Colour how I choose!!

I just wanted to talk about colour today and how I choose what colour to paint a piece. Sometimes a piece needs to be a certain colour for example some tables need to be pairs grey, or a big ornate mirror needs to be old white.
 

But the way I choose a colour for a piece after I've had a good look at it, I place it in my imaginary dream house, the kind we all aim to have "one day" so  I sit and imagine my self tootling around in my dream dream house and catching a glimpse of what ever I'm painting and then I choose the colour. 

 

For example the Provence drawers I finished last week, those have been in my mind for at least a year and in my dream house they would be in my hall and twice the size and with a huge mirror propped up against the wall. 
 

So I have no idea if this is the way other painters do it, but this is my way and when you get your new piece to paint try it and see what happens!! 

The other thing I wanted to talk quickly about is drawers and cupboards. Most of you probably know already that I always paint inside my drawer and cupboards. I think it's such a shame that the wood that we have tried so hard to cover up is left glaring at you when you open the drawer, the other thing I love doing is doing a real cheerful colour inside the drawers like Emperors silk, Provence, and Duck egg this makes such a difference to the finished piece it's lovely opening a drawer and getting a splash of colour as your putting things away and using the piece as it should be. 

There is a knack to painting drawers and I will another day go into to how I do that I don't want to bore you too much tonight. Go play and be brave you won't be disappointed. 

Xxx

Chairs!!

Chairs have to be my least favourite thing to do as there are so many angles and sides and they are well just a bit of a pain.

I've had a few chairs through my little garage lately and when they have been on the page I've had a few requests on how to paint them pretty, so I thought I would give you my chair painting tips. Please feel free to ask any questions you have I'm always happy to help in any way.

I've taken a few photos to Show the progress throughout

The chair 

First tip the chair upside down this makes everything easier, choose your colour and give it a first good coat have a good walk about and make sure you haven't missed any bits. Turn it back to the right way round and finish your first coat. 

Let it dry and drying time depends on lots of things if your painting outdoors it's faster especially when it's warm but make sure it's really dry before you go in with your 2nd coat. 

A tip I did really helpful is to have a little jug of water and when your doing the 2nd coat dip the end of your brush only slightly into the water and this helps the 2nd coat go on really smoothly. 

Let the paint dry out and then do your distressing. Annie recommends distressing after waxing but I prefer to distress before and then wax. Find whatever  youre comfortable with and just go with it, it is less messy if you use Annie's method as the wax stops the dust going everywhere. 

Waxing.... Don't be frightened of the wax and remember chairs are a pain and if your just learning try something easy so it doesn't put you off!! 

My waxing tips are keep your wax nice and warm and soft it's so much easier to work with. Layer it on, really go for it using a cloth or a stiff brush and then with a cloth take it of again wipe it away so your left with a layer and its not tacky or sticky. With chairs again wax upside down first and the tip it over and go over the bits you have missed and the back. Leave until the next day and then buff it like a crazy thing and you should have a lovely sheen.

It sounds like so much work but honestly once you get going its so satisfying to see your finished item it makes it all worth while and then seeing something that you have made pretty in your home is just lovely ❤❤❤