Country Chic Paint for Country Girl

Another Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest (FFFC), this time sponsored by Country Chic paint.  I might be starting to sound like a broken record, but this was yet another paint I hadn’t used prior to this contest.  Apparently, I lead a sheltered life. 😉  Please note that this is a sponsored post, though since I’m honest to a fault, every word is the unvarnished truth. Promise.

As with other contests, there was a theme: “Bling, Bling.” As a self-described non-“blingy” girl, I was a little bit concerned about this one; as a contestant, Country Chic paint sent me two pints of product: one All-in-One-Decor paint in “Cobblestone,” and another in a bronze, “Belt Buckle” metallic cream.

 

 

As I mentioned above, as a non-blingy girl (though I like color!) what to do with this bling element? How to subtly use the metallic cream to highlight but not overpower the piece; or at the worst, leave it in a garish, over-blinged state?

Here, as it often does, the piece itself solved my conundrum.  An Art Deco waterfall vanity, it sported some interesting geometric inlays that I thought would lend themselves well to some bling, and not of the garish sort. (Again: I apologize–nary a “before” photo here! I’ll try to do better, I promise!) Someone had subjected the vanity to a terrrrriiiiible refinishing job—splotchy stain, sloppy finish application, uneven sanding—and so I felt zero guilt about painting the carcass. But, the grain on drawers was interesting, interesting enough to the point where I thought I might use it. But how?

Enter one of my furniture heroes:  Martha of Martha Leone Design.  Seriously, the woman is a creative genius. She recently, in the last six months or so, did an amazing (stunning, really) metallic piece and in her process, allowed the metallic paint to highlight—rather than obscure the wood grain—in some places.  Inspired by her, as I always am, I opted to apply a skim coat of the Belt Buckle over the wood grain.  It was the perfect solution. Only when it catches the light in just the right way, can one see the metallic/reflective element on the drawer fronts.  Not garish at all. Whew.

 

 

The gray paint, in the Décor line worked well—it went on easily and such, though I did end up thinning it with water for a smoother application.  Otherwise, it was a touch thick.  One coat, with a few touch ups did the trick, and honestly, this vanity looks a thousand times better.  I realize you just have to take my word for it, since there is no “before” photo, but if there was one, I’m pretty sure you’d agree.

I’m looking forward to using the Country Chic products again, especially the Metallic Cream—it almost reminded me of a thick buttercream frosting—and it seems there are a lot of as yet untried (by me anyway) creative options that might suit the product.  For instance, I think it’d be super interesting to use the cream as a grain filler product, not to fill the grain really, but for the paint to leave the metallic element in the grain, with a stain over the top, and then a topcoat.  Just a thought, and maybe something I’ll play around with.

And as always, this contest would NOT be possible without the behind the scenes effort from our fearless hosts, pictured in the image. Tehe.  And special thanks to Carrie from 38th Street and Thea from Sweet Tea Refinishing, who co-hosted this month’s contest.

 

If you’re a blogger AND a furniture fanatic, you should be interested in joining our little contest and community, right?  If you are, shoot an email to info@fabfurnitureflippincontest.com. You’ll be glad you did!

And there you have it!

Queen P