Greetings fellow procrastinators! So, did you finish your project? Today is the day to link up your after photos and show off what you finished (or didn’t finish, for that matter!). Don’t worry, we won’t embarrass you too badly if you didn’t do your project. (Here were the before photos if you want to see who had good intentions, LOL!)
As I told you all last week, my project is finished (don’t look too closely, I had to do a little touch up and I haven’t quite finished but ALMOST!)! Hooray! It was a way bigger project than I really felt like tackling but I guess that is where the procrastinator part came in, I have had this cabinet for years and years. I never liked the tone of wood but I knew it had a cute shape that would be perfect as a painted piece.
This cabinet actually originally belonged to my sister many years ago and I couldn’t get her to take it back. I tried to give it back when we moved up to Washington, really I did. She just wouldn’t take it! But once she sees how cute it is now she is going to be GREEN with envy, I know it. Too bad for her.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I am so glad I painted it! I really wanted to get this done because I am SO behind on decorating things around my house. I knew that the weather would not last so I forced myself to get out there and do it.. I used the last four warm sunny days to paint and it has been a bit rainy, windy or too cool ever since! I intended to get new hardware on it, but after looking around I couldn’t find anything that I liked that would fit, so I decided to just leave the original pulls on and maybe age them a little at some point.
As I mentioned, this project took about four afternoons to complete (only spending about 2 hours or so on each day). It was a lot to paint, since I not only had to paint the outside of this piece but the inside of the pull down desk which as you will see below, has a lot of cubbies and things to paint.
So how did I do it?
I tried out my new favorite paint, Caromal Colours! Caromal Colours is a sponsor of The Inspired Room. Remember I told you about Caromal Colours back when we talked about making a gilded pumpkin? My friend Patty sent me a distressing kit so that I could try painting my cabinet! I used the Country Living decorative finishes in two shades plus a toner to get the richer, aged look.
I started out with putting on a coat of colonial blue, then a chipping coat (which didn’t chip anything, it just sealed in the first layer of paint) followed with a coat of bayberry, then I sanded it lightly with my electric hand sander to distress it a bit, and finished it all with the toner.
This paint is not like any other paint I’ve used before. It is very thick. The entire time I was painting I was SURE I was doing it wrong. You can really do it any way you want, stipple it on with a brush, brush it on, whatever works. I did more of a brush stroke but I think next time I will just “moosh” it on! The first coat will look messy no matter what you do, but that is OK! In the end, it all came together and looks like an old painted piece full of character.
I think it is the toner that really pulls it all together. You can see what a difference the toner made as I started to paint it on the two doors…the one on the left is before and the one on the right is after the toner. I know I’ll use Caromal Colours again, I can think of so many projects for this paint!
If you want to see a video of a project using Caromal Colours, my pal Kimba put one together awhile back so I wouldn’t have to {grin, thanks Kimba}.
Don’t have access to Caromal Colours paint? You can find lots of tips for painting furniture right in this e-book! This is an affiliate, but I only recommend things I believe in and you’ll learn from this book!
So how did things go for you on your Procrastinator Project?
I’m so excited about all the cool projects you were working on! Go ahead and link up on MckLinky directly to a procrastinator after (or progress) post. Any other random posts will have to be deleted since this is a specific kind of party — no party crashers. Then link back here to The Inspired Room so your friends can come see all the other projects, okay? If you don’t have a blog but you worked on a project, feel free to share in the comments!!
Have fun and visit as many AFTER posts as you can! And leave everyone a little comment love, will you please? Thanks for being a part of the fun and making me feel like I was not the only one out there working on this!!
If you’d like to try this paint on your kitchen cabinets, check out this video before and after of kitchen cabinets! It is very inspiring!
To order your own Caromal Colours paint kit, click on the button below and Patty’s website will explain how to order it!
Wow, what a change! That turned out really well Melissa-very cool! Thanks so much for this challenge, it’s been fun!
~Amber T.
Amazing! I love the change- and that’s such a pretty green! It’s been a fun challenge-hopefully I’ll have after pictures posted at the end of the day-my project is done though!
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Refreshment =-.
That came out great! Love the color and how it changed that piece dramatically. Good job, now you’ll want to paint more things.
