I recently completed a custom job for a client. She had an entertainment cabinet that was in two pieces. She wanted the bottom redone but no longer wanted the top. She asked if I would be interested in bartering the top. In return, I would give her a discount on her finished piece. Here in the country, it’s what we do, we barter. It’s not always veggies or eggs, it's furniture too!
One rainy night in Georgia, while lying in bed, my mind was in overdrive. I lay there thinking of ways I could transform the top into something that was useful and unique. Suddenly, at 3 a.m., I hopped out of bed and ran into the garage. The Hubs didn’t flinch, he was apparently use to my late-night rendezvous in the garage.
What was my idea? Flip her upside down! This would put the molding on the bottom of the piece, which seemed to make the overall look flow better.
The color I chose was Sage Garden by Behr. I decided to make my own chalk paint for this project (recipe here). I only mix one cup of paint at the time, because here in the South where the humidity is very high, the chalk paint does not store well. Also, be sure to use flat paint, not semi-gloss paint.
I gave the entire piece, including the inside, two coats of the chalk paint, allowing a 24-hour drying period between coats. I stained all the new wood shelving and the top with Minwax Dark Walnut.
Next, I used my Gator 120 grit sandpaper and distressed heavily, by hand.
