We found this piece at one of our favorite places. It had been sitting in their store for close to a month and, because it was quite large, the manager was ready to deal. Best price: the whole shebang for $50.
Great bones, but boy was it ugly!
Before
This project involved the following:
- Painting fabric with latex paint and fabric medium
- Stripping paint off of the table top
- Painting with home-made chalk paint (recipe below)
- Glaze
- Highlighting with "Baroque Gilder's Paste"
- Sealing
- Plastic Container
- Cheese cloth
- Flat Latex Paint
- Plaster of Paris
- Paint Stirrer
- Paint Stripper
- Putty Knife
- Wood Conditioner
- Wood Stain
- Polyurethane
- Finishing Wax
- Baroque Gilder's Paste
- Fabric Medium (I used Delta Creamcoat Textile Medium)
- Satin Latex Paint
- Spray Bottle
- 200 Grit Sandpaper
- Nylon Scrub Brush
- Paper Plate
- Bucket Water/Rags
Rather than re-cover the ugly gold velvet-look fabric, I decided to try to paint it. After all, I could always recover if I had to. Why not try!
Painting the cushions
Take cushions off of chairs saving the screws; commence painting. This took MANY coats-4 thin coats but it worked!
Directions:
Step 1. : Mix equal parts, fabric medium, satin latex paint, water in a plastic container with a lid (large yogurt container works great). This will be watery.
Step 2. : Wet cushions completely with water using a squirt bottle BEFORE applying paint.
Step 3. : Apply paint with a brush, then work in gently with a nylon scrub brush. Let dry. Repeat until desired coverage is achieved.
Step 4. : Sand the entire surface with 200 grit sandpaper. This softens the fabric; makes it pliable.
Note: My finished product took a few days to dry completely, I lived in a very humid climate. The finished product was not super soft, more like suede but it was great for a dining set. Possibly, if the fabric was smoother (like cotton rather than faux velvet) the end result would have been smoother.
Here the chair is AFTER (chair painted too)
Refinishing Dining Table TopAs explained in my Paul Laszlo tutorial, apply the paint stripper. I use Stripeeze. Because used the stripper in a humid climate, it worked very quickly. You can tell when it's ready-the paint actually starts to bubble up and lift. Remove the paint gunk with a putty knife.
Concerned that I would gouge the beveled edge, I sanded the table edge. Once all the paint was removed I thoroughly wiped down the surface with lacquer thinner. This does two things, it removes any residue and keeps the surface grain from lifting (it would if you used water). Then I applied Minwax Wood Conditioner. Note: I have skipped this step a few times and regretted it because the stain took blotchy. Now, no matter what kind of wood I am staining after stripping, I use wood conditioner.
Once the conditioner sunk into the wood, I applied Minwax Ebony let it sit about 15 minutes and wiped down the surface.
Painting the Table and Chairs
I have heard wonderful things about professional ready-made chalk paint, but I try to do things on a budget without sacrificing the final product. I make my own for a few reasons: it's more cost effective and I am not restricted to any color scheme.
Chalk Paint Recipe with Plaster of Paris
3:1 Ratio:
3 parts paint
1 part Plaster of Paris
Tad of Water (tbl or 2)
I use a large yogurt container and mark the side with a sharpie so I know how much Plaster of Paris to use. I don't like to measure. Allow for the shape of the container (wider at the top). Pour in Plaster of Paris and add just a tad of water, mix. Add more water as needed. You are going for pancake batter. Mix it WELL.
Add the paint and mix well. You are ready to go! This recipe works very well, adheres well, and dries very quickly. All good things!
Note: I have also used Calcium Carbonate. This is my top pick because the paint is really smooth (Plaster of Paris mixture is a close second), but you have to order it online. When I did this dining set I was crunched for time. Plaster of Paris can be purchased at any home improvement store.
Calcium Carbonate Recipe
2:1 Ratio:
2 parts paint
1 part Calcium Carbonate
Tad Water
Warning: Please wear a mask while mixing Calcium Carbonate Powder, this stuff is not good for your lungs!! Like the Plaster of Paris recipe, mix the powder with water first, mix until you achieve a smooth creamy texture, add paint. Mix well.I painted the dining set and chairs an off white. The chairs were not fun. All those legs, ugh! I had it with the paint brush and decided to try dipping cheesecloth in the paint. It worked great because I could wipe the paint around the leg and all those curves.
Glazing and Gilding
I really didn't want an antique look, I just wanted to highlight all the beautiful edges and bring out the beauty. I do this with using a dry brush technique.
Mixture: Valspar Antiquing Glaze, Valspar Clear Glaze (enough clear to thin and extend time but NOT lose color depth.).Dry Brush: Dip chip brush in glaze and pounce most of the glaze off on a paper plate. Holding the brush at an angle apply the glaze just to the edges.
One product that I absolutely love is Baroque Gilder's Paste (purchase online). This comes in a tin and is oil-based. It dries quickly and has fantastic adhesion. To use, simply pick some up on your finger by rubbing your finger over the paste, then rub the surface of the piece gently. You can always add more by reapplying.
This pictures shows the edges glazed and the raised detail gilded. I did the same with the door detail above. I used German Silver.
After all of the pieces were painted, glazed, and gilded I used Annie Sloan's Clear Wax on all surfaces but the top. I used Minwax's Wipe On Polyurethane because it is a dining table. Yes, I have read that AS's wax is fine, but I wanted to be sure.
Here is the finished Product
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