.-= Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality´s last blog ..My Sister is a Craigslist Addict =-.
That’s great!!Even the hardware looks so different. I had to triple take…
BEAUTIFUL!
.-= Leah´s last blog ..Party’s over. =-.
Well–nice job (and it really took some work—but when you figure the finished product you came up with it was worth it). I was inspired to particapate around 3:30 today when I read two other bloggers that were doing some cleaning up!
.-= nannykim´s last blog ..procrastinator party =-.
Beautiful … she will be green with envy!
.-= Sharon´s last blog ..Progress being made =-.
gosh, I am such a nob. I posted my done. (well, done for now.) on the before. BTW you all did such a great job!
.-= cathy´s last blog ..Master Bedroom Not Done. Yet. But Progress. =-.
Twitter: ClassiclyAmber
says:
Oh, that is SO pretty!! You did excellent work here!
And – I either totally procrastinated or either didn’t have time to get my Procrastinator Project done…Yeah, one of those two. =-) But I still plan on doing it – - ONE of these days!!
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Custom Vintage Chic Signage~! =-.
Love it!! Great job!
.-= Misty´s last blog ..Procrastinator’s Party Completion!! =-.
That paint added a LOT of character – very cool!
I worked so hard on mine but it just had too many steps and too many drawers to paint and sand and put poly on.. and it seems like I messed up with the poly so I have to sand it off and paint it on.. (cry)
It’s my first time painting furniture, so am trying my best! I won’t give up… still working on it.. thanks for the push, anyway!
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..The Forgotten Room =-.
first of all i would like to say thank you for having this party!! i think you need to have one every month…*wink*
secondly…i love the transformation of your furniture…love the way the paint looks!
.-= Alissa´s last blog ..studio makeover =-.
So. Much. Better. Your secretary has much better character now that all that distracting wood grain is out of the way and the color is beautiful. Thanks for this post, Melissa. I was unable to participate but know I’ll enjoy seeing all the projects.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..If I Ruled the World. . . =-.
That looks _so_ much better! My mom did something similar with a garage sale desk, it turned out great.
.-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..I’m an Outlaw, a Craftin’ Outlaw That Is =-.
This is so gorgeous, Melissa! Fantastic job!!!
.-= living with lindsay´s last blog ..Teach Me Tuesday: Easy Additional Seating =-.
Melissa! That is amazing. Good, good work. Thanks so much for hosting this little party. It’s my first, but I’m definitely hoping there’ll be more!
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Procrastinator’s Party: The Reveal =-.
I love it! The finish came out beautifully and the distressed effects are great. Sorry I missed the party but I will be at the next one… I have several bolts of fabric calling my name!
.-= Jess´s last blog ..Inspiration: Red Rocks =-.
Wow. I love that paint and can’t wait to try it. That blue/green is my favorite color. Your last picture though looks beige so it must be the light from that camera angle. Does the paint always leave brushstroke marks in the finish? I don’t like brown wood so I paint everything. I know you are really going to love this piece as you gave it new life and that is what refinishing is all about. Wow.
It is just the lighting, the cabinet is definitely green (not beige!) with some blue underneath. The brownish tone is the toner giving it the aged look.
What a great redo! The color made such a big difference!!
.-= Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog´s last blog ..How Much Does Your Hair Cost You? =-.
All the photos are inspiring, and I think one of my favorites is the dining room/library combo. My challenge is that my dining room is quite small so I’m wondering if I can sneak in a row of shelving without making the room shrink too much.
Great stuff, as always!
Wow….that’s just amazing. It was sort of frumpy before, but it’s stunning now!
Blessings,
Spencer
.-= Spencer´s last blog ..Yipppeee! I’m Finally Feeling Ever So Much Better! =-.
i know i am late… but my project took much longer than i had anticipated! (isn’t that always the case??) but thank you so much for holding this “party” – i am excited that i got something DONE!!
loved looking at a lot of the other projects – nicely done, ladies!
.-= laura´s last blog ..when you look up "procrastination" in the dictionary…. =-.
I missed the party.
But, if anyone is interested is seeing my “afters” come on over.
.-= Jess´s last blog ..Procrastinate Much? =-.