It's the time of year we all like to update and refresh...SPRING! Me too. Rather than shopping and spending money on something new, I like to find pieces I have or thrift shop finds, and spend time getting precisely what I want. Here's my formula. Give it a try and let me know if you like it!
Materials
- Flat latex paint in contrasting shades - one will be the base coat and one the top coat
- Primer
- Crackle medium
- Buckets
- Paint brushes
- Top coat of urethane or wax- optional
Start by lightly sanding your piece - unless you want bumps and blemishes for character. Prime it and let dry fully. Paint the first coat of color that will be the one to show through your final color coat. This one is a deep rust color. Let dry 24 hours. Pour the crackle medium into a bucket and stir gently. Using a clean brush, apply a thick layer but do not overwork it. Let this coat dry 1-2 hours (if you go too long the mixture will cure and the next coat will not crackle. Use another clean, dry brush for your topcoat - this one is a creamy beige. As it dries, the crackles appear. For a worn look, you can lightly sand the edges of doors, drawers, and the box. I like to apply a light coat of Briwax rather than urethane, so I can enrich the sheen many times with ease.
We love white rooms. Do you? Whether you love cottage style, modern design, or a traditional home, white is always a great color. From the walls, fabrics and accents, to large scale seating and furnishings, a white home can be elegant or casual. With just a few added elements, your personal style can shine with art, collectibles, accent pieces and accessories. Take a look at these very differently styled rooms and note what you like or dislike about them.
White is easy-care if you use slipcovers on furnishings and sheers that can be laundered. You can even mix whites and ivories, just be sure that the undertone of the colors you select are the same.....for example don't use green-hued white sofa in a room that has orange-hued walls. You'll see the clash and it will feel 'off' forever.
Popular for kitchens and baths, white cabinets are an enduring and all-time favored color. Customizing white spaces is easy and you don't have to add color if you love monochrome!
For bedrooms and living rooms, using white as the backdrop and on fabrics looks spectacular when contrasted with deep wood furnishings.
