A recent client of ours had in her possession two old side tables that she absolutely loved. The tables were in need of a face lift, but the problem we faced was that they had been subjected to several coats of paint overtime, so if we applied a new coat, the result still would not produce a fresh look unless we stripped each coat first. Stripping paint is a very long process, so I decided to give them an antique look by using the "antiquing" method. There are many ways to antique furniture, but I found a real simple and rewarding way to do this is by using a water-based paint. Here is what you will need:
-A quart of Valspar paint in woodland misty morning eggshell finish.
-A sample size of Valspar semi sweet (sample sizes only come in satin and that is fine)
-3’’ and 2” chip brushes
-Soft absorbent rags
-A container of water
How to:
-Apply a coat of woodland misty morning paint on the clean tables and let them dry overnight.
-Dip your 2’’ brush in semi sweet paint and wipe your brush on one of the rags, there should be very little paint left on your brush
-Apply softly to one area at a time of the table, making sure more paint gets in the grooved areas and corners of the table.
-Before the dark paint dries, dip a clean rag in water and squeeze. The rag should be barely wet, then wipe the paint off leaving just enough to get an antique look.
-Repeat in all areas of the table and don’t be afraid to experiment. If you leave too much paint you can always go back with the light paint. If you take to much dark paint off you can always add more.
What piece of furniture will you be antiquing? We would love for you to share your end result with us!
Also, check out the video below to see the process from start to finish.
February is the month of love. To celebrate, here are a few paintings that embody love with their romantic palettes. Each color scheme is characteristic of the artist’s particular style. These harmonious color combinations are great references and very inspirational.
Gustav Klimt (1862 – 1918), founder of the Austrian Art Nouveau movement is best know for his decorative symbolic works and his flat un-shadowed surfaces, translucent, mosaic colors and forms surrounded by sinuous, curling background line and patterns. His painting “The Kiss” describes the sensual embrace of two bodies melding together in a golden glow of love and dissolving into abstract patterns and motifs.
This palette is reminiscent of Valspar’s 2010 Retro Retreat color trend palette–soft, earthy and sensual.
Nostalgia 4007-6A Lyndhurst Shady Grove Cloudy Sunset 3005-8A 5006-3B
My kitchen cabinets are a solid maple surface called "Oatmeal Crunch." We have cream accents in the adjoining dining room. I need a color to make the cabinets look richer in tone. We have too much yellow and it’s a bit overwhelming. I need a paint color that allows the cream furniture to pop but that is not overpowering. I’d like a calming color, if possible. Suggestions please!!!
Jill A., Pana, IL
********** Hi Jill,
You could go in two directions to take the edge off the yellow. First, take a look at some neutrals that are similar, but go in a cooler direction. These will tie the yellows together but neutralize them and create a more sophisticated look. You can add accents of burgundy or rust to add some punch. Shoreline Haze 6008-1B Dakota Trail 6008-3B Milestone 6007-1B
The other direction to consider is with cool colors. These will read color on the walls. They will let the cabinets stand out but also offer a cool element to the space.
In celebration of the Olympics, we selected Green Gecko as last week's Color of the Week. This is a color that has been incorporated into the Vancouver Olympics' graphics. It is a fresh yellow-green that hearkens spring. Try it as an accent wall with touches of Seashell Gray and Filtered Shade for a crisp modern feel.
Gecko Green 6006-8A Seashell Gray 4003-1A Filtered Shade 4003-1B
The
Fall/Winter 2010-11 fashion collections were presented last week in New York at Fashion Week.
I rarely have the time these days to attend any of these shows, but I love reading about them and looking at the
new collections in the press.
I find the
new designs inspiring, not so much
as source for deciding what to wear,
but as in insight of the general direction color trends are taking. This year I
noticed a lot of grays and browns. Marc Jacob’s collection incorporated these
colors throughout. Zac Posen also seemed to gravitate toward the grays, and paired them with beautiful cognac, espresso and tawny browns.
I find
these colors to be very suited for fall fashion,
but also a great inspiration for home colors. I like to make little collages of
colors combinations that I found beautiful and I paired them with a room and
color swatches for future references. Here are a few examples:
Asparagus 6008-8C Cool Grey 7006-10 Anthem White 7006-24
In the midst of winter, most of us like to consider a cozy bedroom the favorite part of the house. For today’s Friday Project Series, we’ll share an inexpensive way to add a little luxury to your homey retreat.
