French Provincial Make-over

 So I found this beat up set off of, where else???  CL.  

These little numbers are pretty hot items around here now. I'm

always on the lookout for someone who just wants to get rid

of it and not hassle w/the selling process. 

Behold this awesome beauty.......

 

I know, right??? On the positive side, it was solid wood dove tailed drawers. 

Other than the grease, grime, filth, OMG contact paper and chipping paint, it was in good shape!

I wanted to try something different on this set.  

       Taking my inspiration from Beth over at SawdustandEmbryos, 
I decided to try her staining technique. 

I stripped the top using my Soy gel stripper and sanded with 80,150 and 220. 

                                   First, I drew out some flower petal designs using chalk.
                     Then, I gathered my tools and stain and spent the next 4-5 hours "staining".

I won't go into too much detail because I pretty much went by what Beth did.
Mine looks a lot more "blended" then hers.  It all depends on what final look you are going for.
I used a very small brush to outline the petals so I could keep the lines of the petals separate from
 the neighboring one.  It's not as difficult as it looks. Just a little time consuming.
But I love doing stuff like this. 

      I used Varathane's "Kona" and "Weathered Gray" and some "Red mahogany" thrown in there too.

I love the way the stain turns out when you use it like paint!  This was kind of an experiment. I figured
if it didn't turn out well, I could just paint over the top.  The wood on top of this dresser wasn't exactly

top quality. It was OK, but I would love to do this on a pristine piece of wood. I think something

like a nice maple (like my maple chest I did the cherry blossom stencil on) would come out FAB!

                                             I applied 2 coats of  Deft semi-gloss acrylic top-coat.

Now, I had done the nightstand first before I even caught wind of this staining trick.  

     I like that stencil with the french script, but I didn't like the price tag! I was going to use

individual letters on a cursive stencil, but then just thought I could try doing it with a paint pen

and my own handwriting.  After finding something to write in French, I measured off the top and wrote!

The inside of the drawers were painted a soft blue and inside of the stand itself was painted in a 

light silver-gray. I used the same homemade chalk paint as the dresser.  The handles were cleaned up, 

painted with CeCe's Vermont Slate and then highlighted w/Rub n' Buff Silver Leaf. 

Thanks to Shelly at Shizzle Design for the idea on painting them with CeCe's! I like it better than

using spray paint.  Love how the paint transforms the hardware! 

 I only painted this one drawer!  The others have remnants of some hideous flowered contact paper.

         I always seem to lose steam over the final 5% of the small detail stuff! 

One final shot.......

Linking up at these great parties:

Restore Interiors - Restored it Wednesday

Primitive & Proper - POWW 95
Domestically Speaking - The Power of Paint Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday
Miss Mustardseed - Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux - Friday Link Up Party

Homespun Happenings - Rustic Restorations Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors - Saturday Night Special

1929 Charmer - Sunday's Best Party

Knick of Time Interiors - Knick of Time Tuesday

Elizabeth and Co., My uncommon Slice of Suburbia,

Savvy Southern Style. Weds, Beyond the Picket Fence, The Shabby Creek Cottage-Transf Thursday, 

From my Front Porch to Yours,  

Between Naps on the Porch

                                                   The Dedicated House, Redoux