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The Power of Paint - PT 2

4/14/2020

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Welcome back to our series, The Power of Paint. In the first part of the series, we talked about how wall color can really transform a space. We showed you several client before and afters, see here if you missed it!

Today we're going to dive into transforming furniture with the power of paint. The exciting part about today's topic is this is something totally achievable for a weekend project or during quarantine. 

All of the pieces below were refinished using Amy Howard's Chalk Paint line. We carry this at The Mill if you're looking to rehab some pieces now! If you've never used Chalk Paint, you are missing out.

It really is as simple as:
  1. Clean your piece. Use a degreaser like Simple Green to remove any build up or residue. If there are any rough areas, gently sand those down. You DO NOT need to sand off the existing finish, you just want to create a smooth canvas.
  2. Shake. Shake. Shake. Before you open your can of paint, make sure you shake it really well. You want to make sure the chalk base mixes really well with the pigment. 
  3. Apply 2-3 THIN coats of chalk paint. Depending on the color of the paint you are using and existing finish, you can apply 2-3 thin coats. You will be able to tell if you need another coat. This paint dries pretty quickly and you will be able to tell when it is dry because you'll notice a very chalky finish. 
  4. You can either leave it the chalk finish (it is completely fine like this) or apply a wax or sealer. If you are going for an antique finish, I would recommend light antique wax all over and dry brushing dark wax in areas it would naturally distress. 
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Displaying several examples below

Black Glossy Finish

Not all chalk paint finishes have to be "Shabby Chic." For this space below, I did a simple sleek finish to tie into this modern, lived in space. 

What I did: Black Chalk Paint, Gloss Sealer. 
We also reupholstered the cushions in a textured black leather. 
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The Works

Amy Howard finishes can be as simple or as complex as you want. For this fireplace below we refinished EVERYTHING, tile and all in Amy Howard. This was a bit more complex and something I would recommend after you've done a few smaller projects.

What I did: Refinished the mantel with Black Chalk Paint, distressed with light antique wax, dark antique wax, dust of ages, liming wax to give a little more depth and gilding on the details. For the tile, I refinished in a light gray chalk paint with a darker gray glaze to give a marbled look in the crevices and sealed with gloss sealer. I feel like I could do an entire post on just this mantel, it turned out great!
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Easy Peasy Distressing

This is our most common refinish. It is simple and can be tackled in an afternoon or weekend.

What I did: Refinished the frame in a gray chalk paint, covered with light antique wax, distressed with dark antique wax and dust of ages to give a antiqued look.
We also reupholstered the cushion to give this chair a whole new life. 
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Grab a chair, side table, or a chest of drawers and let's get to painting!
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Have questions about refinishing? Leave a comment below so others can see too. 
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The Power of Paint - PT 1

4/1/2020

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Welcome to our new series “The Power of Paint.” Over the next several posts we are going to dive into just how powerful paint can be when transforming your space. We’ll talk about the power of paint on walls and refinishing furniture/accessories in your space.

Getting a little cabin fever? These are all things you can tackle when in quarantine. 

We’re kicking off this series with a dramatic start. This post is going to show you how paint can drastically transform a space. Paint has the ability to make a space feel closed in and busy but it also has the power to make a space feel much larger, brighter and fresh. 

Let’s dive in to a before and after in one of our client’s homes. ​

TV Room

This is a super fun space for little girls but what happens when those girls grow up and want a more neutral space to hang out. Simple. Slap on a few coats of fresh paint. Now that the girls are grown, we wanted to visually clean and freshen up this space. So, we updated this space using a neutral color on the walls and adding a few new pieces to really tie it all together.
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Guest Room

I know in my home, the guest room sometimes gets the leftovers and that's A-OKAY. Luckily, paint is one way to make your guest room feel intentional and new. In this guest room, you’ll notice we kept most of the existing furniture and just updated the color palette with new window treatment, textiles and paint. I think this room proves how a few new elements can really elevate your existing furnishings and space.
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Master bedroom

Wow. Isn’t it crazy how much brighter, larger and more luxurious this master bedroom feels with fresh new walls. While we did so much more than just paint the walls, this Master feels like a completely new space. 

In this space, we updated the wall color, lighting, window treatment, furnishings and decor.
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Where in your home could use a facelift? Find a neutral color that plays well with the rest of your home. Pro tip: make your home a fluid continuation space to space. Meaning in most scenarios, carrying a color throughout the home will help with the flow and make your space seem bigger and more finessed.

We look forward to seeing you guys in the next part of “The Power of Paint”
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How TO Style | Coffee Table Books

8/19/2019

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If you’re at all interested in home design or looking for inspiration for spaces like that empty corner in your study, you probably hop over to Instagram or Pinterest to check out your favorite bloggers and soak in all of the design inspiration you can. While this is a great outlet to really dive in for creative ideas, there will always be something appealing about flipping through a beautifully designed coffee table book for a conversation starter. We’re sharing a few styling tips and some of our absolute favorite selections that will make your coffee table the most chic
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  • Stick to odd numbered grouping for books (3 or 5, depending on size) 
  • Keep it simple. For bigger or square tables, leave your books in a clean stack on a corner and nothing else.
  • For round tables, think of the table top as a triangle. To keep things interesting, use our oval eye-tracking technique. Stack your books in one corner with a vase of fresh florals on top and a simple candle or glass beads to add dimensions in front - to balance it out add height on the opposite side of the table. ​
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  • Remember your coffee table is being viewed from all angles. Instead of a picture frame that someone could see the back of from a certain side of the room, opt for a vase or sculptural object instead that will look great from all points.
  • Pair book jackets that compliment one another, even consider removing the jacket all together to just use the bare book cover.
  • Play up texture and dimension by adding height with vases or sculptural objects. Flat surfaces can be visually boring - guide the eyes with different heights.
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Luxe Tray - $340
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Demijohn - $63
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Onyx on Stand - $294
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Graanmarkt - $69.95
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The Finer Things - $60
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The Intangible - $90
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Vintage Mala Beads - $42
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Apollo Torso Sculpture - $448
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Dido Sculpture - $78
Styling isn’t everyone’s forte but it sure is our’s. We’ll be happy to style your home to a T. Give us a call for information on interior design and styling services.
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Before + After | Black on Black

5/11/2016

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A GLIMPSE INTO OUR CLIENT'S HOME...    

A little loving + rehab to pieces you already own - can go a long way. 
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Read More
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