You are probably wondering if you’re at the right blog right now. Seeing the preview photos of this post could be throwing you for a loop because I don’t paint modern finishes very often, let alone a BRIGHT, HOT PINK. You are definitely at the right place, I just thought that you would enjoy something a little different from my usual vintage style.
To be honest, I’ve been in a serious creative rut lately. With everything going on with our move and the pending sale of our home, a lot has been happening, just not so much with furniture. I like to take my time with my pieces so the fact that everything has been so rushed is just making me dread going out into the shop. But as soon as I opened my blogger package of Country Chic Paint’s new Spring Collection Colors. I was instantly motivated to do a fun but quick project with this color called “Moonflower.”
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So this is the before photo. It really doesn’t look like anything special, but the best part about finding pieces like this is seeing the potential. I knew it had to be a modern gloss finish, but the color just didn’t come to me right away in a vision. I’ve had this piece for over a year in my inventory but never found the right color.
I HAVE to admit. This color scared me a little. The whole project did because it’s so far out of my realm and experience that I was so cautious with everything and it took me three times longer to finish. Yes…this was supposed to be a quick project, but I found that because it really challenged me, I actually enjoyed the process!
My prep started with sanding. This already had a glossy finish on it so I used my orbital sander with 120 grit paper to scuff the surface and prep it for paint. Wiping down with a tack cloth to remove the dust was the next step. Especially in those fine crevices where dust and dirt tend to build up. Next, I used my favorite painter’s tape to tape off the sides with paper to protect from overspray. I don’t like the look of paint drips or overspray on the sides of the drawers if it can be helped. Some people don’t mind but I really like clean lines.
Next I was ready for paint. I sprayed about 6 coats of “Moonflower” onto this small chest. Deeper pigmented colors like reds, oranges and pinks have slimmer coverage, so you will need to prepare for additional coats by ordering extra paint. You should also fine sand between every 2 coats to makes sure you don’t have any rough areas or dried overspray that could affect your finish.
After the final coat was dry, I was ready for top coat. I am not super comfortable with spraying high gloss finishes like lacquer or oil based topcoats, so I always opt for water borne finishes in gloss. For this chest, I used General Finishes High Performance Top Coat in their Gloss Finish. What I like about using gloss finishes is that it doesn’t contain any mattifiers to tone the sheen down, so the finish is more durable than anything you find with flat or satin. Remember: the higher the gloss, the stronger it is. This should help when determining how many coats to apply for your finish.
This hardware was in amazing condition and really only needed a deep cleaning. I used my favorite go-to hardware cleaner and gave it a good scrub. It shined up beautifully! I also sprayed a clear lacquer over the hardware to help keep it from tarnishing in the future. I love the way the gold pops against this pink!
Of course a pretty pink dresser like this needs some pretty paper. This watercolor floral is gift wrap I found at Marshall’s. They usually have a pretty cool selection of papers that make awesome decorative liners. Im so happy it matched perfectly.
I guess every now and then it’s good for the creative soul to step outside the norm and challenge yourself with something that makes you uncomfortable. After all that is what growth is all about! What do you think? Are you ready to try some of Country Chic’s new bold colors? Hop on over to their Instagram Page to see more fun transformations with these feisty colors!
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