Stain or strip and stain that is the question.....

There are quite a few things in this world I am not fond of, losing track of things, kids screaming and sanding...... So when I came across Polyshades by Minwax I figured I would give it a shot.

I lightly sanded.... and I do mean very lightly and then tried the Polyshades product on the side of the cabinet that wont show. This is my sample spot.

 

The color on the right is the new color. This product enables you to go over existing stain depending on what your top coat is on your existing woodwork. I want something even darker so I may buy the black and mix the two colors. I have quite a bit of woodwork to do in this room here is a picture of the just the ceiling beams alone.

I'll post a picture of the darker color test spot and the beams once they are finished..... wish me God speed!

Ever pull the paper surface off your drywall?

Not a pretty picture...... but with a jointer compound skim coat I will be able to put this rough project behind me. Talk about labor intensive!!!! ugh This vinyl wall paper is the most difficult I have ever removed!

Hollywood Glam Cabinets

The completed door with chocolate glaze, antique gold and chocolate flecks. I love how this project turned out.

I few knobs left to install and this cabinet make-over is complete. Next I plan to work on the ceiling wallpaper treatment. :)

The mirror is complete and I have now moved on to the oak cupboard. I have decided to even paint the cupboard silver and do a dark chocolate glaze with flecks of antique gold and chocolate.

Here is the cupboard before I painted it. The brass knobs are uneventful.....

A silver painted cupboard door. I actually used acrylic paint to paint this door.... Normally I would use a latex paint but I happened to have the color of paint I wanted in acrylic so I used what I had. The chocolate glaze is already also applied in this picture. I think glazing does so much for cabinetry and furniture giving it that extra depth and interest.

 I photo of the cupboard door upclose so you can see the glaze detail.

So my first project with the closet bar is to use Rustoleum metallic silver spray paint to paint the brass mirror edging to a shiny silver color. I think think this color will reflect the light nicely and go well with my Hollywood glam theme.

 

Mirror with brass edging.

Mirror with plastic taped over the mirror and the brass sprayed silver. The trick to spraying the edging is to do several light layers of paint to avoid runs and drips. So far, I love the outcome.

 

Well the kitchen is wrapped up and now I have moved on to the bar closet area. That's right it's a bar inside a closet and conveniently located outside of the master bedroom. :) I would love for the tiny space to scream Hollywood Glam on an inexpensive budget. The area currently is very early 90's. Lots of brass and mirror. The mirror I can work with.... the brass not so much.

Glass shelves, mirrors and a cabinet with a sink make up this closet bar.

 

Great space for all the fancy colored bar glasses and entertaining storage.

 This cabinet has got to go! Or maybe I can add new life to it by changing the exterior....

 

 

 

I love these black and crystal chandeliers from Overstock!

It's amazing what paint, new hardware and light fixtures can do to a space!

My newest project is to Antigue the cupboard doors with a paint coffee bean colored paint and glaze mixture. I absolutely love the outcome! Plus with new hardware this is like a new kitchen!

Before the glazing and new hardware!

After!

The iron hardware add so much character..... Love it!

Kitchen Reno

In a kitchen this size, where do you begin? We all know kichen renovations aren't cheap so some times you have to work with the postive things you do have. My cabinets were in good shape they just seemed dated. The emerald green sponge paint look wall paper on the ceiling screamed 1980's and the yellow painted walls had more scuffs and marks than my kids shoes. I figured those are some good places to start. I attempted to remove the ceiling wall paper after several attempts and a couple of broken nails.... yeah not going to happen! On to back up plan! I decided to wall paper over the wall paper with a white textured paintable wall paper and I loved the out come. Time consuming totally but completely worth it! You gotta love bronze metallic paint!






Kithcen ceiling wall paper

A picture of the ceiling with a portion of it wallpapered with the textured wallpaper.

The finished product! love it!

My next task is to paint the walls......