My furniture painting secrets

Do you learn the hard way and wish at the end you had checked things out a little more thoroughly?  This  overconfidence gets me in hot water more times than I would like to admit, but learn I do!  I paint furniture frequently.  That means lots of experience from too many mistakes. Here's my recipe now.

What goes under a paint job is very important especially if you are painting a hard surface like laminate. My best painting tip in these situations is ....

My top pick for a bonding primer

  use STIX bonding primer  as a base on just about anything, and then go with the paint of your choice on top of it - my fav is below.  With used furniture degrease with TSP or vinegar and do a light sanding with a sanding pad or electric sander. Paint doesn't like grease, and I always feel better if I sand a bit first. No need to overdo it!

The Facts on STIX

 Keep in mind:

1. STIX is not a paint but a  primer/sealant, only a thin translucent coat is required; you are not gaining anything by going for opaque coverage.  
2. You don't  need two coats; don't waste it because it is on the expensive side.
3. You probably need a quart rather than a gallon for smaller jobs because it spreads a long way.
4. It is best  applied going in one direction using light but swift movements. Forget back and forth or w moves.
5. Wait at least 90 minutes for drying.

My latest project was a colour change for a small media cabinet from Target.  We needed  a multipurpose piece to act as a side table and storage for  two pieces of  TV equipment.  I hate it when you need something right away because you are forced to choose from what is available. 30 inch media cabinets are a thing of the past it seems; everyone has big TVs.   This one was the least offensive to  my design sensibilities.  NO I don't love it at all because it is a tad too traditional for me, but it will serve our purpose until hubby builds one - might be years!

The nutmeg colour looked terrible with my decor  especially my so lovely golden undertoned 80's oak. In comes trusty BM Iron Mountain  to match the  family room colour scheme. I highly recommend this gray if you are looking for a dark gray hue.

Benjamin Moore Iron  Mountain

 
If I want a durable finish I use Benjamin Moore Advance in a pearl finish.

But.... if you are the impatient type it might not be for you.  I have to do a lot of self talk to get me through the drying time, but it is worth it for a durable finish. 

The facts on  Advance

 Benjamin Moore Advance is a waterborn alkyd and is as close to an oil finish as you can get today.

 Pros:

• durable finish
•  levels nicely
• soap and water cleanup
• available in all BM colours
• low VOCs

 Cons:

• difficult paint for impatient people (like me); re-coating time is 16 hours (don't try to hurry it); seems to take even longer when applied over sealed, hard, non porous surfaces; takes many days to fully harden from my experience
• some reviews report whites yellowing over time ( I haven't used white)
• higher price range(you get what you pay for)
• not self-priming, stain-blocking nor antimicrobial -mildew resistant

 If you want a very extensive review of this product read Jack Pauhl.

Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain using  Advance

 

Photo:  Margaret Ryall

 You may notice we chopped over two inches off the legs to hide the wires that were coming down behind the cabinet.  Wires are the enemy and they must be dealt with at all costs! This will also be used as a side table so it needed to be shorter.  I liked the higher legs, but function always wins. 

Do  you have any painting tips to pass along?  

Dining Room Design Ideas

Making Your Dining Room Perfect Addition To Your Home. Your dining room is an integral part of your home that most people will see. It is where you are going to making an impression on your guests more than any other room. What you are going to do to your room will depend a lot on the size and shape it is. The color you use will depend on what you like as well as what theme you have in your home.

It is best if you draw up a design before you start decorating and redesigning your dining room to you could end up with something that you don't like. Try not to have it clash with the rooms that are adjacent to it especially if they share a wall. It will also help to create a mood that is booth attractive and professional looking. Matching the right colors together is a great way to create harmony in your design.

Sometimes it helps to look at things that are already in the room for ideas. It can be almost anything from vase with cut flowers to a chair or table. Have it become your focal point and inspiration piece then let your imagination fill in the rest. Use a color you find in your focal piece to choose your primary color for the walls.

Clearing out the room will ensure you don't get paint on any of your furniture and will help in the cleanup as well. If you are replacing the floor you don't need to worry too much about paint spilling, but if you're not I suggest using a drop cloth. Use extra care not to get paint on any surface you don't want to paint. By using painters tape to create a barrier you will have a much better edge on your paint.

