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It's all here...for the love...

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Projects from our Paint & Design Studio in Australia. Inspirational and instructional how-to tips on chalk, milk and mineral paint as well as refinishing furniture, upcycling and before and after projects!



                                          
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Restyling an Ugly $5 White Laminate File Cabinet into a Vintage Beauty

4/5/2015

9 Comments

 
I digress....
So Monday morning, tax deadline looming, 
 I cannot put it off any longer, I need to unpack my files 
but I need that file cabinet—and white laminate isn't going to cut it.


I get started with a coat of Miss Mustard Seed's 
Milk Paint in Curio
to fake a wood grain, 

To make it stick to the laminate surface, I added
a 1:1 ratio of Bonding Agent to Milk Paint.
I call this my "Oh #$!%* the accountant called" project.

I have the best accountant ever. 
He never speaks down to me, he takes the time 
to explain what I need to know and the best (and also the worst) thing— 
he chases me for paperwork so I make deadlines.
Based in Adelaide, David Maher, the man behind Beam Accounting has clients 
throughout Australia and internationally. Give him a call. He's awesome.

I had two calls from him last week. And another two last month.
I think there was another before that.
And a couple emails.
Sooooo yes...I'm a bit behind.

I blame the home office renovation, but I can only use that
as an excuse for so long. 
And frankly, he doesn't care. Nor should he.
This in mind, I jumped onto Gumtree this weekend
and found myself a $5 file cabinet.

painting-laminate-file-cabinet-milkpaint
Laminate file cabinet BEFORE getting some LOVE...
This isn't it. 
The one I bought was in much worse shape.
Honestly...hardly worth the $5.
And I forgot to take a before photo?!
(Have you had that Gumtree experience? You see something online and think, "that'll work" 
you go to pick it up and it's much worse than what you expect, but you buy it anyway

so as not to put the person out? Or am I just a sucker?)
creating-faux-wood-grain-on-furniture
Starting with MMSMP in Curio to create a faux wood grain
An unseasonably warm day helped the paint 
dry quickly and knowing it would be layered, 
I didn't mind if some areas and patches were still wet
when adding the next colour... Apron Strings.

This goes against what I tell my clients and teach at Workshops, 
I recommend giving furniture time! 
It's an important step in using natural paints.
However, I was on a mission.
So I kept on painting like a madwoman.

mixing-milk-paint-apron-strings
This deliciousness is MMS Milk Paint in Apron Strings
Doesn't look like much yet, does it?
This is often the case with Milk Paint. 
There can be a number of boring or even ugly stages along the way.
I find it important to enjoy the journey.
But not today....Today I needed to:
 Get. It. Done.


This means I hardly waited until this layer dried before sanding.
It's all here...for the love...
Sada
I wanted a rich, deep red final layer
 and mixed up a gorgeous brick red using MMSMP in Tricycle and Curio. 
Kinda love this custom colour.
Not bad for a $5 Gumtree find!
Hope you enjoyed this post as much as 
I enjoyed working on it...and avoiding the paperwork!


For a quote on custom painting, just pop me an email.
Or to learn how to do it yourself, sign up for a MMSMP Workshop.

turning-laminate-into-vintage-wood-timber
Creating a vintage look with layers of Milk Paint
custom-painted-furniture-finishes-adelaide
Loving the layers
layering-milk-paint-aged-look
Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Apron Strings going over Curio
distressed-furniture-upcyling-australia-furniture-makeover
Custom mixed MMSMP red over Apron Strings with Curio peeking through
Wanting each of the layers to show though
I varied the use of sandpaper from 80 grit through to 240
exposing the Curio and Apron Strings and pulling through 
some of the original colour.

antique-gold-handle-online-store
Antique gold and carved bone handles, find them online, $10.95 each
custom-colour-mixing-deep-red-mmsmp
Taking Tricylcle to this beautiful deep red by adding Curio
burgandy-red-milk-paint-filing-cabinet
Waiting for the paint to "mostly" dry before sanding
vintage-style-gold-brass-handles
The perfect handles make a big difference
Once the perfect amount of variation and depth was achieved,
 a quick coat of Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Wax, 
 I waited about five minutes then used 240 sandpaper to sand 
the Wax in before polishing to the silkiest, smooth finish you can imagine!
painted-vintage-style-file-cabinet
From white laminate to vintage style with Miss Mustard Seed
home-office-decor-ideas-website
All finished and ready to move in to my new home office!
9 Comments
Jeanette
5/5/2015 01:47:07 am

Good morning Sada; what a busy creative Monday you had and what fun! Totally love it and all for the price of a coffee; bit of a no-brainer not to attend a workshop with you and learn how to have fun and finish with beautifal hand-mades. xx

Reply
Sada
5/5/2015 11:02:25 am

Thank you so much Jeanette for your support and your kind words, you are always such a sweetheart I'm very fortunate to have you as a client...and friend!!!! xxSada

Reply
cathy
5/5/2015 11:41:40 am

What a fabulous hobby this all is. Love it !

Reply
Sada
6/5/2015 04:06:57 am

Yes it certainly can be Cathy!

Thank you for your comment and support. I love anything that is beautiful and useful!!!

xxSada

Annette William
5/5/2015 02:18:09 am

Now that I like!!! waiting for someone to cancel on you so I can b... take care of ewe & cu when it happens.

Reply
Sada
5/5/2015 11:03:43 am

I will absolutely keep you posted on that or if I add an additional Workshop to the schedule. Otherwise, grab a spot at the 5 September Workshop online!!! xxSada

Reply
Dorene @ Seasonal Chapters link
6/5/2015 12:05:41 am

What an amazing transformation, and I am loving that customized color of Tricycle and Curio!

Reply
Sada
6/5/2015 04:05:07 am

Thank you so much Dorene. I do love how rich and deep it came up!!! Thank you for stopping by, your comment means a great deal to me.
xSada

Reply
courtney
22/6/2020 06:03:02 am

Hi! Did you do anything to prep this piece ahead of the first coat? I am hoping you say, "Nope, just went for it and it has held up perfectly!" I have a giant, hideous Veneer bookshelf to paint or toss, depending on whether or not I have to sand it first.

Reply



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    Hi!

    Welcome to the For The Love Creations Blog!

    My name is Sada, I'm a painter-girl obsessed with all things old, imperfect, beautiful and useful.
     
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    LET'S  HAVE SOME FUN...xx

    Sada


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