What you need:
- One can of Valspar brilliant metal spray paint in brilliant gold
- Sample size of Valspar Lincoln Cottage Black in satin (sample sizes are $3 at Lowe’s, and are an amazing way to experiment with colors)
- Sample size of Valspar Dove White
- Downloadable template
- Mylar paper (can be found at most art stores)
- Pencil
- A 4’’ paintbrush
- A small art brush
- A sponge
- 1’’ or 2’’ wide blue tape
- A used credit card
- An exacto knife or box cutter
- A “bubble” ruler
- Plastic drop cloth
- Water
- A pan for mixing paint
Here’s how to begin:
Before removing your bed, determine the placement of where the headboard should be. Make small pencil marks on the wall and then remove the bed.
With the help of the bubble ruler, trace the outlines of the headboard on the wall.
Place tape on the outside of the rectangle drawn on the wall and use a used credit card to burnish the side of the tape. This step is really important to keep the paint from “bleeding” under the tape and will help to create sharp, neat lines.
Cut the top left corner of your template according to dotted line (A). Place it against the top left corner of your taped rectangle, and while using a pencil, draw along the template. Tape this area, using little pieces of tape to follow the curves of the design. Repeat this step on the top right of the rectangle by using the reverse side of the template. Don’t forget to burnish those areas too.
Now you can start painting. For this finish, I used both the black and the white. At first I used a method called a wash. To do this, I alternated dipping my brush between the black and the white, adding water on my brush, creating darker and lighter areas on the wall.
For the subsequent coats, I used a looser version of a technique called “linen weave”. Once again, alternating paint (which by now is getting more grey in my pan), I used vertical and horizontal strokes, letting some areas with more obvious brush strokes and some smoother areas). This creates a very pleasing effect of dimension to the painted area, almost like fabric.
Once the paint is dried (it is better to wait a few hours) you can begin taping in preparation for the gold stripe. Using the 1’’ blue tape, tape the inside of the painted rectangle. Stop before the scalloped corners, as you will use the template to help with taping those areas. Using the bubble ruler, trace a couple marks, a quarter of an inch away from hedge of tape. Tape alongside those marks. Keep in mind that this will be the final stripe painted, so readjust the tape if it appears uneven.
To tape top corners, use the ruler and place a mark an inch away from top point, in a perpendicular manner, then use template A and draw along the edges. Then repeat, drawing a point a quarter inch away, draw along side of the template again, then tape around the drawn line. Again, make sure the line that is taped is visually pleasing; you can always rearrange the tape if needed.
Because this is a bedroom, I chose to spray the Brilliant Metal Gold in a pan outside and dipped my small brush in the little puddle of spray paint. It dries quickly, so you have to act fast. I love the quick drying part when it comes to painting the stripe, it really doesn’t bleed and the gold color is fantastic.
To paint the corner circle details, use the template provided, part B and C. Copy B and C on a piece of Mylar paper. Using an exacto knife, cut out (B) and(C). (Click on the link provided to view template View this photo)
Apply your stencil on the corners after you have removed all tape, and stencil (B) and (C) using the drawn placement indications. Turn the stencil around once the paint is dried and repeat process on other side.
If you do try this at home, we’d love to see pictures of the final result. We just might feature your home in an upcoming post!
Check out the video below to experience the project from start to finish and view see finished product!
Bursting with lush greens and vibrant blues, the colors of the Winter Olympics are anything but frosty. Every time I look up to see one of the world class speed demons race across the finish line, the colors of the Vancouver Olympics are there cheering them on.
If you want to your home to take on this invigorating freshness you can try these Valspar colors:
Awakening 6006-10C Peek A Boo Blue 4007-10C
Water Fountain 5001-10A Spinach 6004-10C
This image was found on Tidbit. This living room totally captures the bold spirit of these colors. The crisp white is a great way to break up the intensity. This room would cheer you up even on the most dreary winter day. Being in this room would probably also help you cut back on your coffee intake.
Here’s a small vignette from Blogspot.
This corner is crisp and modern. I love this photo because it shows how the right color can deliver so much excitement. The other elements, with their clean simple lines, pop against the bold backdrop. It’s a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck.
