Bye-Bye Honey Pine

My love for Broyhill Fontana has been long. I mean we have traveled all over the areas surrounding our state to find bits and pieces. A table here, another elsewhere. We have accumulated quite a bit. But when I purchased the Ikea Ektorp sofa with the white slipcover the honey pine just seemed dated. I decided after browsing Pinterest, various blogs, and more blogs that I wanted to go with staining the tops of the tables in my downstairs family room with a chestnut stain and use Annie Sloan Old World White on the rest.

After cleaning each table and lightly sanding the tops I attempted to apply the stain. It wasn't absorbed in the wood at all. I tried to sand again and reapply--again the stain bubbled up. I don't know if this is a problem because of the finish that Broyhill applied or what the previous owners had used but I was forced to move to plan B (that I hadn't even thought or planned for!). I had some Annie Sloan graphite so decided to use that on the tops.

If you notice since we found these in different places, the finish on these three are actually different. So maybe using chalk paint provided the best solution.

After the first coat, I quickly realized this wasn't going to be a quick project. I had envisioned that I might be able to do most of the various coats in one day. Scratch that idea. I first worked on the two end tables and the coffee table--saving the sofa table for another day. For these I only did the tops--letting each coat dry a couple of hours. Later that day I began working on the sides and legs with the white. Amazingly, the white only took two coats. Turned legs are a pain to cover evenly. I finally turned the tables on the side and was able to reach the legs much better.

My wrist was regretting this project! It still hurts several days later.

 Excuse the armoire--it belongs to my son. I am storing it for him but hope he will take it soon!

All in all, I think it is an improvement. I am disappointed that the stain didn't work out on the tops. If I was to backtrack and start over I would use General Finishes gel stain on the tops. I think it would have been the right choice.

I am still needing to decorate and add the farmhouse touches I envision. But...I am snowbound at the present time!

Just call me Goldilocks

You know the story--Goldilocks was a perfectionist. Striving for just the right of everything.

That's what I felt like with this simple, simple project.

Step 1: find a window type frame. Hobby Lobby to the rescue on that one.

It was the 50% off on mirrors and wood products so the price was "just right" for my mind and pocketbook. However, I really wanted a white aged appearance. That could be easily done because I had a small jar of Annie Sloan chalk paint.

I thought a little "dry brush" technique would be the right touch. Well...just Goldilocks (me) thought it looked too "farm aged" for my living room. 

Surely a second coat would solve that issue. Take the mirror down. Tape it off...again.

This time the finish suited me--just not the color. It appeared too yellow to use with the white ironware pitchers and vases. GRRRR.

Back to Hobby Lobby. I didn't want to get another jar of Annie Sloan because of the $$$. I wandered through the paint section and found a chalk paint there. I am sure it isn't the quality of Annie Sloan but this is just a frame. It isn't a piece of furniture or I would have bought AS. I used the 40% off coupon and it came to around $4. 

This is the third time I have taped the frame.

Third time I have painted it.

Three Bears. Three paint tries.

I found the shelf at HomeGoods/TJMaxx and the white matches the shade of the flowery hooks. I am not through styling the shelf. But at least...I think it is "just right".

Do you ever feel like a character in a book? Just saying...I am a teacher!