Shore Chicy Designs, by Harmonizing Homes, LLC: October 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

How to restore a Trunk that was in Super Storm Sandy

Well, its been a years since SSS hit the Jersey Shore . All of us that live in the area has their own special story to tell.

My clients home is on the bay-side of Seaside Heights New Jersey which is a barrier island. Their home was destroyed by the storm.

One item that she wanted to keep was the steamer trunk that her grandmother came to this country with from Italy.

~after the storm~

the salt water just ate away the bottom and the insides

~All of her keepsake items were destroyed that were in the trunk for safe keeping ~

The first thing that we did was to rebuild the entire inside of the trunk

The hardest part was keeping the rust from bleeding through the paint

I used primer, shellac spray, liquid shellac and rust-oleum to ward off the rust....finally 98% was contained...I camouflaged the little brown spots with Artisan Enhancements By Aloha Coatings

fine stone. Which gave it a sandy/gritty look to it.

added the base coat with was a combination of Annie Sloan's Louis Blue,
Old White, Provence and Antibes

The outside was painted in Annie Sloan Old White ~ The hardware was
painted a CeCe Caldwell black with a bronze glaze by Valspar (Metal & Patina Glaze)

The legs were purchased at Loews

The finished product

The trunk will now be used as a Jewelry box ( I purchased these two boxes from Marshall's) added cup hooks for hanging of necklaces and bracelets. The tray was painted in washable paint which will be used for storing and appling makeup. The tray lifts out for storage underneath. We replaced the handles which were purchased at Antique-Hardware which had everything imaginable for restoring a steamer trunk.

This was probably one of the most difficult projects that Shore Chicy by Harmonizing Homes has tackled - and the most rewarding...It is now back in Seaside Heights in a freshly painted room.

A collection of trunks at Ellis Island

#Trunk Restoration, #Chalk Paint , #Antique Hardware, #furniture out of landfills

Resource

Paint - Annie Sloan Chalk Paint/Annie Sloan

Paint Supplier/Magnolia Lane Designs
Paint-CeCe CaldWell Paints/CeCe Caldwell
Paint Supplier/Sea&Green point pleasant New Jersey
Hardware/Antique Hardware

Web Designer/Simple Business Solutions

Decorative Artist/Shore Chicy Designs, by Harmonizing Homes, LLC

A landfill save makes it debut for a special Halloween Celebration

I was recently contacted to look at a possible table save.....I love these types of opportunities.....Not only was it a great solid piece, but it had two leaves and a interior storage compartment for them....

The goal was to complete for the Toms River Annual Halloween Parade Celebration - If you live in the Ocean County Area, you know that this is a huge event among the residence in the area.

Folks line up there chairs days in advance to reserve a spot on Main Street. Many people that live along the parade route routinely make this time a year to gather for a pre-parade party.

As I pulled up to the house, to take some pictures, families were carrying all sorts of goodies into the house....

Here was the landfill save...sitting proudly in the dinning room

Halloween Decorations filled the house

Not to mention an amazing collection of violets

outdoors the tables await the catered event

The process from the natural wood, picking colors to the final product

I'd like to thank Deanna and her family for allowing me the opportunity of saving a great piece of furniture...

Sources

Paint - Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Versailles/Annie Sloan

Paint Supplier/Magnolia Lane Designs

Web Designer/Simple Business Solutions

Decorative Artist/Shore Chicy Designs, by Harmonizing Homes, LLC

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

How To Shabby Up ?

I have a client that is moving into a new home at the end of October. She has a five (5) year old daughter that was currently using a "progressive" furniture set. The set is very sturdy, however it is not made from natural wood. My project was to shabby the piece up....hmmmmm

It is hard to tell for the shots, but the dresser is a cotton candy pink

This is the second piece that I am experimenting with CeCe Caldwell Paint(s) ~ I used a vintage white on this piece. I exposed some of the inter layering as much as possible since it is a composite wood, I didn't want to reveal too much.

I used Annie Sloan Clear & Dark Wax as the finish

I still have to do the drawers and buy the knobs.. but I am hoping they will be thrilled with the new "old" look ...
As I have mentioned I am still experimenting with CeCe Caldwell paints - I choose to use CeCe's paints for this project as it is a GREEN Paint, and this bedroom set is for a Five (5) year old....so its a no brainer for me.

Corinne~Shore Chicy Designs~by Harmonizing Homes

917.699.1262

Website Design by/Simple Business Solutions

CeCe Caldwell Paints/ CeCe Caldwell

Blog by Shore Chicy Designs/Shore Chicy Designs

I included a fun video on how to distress furniture using CeCe Caldwell Paints - click on link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Fdtk7dM2E

Sunday, October 6, 2013

The difference between CeCe Caldwell's Paint & Annie Sloan

I recently tried CeCe Caldwells paints on a project that I was working on for a client. The reasons why a die-hard Annie Sloan user tried CeCe Caldwells paints is because I wanted a true black for the project. I purchased Becklely Coal.

The very first thing that I noticed was the can - plastic lid vs metal lid.
The constancy is totally different - CeCe leaves brush stokes/Annie Sloan less of brush Strokes
Both paints brush stokes can be smoothed out using water.
Annie Sloan tries quickly - CeCe Caldwell takes about 1-2 hours depending on the humidity
CeCe Caldwell is all natural chalk and clay NO VOC'S (voc are solvents that are released in the air while the paint is trying.

Before application of CeCe Caldwell

After the Application of CeCe Caldwell Paint

I did sand the piece down to the bear wood prior to applying CeCe Caldwell Paint. The reason being, is this piece was caked with paint, and I knew the look that I wanted would require the removal of paint. This step is not necessary however.

Once the paint was applied, I used Annie Sloan's Wax with a triple 000 steal wool to achieve the luster that I wanted. I applied a sprites of water to my steal wool to remove the paint in certain areas after I had applied the wax. The paint immediately became soft in consistency and was easy to manipulate. I finished off the piece with CeCe Caldwells Satin Finish to protect the finish. I would highly recommend this process as it seems as water would penetrate the paint fairly easily.

All and all, my experience was rewarding, and I decided to use it on another commissioned piece. I will keep you posted if I decided to go 100% over to CeCe Caldwell Paints.

I purchased my supply at Sea & Green in Point Pleasant, New Jersey

Follow this link for a video on the difference between CeCe Caldwell's and Annie Sloan....

How to paint and distress furniture, CeCe Caldwell vs Annie Sloan chalk ...

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Take sneak peek into the home of a local designer/artist

I recently was commissioned by a local artist/designer to turn the piece below into a salad prepping station for her kitchen. Other than the drawers painted shut; this was a solid piece.

I purchased this piece at a garage (yard) sale in Seaside Park NJ

This is the piece completed and installed - I used CeCe Caldwell paint for the exterior of this piece in Beckley Coal.
I added a protective top coat by CeCe Caldwell paints in a satin finish

Now onto the designer/artist herself....I think we have mutual admiration for one another...I find her talent just amazing. Her name is Connie Baldino owner of Queenb Jewelry (click Queenb Jewelry on link for bio).

Connie is wearing a one of a kind (Stevie Nicks) Duster Jacket that she designed

Notice the different layers of this Jacket/duster

Stevie and her style

I was allowed the opportunity to do a full photo shoot of Connie's home; which she shares with her husband Jim and their dog Ziggie. Connie is very much into layering, which is reflected in her home decor, her jewelry and dress designs...Layering is not an easy art....