Budget Makeovers: Kitchen Island Redo

First, I want to apologize for taking so long to get a project up here. I had other business related work I had to get out of the way before I worked on my own home. So … here is project #1:

I redid my standard kitchen island. By adding molding and paint, my kitchen island now looks like a custom piece. The original island was one of those plain paneled built-ins that came with our home. I’ll see if I can find a picture to add here.

 The molding can be purchased at your local Home Depot or Lowes. Start by giving your island a good sanding, knock back as much of the glossy surface as you can. Cut the moldings to the sizes you need and attach with glue made for that purpose (usually sold in the same area of the store). Apply a primer made for glossy surfaces to be safe (I used one tinted to my base color). Lightly sand smooth. Apply 2 coats of your base color (tan is used here), lightly sanding between coats.

Use a white wax candle to rub down all of the edges and raised moldings where the base color is to show through. After that paint 2 coats of black satin(or a top color of your choice) over everything. When dry lightly sand back to the base color where you applied the wax.  I chose a satin paint for the look and feel. However, if you prefer, glossy will work well also. I then used furniture wax to give it a nice shine and a little more protection. I also added drawer pulls to finish off the look.

Paint projects to spruce up your home and not bust your budget!

With the economy the way it is, business is slow. Let’s face it, people aren’t spending like they used to and the way home values have depreciated, people are loathe to put more money into their humble abodes. Well, thankfully a majority of homes will recoup their value if the homeowner can wait it out. So for those of you who will be staying put for a while, what better way to drive away the doldrums than to spruce up your surroundings – without breaking the bank!

I’ve decided to do some sprucing up myself. I’m happy to share with you what a little paint and ingenuity can do. I have a list a mile long of what I WANT to get done but it will remain to be seen what I will actually accomplish this year. With each project I take on, I will take before and after pictures and tell you a little about the process. Whether you decide to take on some new painting projects of your own or hire them out, I hope I’ll at least provide you with a little inspiration.

To get us started, I’ll share with you a couple recent projects.

This is my “new” computer desk.  Actually, it’s an old vanity. (Sorry, I don’t have any before pictures for this one.) I gave it a light sanding, added a faux leather finish to the top and drawer fronts , and painted the rest black. I sanded back a little of the black to see some of the wood underneath – so when my kids bang it up a little it won’t be noticeable because that’s how it’s supposed to look. I topped it with a couple coats of varnish. I added a keyboard tray and replaced the drawer slides that were broken and VOILA… a cute practical desk.

 For project #2 I repainted the yellow metal mirror surrounds with a special textured paint topped with black glaze.  A couple coats of varnish protects it. Now, I need to do the other bathroom.

before

after

larger mirror

Neither of these projects was on a grand scale but they each succeeded in brightening up a part of my home. Not only that but I saved a piece of furniture from a landfill and it only took a little bit of paint. So, take a look around your own home and start planning your next project.

Stay tuned for more…

 

Pregnant? How about a Belly Cast?

I’d like to share with you a recent commission of mine. To begin, Angela, from Massage-ology , makes belly casts of pregnant women and I custom paint them.  A plaster cast of the torso area is made and you can choose to paint it yourself or have it custom painted in any way you can possibly imagine. Each cast becomes a unique piece of artwork, wired to be hung on the wall for display, preserving the memory of a most special time in your life.

For this cast, I was asked to make a henna tattoo design of a peacock for the belly with some flowers added. After a little research, I had the client choose a picture of a design she liked from some  that I found online. From there I drew up my own design and did a little experimenting for the background. Below is what I came up with.

Belly Cast

The background is very shimmery. It is a blend of metallic and brown glazes. It looks a little like bronze and has a lot of depth to the finish. The client is thrilled with it so of course I am, too.

 

Check out More Casts I’ve Painted

 

and also Other Cast Options by Angela and browse the gallery, too.

 

Check your paint lablel! No more toxic paint for me!

I often volunteer to help with painting and art projects at my daughters’ school so when they asked if I would paint games on the cement near the playground (hop-scotch, 4 square) I said sure I’ll do it.

Well, I arrived Friday afternoon to paint and there were the supplies the school had provided for me. They bought a Valspar paint used for striping basketball courts and such. It was waterbased so I didn’t give it too much thought.

