Tuesday, October 12, 2010

OHHH . . . LIGHTEN UP!!!

Well, that's just what I've been doing.  A little bit at a time around here lately.

I've mentioned a few times in past posts how there's just too much wood tone all over our house.  Hardwood floors . . . wood stained moldings and window frames . . . wood stained kitchen cabinets . . . lots of wood toned furniture.  Sometimes I feel like I live in a tree!  I love, love, love my wood floors, but the rest of all this wood can go.  

Adios!  

Sayonara!  

I wish it gone.  

And hopefully a lot of it will be eventually.  I have big plans to change some things around here, but as is the case with most of my home improvement/transformation projects, it's slow going.  

I have tackled a few projects lately.  And I must say, I'm quite pleased with the results.  First, I need to talk about the paint I've been using.  I know lots and lots of bloggers share their painted furniture projects through pictorials or step-by-step tutorials, and they all have their own favorite paint.  The paint I've been using is Lowe's Valspar Floor and Porch paint.  


May sound strange that I'm using floor and porch paint, but the paint lady at Lowe's recommended it.  She explained it's extremely durable ~ makes sense if it's for floors and porches ~ and it comes in a latex satin finish {easy clean-up ;o)!}, and it can be custom tinted.  I chose a color called Malted Milk, which is a yummy creamy shade of off-white.  Not quite white, but not an ivory.  
Milky. 

All the pieces were prepared by lightly sanding with a sanding block, and painted with a coat or two of Zinsser Cover Stain and Primer paint.  


Great stuff.  
No need at all for stripping and sanding to the bare wood.  
Easy Peasy!

So, I've been busy painting my family room end tables.

Before


After



And the custom-made drapery shelf above my slider.

Before

After

More After


The mirror in the master bedroom got a new look.

Before


During


After

More After

As did a shelf I've had for years.  This carved shelf made it's debut in our first house over 20 years ago.  Looks loads better with it's new facelift, don't you think?

Before

After

More After
I'm planning on painting a few more pieces in the master bedroom as part of the snail-paced redecorating I'm doing in there.  I'm so done with all the "matchy~matchy" furniture.

So, if I'm absent for a few days or more, you know where I'll be . . . out in my garage painting and painting and painting . . .  

Next on the list, my kitchen table and chairs, and ultimately my kitchen cabinets.  
Now, that's the scary project!



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6 comments:

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

WOW, Carla, what a difference! I love it all!!! It's like new furniture! I admire your painting, nicely done! (I'm a spraypaint gal, LOL)

xxoo

Cindy (JunqueArt) said...

OOOO I love it all! You are doing a great job! Hey I have some pieces to paint, want to come over? LOL

Kerin said...

I love the new look of everything! I've always been a fan of painted wood!
I LOVE zinsser and should be a spokesperson for their company. It works terrific!! No other brand of primer and sealer works as great as zinsser (in my humble opinion :))
Keep up the good work.... everything looks fantastic !

Kerin said...

p.s to Christine... I have painted my cupboard, and love the result. I used zinsser primer/sealer and a high quality Behr paint. Haven't had a glitch with them and we get so many compliments. Give it a try... you'll be glad you did :)

Lisa said...

Looks great. I'm a white paint girl all of the way. I have been painting some "trash to treasure" finds myself. Are you going to paint your bedroom dresser? I would love to see how the kitchen cabinets turn out. Mine are white but starting to looking yucky 15 years with a cheap builder cabinets not so cute anymore.

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

It's all looking great Carla! Love a fresh coat of white paint...so cleansing:)

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