Sunday, January 10, 2010

It Had to Happen Eventually

Hello friends...well I knew it would happen sooner or later. I have finally caught a bug from someone..yes folks I officially have a cold. I have not been sick since June 08 and I am feeling a little like Jerry Seinfeld in the episode where he eats a bad black & white cookie and breaks his 4 year non vomiting streak. I decided that since I don't have the energy needed to come up with something funny and new, I would show off a little furniture redo I tackled a while back. I have this secretary type area between my kitchen and family room that I wanted to transform into more of a separate piece of furniture This is where I have my computer and printer. The cabinets are the same as the attached kitchen and I didn't care for that. I envisioned a more unique division between the kitchen and family area. This is what I came up with.....


This is the secretary with the top doors removed (please excuse all the cabinet clutter). My dinette table and chairs are just opposite this. To begin my transformation I started by priming all the wood with a  product called Gripper by Glidden. It is made to specifically adhere to slick surfaces and since I did not want to be bothered sanding and tacking, I figured this was the product for me. I was also going to be painting over the Formica counter top and thought this product would be perfect. I'm happy to say it worked like a charm and was very easy to apply. After priming I applied two coats of a cream colored interior paint. I am going to be antiquing my cabinets so the shade of cream was not too terribly important and you can do a little spot test on a paint stick if you want.


After I painted the doors I added a simple decorative design of leaves and berries. I tried to mimic the old world German painted furniture pieces I have seen.

                                
You might be thinking the colors look too crisp and bright, but just wait until you add the antiquing, it will all come together. I always go a little brighter to compensate for the final finish.

Here are the top cabinets after I applied a coat of gel stain in a soft brown using a sponge brush as my applicator.  I brushed the stain on and immediately wiped it off using an old cotton tee shirt. I love how it grabbed in certain areas and not in others. I think it gives it a more aged look. You need to work fast and don't try to go back over an already stained area until it is completely dry and cured.

 
After priming and painting the Formica, I taped off a diamond pattern(so classic) and painted the diamonds black. If you look closely at the doors you will see I edged the trim in black to give the doors more definition. Here is a Janet Metzger painting secret ( I shouldn't be telling you this) rather than trying paint a precise 1/4 inch line, I used my handy dandy Sharpie black marker.....their, my secrets out...I feel so much better, I've been keeping that secret since 1987 ;-) Hey, anyway to ease the process is my motto.


After my wonderful hubby cut a piece of bead board for the backwall, I painted and stained it and added inexpensive black door pulls. The final addition was a piece of beveled glass to help protect the counter surface. I think it came out pretty darn cool, if I do say so myself!
Upon standing back and gazing at all my hard work, my darling hubby turned , looked into the kitchen and said " now you know Janet, you have to do the whole kitchen" UGH!!!!!!!! What have I gotten myself into????????
Until next time, be kind and stay creative.

10 comments:

Kelly Ann said...

Love the transformation...after you're done with your kitchen come on over and do mine...

Missy said...

Janet, please come and see me in DC. I would love a consultation about my kitchen......It's an unusual combination of OLD and old. I love what you did with the transformation of your secretary!!!
--Missy

Kelly Ann said...

Feel better....I had the bug last weekend so I feel your pain.

Tweed Thoughts said...

Do your talents never end? That looks fantastic! I hope you feel better soon - keep warm and 'toastie' :)
Alison x

x said...

Oh no, feel better soon!

Those decos are really, really pretty. :)

w said...

well you did a great job. can't wait to see what you do to the kitchen! and then, to the world. i bet it'll be fascinating. much unlike your cold. hope you feel better. also. you should install one of those self dispensing sanitizing lotion thingies. i want one.

~mel said...

WOW!! I LOVE what you did ~ LOVE the technique ~ LOVE the final outcome. Great job!! If you're ever in my neck of the woods... stop on in... I have a few places in my house that could use your talents! lol

quiltcat said...

Hi Janet. Sorry i've been remiss in reading and commenting...too dang busy at work! Your computer desk makeover is gorgeous. I'm sure you will be so pleased every time you sit down there, or just pass by. Beautiful! (hope by now you are over the cold)

Anonymous said...

I love this Janet. Remember your kitchen in Kingwood you redid....It was just as beautiful!!
Stephanie Tarver

Unknown said...

I loved the transformation! Awesome hand painting! I wish I had half of your ability to change things around my studio fast. Some day I will post pictures of it. It is taking too long. I have a computer design/fine arts/crafts studio to be, and the process is so difficult because I have too much stuff to move and organize. Well, at least I am working (slowly) on it. :-P