Sanding woes and new hardware technique!

 

Remember this piece from last week?  I completed it today - and it turned out better than I expected!  I ran into a one issue with this piece.  While I was sanding the piece, I noticed that the edges around the top of the piece were not sanding well.  The top of the piece ended up being wood but the edging around the top is particle board.  So, I could not stain the entire top - just the flat surface.  Not a big deal - a lot of my pieces are done like that.

 

You can see in the picture above the difference in the side of the top and the flat part of the top.  

 

You can see in this picture the before top and the "naked" top as I call it.  It is a clean slate to do whatever you want with the piece.  I chose kona stain for this piece - I wanted it darker than the walnut to go with the dining room this piece will go in.  

Once the piece was sanded with 60 grit sandpaper for removal and then 120 grit sandpaper for finishing, I went ahead and stained the top.  Below is the final product for the top.

 

Next, I used French Linen by Annie Sloan for the base of the piece.  French Linen is close up there with the Duck Egg Blue by Annie Sloan.  Very popular - and goes with just about anything!

 

This piece needed 3 coats as we were going for a more clean look to this piece.  It is going in a formal dining room - so the clean look was better this time.  After the three coats of paint were on the piece I distressed it just on the edges - lightly and then gave it a coat of clear wax.  

Now, for the most exciting part of my day.  I used something new today!  Usually if I want to keep the hardware I just paint it.  Chalk it Up has this product that gives a more real metallic look to hardware.  IT IS AWESOME!  It is called Gilder's Paste by Baroque Art.  It looks like this...

 

The consistency reminds me of that eye shadow everyone had in early high school that you rubbed on your eyelids with your finger and it gave a ultra shimmery look (lady readers - don't act like you didn't have this - kinda looked like your eye lids were on fire!)  Anyway,  I applied it with my finger and it gave the hardware a brand new silver look to them!  I am in love and can't wait to use it again!  

Here is the completed piece displayed in my home (but not staying...upset about this). 

 

 

Tomorrow I will start the table and chairs to match this piece - can't wait to see it in it's home!

In need of a shower,

-Julie