Part of being crafty means you have to be experimental!! And super duper patient!! Here is a large antique cupboard that I wanted to refinish...back in 2009.....just in case you forgot where you were, its now 2012!
It is hard knowing the true age of this gem, but its old...really old....
It is hard knowing the true age of this gem, but its old...really old....
Here you can see some of the many layers of paint. REALLY REALLY GOOD OLD STRONG PAINT!! This baby is 7 feet tall and weighs in at almost 200 pounds!!
I hated stripping this thing so bad, I hardly took any pictures it stripped!! Maybe it was shame...of me never having it done....after three years!
Sorry, no bottom before picture...I had to use a jigsaw to cut all the wood off the bottom here and put a new 1x4 footer on. Glue and screws hold it together! I just hate changing the original parts, but I had no choice...it was rotting away!!
Here you can see that I just said to heck with getting the paint off on the inside...it just wasnt going to happen...I have much better things to do.........like, clean my garage as it turns out!
Don't forget the beautiful hardware!!! I left the back one for you to see the paint...this wasn't fun. Paint stripper....toothbrush....toothpaste....muriatic acid....more water, toothpaste, brushing....Then i finished them with a light coat of RemOil....aka...gun oil. FYI...Muriatic Acid is totally caustic, please be careful...actually I suggest not even using it!!
I have a new love....chalk paint!! You can buy it online, or you can use regular latex paint and mix with plaster of paris and a dab of water, and voila!! you have chalky-antiquey looking paint! No need to sand a piece for hours! Just slop it on...two coats and you are in business!!
After paint, I sanded a few areas for the "broke in" look. Brushing the chalk paint on, gives it such a neat texture!
And Ta-Daaaa!!!! The outside paint is DutchBoy in Fresh Rosemary, I also used the chalk paint method which worked out great! Inside is Antique White. I used the glaze technique also...
This crown molding....ahhhhh the find of a century!! The original was really beat up and parts were missing, so i wanted to find something old or old looking! Well, in an abandoned house, I found this piece in the perfect length!!
Okay, the glaze technique is what makes those dark areas....using Glazing and stain or paint. Let me tell you...everyone says "oh-just run down to your local hardware store and pick some up!" YEAH RIGHT!!! I looked everywhere...and all a long I had some from the local craft store in my craft room. But you can get it at a craft store, or I found a quart at Ace Hardware...it lasts a loooong time!! Basically you mix the glaze with the paint and wipe on, then off....got that??!! Wipe on....wipe off......
I screwed it up too, trust me...it got way too dark...but the glory of having painted furniture, is that you can just paint over the dark areas!!
So in conclusion....three years, 100+ hours of experimentation.....its finally finished and will be a piece I will never part with!
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