A Kitchen Transformation with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

I haven't written a blog in a while....me bad! Lots happening...all good!  As many of you know we moved into a new home in December closing two days before Christmas.   I now have a huge studio and plenty of storage for pieces that I pick up here and there... My husband and I are thrilled.

I was just given the opportunity to transform dated kitchen cabinets for this fabulous couple that I meet last summer in Ortley Beach.  I did do a blog on the woman of Ortley Beach and how they were fixing their summer homes after Sandy.

  Here is the transformation...we did for one of these ladies that lives up in Livingston NJ

First we cleaned all the cabinets with a TSP substitute

We had to take the cabinet doors off due to the way the were hung we would not be able to paint the rails.

We decided to add a base coat which was a mixture of Annie Sloan Graphite and Barcelona.  This color would appear when we started to distress the top layer.

We first painted the Rails and then the Stiles

We had provided the homeowner with samples prior so that she could coordinate her new counter tops and appliances.  We started January 19th and finished on February 13th..  We had a little delay in awaiting the appliances and counter tops...but all and all the client was probably with out  a proper kitchen (i.e. sink) for about 2 weeks.

We are awaiting fabric to recover the desk chair which we painted the same as the cabinets.....Oh and I could not have done this alone....Here is my partner (Son Brad Kaas)....He found a great pizzeria in Livingston..."Livingston Pizza .   

Resources

Annie Sloan Paints - Paint Passion

TSP- Lowes 
Cabinets Painted in - French Linen

Inside Shore Chicy Designs.............

Wow do we have a lot going on right now.....We are in contract for the sale of our home for which I have worked out of for the last two years..... you might not recognize this room where I worked out of  minus loads of furniture and paint on the wooden floor.  We spruced it up a bit for the sale...

I was able to rent a studio space in Island Heights which has been wonderful... It is jammed packed right now with projects.

We just changed this piece to:

This...I just have to add some legs waiting for my carpenter

We are transforming this piece and removing the carved out floral's in the corner of the doors.

Filled in the floral carvings and painted base coat

Base coat is Annie Sloan Olive we will add Cream will be applied and removed from trim

This will be beautiful when done .  Painted in Duck Egg Blue - Crystal knobs will be added priced at $350.00

Perfect for a potting bench, a mud room drop all, a server for wine, or a hobby storage piece.

painting it in Graphite by Annie Sloan and will be adding this great pulls from Pottery Barn - Priced at 250.00.

So very grateful to be able to being doing something that I just love....If you are interested in either a piece that I am selling or need a piece updated please let me know ....I would be more than happy to provide you with a quote....Oh and if you are interested in learning how to paint with Chalk Paint....I do give lessons...here is a picture of my last graduating class with a glass!

What Color Did We Paint the Piece???

Well, this was one of the most talked about pieces .... It was fun to read and hear the passion and convictions towards a piece of furniture.   We completed the project and it is in my client's beautiful pristine home.  To answer some of your queries...No, it is not teak, no it is not an original mid-century modern piece.

This was the original piece as purchased by my client 

I had several elements and colors to deal with.....and was constantly drawing samples to come up with the right combination.  

This was the work in progress

This is the room before

This is the room after

I used Annie Sloan Old White and Graphite Chalk Paint

We would love to hear what you think!!!  We know you are not shy.....

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

How the tables turn Alice!

Years ago, we would spend every November in the mountains of Vermont hunting for unique pieces to fill our 150 year old farm house.    I found this little table at a flea market right outside of Okemo Mountain.  It was used in our guest room for years.  We since sold the house and my daughter took possession of the little table, until she no longer wanted it.  I took it back and decided to update it.  The table began to take on its own character as I began to paint.  I became possessed by the turning legs...and decided to have fun!  Let us call this table Alice in Wonderland!

the top is painted in Annie Sloan Palama

The trim is in Annie Sloan Old Violet

The bottom Shelf is painted in Annie Sloan Scandinavia Pink,
 and Old white, spindles in Arles and Duck egg

Second shelf in in Duck Egg with spindles in Old Violet,
 Palamo and Barcelona Orange

This will be apart of my collection at the Chester Arts and Crafts Fair - September 7 and 8th...

