DIY: How to Add Patina to a Chandelier

A few months ago, I found this semi mangled chandelier on the side of the road next to the garbage. Talk about a curb side treasure! So, I did this manic U-turn, pulled into an awkward driveway and loaded it up. It also comes with those gold lampshades, but we most likely won't use them for now. What is your opinion, shades or no shades? Living in a rental, we can't put this up, besides, it is too big for our place with such low ceilings.

Our Downtown Studio salon is switching the massage and Jacuzzi room, with our large party/lounge area, and I knew this chandelier would be perfect for lighting since it is pretty dark. Pics of our gorgeous set up here! We spray painted the "candlesticks"  black and got some of the vintage candle flame looking light bulbs. I used a patina-like sea foam green color and dry brushed it on for an aged look, and in some parts, did more of a watercolor wash. I am probably going to add a second patina color and then do a little bit of sanding on the "patina" to really age it. We usually don't like the bright gold, but it works in here and really shines up the rustic glam feel. And of course, I want to add strands of drippy prisms from the bottom. It will be gorgeous and I will most definitely include photos of the finished project!

It's not really work when you love what you are doing!

 

Finished Product! At Downtown Studio Salon's massage and spa room.

 

Homefront: Reviving a Framed Painting with.... Paint

I got this large, Barbara Hails 1990's print in a semi-lovely fame at a garage sale for $7 a few months ago. It's been sitting here, looking all park bench floraly and very dull, sucking the energy out of the room. I only wanted it to bring some color to this massive brick wall, but the frame drabbed out any colors in the otherwise pretty painting. Obviously, the only clear solution is to paint it, white.

I'm lazy and don't sand, not even when I did my headboard or my mirror. But if you did prime and sand, you will have more longevity on the paint job and it will look better. I really don't mind if I have to touch up a nick, or I may even add intentional nicks to balance out accidental nicks.

 You can dry brush for a naturally shabby chic look and call it fin.

But I liked to pile on the paint, too thick layers, before allowing the first to dry. I'm impatient. I used plain old acrylic craft paint in ultra white. This painting doesn't come out of the frame. But if it did, then a can of spray paint would have been easy.

The print is a textured vinyl, so any paint I got on it, easily wiped off with a lightly dampened paper towel. I even think it would be fun to stencil or free paint some crazy design on here. If your picture surface is also not removable or vinyl, then be sure to cover it, so paint doesn't ruin your picture. I went around right under the frame edge with a piece of paper as I painted and it worked fine.

 It really does seem to brighten up the whole fireplace and give the colors some subtle intensity.

Our inheritance from my husband's grandmother's passing. His parents got this in Germany when he was  born and gifted it to his grandmother. A lovely, huge, vintage scenic candle, handcarved by Johann Gunter.  There are a few broken parts, but it's been moved around 20 times, though it is still very charming.

 I got his lovely bust and The Dicken's Bedside anthology book a few months ago at some antique shops.

 

Love my little bottle collections. This one is from my favorite antique mall a few years back and I glued a vintage brooch on with E6000. The flowers came from the mister. You know how a dying bouquet usually has a few good flowers left? I usually remove those when throwing the bouquet out and add them to small bottles.

Homefront: Best Yard Sale Finds Ever

This little end table for $3. It has MAJOR water damage on the top, and is missing a knob, but it's charming and looks cute with our end table we found on the side of the road for my husband's side (that I still need to paint). I will be sanding the hey out of it and painting it a creamy, very, very soft dove gray and replacing the top knobs.

Oh yes, my old Ashley headboard., shown here in our old bedroom. I think I got it for $15 or something, and painted it white. Most everything else in these photos are thrifted from thrift shops or antique malls by the way.

 

This dresser we painted for our boy's nursery and added modern knobs. It was maybe $5. I also love this vintage child's desk. I believe it was about $7. Oh, I miss this room in our old home!

This large painting at a garage sale for $7. Kind of steep to me, but it adds much needed color to my massive brick fireplace, and I scored tons of stuff at that sale (like a few full bags of awesome vintage earrings for $1) so I thought it was fair. I am planning on painting the frame a creamy white soon.

 (some of the earrings)

This wrought iron wall hanging for $1. It's large and heavy and was an ugly, partially oxidized brassy iron color. I painted it varying shades of turquoise and patina, with white for glints of highlights. I later replaced it with a frame gallery wall, but it still looks nice in our entry way.

