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Victorian Cast Iron Painted Furniture

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:12:04 +0000

If you have a fondness to the extravagant styled furniture, do consider investing in a beautiful Victorian cast iron bench to be the centerpiece of your garden. Antique cast iron garden patio furniture is still some of the most desired furniture to date, but extremely rare to find and quite expensive for the average homeowner. Cast Iron furniture is rarely manufactured as aluminum patio furniture has become the popular choice because it still is quite durable without the high cost of iron. Each year the aluminum patio furniture becomes more appealing as designs get more streamlined. Target has come out with beautiful patio sets which have an upscale look, they would be just as nice inside the home than outside. Although the aluminum sets are quite popular, ornate benches are almost non existent, forcing many people to buy antiques. Victorian cast iron benches are the perfect choice for a rose garden, or a Romanic gazebo. Cast iron is rare in our current market which makes it very unique. In comparison to any garden furniture to date, it still remains the extremely durable and can withstand harshest conditions such as rain, snow, hail and the sun over years without showing a shred of damage. Cast iron furniture can last a lifetime and can be cleaned with the simple products you have at home compared to the plastic furniture that breaks and yellows in the sun over just several months. Antique cast iron furniture is much more valuable than today's popular aluminum furniture, partly because the material is no longer manufactured. Today's furniture manufactures tend to go for the easiest production techniques that fetch the most money. A company can make much more money producing an array of low quality -low cost materials which then can be affordable to 90% of the public than to produce something only a small percentage of the population can afford. Companies also seem to be dodging the high quality materials because genuine natural materials are becoming quite rare which then becomes costly to make a profit. Today pressed board and plastics replaces wood in many dressers, armoires and closets. From a manufacturing standpoint, it is easier to produce because it is light weight, low quality and inexpensive. The majority of the public isn't into quality, but low price. Vintage cast cast cars are still in tact while today's modern plastics have been thrown away by the thousands. If that is not enough, plastic will never disintegrate, as it sits in the earths land fills for generations. (Read More.....)

High Gloss Painted Furniture

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:47:06 +0000

Choosing a paint can be perplexing at first as there are so many different colors to pick from. Having a wide range of colors options is a luxury and a result of years of innovation compared to the handful of color finishes just 100 years ago. Just as important as paint color consideration is sheen choice. The main types of paints are Flat, Matte, Satin, Semi-gloss, Gloss, High-gloss, and Latex. (Read More.....)

Metallic Painted Walls

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:26:33 +0000

Apartment Therapy had a post featuring a designer from the Netherlands, who designed a home around frames of metallic color. Designer Marcel Prins,who was designing the Berrington House in Munich, painted all the walls in metallic paint in blocks of different hues of green, bronze, and gold. The Berrington-house features 24 colours metallic colors that flow from one room to another in different shades. Metallic paint has a glamorous feel to it that when decorating, you want to consider like objects with similar properties with glossy finishes such as marble, lacquered furniture, glass and mirrors. Metallic paint will almost bring light into any room because of its over all shine. (Read More.....)

Book Review: Painted Finishes For Walls & Furniture By Susan Goans Driggers

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:28:48 +0000

I recently was able to take a good look at Susan Driggers Painted Finishes For Walls & Furniture, and I honestly have to say it fails to impress. This guide shows how to create a variety of the basic faux finishes which are used by even the most skilled painters, but fails to inspire a excited painter with finished furniture that could be created. This book was published in 1999, which may account for some of the older painting styles that include stencils and decorations on furniture which are no longer in style. The book features 30 projects, but among those projects is a great wall technique they used on a lower wall featured on page 46. (Read More.....)

Bryonie Porter’s Wallpaper Furniture

admin — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:52:11 +0000

Bryonie Porter creates outstanding wallpapered furniture from the most famous wallpaper companies such as Cole & Son, Osborne & Little, and Timorous Beasties. She does a wonderful job of matching up the paint with the colors in the wallpaper. Do take a look at her wonderful website with many more of her wallpaper creations. Decoupage looks quite complicated, but it is much easier than it looks. With a little patience, you can cover a lovely chest with beautiful wallpaper using some easy techniques that will allow you to have an ornatly detailed piece of furntiure without the laborous time painting the details. We show you some simple tricks to creating the perfect decoupage wallpaper chest. (Read More.....)

