This dining room set has been passed down to three generations and is full of history including very old newspaper clippings. The set is extremely old and was in very bad condition as it had been stored for many years. I realized during the cleaning process there were a large number of cracks and grandma’s leaky plant lived on the top of the buffet for many years and deteriorated the top layer of wood. Fixing the buffet top was an introduction to using bondo to fill the the deep plant damage. The old oak would also require a complete sealing with shellac after the cleaning, repairs and sanding. Oak is…

The owners of this outdoor furniture set crafted this great set themselves out of cedar. Over the years it grew to a very faded finish that had turn to a “not so pretty” driftwood color. When good quality wood is used it is amazing what you can do to improve the finish. The minute I started sanding I knew I had a diamond in the rough. I could not wait to use the PPG Oil Based Teak Color Stain on it. Steve at Rollie Williams Paint Spot in Elkhart is an excellent resource for any paint or stain questions. He helped me select the product and the finish and was…

It was time to rejuvenate a stuffy traditional cherry bedroom set into something with an updated designer finish to be used for years to come. It still has a classical base even though a dreamy weathered grey finish was added. The transformation was amazing. The 3 pieces were all painted with Annie Sloan French Linen chalk paint and highlighted with blending and layering of Annie Sloan clear and black wax and some mineral spirits. The waxing process was certainly creative. I felt like a wax mixologist by the time this project was over. The owner added updated hardware to top off the new look!

A young executive says to me “I have this desk my mom got me and I want to use it in my home office because it is priceless to me.” I immediately knew it was special and wanted to take on this challenge! The room it lives in is truly one of the most beautiful spaces I have seen. It is light filled and has a stunning color pallet. We played with a number of samples and found Old Masters Espresso Gel Stain would be the perfect color. I typically do not strip furniture down to the bare wood but this was a project that warranted the effort. The top…

The designers from Inspired Designs by Geryl had a vision for a grand master bedroom for one of their clients. The first step was to have the nightstands painted Tin Lizzy Grey. We are working on the dresser next, but I added a photo for a sneak peek! A quick cleaning and a light sanding and the pieces were ready for a transformation. We left the solid marble tops so they would be the focus. If you have a quality piece of furniture why not paint it to give it a new life and transform your space?

On the way to deliver a piece of furniture I happened to go past a garage sale. The bright green color of this cabinet caught my eye as I whizzed by. I thought to myself … if this is still there when I come back I will stop and take a look at it. Just days before I saw a navy cabinet on Facebook that stole my heart. To my surprise it was still there on my way back and I was able to negotiate a reasonable price for it. After a massive redo the cabinet ended up at my cousin Julie’s and it is a focal point in her…

A childhood family friend had me restyle an antique high chair for her daughter as a gift. After contemplating several designs we settled on a white vintage finish done in chalk paint. We added a sweet little lamb and the names of her children and grandchildren to the bottom. This chair is now ready for the next generation of grandchildren. I can only imagine all the cute little babies that will sit in this chair! Check out the video to learn how I did a simple image transfer to add the sentimental features to this highchair!

I was thrilled to hear from my Cousin Julie who asked me to renovate her round oak dining room pedestal table. She and her husband have built a beautiful new home doing much of the work themselves. This will be the place of many joyful family gatherings and long conversations. Benjamin Moore Advance paint was used on the top in a solid white full finish coverage. The pristine top shows off the beautiful detailing on the edges of the table top. Julie wanted a more weathered feel on the base and chose a white color wash. I would say this old oak table certainly reclaimed its life and it was…

This natural wood table exhudes major style in the dining room of this new home finished in a black gloss paint. The design bends a modern aesthetic with a sleek farmhouse style. A protective epoxy coat was added to the plank top by the owner for durability. The table compliments the dining room chairs and benches for a totally updated look.

This cabinet is actually a large pullout dining room table commonly called an Amish table in Northern Indiana. The unique part is the “Waterfront Slide Mechanism” allowing it to extend to a large dining room table with 6 leaves. The plain wood finish was updated with Dixie Belle white chalk plaint and Annie Sloan clear wax was used as a topcoat. A little distressing accentuates the detailing and we kept the original hardware as it was. The client found this at an estate sale and now uses it in her new lake house sunroom for added family dining.

Painting is a passion of mine. It brings me great joy to see a piece of furniture take on a new life with just a little creativity and a few coats of paint. That is exactly what happened with this vintage china cabinet. A fresh coat of paint and she becomes the owners new favorite item to enjoy. For this project I chose Dixie Belle chalk paint and spray wax. Making videos is very new to me and I have a lot to learn. ( Like rotating the camera when I take videos). I hope to make more the future but would rather paint than spend time on a computer…

The charming revival of an old antique vanity gives this piece an entirely new personality. It will eventually be installed in a home on the shores of Lake Michigan. The very talented Phil Anderson of Cut Above Wood Designs in Niles, Michigan added a base to bring this to a more appropriate vanity height. A white marble top and sink will be added as it is installed. The Inspired Designs Team once again did a great job coming with this concept. The piece was painted with Dixie Belle Hurricane Grey Chalk Paint. Annie Sloan white wax gives the fresh grey paint movement and rhythm in a subtle way and pulls…

This satiny and fresh blue cabinet looks stunning in the foyer of a beautiful home in McCordsville. The original piece was tired with a discolored creamy farmhouse style finish and crooked knobs. New paint salvaged this and and gave it a nice update. Benjamin Moore Advance Paint was used to give this a rich and durable finish. Stephanie Califar of Vida Indy Designs is assisting the homeowners with an interior update. It is always amazing to work with talented designers like Stephanie who can easily select a color to make a piece take on an entirely new personality.

