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Monday, August 31, 2009

Spray Paint Magic on Met Monday

What would we do without spray paint?

It gives new life to the woebegone orphans we tuck under our wings, covers the multitudinous sins of the hard-living curbside floozies we load into the backs of our mini-vans, and turns almost any old Frog into a charming Prince. It's magic in a can.

When our daughter Anne shopped our house for furniture she wanted to take to her first apartment,
she laid claim to the Queen Anne highboy in the pink bedroom. (See it here.)

But when we realized what a hassle it would be to move it up those 26 steps into Annie's place, she looked elsewhere in the house. She chose -- a bit reluctantly -- the old oft-painted pine dresser from my childhood that was doing stand-in for cupboards in our butler's pantry.

Here it is, waiting in the front hall to be brought outside for its makeover,
wearing an old Williamsburg color paint I gave it almost 30 years ago:

It needed to be Heirloom White.

The grass was very damp, so we -- if by "we" I mean "Howard" -- painted
the drawers on the front porch. First coat:


The case, and an old oak mirror we had tucked into the back of our closet, also got the white spray treatment:


And here is how it looks in Anne's bedroom at her new apartment,
which is actually an old apartment -- in a lovely 4-unit building:


If it seems as if the mirror is hung high, that's because it is. On purpose.
Anne is 5-feet 10-inches tall.

On top, a little Erte print and a Lenox dresser set. Anne's flea market finds.


Anne took the pictures and sent them to me; I forgot to take my own.

After painting the dresser and mirror, Howard and Dion took a little stroll
while I cast about for something else that needed painting.


Not surprisingly ... I found something.

This old wicker rocker was my in-laws' and it's been white since they bought it, was green before they bought it, and I thought I should see how it looked with some brazen-hussy red on its lovely bones.


Howard got into this; spray painting is addictive. First coat done:


For the red, we used Rustoleum 2X paint -- it is supposed to cover
more completely the first time around. And it does. Yes, it really does. I love it.

We put the rocker back on the porch to await a second coat:


Hmmm.... I like it, and it matches the color of the wooden rocker on the other side of the porch. But I'm thinking, for second and subsequent coats, maybe a darker red? More a dark apple? Not so fire engine bright. Better for fall and winter. That's the fun of spray paint -- Prest-O, Change-O, you have new colors at your fingertips!

Our lawn guys are going to think we had some fight out here:


Now if I could figure out a way to use 3000 cans of spray paint to do the house, we'd be in business:

I'm linking up to Metamorphosis Monday, at Susan's Between Naps On The Porch blog; this is a wildly popular blog party, and great fun to see what people have done to transform, renew, change, restore their treasures. And some don't even use spray paint!

Click on the icon, or any highlighted words above, to travel to this fun blog party. Best -- Cass

30 comments:

  1. Very lovely! I can't wait to see the rocker when it's finished! I love the dresser too! I bought 6 cans of oil rubbed bronze that i'm looking forward to using! Can't wait for hubby to get home and take off fixtures for me. hee hee
    Blessings,
    Sandra

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  2. Dresser came out great! Love that your dd can shopt the house for some great pieces :0)
    Rocker looks fab. I love red. Colonial red being my fave shade :0)

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  3. LOL!...Hussy red!! Cass, you are a riot! I like that red, too.

    The dresser turned out so cute! You all did a great job fixing it up. Nothing beats a good coat of fresh paint.

    Have a sweet day,
    becky

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  4. Gorgeous! My daughter has the exact same dresser and I am needing to repaint it. May just do that sometime real soon!

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  5. You know that you can get a sprayer handle thingy that is like a trigger handle for on paint cans. Saves holding down the little button for long periods of time.
    I only mention this because when you spray paint the whole house you will need it.
    I like a barn red myself.

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  6. Love that spray paint! Anne's room is pretty. I bet she was disappointed about the highboy, but the dresser and mirror turned out pretty also.

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  7. I took a little bit of chiding for spray painting in the garage. Overspray, and all...

    It was worth it.

