For the last couple of years I have had my eye on a back bedroom. It would make the perfect craft and blog room. It is far from the rest of the house so I could keep projects out of sight, and if I couldn’t sleep, it wouldn’t disturb the rest of the household if I got up and started blogging or sewing.
Back in November, I had the wallpaper removed and the walls painted a lovely, fresh Alabaster. A few weeks later new carpet was installed, which adds to the bright and light feel of the room. The ceiling fan no longer fit with the look, so in went a new drum chandelier.
Then the long process of painting all the furniture white began. I have painted and painted and just learned that the paint I had been advised to use was not the right kind for my project. Note to self: If you have done your research and know exactly what you want, don’t let the advice of a store clerk allow you change your mind! My error.
So a desk, desk chair, china hutch, and chest of drawers later, now I know. I don’t plan on redoing any of these. I do hope to put a coat of polyurethane on them to keep the satin finish from getting dirty. I still have a desk, small book case, two cricket chairs, and an end table to paint…with the paints originally chosen.
And, I can’t find curtains that work, so I am going to have to make curtains for four windows, which wouldn’t seem like such a daunting task to me except they need to be 96″ long.
Once these last projects are completed (maybe in the next 3 to 6 months), Archie and I will be back to show you the final results. Until then, I hope you enjoy these photos. I am still styling the tall bookcases I purchased from Theatre Britain. They were perfect set props for Winston’s Birthday and perfect for my craft room as well!
That is all for now. As you can see, my fun room will be pink and gray. I am still not sure how I will fit all my sewing, crafting, blogging supplies into this one room. Stay tuned for the final results!
Bonus Information: After exhaustive online research, I had decided to use Zinsser Bulls Eye 1.2.3 Primer for All Surfaces and latex paint to cover all my stained furniture. I did not want to have to sand off the coatings (due to time and mess). That was what I had headed to Lowe’s to purchase. Apparently the clerk misunderstood what my project entailed (already finished furniture) and recommended I use Valspar Furniture Paint. She did say they always recommend a light sanding before painting, even when the can says it is not required (the can clearly states “no sanding or priming”). I changed my plan and went with her recommendation.
I had a really hard time getting the the paint to cover. It took about 5 coats to stop the dark stains underneath from showing. Then I noticed that when I dragged something (like the metal rim of the paint can) across the dried, painted furniture, it left a gray mark. I had gone back to Lowe’s to purchase a clear coat sealer when a different clerk asked about my project. He said the Valspar product I had used was for unfinished wood only, (i.e. I should have sanded everything off). He did not recommend application of a polyurethane at this point. I asked what I should have used and he took me to the Zinsser Bulls Eye 1.2.3 Primer for All Surfaces!
So many months wasted; so many hours lost! I refuse to sand all that paint off and repaint. I did buy a spray-on polyurethane. If it bubbles, if it chips, even if it looks like I got my furniture out of the barn, it won’t make me redo them!