A friend from my grade school days asked me to update her rocker and create something special for rocking her future grandchildren. She gave me free rein to design something and told me to “just surprise her.” We share the love of vintage china patterns and our collections both include patterns in a rose motif. It was only fitting to add them to her rocker. I painted the piece with Dixie Belle Lemonade chalk paint, waxed it with Annie Sloan wax and adorned it with IOD Wondrous Floral II transfers. I can only imagine the joyous and memorable moments she will enjoy in this rocker.

I had the luxury of working with an interior designer to create a romantic, personalized and pretty French inspired vanity for her master bathroom sanctuary. Imagine this just as a flat beige piece of furniture. What makes this beautiful now is the layering of embellishments to create this glowing look. We used Benjamin Moore Advance paint for a white wash effect and added a Mohawk glaze with Rustoleum Metallic paint to top the finish off with a warm pearly glow. The hardware was repainted with champagne and silver metallic accents. It was a treat to work on this project. This bathroom certainly has style and grace to be appreciated by…

This small end table was found at Goodwill for $5.00 and I just had to grab it. It was very dirty but had a lot of style. I knew I wanted to experiment with it and just let myself go with water and chalk paint. This was my first attempt at using gold leafing and it ended up working out. I am used to creating a polished refined look but it was time to color outside the lines. You will see more of this from me!

This classic Hepplewhite desk found at Goodwill is now glamorous and sophisticated. The gold and black design creates a strong focal point for any room. Use it as a desk again or make it into a vanity by adding a small chair and a mirror. The waxed chalk paint has a soft sheen that looks like velvet! Hard to decide if I should keep this or sell it!

Do you have a dresser that is still functional but maybe not the right color or style for today’s design? This very simple dresser had a purple top and it was definitely time to give it a face lift. The sunny yellow exterior now gives off a cottage vibe. It exudes warmth and light and is certain to make any room a happy place.

This Bombay inspired chest has an elegant shiny new coat of high gloss black paint. The piece certainly looks dignified and sophisticated in the foyer of its owner. This was hard piece for me to take back because I wanted to use it in my own foyer!

Look what happens when you add some chalk paint, a few IOD molded clay bees and a wax glaze to a set of formal dining room chairs! These chairs were lovely as they were but the transformation made a huge impact on this dining room. Inspired Design by Geryl had the vision and I was fortunate enough to get to paint them!

This antique vanity set makes a statement wearing a gorgeous coat of salty dog blue paint. It was paired with a set of bright orange headboards and custom bedding by Inspired Design by Geryl. These items were painted with Sherwin Williams latex paint. Restyling existing pieces is an exciting and economical way to give a room a more modern look.

Vintage Shutters made a comeback in this dining room for a client of Inspired Design by Geryl. These were found at Tim & Julies Another Fine Mess Restoration Store. Sample boards were created for designers to consider finish options. After a good cleaning and fresh coat of paint these were enhanced with custom black and white waxing.

A co-worker asked me if I could recreate the look of a piece of furniture she found on Pinterest.   The antique dresser she showed me was one I had previously admired and crafted by Rehab2FabDesigns.  Immediately I was interested in attempting to recreate the look of this purple beauty.  The quest began to find the right chest of drawers, the perfect purple paint mix and the French rose transfers.   With a trip to a resale mall, a visit to one of my favorite paint stores, and some online shopping I was successful.  After a few weekends she was complete and delivered.  It was the perfect statement piece for her guest room!  www.shutterandbrushes.com @shutterandbrushes @fleamarketflip_ @beeseasonfloristry

My very favorite Union Jack Table was featured on the Annie Sloan America Facebook Page today. I could not have been more thrilled to see this when I was having breakfast. Special thanks to Pam And Lauren from Birds Gotta Fly Vintage in Elkhart. This is truly my favorite store and if you want to take a class in chalk painting this is the place to do it! Union Jack was the result of a creative brainstorm when I was trying to figure out how to use Emperor’s Silk Red and Napoleonic Blue together. Grabbed some painters tape and a ruler and away I went!

The Miller china cabinet was the most exciting piece of furniture I have restyled. The project was for South Bend Interior Decorator, Geryl Miller of Inspired Design by Geryl. The cabinet features products from Annie Sloan, Dixie Belle and Sherwin Williams. The piece was lightly distressed and the wax took on a beautiful sheen as it was polished. This is a stunning centerpiece for her home. What a difference a coat of paint can make! We will be working on her dining room chairs next. Stay tuned!