My Shabby Chic Project

No but i am tres envious! Id just google and have a crack. To be fair even if you balls it up its only gonna look 'rustic' ? Lets have a flash before and after too!

I've painted some chairs, does that count?

Started by sanding them down thoroughly, then priming them, then painted them in an antique white gloss.

Our Ercol chair (which we got from someone on Freecycle) started life like this:

And now it looks like this:

If that sounds like a bit of a faff, you can get a really good chalk paint which don't require the sanding and priming part. You just slap the pain on! They're really good of you want to go for a bit of a distressed look too. Only downside is that you need to wax them after painting which I don't like doing, but really is no harder than priming. The wax is a must as the paint has a chalky texture. I've got a coffee table waiting for me to bother waxing! This is the chalk paint I've used: https://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/paints.html

Hope that is somewhat useful!

This/ something like this was featured on scrimpers on channel4 last night! watch 4od for some pointers!!!! looked quite fun!

I think the point of the chalk paint is that because it is rough textured, it can adhere itself to the surface. Whereas normal paint is smooth so can slip, so you sand the surface to rough it up and it helps the paint to adhere. So I would think that you could just paint the chalk paint right onto the varnish.

I've got a local stockist of the paint so am quite lucky I guess, but you can order it online from the Annie Sloan website. There do seem to be quite a few shops that are dotted about, there is a list on the website. The lady in the store I got our tin from is a real dab hand though! She has loads of secondhand furniture that she paints and sells on. You could perhaps ring and ask what she thinks about just painting straight onto the varnished surface? If you look on the stockists page, go to Berkshire and the shop is called Country Mouse.

I do love the chalk paint. I've seen some amazing effects that people have done using one colour, then overpainting in another and distressing for a two colour look!

It's a soft wax. I haven't got that far yet as I'm lazy ? My MIL has a tin which I keep forgetting to pick up when I'm round there! You'll definitely need it though, as the painted surface has a rough chalky feel to it.

I can't offer any assistance, but I just wanted to tell you how fab dressers are - I love mine so much!

Yours will look amazing when finished!

I've done loads of little shabby chic painty projects in my home; from tables to mirrors.

Annie Sloan chalk paint is def the way to go - I recommend it to everyone!

I'm no good with quantity of paint - Prob best to seek your H's professional opinion on that one ha!

I don't have any pics to hand and I can't be arsed moving from my comfy bed atm.

Stupidlamb has just bought the most stunning shabby chic dresser, totally envious. I bought a dresser top last month, still undecided as to whether to keep it waxed or chalk paint it.

This is my most recent refurb....bought at auction for next to nothing....can't beat a bit of Farrow & Ball and Cath Kidston

Can i flash my beauty ?

I will pretend you said yes...

I am now looking for a Linen Cupboard!

!!

I so want to French Grey my cabinet, but it's a genuine antique and I know one day I'd regret doing it..

Thank you. It's "House White" no 2012 - very pale buttermilk. I love F&B colours.

Thanks, I love it only got it a week ago. No No I didn't do it , I wanted to and had been looking for ages for one the right size but I found this one and fell in love! so snapped it up!

I do want to do some more project work though and am constantly on the look out.

The paint on mine is Farrow and Ball too if that helps

Anyone else have a stash of furniture to "Do-up"?? I have a drop leaf table, a dining table, 4 x chairs, a stool, telephone table, 2 x chest of drawers, frame from a large mirror that I broke.. Plus I want to chalk paint my four poster bed, built in wardrobes, bath panel and kitchen & bathroom ceiling (Wood clad, resembles a boat!! ?) Think I best get some paint..!

This was a little side table top I did a few years ago.

And a frame -

I like mine to look quite old and battered.

Oh and the one I can't decide whether to keep waxed or paint??

I am so jealous of the great projects you've all flashed - right up my street but sadly I live in an ultra modern flat which is not my style at all, can't wait for my own place and some projects!!

Not much extra to add to the previous advice re sanding/chalk paint - but if there is anything else you want to know I can ask the bloke, he's a painter so knows a bit about paint!!

Here is mine, don't quote as it will be getting deleted!

GONE!

I ❤️ shabby chic furniture. I really want to find an old second hand desk and paint it white, but I just haven't found one for a good enough price yet. Where do you all go to get your bargain furniture?

Stupid Lamb I ❤️ your dresser - it is a beauty indeed!

Where did you get it from? I'm looking for a unitl for my hallway - so something quite small, but that exact style would be perfect! ?

Some beautiful shabby chic projects going on here ladies, I'm very impressed and a tad jealous!

Deleted

My dining chairs and the Ercol chair I flashed earlier were all offered on Freecycle!

I also find car boots sales and charity shops great for picking up bargains. The British Heart Foundation does house clearance and their dedicated furniture shops always have bargains!

Lamby thank you ?

I got mine on Ebay from a local furniture restorer. I have seen some similar on there (just not local to me before i found this ) so worth a look.

Love your dresser Moo bum ❤️

Not as much as I love you ❤️

ah shucks ?

Thank you SL - am off to have a good look now!

Finally I have found my perfect dresser!!

Couldn't say no as it was so cheap and I needed glass doors as I have two naughty cats and some of my Bridgewater pieces were quite expensive and rare.. Need to protect my holy grail!

Can't wait to get started, need to choose a colour to chalk paint it!

BB - That's a hell of a lot of work you're going to have to do on that!

Great dresser though; for the right house.

Annie Sloan does a chalk paint that you can use without having to sand the wood first, which is perfect for me as I get bored very easily with menial jobs like that ?

Should be easily done in a day or two, 2 coats plus a bit of sanding and waxing on the counter top.

That's more like it then!

Good old eBay - I've been scouring the place for weeeeeks, no months! looking for the perfect one. This was nesly listed yesterday with a starting price of £25 or Buy-it-now price of £80 - Bargain!!

All of my walls downstairs are boring old magnolia as I don't want to add much colour because my house is a bit wood-tastic in the kitchen/dining room/lounge - Think of the inside of a boat and that's basically my house.

I'm thinking either Annie Sloan's Old Ocre -

or Cream -

Or even a bit of both!

Yeah, the handles will be changed for mismatched ceramic or glass ones and the counter top part will stay wood coloured as I think it looks better.

it will match stupidlambs dresser ?

If it ends up looking like hers, I'll be extremely chuffed ? Ours are very very similar!