Stains or dark paint can easily be covered with a coat of primer before you paint. It is also advised that you prime any new walls as well.

Some paints dry really fast and you may be able to give it a second coat on the same day. Try to create a balance and not go to bold on any one color or it may be a little overwhelming. Bringing your dining room to life can easily be done with an accent wall.

It also helps if you don't leave any walls completely bare. This is especially true if it is a large space. Hanging pictures or paintings is a great way to break it up a little. If you find yourself lacking in ideas you can always watch a couple of design shows or read a magazine.

Room Design Ideas at Your Home

Decorating a new house, Condo or apartment can be a daunting task. It might have long been your dream to have a new space to decorate but when it comes time to actually do it, the choices can be overwhelming.

Picking out furniture and decorating a whole house or apartment is a huge task. Trying to create a unified flow throughout your home can be a monumental task. Whether you are picking out new decor items or mixing and matching furniture you already own, the task can be arduous.

Here is an idea that can work for the new home owner starting from scratch or the veteran home buyer looking for fresh ideas to spruce up existing furniture.

How about a room for every season? When I think of the four seasons I think of a multitude of colors. If you are using existing furniture and decor, the theme of the Rooms Design Ideas at Your Home will leave it wide open for color choice.

    Fall: Virtually every color is expressed in fall tree foliage.
    Winter: The beautiful white snow against holiday festive colors.
    Spring: Beautiful flowers of every color bloom against lush landscapes.
    Summer: Amazing colors of beach scenes or nature landscapes.

These are just a few examples that may create some visual ideas.

One of the easiest ways to introduce a visual idea and bring the scene or season into focus is with a large professional photograph. With large photographic wall art such as a Landscape Photo or still life, you can introduce the season and set the color tone for the room. You could use the picture to accentuate the decor you already possess or use the photograph as the central point of the room. One of the best things about using a photograph is that you can find the right colors for your room in any season.

I think the best way to display photographic wall art is using the triptych format or three panel approach. This tends to blend in better with the room and be less over powering as many photos can be. Triptych Photography also displays more like a collection of wall art than a photo. A large framed photo can be over powering but a frameless photo triptych gives the clarity of a photo but offers a softer effect on the room.

If the four seasons is a bit much for you, just pick your favorite and go from there. The point is that a room doesn't have to just be a comfortable collection of your things. You can easily transform your living space into a destination place.

The Best Furniture for the Outdoors

It is nice to sit back and relax in your patio after a busy and a stressful day. It is the right place for unwinding and rejuvenating. Making the patio look inviting and pleasurable, it must be decorated with the appropriate pieces such as furniture and accessories fit for the outdoors. It is important to choose the perfect modern outdoor furniture products that are not only good aesthetically but at the same time, will survive different weather conditions.

Online and brick and motar stores are both places that you can trust for your outdoor furniture and patio needs. Most online stores offer furniture items that go well with your patio at more affordable priceing. The e-commerce website's will provide you with the information that you will need in designing your home and your patio at the tip of your fingers. Online stores all have extensive range of quality and the best known brands from different manufacturers across the globe.

To start transforming your simple patio into an elegant and modern one, you have to decorate it with the right sitting pieces. A nice sofa made of teak wood or wicker and decorated with colourful cushions is a good idea. The sofa is a good place to sit on with your partner while watching your kids play around. A sofa needs a center table with matching centrepiece décor for its accent. Another important to put on a patio is an outdoor dining set. The table can be rectangular, square or round and it can be made of wood, wicker or wrought iron. Your patio can also be decorated with accents such as jars, statues, water fountain and many more to add to its peaceful ambience. Some would even put a hammock or a swing and even arbores.

If you have frequent guests in your home, you can make your patio the venue for gatherings. You put a barbecue grill, additional sitting, such as lounge chairs, loveseats and ottomans. You can even put up a bar in your patio. If you are living in a cold climate, you can set up a heater or a fire pit table to make you and your guests warm and comfortable. If it is summer, you can put an outdoor umbrella to protect you and others from the harmful ultraviolet rays. If you want to entertain more your guests, you can put an outdoor television or a home theatre with speakers. You can enjoy with your friends your favorite television show or watch an NBA championship or even have a karaoke contest right in your own patio.