Empty Nesters Master Bedroom Set Makeover

Original Look

I have lovely couple that I am working with by the name of Judy and Walter.  They have been married for a zillion years....They live in a lovely home, where they raised their children... The piece that is photographed to the left is just one piece of their bedroom set.  Judy said the project started because they hated the pulls!  So that is where I come in.

We decided on Annie Sloan's Graphite with a special formula (empire silk, olive and graphite)  for a wash.  I am then applying clear and dark wax.  The  pulls were a bit odd in size 2.25 to center, but I did find two that would fit from Handleset.

I first took off all of the doors and removed the drawer.

I did sand it a bit as it was finished in a high gloss, So I wanted to make sure that the paint adhered to the wood.  This is the first of two coats of Annie Sloan Graphite .

Taking the doors off made it easier to paint.

I rubbed off just a little around the doors and drawer.  New Pulls are on order...

I couldn't wait to show you the difference...I know it's a bit premature but the look is so different!! I will keep you posted when the pulls arrive....until then happy painting.....

Does Your Home Business Look Like This?

I started Shore Chicy Designs last year and it is taking off which is a good thing!!!  The bad thing is that I am running out of space .....I am working out of my home both indoors and outdoor depending on the current weather conditions.  I am fortunate at this point to also have a small cottage that has a garage for which I am storing furniture to be done.....

However, I haven't gotten to the "to be done" part in a while...


This is my current project that I am working on that is now taking over my living area....

A four piece bedroom set completed in Annie Sloan Paloma with a Old Violet Wash

Wasn't sure what to do with the pulls, but  silver looks great...

Almost done....and then on to next project.

Sandy - Lucy and Frank

Its been seven months since Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey Shore.....I remember walking days after the storm looking at the devastation in our neighborhood.  I did not know all of our neighbors before the storm, but since the storm our community has come together.

Before 

Lucy and Frank both in their 70's were hauling oriental soaked carpets the day I first met them....90% of their home was destroyed by the storm.  Lucy and Frank managed to save some of their antiques furnishings which was very labor intensive and exhausting.

They finally moved back into their home about a month ago and they were desperately trying to get their lives back in order.   Lucy knew that I worked on furniture and contracted me to paint a piece that was near and dear to them.  Before the storm they used it for their television, after the storm it will sit proudly in their beautiful new bedroom for extra storage.

We decided to use Annie Sloan's Chalk paint in Old Violet with and Old White wash on top.  I used a combination clear and dark wax.  Some left over crown molding was added to the top of the piece as the finishing touches...

I was grateful for the opportunity of helping one neighbor get one step closer to closure on this storm.....and for the opportunity to work on a treasure that they have had for many years.

After sitting proudly in their bedroom

The colors complement each other so well.

Do You Barter?

Annual White Party Labor Day Weekend.

I just did a piece for my daughter; pictured (center) in this picture....  She is a mother of two and incredibly talented...and I'm not just saying this because I am her mother....although I do have some bragging rights..

Ever since I started my companies four years ago, she has always helped me with my websites. They were constantly changing and growing as I did.  She recently started her own company gearing to helping small and start up companies along with sporting and community organizations with their websites called Simple Business Solutions.....as you know you can't run a business or organization these days with out a website....

So for exchange of my new web presents......I found this table at a local thrift shop that was the typical Bombay Cherry Colored table, and turned it into a Shore Chicy Design Product.. I am hoping she will like it. It will be delivered today....

I used Annie Sloan Graphite underlay

Added Annie Sloan Old White as a top layer along with some clear wax

Added a hint of gold gilding wax to the shell

Until the next project......