Reclaiming Confidence

I've attempted plenty a DIY project, the end result of some more successful than others. Furniture refinishing has been an interest of mine for the past several years, I've accumulated pieces over the years and started with basic, uncomplicated projects. My confidence slowly growing with each success. A little over 3 years ago, I stumbled upon this cutie at a garage sale. She was asking only $35 for a solid wood piece with gobs of potential, I quickly snatched it up and hauled it home in the back of my mini van. My husband helped me unload it into our living room and there it sat for over three years. I knew I wanted to paint it, but was fearful of "messing up" so I didn't do anything.

Then, I finally couldn't take it anymore, I wanted  to reveal the potential of the piece so I scoured the internet for inspiration. I had always pictured it being painted off-white, then distressed and finishing the top with a dark stain. During my search I came upon a teal piece, it was beautiful, love at first sight but my nerves got the best of me and I was hesitant to use such a bold color. I kept searching and came across a mustard yellow option- those were my top three- off white, teal or mustard yellow. I requested the opinion of a good friend, "I really like the teal", she said. It was the push I needed to get over my anxiety and go for it! And boy am I glad I did.

A few days later, I loaded up the mini van and took my 3 musketeers to the hardware store in search of the perfect teal. Now, I've never been an ace at picking out paint colors on the first attempt, and was convinced it would take several attempts to find the color that was just right. But low and behold as I browsed the paint chips, there she was, just waiting for me "Teal we meet again" by Pittsburgh Paints, I knew this color was it!

Now the fun can really begin. I hauled to piece out to the garage and began removing all the hardware. It looked as if it had been stained with the hardware in place so the hinges were pretty unattractive looking, covered in bubbly stain. I tossed them in a plastic dish and covered them with vinegar and left them to soak.

I began sanding off the red stain, I expected it to be difficult to remove but it actually came off quite easily. After vacuuming up all the dust with my shop vac and wiping down everything with a damp rag, I finally (!) started painting. I used a foam roller and mixed a bit of Floetrol into the paint to extend the dry time and minimize roller marks.

Minwax Dark Walnut stain is what I used on the top of the piece. After the stain had dried for 24 hours, I used Minwax Polycrylic protective finish in "clear satin". I like using water based top coats because they don't have as strong an odor and they don't yellow over time as oil based top coats tend to do.

I failed to mention, I was working on this the week before Christmas and it was cold in the garage, so after I had it all painted I brought it in to do the glazing- to give the distressed/dirty/worn look I was after. Being as frugal as I am, I did not want to go out and spend over $20 on a can of glaze so I did some research and made my own. When I was looking into how glazes work, I learned that it dries more slowly allowing a person to work with it long enough to get the desired look. What else extends dry time? Floetrol! I decided to tint the Floetrol with some brown acrylic craft paint I had on hand and voila, I had glaze!

To get the desired look I wanted with the glaze, I ended up painting it on with a brush and wiping away the excess with a baby wipe. I did several coats to achieve the aged patina I was going for. Personally, at first I felt the glaze was difficult to work with, but after some practice, I got the hang of it (this was my first time using glaze). It may be easier to glaze with an actual glazing medium rather than a homemade concoction, I don't know but one of these days, I'll try some "real" glaze and report back to you. :)

After I was done glazing and I allowed the piece to dry, I finished it with a spray on polycrylic top coat to protect the finish I had spent so long working on!

Lastly, I took an old toothbrush to the hardware to remove the old stain (after soaking in vinegar), dried with a rag and spray painted them with Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze Metallic Spray Paint.

Drum roll please.....

What do you think? Have you ever had a project you were nervous to start but were thrilled with the end result?

Questions, comments? Leave them below.

<>< Nicole