It’s a wonderful life.
We’re busy, and yet, I find that we are fighting for simplicity.
We are choosing to say no to some activities this year, and honestly, we’ve gotten too sick for some. As bittersweet as it is to miss some of these things, we have had time to focus on the Nativity story a few times already this month, and we did get to lazily decorate our trees and create a peppermint wreath.
The shop is staying busy, too, and I’m getting to where I’m not headed there every single day. Natalie is manning the day-to-day, so I’m able to blog, paint, homeschool Gray, focus on orders for the shop, etc.
Be a normal wife & mom, too.
In the busy-ness, I’m still trying to get the hang out of photographing furniture in the shop. Here’s another fly-by redo…
This Davis dresser was fine as is, but how cute is it now?!? For the opening, I wanted to paint something that would stand out near the front of the shop to draw people over to the Chalk Paint™ samples. I chose to paint the outside and inside the cabinet Antibes Green. We finished it off with clear and dark wax, as Antibes can be pretty bright. I left the drawers wood for the time being to show how awesome that paint is and what a difference it made!
It sold before the Grand Opening day, and the young family asked if I would mind painting the drawers a pretty blue, and I chose Aubusson. It’ll be perfect for their little man’s room now.
I love a clean look on furniture, so I’m not always drawn to use dark wax, but when I am, it never fails to impress me. I think I’ll write a post soon on using dark wax to create a beautifully aged finish without getting the dirty look.
Sound good? If you have any questions about dark wax, ask away in the comments and I’ll be sure to answer in my next post.
Have a lovely day, y’all!
I love this piece! Perfect for a little boy’s room.
I would LOVE that post on how to make an aged, non-dirty look with dark wax!!!!!
I would like to see that as well. I have been tinting the clear wax, but I think I like your results better. Perhaps I am not putting enough color in my wax. I’d like love to hear more from you before I throw down $30+ on another can of wax!
Lisa
Can you give details on the difference in final finish when using dark wax vs glazing a piece, which I think always looks dirty.
Thanks!
I love the look of a piece that has been waxed. I’ve used stain here and there, after the paint, but have yet to use wax. I’ll be looking forward to that post. Thanks in advance!
-Ang
It looks fabulous!!! the color combo is perfect.
I am looking forward to a post about dark wax. I have used it on a couple pieces and used your tips from one of your tutorials when I got heavy handed with it. But sometimes I feel is ends up looking grungy instead of well loved.
Donna
Great piece! I would LOVE a tutorial on dark waxing, specifically waxing a flat surface (top of the piece, door fronts, etc). I love the look the dark wax gives to ornate edges and such, but have yet to figure out how to do a flat surface well! LOVE your shop and blog!
leslie
Yes I would love a post on using dark wax also!!
Love your blog!
I love the blue and green piece. i happen to be combining those colors on a cabinet. striking!
Yes yes yes!! Tutorial on dark wax would be great! Hate it when it looks dirty. And ditto on waxing large flat surface. Thanks!!
The furniture piece turned out beautiful. It’s really neat to see how you can take a just fine piece and make it look completely different.
I guess you could explain for me “What is a wax?, Can you use it on any paint or just Annie Sloan paint?”
Thanks.
I’ve done several pieces of furniture with ASCP and have really struggled with the dark wax and not ending up with a “muddy” look to the finish. Looking forward to your insights.
As usual, you did an awesome job on this piece – it’s beautiful! I just finished clear waxing my second-ever piece of furniture about 45 minutes ago and I’m loving the look of it now without the dark wax. (That may be because I’m so afraid of the dark wax and messing it up.) I’ll be anxiously watching for your dark wax tutorial! Thanks for all of your great advice!
It’s gorgeous, Shaunna! It actually looks kind of spring-y to me, but that green-navy combo is SO classic. Great in any season, in any home!
Beautiful peice of furniture, colours are great. My son has wooden pine furniture he wants to keep so I’m attempting to persuade him we should paint them, wish me luck 😉
Caroline,
My son has pine furniture and it was definitely on the dark and knotty side – not my favorite look — quite dingy. Anyway, while he’s been away at college, I’ve painted his tall dresser Robin’s Egg, and his nightstand Linen. I used a primary coat of Old White underneath, and when I sanded, some of that came through the to colors. I used a coat of clear, and then dark wax on both. They look great, and now they aren’t so matchy-matchy as they were before. My son liked it, too! Good luck (and don’t worry – honestly if I can do it, ANYONE can.)
meant to say, the white showed through the TOP colors…
Yes, yes, yes please!!!! I’ve been waiting to purchase the wax from you because I don’t really know what to do with it. Is it only used on the chalk paint? I’m working on a Christmas gift, so I guess I better get an order in. I would love to tell you what I’m working on and maybe you could guide me on the color wax I should use.
I just furnished a desk for my daughters room with antibes green and a dark wax finish just on the top and the inside of the drawers are a Behr purple that was a $3 mis-tint. We love it!
I definitely need some dark wax finesse. Please give us your wisdom! Also, maybe a little information on tinting clear wax with ASCP, and the effect it produces, vs. using just clear or just dark wax. Thanks 🙂
I love the Antibes green. It can be bright though! Aubusson is my absolute favorite color in the line!!
What a great color combo for a little guy!! Love it.
A love this piece! It is working perfect in or little boys room. We added a couple of shelves in granite to the open side for more storage!
This piece is really amazing and fabulous. and its color is also great .
thanks for sharing .
I love the colour combo in this piece. I echo everyone’s feelings about dark wax but I have used it on distressed edges very successfully. I have also applied it and then painted over it with a wash so that you can still see it but it looks cleaner. It seems best on carving and detail. I have a few pieces on my blog that show how I have used it successfully. http://upwithfurniture.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/waterfall-dressers/
Hi! I came back to see if you had added a link to the dark wax tutorial you mentioned in this post. I’d love to read/watch it if you have it published already.
Thanks!
HI, I AM REVEIWING PAINTING TECHNIQUES TO REFINISH TWO PIECES OF FRENCH PROVINCIAL FURNITURE. LOVING YOUR IMAGES AND TUTORIALS. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR UPDATED INFO ABOUT YOUR DARK WAX PROCEDURE. THANKS!
Thank you so much for posting this it was my inspiration for my little boys desk in his play room !!