Notorious Sponge Painting Mistakes

admin — Mon, 31 May 2010 00:51:12 +0000

Sponging was such a popular faux finish pushed in the 80's that everyone gave it a try. Bad sponging jobs from amateur painters have turned the majority of the public off from sponging faux finishes all together. I am an active buyer on craigslist, and way too often have I seen very poor sponging finishes in homes that is no wonder that sponging has such a bad rap. Everyone has seen this finish done wrong. Sponge painting is one of the key tools in every professional faux artists tool kit that if it is done properly can be one of the most fantastic finishes around. We want to show you the main reasons this faux finish fails and what you can do to get it right. (Read More.....)

Award Winning Faux Painting Mural Artist Eric Grohe

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:10:11 +0000

I stumbled on an email forward not long ago of a talented mural artist who transforms the side of buildings into fabulous realistic murals. It is one level of talent being able to paint an oil portrait well, but I think anyone would agree, that a person with the talent to transform a entire side of a building according to scale is in a league of their own. Eric Grohe paints most of the artwork himself, while his Kathy (whom is an artist herself),serves as their project manager. Eric Grohe has been featured in numerous magazines and television broadcasts, and is an award winning artist of numerous awards such as the Signs of the Times international mural competition, and in 2002, he won both Best of Show and 1st Place. Other competitions have also recognized his work, notably the American Institute of Architects and the American Legion, Ohio. (Read More.....)

Chinoiserie Painted Furniture ~Louis XV Chest

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:37:59 +0000

This bow-front French Louis XV Style "Coromandel" Commode features lacquered black paint and Chinoiserie motifs on ebonized mahogany. This chest found at Negrel Antiques in Austin Texas is a shining example of how beautiful Chinoiserie motifs can enhance the beauty of a chest. This particular chest has 2 drawers with cabriole legs with bronze sabots. The white marble top gives this chest a beautiful contrast against the black lacquer and hand painted chinoiserie. The bronze hardware and acanthus leaf designs really stand out against the black lacquer, and complement the complexity of the chinoiserie designs. The keyhole escutcheons and rococo handles are original hardware during the Louis XV period. (Read More.....)

Painted Furniture Book Reviews- Annie Sloan’s Inspirations In Painted Furniture

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:52:38 +0000

Inspirations In Painted Furniture was published in 1999, written by painter Annie Sloan who works and teaches specialized painting workshops in the United States, Europe, and England. Inspirations in Painted Furniture is one of over 20 books Sloan has published making her one of the most recognized specialty painters in her field. Inspirations In Painted Furniture was one of Sloan's earliest books in her career of publishing, and it features some rather dated techniques, but it still has a small collection of valuable tips that can be applied to today's interior design and furniture painting. This book features over 90 specially decorated pieces of furniture, and has some great instructions regarding basic faux techniques but fails to really show any high-end finished pieces with the painted finishes. I am sure Sloan has evolved over the years with her techniques just like any painter does. The basic techniques such as dragging, combing and sponging are great basic techniques, but often are shown in most painting how-to books with bright colors in ways any decorator wouldn't feature. It is the same with this book, and almost every other book on faux painting that you will find. One example of this I find in most painting books is using a grain roller to make faux wood grain with green paint. Where do we get green or purple wood in nature? (Read More.....)

Home Depot Ditches Ralph Lauren For Martha Stewart Paints

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:16:36 +0000

Martha Stewart appeared on Squawk Box several months ago, (A stock market and currency business news program of CNN) and spilled her feelings about Kmart who disappointed her greatly. She was at that time looking for a new home for her products, so it comes at no surprise that Home Depot will be carrying her paint line and cleaning products starting in March. (Read More.....)

My John Widdicomb Makeover

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:14:30 +0000

Bombe chests are some of the uniquest furniture because of its distinctive curvy features and round design which are not commonly found in other furniture styles. This furniture is often very rare or often quite expensive to purchase but every once in a while bombe sets are seen on ebay for extraordinary prices. If you are willing to pay the shipping for a deal on the price you might do quite well. (Read More.....)

