Just Right With Josephine
Have you ever had a project where you couldn't get the look "just right" and you had to go through multiple trials and errors before it was finished?
That's exactly the case with Josephine, our new armoire. Just like Joseph's coat had multiple colors in the Bible, Josephine wore quite a few options during the time I worked on her.
totallyLove StreetSometimes you'll have that with a certain piece. You try one color and it doesn't look quite right. Then you try a technique you saw on YouTube and it just doesn't suite the lines of your project. You try to experiment with a new product and the results look nothing like the Pinterest pictures you saw. First, be assured that's encouraged me to keep pressing on with this armoire. normal and second, be assured that EVERY person goes through that from time to time. Every now and then, you just have to experiment. The trick is to stay with it! I definitely had my moments where I wanted to move on to a new piece, but Natasha of
Because I couldn't quite her color combination right, Josephine seemed like a good candidate to try Saltwash - a paint additive that allows you to create oodles of texture on your pieces.
I mixed it with Old Violet Chalk Paint® and dabbed it on with a flat brush. You can view a video of my technique on my Facebook page, or you can watch Saltwash's video on their site. I'm not going to lie...it was pretty darn fun!
After the base Saltwash layer, I did a color wash with Emile to add some more dimension. Finally, I finished up with a dry brushing of Paloma. The dry brushing brought the texture to life and I was really happy with the results. These three colors are in the same family and a great suggestion by Natasha. She has an eagle eye for color and a knack for mixing and choosing complimentary shades to enhance your project. I, on the other hand, am still learning...
Next, I mixed some Black Soft Wax with mineral spirits to make a glaze. I used it sparingly to create some shadows and enhance the lines of the armoire by painting it along edges and in corners.
The door panels have pretty carved details that seemed to disappear with every paint option I tested. The wax glaze made them pop just the right amount! I painted it in with a super fine artist's brush because I didn't want black wax everywhere.
The last step was to take a big 'ol wax brush and seal the piece with Clear Soft wax.
Here she is!
She's a piece that really needs to be seen in person. There's lots of dimension to her finish and the Saltwash texture makes for a truly unique look.
We took out the keyhole hardware and drilled new holes for pretty crystal knobs. They allow you to open the doors much more easily.
Josephine has lots of drawer storage on the left, and a large open area for hanging clothing. My sister remarked that she looks like the armoire from Beauty and the Beast.
What do you think?
