Melissa Rieke Photography

44th Symphony Designers’ Showhouse

 

I thought I would document some of my projects I have been working on for the Showhouse.  Some have been successful…some eh…and one a complete failure!  Oops.  Hey…you live and you learn…and you try try again.  And the failure sparked another project which turned out great…so all in all…I can’t complain!

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First up…my Armoire.  I found this beautiful piece at the Consignment shop on Shawnee Mission Parkway about 2 years ago.  It was a great deal..in great shape.  Ok..so the doors don’t really like to stay closed and one handle was missing from the drawers….but it was still really nice.  I knew right away I would paint it.  WHY?  Because that is what I do…I love paint and painted things! 🙂 So I was going to paint it pink…or bright green..or maybe turquoise so it would fit in with the rest of the colorful and whimsical furniture in the studio…but I have to be honest…the finish on this piece scared me.  I am not a patient person when it comes to projects.  I am a one day DIYer…I like to start and finish in the same day.  And I knew with this shiny finish I would have to sand…the paint wouldn’t stick very well…blah blagh blagh.  Typically with these types of pieces I like to spray paint…sticks so well…quick…easy (a little hand cramping)..and done.  (my mom calls me the buzz bomb queen).  But since this piece was so heavy I knew I couldn’t take it in and out on my own…so there it sat in all its beautiful wood glory.

UNTIL…the showhouse came around.  I knew this cabinet had to be white…and I was so thankful I hadn’t painted it some crazy color!

So first things first…I have become the resident stalker at Restoration Emporium ( my favorite west bottoms vintage store)…and they carry Annie Sloan Chalk paint.  The most amazing paint that requires NO SANDING!!  Eeeks!!  Restoration Emporium is also a designer at the Showhouse…you won’t want to miss seeing their space.

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LOVE THE MOTTO ~ It’s a girls’ paint, but boys’ can use it too!

So I picked up the paint, sweet talked my neighbors to move the armoire for me…and got started.

I took the doors off. I wanted an open feel to the cabinet so I could hang clothing.  I also removed the hardware from the doors and got out my trust plastic baggy to keep it all together in!

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Then I just started painting….no sanding…no prepping.  I do wish I would have put a bit of water in the paint as it was thick…but it was my first time and I wasn’t sure so I just went with it!

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I must talk about this sponsor from the showhouse… The Paint Brush Cover!  This cover is the miracle tool!!  I used it for this project…and while working on the hallway…it kept my brush wet and airtight so the brush and paint didn’t harden up between coats!  Loved it…I need to get more!

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Next up it was time to do a light sand to pull back some details and then a coat of wax to pull out the beauty.

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After I finished the paint I decided to line the back of the cabinet with cork board…and then I covered the cork with burlap!  So first I tried to staple the cork boards on…but my staples were too short.  So I then realized that the boards came with double sided stickies…so I used those instead!  Worked well…until last week I went and saw it was falling down.  So now I think I will go back with the trusty rusty hot glue!

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The finished piece.

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And while I had the paint out…I redid this little rocking horse…thought it would be perfect in the room!

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YOU MUST COME tour the 44th Symphony Designers’ Showhouse !  Purchase your tickets here www.showhouse.org