I spent most of the time taping so I actually only had about an hours exposure to the paint. Soon after I started, I felt a little tingly sensation in my hands. By the time I was finished, I felt it on my face, too. I gathered my stuff, went home and cleaned my brushes and tools. Shortly after, I jumped in the shower. The hot water made my hands burn really bad. I hurried to get done and when I was out I lotioned them good, which also made them burn for a few minutes but then they felt better. I also noticed my face hurt if I scratched it, like I had a sunburn! I checked the paint can and it says: Contains crystaline sillica, may cause skin or eye irritation! No Kidding! It also states, like many other paints, that it has chemicals known to cause cancer.

Each time I wash my hands they burn and I have to reapply the lotion. Last night they were red and itchy and I had a headache so I took a benadryl and went to bed. Today, Sunday,  I have a headache again and my hands and face still hurt, although not as bad.

I will never use this paint again and I don’t recommend it to anyone else. I  also learned my lesson about checking labels more carefully! My old stand-by, for exteriors, which I will use faithfully from now on is DecoArt Patio Paint. It’s made for indoor/outdoor use and from what I’ve seen holds up very well. I’ve used it for painting concrete blocks and terra cotta pots (see below). Best of all it’s NON-TOXIC! I’m going now to apply more lotion and hope this is all over soon.

painted terra cotta pots

Finished Painted Pet Portrait, Acrylic on canvas

OK, so I didn’t finish over the weekend. I’ve been fighting a nasty cold and other things popped up. Anyway, here it is. I finished this morning. This is about 3 more hours work I would guess. Again, because it was my first pet portrait there was alot of trial and error but I’m pleased with the outcome.

Acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12"

Pet Portrait, Acrylic on canvas, WIP cont.

This is where I’m at today. About 2 1/2- 3 hours (?) of painting today I’m guessing. I wasn’t really keeping track.

WIP

Pet Portrait, Acrylic on canvas, Work in Progress

 This is my first pet portrait. I’ve painted animals before but never one I actually knew. This is King. He was 8 years old when he died almost 6 years ago. He was an awesome dog and my husbands first. We all miss him. The first pic here is an 8×10 of him that we keep around.

King

 

My sketch.

rough sketch

 

This next pic is after about 1 hour of painting. It’s still pretty rough but it’s starting to look like him.

awkward stage

 I hope to have him finished before the weekend is over.

 

Superstition Mountains, Acrylic on canvas, finished

 

I added just a few more highlights and deeper shadows. Complete and ready for sale. $175

Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction, AZ

Many reason’s for using decorative painting in your home and the best places to put it

 There are so many possibilities for decorative paint treatments and so many reasons to use them in your home. Decorative painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to add custom touches and personalize your home. Decorative paint treatments can be used to create focal points or highlight features of a room. 

 

Use decorative painting to:

Accent wall in entry

*Create an accent wall in an entry, dining room, or bedroom.

 *Highlight a fireplace or large crown moldings.

*Transform plain columns.

* Highlight niches or entertainment centers.

*Create a dramatic backdrop for art work.

*Further a theme or motif, tie elements of a room together. 

*Compliment a style such as Tuscan.

* Add the illusion of depth, height, or space to a room.

*Tie in 2 or more colors in a room or adjoining rooms.

Finish on fireplace

*Give new life to old hardwood floors.

*Liven up your block fence or your cement patio.

 

 Ways to personalize with decorative painting:

*Add a border.

*Add words! A name or a phrase.

* Add a “faux” window with a view to whatever your heart desires!

*Repaint an old piece of furniture to match you decor.

*Have your shiny brass hardware redone in a bronze or pewter finish.

Olde World Style

*Paint a faux finish or an all-over stencil above or below a chair rail.

*Paint clouds on a ceiling.

*Add a relief (raised) stencil to your dining room ceiling for a dramatic effect.

*Add stripes, vertical (for the illusion of height) or horizontal (for the illusion of width) to a room.

*Create interest and fun in a child’s room with mural accents or an all-over mural!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 These are just the tip of the iceberg! The possibilities are endless!

 

 

 

 

 

The Superstitions – Acrylic on Canvas – done, for the most part

Ok, after being away last week, I finally got back to this. For the most part, it is done. However, I usually look at it a for few days and go back to fix a few little things before I really call it done. So, feel free to tell me what you think and thanks for being so patient. Now, I need to decide what to paint next.

Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction, AZ