Here, Coastal Living takes a rustic breezy direction with these colors.
The addition of creamy yellow adds warmth to the lively
combination. Can you imagine a rejuvenating stay in this little corner of paradise?
This color combination provides a great backdrop for the
athletes' uniforms. Of course, the U.S. team’s blue uniforms looks nice with the Vancouver colors. I
also like the way Sweden team's uniforms pair with this backdrop. What are your
favorite Olympic colors?
It’s time for Mardi Gras, and in New Orleans, the traditional colors of the holiday are purple, green and gold.
Curious to know the historical context behind these colors, I researched the holiday and learned that Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia was asked to choose the official colors for Mardi Gras when he visited New Orleans in 1872.
Purple is symbolic of justice, green of faith and gold is a symbol of power. These colors have influenced Louisiana colleges such as Louisiana State University and Tulane University. It turns out that New Orleans stores had stocked up on fabrics in these colors in preparation for Mardi Gras celebrations at the time when the schools were choosing their colors.
These colors, very present in nature, can actually work great as a palette in your house. Here are some beautiful subtle examples that do not scream “Mardi Gras!”
Valspar Purples:
Lavender Moon 4001-9A Purple Mist 4002-9A
Valspar Greens:
Green Mist 6005-9A Spring Glow 6006-9B
Use a gold color, such as Valspar’s Brilliant Metal Spray in gold, as a great accent in your space.
Nothing is sweeter than homemade Valentine’s day cards. They are much more personal that a store-bought item! (except for maybe a diamond, come to think of it…)
For this Friday Project Series, we’d like to demonstrate how you can make the perfect Valentine’s Day cards using Valspar paint. This splatter-friendly project would be great to do with your kids. Just make sure you use a big drop cloth!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Valspar Paint -La Fonda Fireberry -Pink Burst -Grand Hotel Geranium -Warm Pink Pinking shears Red satin ribbon Glue Water 2’’ chip paintbrush Drop cloth White card stock White paper Hair dryer
To begin:
- Once the space is covered with a drop cloth, alternatively dip your brush in assorted shades, then splatter on the white paper. - Once you have reached a look you like, let the paint dry. If needed, use a hair dryer to move the process along. - Lightly draw heart shapes on the splattered paper with a pencil to help with the cutting. - Cut out hearts using pinking shears. - Fold a the card stock and glue hearts on the front of a blank card. - Glue a few inches of red ribbon on each side of the card for added detail.
Happy Valentine's Day!
As we get ready for Valentine's Day, we thought we'd share with you OUR LOVE OF PINK! Pink has so many personalities, so many moods and variations. Depending on the shade, depth and temperature, this color can be fun like bubble gum or elegant like the color of quartz. Here are the pinks that have captured our hearts:
Ann
I love Champagne Pink, and not just because of it's flirty name! It's a warm soft flattering pink. Who doesn't want to look good, especially around Valentine's Day?! I would love to see a living room painted in this beautiful color with accents of taupe like Vanilla Stream or Lyndhurst Gallery Beige. It would be soft and sophisticated, the perfect setting for romance.
I adore so many pinks! One of my favorites is a light, delicate, romantic pink. A light pink reminds me of my first cashmere sweater and demure gentleness. I love the quiet beauty of Hushed Rose. It reminds me of sweet nothings whispered in the ear, quiet smiles and warm embraces.
Hushed Rose 1003-2A
Veronique
I have always been inspired by warmer shades of pinks. However, I also love light petal pink, winter sunset pink and ballerina slipper pink. Maybe this is because I grew up surrounded by this most beautiful pale rose garden. I was also influenced by my all-time favorite designer, Coco Chanel, whose vision of “pink” has forever influenced the fashion world. My favorite Valspar pink is Warm Pink. Here is a little “pinkspiration” board.
Warm Pink 1006-2B
Michele
According to Greco-Roman mythology, the color pink was born from a sweet smile or a kiss Cupid gave his Mother Venus. Pink is a sweet and tender color.
My favorite pink is Embroidery Rose from the 2010 Valspar Peaceful Ambiance palette. It is soft, grown up and elegant. Here are a few of my favorite combinations: For a fresh effect:
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