temperature paint is oil-based, so clean up requires mineral spirits.  For these kinds of smaller projects, I like to use a disposable brush.  

This paint is also available in a spray paint form for those who prefer the quicker application that comes from spray paint, and can access a well ventilated area.  The brush application just happened to work better for my situation. 

The paint is a more watery than regular latex paint, but goes on pretty smooth.

The final product:

Next, I gave the master bedroom gas fireplace a fresh coat of black paint.  Over the years, it has suffered some scratches, wear and tear.  A quick coat of this specialty paint, and it was good as new ! 

Before:

After:

Rustoleum’s High Heat paint is available at Lowes and Home Depot, and comes in several colors, like white, silver, and almond.  The High Heat Ultra also comes black, brown, and aged copper.  Krylon also has a line of high temperature paints as well.  These paints withstand temperatures up to 1200º F, but they are not designed to be used anywhere that comes in direct contact with flames, so they would not be appropriate for the inside of a fireplace or a BBQ grill.  For $13 dollars, this was an inexpensive fix for me, and I’m pretty pleased with the outcome. 

Now just for fun, take a look at the real ‘Some Like It Hot’ featuring the hysterical duo of Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dolled up as gals, and mixing it up with Marilyn Monroe.  Here’s just one great clip among many.  

And there’s still time to enter the Stella & Dot giveaway until Sunday October 4th at 8 p.m. PST.  Don’t miss out !

Now most people would walk past this piece, and for good reason.  It had a spotty black paint job with gold trim and gold hardware.  It’s a Dorothy Draper knock off, but I’m just not a fan of this paint job.  Funny, because I typically adore classics.  I really loved the lines and the design, just not the traditional black and gold paint - this color combination was simply unsuitable for my blue and white space.

I’m all about freshening a classic piece with great lines in a new and modern way, and I am not alone. 

I loved the detail of this chest, just not the paint job, so I decided to make it my own.  As much as I long to paint everything white, I like to mix it up with dark wood tones or pieces painted something other than white.  

Instead, I chose a fresher, less traditional, more casual style – a slate blue front trimmed in white to enhance the routed detail.  

First, I gave the edges a good sanding.  Then since I was going for a medium tone blue, I used two coats of gray primer instead of white primer to cover the old paint job. 

Next, I gave the dresser three light coats of Rustoleum’s Slate Blue spray paint.  

Finally, I hand painted the ridges with three coats of my own mixture of white primer and cream acrylic paint.  Then I spray painted the hardware and reused it.   

One thing about older dressers:  often, the drawer guides aren’t as sophisticated as modern pieces, so your drawers can scratch up your paint job as they slide back and forth and rub up against one another.  Here’s a little trick.  Apply a thin line of hot glue to the bottom of your drawers and let it completely solidify.  The dried glue will act as a small buffer between your drawers and help protect your paint. 

I also sewed a custom pleated table runner to protect the top of the freshly painted dresser.  To the runner, I added some beading and velvet ribbon for another layer of texture. 

A chest made new for my guests. 

I am certainly enjoying every last one of my garden’s latest blooms of the summer season.  Sigh.  Simple pleasures. 

Even though many would have passed it by, or kept the paint job because “it looks like a classic Dorothy Draper”, I chose instead to paint it blue.  I don’t regret the color choice, or the fact that I rescued it from a spotty paint job. 

After I painted my own find, I was emboldened when I found how some other designers are painting the classic Dorothy Draper style in a fresh new way. 

Century Design Ltd on 1st Dibs

Coral version from Antique Center on 1st Dibs

Ellen Ward Scarborough Antiques

Modern One

Carleton Varney for Kindel Furniture

Gorgeous lines. Fresh color. Classic design with a modern twist.  Just my style.

I really needed an extra chair in my new home office for a co-worker or a visitor.  So when I spotted one on the floor of the local thrift for $15 dollars, I quickly grabbed it with the intention of repainting and recovering the seat.  In anticipation of my friend Amanda’s Decorating Dilemma’s party at Serenity Now, yesterday I repainted the chair, and recovered the seat this morning. 

Here’s a glimpse of the Before and After:

A question for anyone who knows vintage chairs.  This label was attached to the underside of the chair.  Is this a Drexel Heritage label?  It has a registered trademark symbol.  Or is it simply another furniture company named Heritage?  Please, I must know.  Google taught me nothing.

Transforming My Thrift Store Heritage Chair:

Step One: Remove seat cushion and existing fabric.  This seat was very well constructed so I needed both a screwdriver and pliers to remove the fabric.

Step Two:  I sanded the existing paint job to remove debris, varnish, and some chipping paint. 

Step Three:  Prime baby prime.

Step Four:  You know what I’m going to say, right?  When my primer was dry, I gave the chair two coats of the great ‘Heirloom White’. 

Step Five:  I liked how the original chair had some hand painted elements highlighting the detail.  I repeated the same effect with a small artist’s paintbrush, but with less ostentation and a more modern color.  I used the same acrylic paint that I used for this mirror project. 

Step Six:  When my paint was fully dry, I applied a thin coat of Wipe On Polyurethane to protect my painted finish.

I bought one yard of a textured aqua velvet Christopher Lowell fabric at Joann’s for 40% off with a coupon.  Yippee, $15 dollars for gorgeous velvet!

Step Seven:  I made a pattern with my original fabric, and then stitched a strip of fabric to the pattern to form a new cover.

One note on sewing notched inside corners.  (Is there a technical term for that?)  On an outside corner, it’s easy to simply rotate your fabric on your sewing machine to follow the curve.  On an inside corner, you have to allow for extra fabric to pool underneath so that your fabric will corner correctly, and your cushion will sit right on your chair.  Lesson learned the hard way today.  I’m still bitter, so I don’t want to talk about it. 

Step Eight:  I used my original foam, which was in great condition and lacked any odors.  I stapled the new cushion cover to the underside of my seat base, then reattach my new seat cushion to chair.

Isn’t she a fair little chair?

And a lovely addition to my office, currently under remodel.

Have you ever known the satisfaction of transforming a chair ?  Do tell.