This changing table for $30. We repainted it, added fresh modern knobs and used it in my son's nursery. Then, I relined the top with a really cute lime shelf liner and we use it for kitchen storage now.

I have tons of favorite yard sale finds by ways of clothes, jewelry, knick knacks and such, but maybe that can be for another post. *Linked to Nester's Best Yard Sale Finds EVER linky party.

Homefront: DIY Painted Stripe Accent Furniture

I've run across a few striped furniture pieces that have really called to me (shown later in the post). So, I wanted to experiment with something small. In 30 minutes, I had a new look, and now know if it's worth doing a larger piece in the future. (it is)

Last year, this adorable plant stand broke and I was only left with the top. My husband pretty much thought I was nuts for saving it. I glued it with E6000/hot glue (can't remember which)  to a candle holder pillar. Now I have this cute little pedestal cake stand, though I wouldn't put a cake directly on it because it isn't sealed.

I spent about 60 seconds laboriously sanding the top and side that I would be painting. If you do not want the unpainted part to be distressed, then sand after you put the tape down.

I took some electrical tape and made my stripes 2 strips worth. I used that little tape piece between each set of tape I laid down to make sure they were the same width apart. I think blue painters tape would be better as my tape stretched out of shape too easily and didn't lay down as flat so the paint smudged.

I took regular white craft paint and watered it down, and painted the exposed areas. Then, I pulled off the tape while the paint was still wet. I was able to get those smudgy areas off the stripe edges by gently wiping them off with a damp paper towel. If I were extra ambitious, a bit of black paint would have worked too.

After the paint dried, which was really quickly, I lightly sanded the stripes. Though, I think I will go back and sand it down more for less contrast. (I think white and a soft gray would look perfect.)

before in black

after

Stripes on a small piece is a fast and simple change that adds just a touch of spunk to a corner. And if you don't like it, no biggie, just paint over it or sand the heck out of it.

*More stripey furniture inspirations for you*

 My House of Giggles striped painted table. I love how her stripes are varying widths and how she kept the side of the top base the one stripe color. She does another striped table top with wide stripes here.

 In the Fun Lane painted the stripes from the top down the front for a coastal beach feel. 

 Her sea side dresser isn't technically striped, but  with the drawers painted a different color and the addition of hand painted numbers, it gives a same effect. Perfect for those who have a hard time making straight lines.

I love the muted tones here. It would work well in so many settings and wouldn't be as difficult to decorate around should your decor change. 

Great Oak Circle has a diy post on this table she painted. Love what she did to the writing desk.

 I truly adore love this home featured in Coastal Living. The idea of doing the large stripes on a dining table is lovely. I am pretty sure this is how we are going to do ours now. 

This Mini-Kildare dresser by TreeHouse Trading Co. shows that there are lots of ways to play with stripes and colors, especially on detailed pieces with doors and trim. 

*Linked to Strut your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple, Transformation Thursday @ Shabby Chic Cottage, Life as Lori's Get Your Craft On, Fireflies and Jelly Beans' Show Off Your Stuff, The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday, Tater Tots and Jello DIY Linky, Finding Fabulous' Frugalicious Friday.

 

Homefront: The Vignette Staging Area

This dresser is always in a state of disarray. It is where objects go that are being switched out from mantels and such. A staging area, the green room, if you will. A lot of projects end up here. The green candelabra I painted here. The damask lampshade I slipcovered here. The cream dresser painted and newly knobbed here.

I love how my little nest can be stored in the Cinderella carriage I painted. I love pulling it out and filling it with vintage wooden spools, jewels, buttons and such. It's so fun to play with. Shutters are the perfect accessory. they can be found at antique malls for cheap and can be randomly placed anywhere for depth, color and height. Wouldn't an entire shutter wall be pure genius? Ooooh, snap diggity, I feel a project coming on.

The vignettes are ever changing. Not in love with this, but it doesn't matter. A lot of things go missing due to my boys curious hands. They especially love my vintage brass owl family that is usually here.

Our boys dresser has to be in here, since we can't have furniture in their bedroom. Otherwise it would surely be tipped and clothes strewn about every day. Our youngest is fond of climbing in the drawers. Breakage would ensue.

"I Love to see the Temple" print by have joy. I know I need to frame it, just haven't found the right frame yet. This is the Salt lake Temple, but you can custom request almost any one. What is a temple you ask? What is it's purpose? This short lovely video explains what we believe them to be, and why we believe they are so important.

Antiqued Salt Lake Temple portraits found at a flea market. I would love to have one.