The Counter I Couldn't Pass Up Pt. 2
The counter I couldn't pass up is looking amazing! When I last updated you, this was the state of the counter. It had a coat of General Finishes Stain Blocker on it and it was drying.
The original finish had such a strong orange/red tint to it and I was concerned that the color would bleed through my fresh paint job.
I'm so happy to share that GF's Stain Blocker performed beautifully! It did exactly what it said it was going to do - block stains like a boss! Based upon the performance of General Finishes in the past, I had not doubts that this product would meet (if not exceed) my expectations. I'm already priming two other pieces in the workshop because I loved how well it worked on the counter!
After I applied the first coat of Stain Blocker, I saw some stains start to make their way to the surface. This is totally normal for primers. They are formulated to be applied in two or three coats. The first draws out any stains and locks them in place. The second (and maybe third) coat covers over the stains and gives you a lovely fresh surface to apply paint on. General Finishes strongly recommends that you wait at least 2 hours in between coats of primer. Inadequate dry time in between coats of primer will allow moisture to get trapped in between paint layers, which can impact your overall finish. I let my primer sit overnight in between coats.
Once the Stain Blocker was completely dry, I applied two coats of MMS Milk Paint in the color "Grain Sack". It's a lovely faded off-white with a slight gray tone. It's meant to mimic the faded color of an antique grain sack, and it's one of my absolute favorite colors to use!
It's not as bright white as Farmhouse White and it's a fabulous neutral to use if you don't want bright white or a cream. When I apply Grain Sack over dark wood pieces, it usually takes three coats to get full coverage. That's what happened on these pieces:
They all needed three coats of Grain Sack because they were applied over dark wood. Not the case with my counter! The primer limited my coats to two PLUS no stains will work their way through the paint!
Once the Grain Sack dried, I finish sanded with 400 grit sandpaper to smooth everything out. I highlighted the shape of the piece by gently distressing the edges.
After vacuuming the dust off, I applied a layer of Tough Coat to protect the finish.
Tough Coat is the water based finish in the MMS Milk Paint line, and it's ideal to use on pieces that will receive a lot of use or require extra protection. I think my counter is a versatile piece that can serve a lot of purposes, so I wanted to be safe and seal it to the max!
Didn't it turn out so well? I'm absolutely in love with it!
It's lighter, brighter and less heavy looking than before. Isn't it amazing what a few coats of paint can do?
I wound up not being able to put any feet or casters on this piece. The construction of the bottom and the angles of the corners didn't allow me to securely prop the piece up on anything. Sometimes that will happen. Not every piece will lend itself to add on's and I think it's fabulous in its original construction! Plus, I can return the feet and metal plates that I ordered from the Home Depot and get my money back. Boo yah!
The shape of this piece is gorgeous. I love every single part of it, including the pieces of trim underneath the top.
The panels on each side are beautifully carved and add so much interest.
I staged the counter with some farmhouse style props including this adorable Breakstone's cream cheese box and a 1904 copy of The Pilgrim's Progress.
Just look at those box joints! Aren't they lovely?
My favorite part of the box is the cow on the side. I think cows are the cutest farm animal ever.
Look at the patina on the pages of Bunyan's book! I'm such a sucker for old Christian books. Hymnals, prayer books, old Bibles, etc. I love them all!
To compliment the cow on the Breakstone's box, I hung my print of one of Miss Mustard Seed's watercolors from her shop on Society6.
Isn't this cow the sweetest? I got the barnwood frame from Hobby Lobby.
The drawers on the counter have indentations from the its previous life. I'm not sure what was stored in there originally, but the little circles in each drawer don't bother me. They hint at what it was originally used for and they're a part of the piece's history.
Bonus - one of the drawers has the stamp of the previous owner!
I shined up the original metal cup pulls with Hemp Oil, and they came back to life immediately. Hemp Oil is my favorite product to use on original metal hardware. It hydrates and shines them like a champ, and it's completely natural so there's no harsh chemicals you need to expose yourself to!
This piece will be coming with me to the Spring Barn Market at Pheasant Run Antiques and Homestead Studios on April 28th from 10-5. It will be available for $475 and it measures 32" wide, 22" deep and 33.75" tall. If you'd like to put a hold on it, you can send me an email and it will be ready for you to pick up on the day of the market from 10-12. After 12 noon, it will become available for the public to purchase.
This piece will add the perfect amount of farmhouse charm to any space, and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to give it a fresh new lease on life!