Painted Chinoiserie Bombe Furniture Chest

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:29:38 +0000

This antique chest by Polly McArthur & Associates shows an esquiste design with raised gesso ornament and decorated with brass mounts and hardware. This bombe chest has a marble top and is painted in a chinoiserie design. What a chest!! (Read More.....)

Japanese Painted Furniture Chest

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:15:18 +0000

This outstanding chest has some of the most beautifully aged paint I have seen. The color is striking, which is considered a pea green base colour and if you look closely at the pictures you can see a natural crackle that took place over the years. This chest is Japanese painted with raised gesso decoration and an outstanding marble top. The seller, Polly McArthur & Associates says they purchased this outstanding chest from an apartment on the Place des Vosges. Check out the pictures (Read More.....)

Painted Louis Chinoiserie Chest

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:05:43 +0000

This outstanding Louis XV chest is elaborately painted in Chinoiserie style. The patina is absolutely stunning, and obviously free hand painted. This chest is listed on ebay for just over 9K. The green color is dynamite, and the exquiste marble top is the topping on the cake. Check out the pictures. (Read More.....)

Shabby Painted Furniture

admin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:30:38 +0000

Shabby chic/Cottage Style is gaining popularity as people are looking to open up their spaces with the use of whiter or pastels. Furniture pieces are often painted with many layers showing through obviously worn areas. Fabrics tend to lean towards the cottons and linens. Linen was found in the french homes, and is particular popular today in reproducing this look. Whites and pastels that are bleached out give a beach like presence to a Shabby chic look. A unique way of antiquing fabric is to stain it with tea which gives it that old vintage style. (Read More.....)

Continental Painted Chest

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:14:56 +0000

Check out this stunning Chest from Antiques on Old Plank Road. The painted detail is absolutely stunning. This chest is 100% original painted "Cameo" chest of drawers. They say it is either continental or Italian in origin. This paint is a rate find as it is uncommon to find the original paint, and crisp painting still in tact. The dealer information is Antiques on Old Plank Road located in Westmont, IL (Read More.....)

Antique Windsor Chairs

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:42:24 +0000

The Windsor Chair was originally made for Porch and Garden Sitting Chairs, which eventually gained popularity and made its way into the home. Originally in the General Washington had 30 Windsor chairs in the east portico at Mt. Vernon. It became a ideal chair for country living, but also variations found in finer city homes of the rich. Many agree that Philadelphia was the birthplace of the American Windsor Chair in as early as 1725. The Windsor chair is as stunning in the homes of today as they were in the past. (Read More.....)

Toile Painting

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:52:00 +0000

Free Hand Painting is one of the hardest types of finishes to produce because you cannot fake the talent if you don't have it. If you cannot hand paint, there is always stenciling. When you are looking for a particular furniture find, take into consideration hand painted furniture will cost more money than regular painted pieces. Hand painted furniture is a rare find because of the talent and time it takes to finish a piece of furniture. I am sure anyone can appreciate this stunning Louis XV sideboard at Darrell Dean Antiques as it is the most amazing hand painted piece I have come across yet (Read More.....)

Gold Leaf Wall Technique By Garay Artisans

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:45:02 +0000

Regina Garay launched her firm in New York City in 1998 and has since grown into the Florida-based Garay Artisans, which is one of the most respected faux finishing businesses. Garay Artisans has won the national Grand Prize of 2009 (the Top Job Awards by The American Painting Contractor) for their beautiful work. Check out their pictures! (Read More.....)

Swedish Painting

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:32:28 +0000

My Friend Nancy and I were discussing this designer photo, in - particular the lamps they feature on the sideboard. She is a faux painter herself, and has taught me some excellent tricks of the trade when it comes to producing superior paint finishes. The lamps to me look like rusted metal or a concrete of some sort. I am interested if there are any other faux artists out there that would lend a few wise words how they would approch this paint finish. Please leave some comments at the end of the post. (Read More.....)