Shutter + Brushes

This round table was definitely a challenge to get the color selection just right. The owners and I spent a number of hours settling on the design. The tabletop was painted in Annie Sloan Old White with a very light grey wash. To protect the surface I added multiple layers of Old Masters Satin Polycrylic. The base was done in Dixie Belle Manatee Grey and then lightly waxed with Annie Sloan Dark Wax. Yes, I do mix paint brands but am truly loyal to Annie Sloan waxes. They are easy to work with and you can control the application and make adjustments easily.

This project was an experiment that I worked on for a number of months, I took my time doing repairs and carefully plotted out all the details. The minute I saw this at Goodwill in Fishers my head started spinning with all the possibilities. I knew it needed to be black and now it shines with rustic copper accents. The top has a crackle texture finish that is sealed for daily use. An important piece of trim was missing on the front of the drawer and I used IOD molds and air dry paper clay to update the look and and add balance back to the front. I tried a…

Special thanks to a dear friend who graciously gifted this dresser to me. The oak finish was still in good shape but need just a couple touch ups and a fresh sealer. I had a large botanical transfer from IOD and I was just dying to incorporate into one of my designs. after cleaning it up a bit and doing some structural repairs I painted the top black and added the transfer. The final step was a layer of sealer and that was a wrap for this charming vintage dresser.

When I got this piece to work on I had no idea what to expect. It had been well used and most recently was home to spiders and other small critters in a garage. After a very careful cleaning and a bleach wash the transformation began. The owners had an of idea of what they wanted but gave me the freedom to be a bit creative with the finish. I knew it needed to have a primer underneath as the old wood likely would bleed a yellow or pink stain. After priming I started off with Dixie Belle Sawmill Gravy and used Voodoo Up in Smoke Gel Stain. The icing…

This very 80’s dining room table got a complete restyling. Gone are the black legs and the darkly stained top. This piece required quite a bit of sanding to get the old finish off to accept a light colored paint without bleed through. The new finish is a soft creamy color with a Dixie Belle Voodoo Gel Stain glaze. The top is sealed with four layers of sealer for daily use by the homeowner. It has beautiful styling and a very updated look.

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.