    Your daughter's room looks great. She is learning valuable lessons about less being more...when it comes to making the older items look like new!

    Fun stuff!

    Becky K.

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  8. LOVE the rocker :)

    The dresser came out great as well.

    Spray paint is my favorite decorating tool. And I can't burn myself like I usually do with a glue gun!

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  9. Old furniture always looks so neat and clean when it is painted white. I really like the dresser. That said, I am a big fan of white wicker so at first I cringed when I saw you painted the chair. The end result was absolutely fabulous though. The red chair really adds character to your porch.

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  10. Great job! I have to say, I am so glad that I am not the only one who sets up shop like that! I have little spray paint spots all over the lawn! :o) I have since been moved to the "back"! :o)
    Your dresser sure looks nice! And your rocker! Augh! I would love to have a beautiful red rocker like that on my porch! :o)

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  11. I loooooove the red rocker! I want one for my porch!

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  12. Love that "brazen hussy Red"...its a winner!!!

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  13. The dresser and mirror looked great in white. Bet your daughter is happy to have them. Love the red on the chair!!

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  14. Anne's room looks really nice. I love the little print on top of the dresser. Great paint job. The white completely changed the look.

    And the HUSSY red on that chair looks awesome.

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  15. love that red chair and on such a darling porch built with such a beautiful home. DON'T you love spray paint? sighhhhhhh!

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  16. CSI is on the way :) Red suits her..she has brazen hussy lines too :).

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  17. Hi Cass,
    That hussy red chair would look perfect on my porch!! I love it and wouldn't change a thing. The dresser turned out so crisp and new looking, paint can really give things new life! Hugs, Cindy

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  18. Well done on your do overs. The chest is nice but isn't the rocker a stunner in glorious shades of red.

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  19. I love the chest, mirror and the hussy-red rocker!! :?

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  20. I love the dresser and the red rocker. They turned out great! Did you sand the dresser or use liquid sandpaper before spraying it white? Also, did you use a satin finish spray paint? And do you put a polyurethane finish on your pieces or just leave them sprayed with the spray paint? Just wondering about different people's techniques. I am just learning and I have a dresser and nightstand that I want to do. Love & blessings from NC!

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  21. Looks great! I LOVE the red on the rocker!!!

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  22. Love the red rocker. Its just as welcoming as a red front door.


    I hope you will come by for a visit.
    Cheri
    Its So Very Cheri

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  23. Cass,

    I just had to show my husband the picture of Howard spray painting the wicker chair. My husband was doing the same thing two weeks ago, but I failed to get a pic!! And he was so anxious to sit in his antique shop find, he put it in the Summerhouse even though it needs a second coat. I think I know who will be doing it! ;-)

    Love Anne's room. Besides getting your dresser, she seems to get her style savvy from you as well. Her bedroom is so cozy!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  24. Great job! I hope you will join me for Crock Pot Wednesdays at Diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com. My "blue" this week is part of a tribute to Julia Child. Hope to see you signed up with Mister Linky.

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  25. Watch out or they'll be putting crime scene tape around your lawn!
    I love paint too - I swear that it's all that's holding some old pieces together.

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  26. Cass,

    Congratulations, you won my Beach House Inspired Watercolor giveaway. Please send your email address to me at cottagelifestyle@hotmail.com.

    Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

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  27. Love your transformed furniture!

    I saw your comment about my countertops. They've held up really well so far...and you can't beat the price :). I'd just be sure to put at least 3-4 coats of polyurethane on, and be reasonably careful with them...know what I mean? Also, I used gloss polyurethane in my son's bathroom, and I think it's a little too shiny. I think semi-gloss would be better. Good luck!

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  28. I used to have a dresser that looked exactly like the one you painted! My mom put pink hearts on the front of it! Thanks for making me think of that again!
    Emilie

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  29. We all love the joys of spray paint. That vinatge rocker is beautiful and it looks very sassy in red!

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  30. I love this post. The dresser and wicker chair look great. I especially love the red chair :)

    GUSSY

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