Chalkboard Project: How to Paint Furniture

A few months back, our fabulous friend, Channa, invited us to help style a photo shoot for her. It was a sophisticated New Year's Eve Dessert Party and we used my home as the backdrop. (A painted backdrop was featured here.)  Channa's designed invitation and arrangements of chocolate and candy confections were set up and styled on some pieces near and dear to my heart.

This dresser belonged to my Great Aunt Rose. It used to be dark wood and it had lion head drawer pulls. The actual puller was a large ring in the lion's mouth -- not exactly what I would call fresh and modern. After a few coats of glossy gray paint and lots of attention, this dresser is now one of my favorite items in my home.

This is how I did it:

Step 1: Remove the old hardware. To prep the surface, I put some paint thinner on a rag and wiped over the entire piece.

Step 2: Fill in holes and touch up deep scratches with wood filler. Then using medium grit sandpaper, I lightly sanded the entire surface until it was slightly rough to the touch. I removed the dust by wiping it with a damp cloth.

Step 3: One coat of primer. I used Coronado's Grip & Seal Interior/Exterior White Primer.

Step 4: I allowed the primer to dry for 2 hours then I painted the dresser with Benjamin Moore's Kendall Charcoal paint (latex semi-gloss enamel). I ended up using 3 coats of paint although I probably could have gotten by with just 2 coats. I waited 3-4 hours between each coat.

Step 5: Following Jenny's advice, I poured Wipe-On Poly on a lint-free rag and wiped the surface to add an extra touch of gloss.

Step 6: Then came the fun part -- selecting great hardware and lining the interior with pretty paper. I found these knobs at Anthropologie and the shelf inside the dresser (not shown) is lined with yellow and white polka dot paper from Paper Source.

A lot of work, but a labor of love.  It's so nice transforming an already sentimental piece of furniture into something new and unique that I will treasure for many more years to come.

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photography by Sarah DiCicco
paper products by Lily My Love
styling by Lily My Love and The Pink Chalkboard

Decorating with Flash Cards

One of my favorite episodes of Sarah Richardson's latest show, Sarah 101, is the Sophisto-Nursery. Sarah and her design sidekick, Tommy Smythe, did an incredible job with this room. Just take a look...

My favorite touch? Their use of flash cards as artwork.

What a great DIY idea!

I tend to frame everything I can get my hands on--from stickers to wine labels to favorite greeting cards--so naturally I thought this was brilliant. I love that Sarah selected black and white images from a series of flash cards purchased at a museum shop. Nice and modern.

But what if you are going for a different, more vintage kind of look?

I recently discovered these adorable French alphabet flash cards from Cavallini & Co. and thought they, too, would make charming artwork in a nursery.

And if you are a theme person like me, you might even consider framing this matching poster...

Voila!

Cavallini has a series of other alphabet flash cards, all in great vintage designs, here at Paper Source.

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top 3 images via Sarah 101 on hgtv.ca
bottom 5 images via amazon

Chalkboard Favorites

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Mindy's pick: Design Within Reach's Random Light

Jillian's pick: Ligne Roset's Bloom hanging lamp

Random Light images via dwr.com

Bloom hanging lamp images via The Pink Chalkboard

If I was an amazing artist...

I would paint the handles of all of my paint brushes in black and white stripes, too.

These images of Danish artist Tenka Gammelgaard's studio make me want to paint black and white stripes all over my apartment.

In fact, she already did just that in her home.

Lots of black and white goodness!

You can see Tenka Gammelgaard's work here and her black and white inspiration here.

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top 3 images by photographers Ranvita La Cour and Rishi from Happy Living via Tenka Gammelgard's blog
and featured in Elle Decoration UK;
bottom 4 images by Morten Hollum and featured in Bolig Magasinet

Shane Confectionery

The Philadelphia neighborhood of Old City is home to many historic sites -- Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross' house to name a few. Many come to this neighborhood to experience history through these sights. I encourage you to come and experience the tastes. 

Shane Confectionery has been making candy at this location since 1863. Home to chocolates and candies and all sorts of delicious treats, Shane Confectionery recently re-opened it's doors following a complete renovation that restored the shop to it's period aesthetic and old-time beauty. The tiniest details have been tended to. The result is a shop that pleases both the eye and the taste buds.  

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photography by The Pink Chalkboard

Everything is Going to be OK

Everything is Going to be OK is a wondrous little book. Chock full of inspiration, it is a collection of some of the best typographic art from around the web. Simply delightful!

Here is just a sampling of the design-goodness featured:

This book is not just a pick-me-up for when you are down, but rather something that can be appreciated anytime. In fact, this sweet book is sitting on my coffee table now. It's like having a portfolio of all of my favorite artists!

A special thanks to our dear friend and loyal Pink Chalkboard reader, Becca, for giving me this book. Thank you so much for the inspiration!

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Everything is Going to be OK from Chronicle Books


first two images via ModCloth
following five images via Graphic ART news

Abstract Art

Mark this under the category of art that would be fun to replicate...

Take a large sheet of paper or a canvas (similar to what I did here) and just start painting circles or triangles all over, layering them on top of each other as you go. It can be done with a paint brush but I think it would be better drizzled onto the canvas.

I am so into abstract art lately and am itching to try this now, too!

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image via Ethan Allen