Well, it's official! This morning, I (under the helpful supervision of my aunt) embarked on the first phase of the first DIY project I've ever really been a part of.
This nightstand is the last part of a bedroom set that was given a fresh coat of paint last year. Supposedly, the set was assembled circa 1949, meaning it's both incredibly vintage, and incredibly deserving of an fresh coat of paint.
Today was just the first coat. We used Country Chic paint, which is a Canadian company (yay for Canadian businesses!) that specializes in chalk paint. This is what I was talking about yesterday, when I mentioned that "there are several types of paint"- not all paints are created equal, evidently. One of the benefits of chalk paint is the versatility; waxes and other finishes can be added to both seal in the colour, as well as create a variety of finishes, whether it be vintage-inspired, country chic, more minimalistic, the list goes on and on.
Another benefit, as I learned today, is that chalk paint requires much less prep work- there was no need to wash the surface thoroughly (apparently, this can even mess with the oils in the paint and ruin the finish), and only minimal sanding was needed to even out a few scratches, then it was off to the races.
The colour selected by my aunt was called "With a Twist" (pictured below)- the photo doesn't really do it justice, but it's a a red-ish/orange-ish/brown-ish colour (clearly I'm terrible at describing paint colours). Basically, it should blend well with the furniture that she already has, which is obviously a desirable effect when re-finishing furniture.
Supposedly, chalk paints typically give matte finishes. In the case of this piece, there are plans to use a sort of metallic-looking coppery colour topper (akin to a shiny penny) to add some dimension. But, that step isn't for a while! The first coat was done today, and that needs about a day to dry before coat two. Then to figure out how to apply the intended topper! While she has plenty of experience re-doing furniture (she re-did her entire bedroom set on her own not that long ago), we're both new to the "adding a topper" part.
It's obvious when working with this type of paint though, that there's no odour. Especially when working in a smaller room (and with the windows closed, because it's HOT out) it's nice to not be smelling chemical fumes the entire time.
Overall, day one was a success! I think I have the general technique down for successfully painting furniture, if I do say do myself! Coat two to come tomorrow... in the meantime, there's a couple photos showing the nightstand as it was before starting, the paint itself, and where we left off after day one. The difference isn't immediately noticeable in the photos, but in person, it's definitely much brighter and the colour difference is more pronounced. You'll also have to excuse the slightly blurriness in the photos, for some reason my phone camera wasn't cooperating today ( *facepalms* )... oh well, there's still hope for tomorrow!
Fingers crossed day two is as smooth as day one!
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