When it all comes together

Sometimes, magically it seems, it all comes together: vision and execution, less the temper tantrum in the middle.

For this piece, I used new products (new to me, anyway!): General Finishes Milk Paint and Sealer. Having scoured my fair share of furniture blogs, it’s accurate to say that I’ve read a lot of posts wherein the blogger(s) has used both products.  For instance, Christina of Phoenix Restoration, and Reeves from The Weathered Door have completed pieces using these products and I admire tremendously their unique, original approaches plus the obvious care and attention to detail evident in their respective processes.  They say that imitation is the best form of flattery, right?

I stumbled upon this piece on Craiglist during one of my regular trolling expeditions.  It was solid and sturdy, but relatively uninteresting and definitely not a showstopper.

Here’s a before:

So, using Christina’s Klein Blue Campaign Dresser as inspiration, I decided to paint the entire dresser Klein Blue–to be honest, the paint looks and feels a bit like a blue tempera paint–and to seal it with the GF sealer in satin.   My goals: a rich blue color, glowing hardware, and a shiny, almost lacquer-like topcoat. Like Cinderella, all my wishes came true, though I had no little animal friends sanding between each top-coat application, or serenading me with “Oh, whistle while you work!”  But still, it went so well and turned out so lovely I bear no ill will towards little creatures.  I know, generous on my part.

In my opinion, definitely a showstopper now:

All is well in my furniture fairy tale, even without small animal helpers.

Tootles!