I do, have bought wall corner cupboard and bedside cabinet on e-bay, been painted up, new handles. Your Home and Home Sense mags have some nice ideas. In our conservatory here we have a table and 6 chairs (glass,metal) Hubby covered the chairs with plastic, 2 in each, -grey,pink,yellow/green check design same design different colours, to go with the 3 large metal lights, same 3 colours. Have a little coffee table out here, it was revolting, dark wood, barleysuger twist legs, now, wite legs grey top. If you use Annie Slaon chalk paint you dont have to rub down,sand, I didnt believe it, so actually sandied down one of our old pine dining chairs, it went "peculiar" the others it went on fine. Got an olod mahogony beaureau, made by Hubbies Grandfather, I gave it a Dulux treatment some years back pearly paint, now ready for the next "up cycle, and already got new handles. My daughter has used the Aldi chalk paint much cheaper, says it was great.
Hmm I’m unconvinced about the chalky paint in terms of hardness and wear if you DONT want the shabby chic look. Your conservatory sounds lovely! It’s nice your hubby does stuff like this too, one just talks me out of it.
For carved areas you could try wire wool and meths, if you find it softens the varnish. It is very messy, as it drips, so protect the floor, wear gloves and old clothes, but you can get into the grooves and carving more easily. I also found a useful little tool called a shavehook (I think) at B&Q for around £3 which is cleverly shaped and if used with care can get into all sorts of shapes. I keep old bits of sandpaper which have worn and softened for getting into corners as you can fold it more easily.
I use oil based paints when I want it to be hard wearing and not shabby chic. If I do go for shabby chic I like crackle glazes rather than worn corners but they can be tricky and probably better in chateaux rather than old farmhouses.
I have successfully used a lime wash effect on old pine furniture to soften the colour but show the grain but you do have to remove all that hard, yellowed varnish or wax first. I then applied 3 coats of "virtificateur" which is an acrylic based varnish used for giving a durable finish to wooden floors.
It's more successful than a lime wax I did to a recently bought old coffee table. More even finish and no streaking.
My next project is to sand down and paint an old wardrobe we've bought for the guest room. That will be painted white or pearl grey and not shabby bashed.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I love lime washed (not done it at all) yes, the conservatory was new last year, regulars will remember the flaming saga of all the problems, at the same time as Hubby and I seeing Drs consultants, and ops, a real nightmare) he has put laminate flooring called pine driftwood, but looks like limewash. He wanted to use ceramic tiles for the plants,dogs,waterproof, but we have an open plan bungalow, it was bad enough having everything crambed everywhere, literaly just about room to get in the front door for the 3 weeks while conservatory was built, so that was the desiding factor. Who said anything about shabby chic!!Theres none in here. I now have a 50s/60s cabinet that were originaly called kitchens, then Kitchen Maid, which I bought already done, white, Laura Ashley Dove Grey doors, nahnah nahnah nah, see not a shabby chic in site (just showing off my inner snob!!!) Am completely joking, I cannot abide snobs, people who think they are better than us. I have made over one Lloyd loom "laundry bin" got another to do, they are in spare room now, with grandkids toys. Cupboards were done with water based eggshell, only because it dries quick, and I have a problem with fumes. I promise theres no SC, they are sort of calming nordic looking. The plastic dining chairs, grandkids eating nuf said. We didnt SC the previous chairs, chalk paint, then wax. I had reservations, but it was completely hardwearing, I havent tried it but Annie says you can use it on outside furniture. Theres a shop in Lewes, used to be called Calico Cat, think its now the Painted Furniture company,have a look at their site Obelixx, and Giddy Goat in Ashurst Wood,very young talented lady, and Preloved in East Grinstead. Does anyone watch Money for Nothing? I am shocked how much some of the chairs, sofas, sell for. Oh, we have just got rid of the cane 3 piece, and bought 2 armchairs for the conservatory, one recliner, again, MUCH better made (and MUCH cheaper than modern stuff) from our local Hospice shop, (which is where my dining set also came from)
I have seen a shop in Lewes that does one day tutorials in up-cycling, sometimes day classes at local colleges on painting technecues (sorry cant remember spelling) I have made a proper leaded stained glass window,I bought a kitchen trolley on casters recently, I think its beech, tiled top, would love to have it painted. Forgot I bought an original metal step ladder, rusty,torn plastic top, Hubby did it with Plasticoat spray to match room, covered the top, with new plastic. Then theres the garden, Bob Flowerdew would be proud of me lol
If using egg shell paint be aware that it is very'grabby' meaning that it is not as easy to wipe clean as satin because the dust sticks to it and as folk have mentioned it is not great if being used frequently (as can chip off). Adding new types of knobs and handles, such as ceramic or glass can make a great difference to just painted wooden ones. These projects can be very lengthy but most rewarding.
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Your conservatory sounds lovely!
It’s nice your hubby does stuff like this too, one just talks me out of it.
I have successfully used a lime wash effect on old pine furniture to soften the colour but show the grain but you do have to remove all that hard, yellowed varnish or wax first. I then applied 3 coats of "virtificateur" which is an acrylic based varnish used for giving a durable finish to wooden floors.
It's more successful than a lime wax I did to a recently bought old coffee table. More even finish and no streaking.
My next project is to sand down and paint an old wardrobe we've bought for the guest room. That will be painted white or pearl grey and not shabby bashed.
Im shortly to paint (fence paint) and reinforce an old ikea wardrobe frame as a shelf for plants.
Im also wondering if our old leather sofa can be made into something for my corner seating area.