Hello my loves!
This week's blog is the story of a painted bed makeover that is worthy of a few minutes…. I promise!
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The soft and dreamy "A" bed……
This gorgeous painted bed is a stark contrast to what it started out as: a deep cherry-ish mahogany color….no depth….and a hardcore shiny factory finish that really dated it! It was boring!
My client was looking for a queen size bed for her 9-year-old daughter. She wanted something that would grow with her through college. She really only asked for a painted bed…."sorta" shabby chic in style….creamy white with some sort of script writing on it…..metallic accents and BLING….but not gaudy! LOL!
So let me tell you……marrying the phrases "nine-year-old daughter" and "grow with her through college" is a big bill!!! I have a daughter who has already graduated from college AND I have a nine-year-old girl at home RIGHT NOW! A lot changes between 9 and 18 in the girl world….a lot!!! Ok….I can do this….
Long story short….I located the bed….and like THAT fast I had my vision! Not kidding……
I just needed my 9-year-old client's momma to approve me using a little black…and a touch of soft pink! Text sent…..text answered….trust and permission give….BAM! Let's do this!
Fast forward a few days…..to this!
Check it out……
~ painted bed? check!
~ "sorta" shabby chic? check!
~creamy white? check!
~metallic accents? check!
~script? check…….you catchin' my drift?
~added black and soft pink???? UMMMMmmmm…..yes! And I love it!!!!!
~bling? not so much…..ugh! That comes later. I just didn't want to add BLING!
This bed is painted in Dixie Belle Drop Cloth….which is a gorgeous organic cream color without being too yellow. The soft pink insets of the headboard and footboard are done in Pink Champagne by Dixie Belle Paint…and the script in Drop Cloth again. The alligator pattern was done with DBP in Caviar as well as the trim pieces in that same area. (I have a video in a previous post on how I do crocodile raised stencils.) I really felt that adding the stronger gator pattern gave the bed an edge-y-ness that would help carry it through this little girls teen years. And by using a super soft and subtle pink….I was able to accent the center panels without making it appear juvenile. The painted bed is trimmed out and accented with Modern Masters Metallic paint in Champagne
I sealed the bed with Dixie Belle Clear Coat in satin finish.
It is nearly impossible to deliver "sorta shabby chic" without a bit of distressing. I describe here when and why it is sometimes soooooo necessary to distress features on furniture….
I had not planned to glaze this bed AT ALL! But the black gator pattern that I promised the mom would be subtle…was just drawing way too much attention to itself. So I needed to offset…or balance the situation! Time to break out the glaze! AHHHHhhhh….would you look at that?? Look at the depth and detail that becomes so apparent when you add something as simple as a little dark liquid!
I have included an example video of how to glaze. I prefer Heirloom Traditions Dark Antiquing Patina (Note: Dark Antiquing Patina has been discontinued. I recommend using Grunge Glaze by Dixie Belle as a replacement for the same effect.). It can be used full strength (which I did here)….you can add water for a less deep version….AND it seals your project while enhancing the details!
So one last thing…..BLING! Why??? Because I sent photos of this yummy and completely transformed painted bed to my client. SHE loved it….however her daughter asked where the "bling" was….lol! Not even kidding. Those nine-year-olds are tough! So off to Hobby Lobby I went in search of bling that won't make "MY" bed look tacky!!!
Let me just tell you this…..Hobby Lobby came through! And my NINE-year-old client stuck to her guns on what she wanted….and she was RIGHT! The flat-edged pearls enhanced with the tiny rhinestone center speck was almost meant for this bed. It matched the beaded trim that encircled the insets on the headboard and footboard. This Half Pearl Trim is pretty close to what I used. Because I had already photographed this bed without the pearl additions…..I only have this small snapshot to share with you….but I think its enough for you to see the elegance that was added!
I seriously love the addition…and I did this to both insets. Did the painted bed NEED the bling? No….it did not….but it accepted the bling….and the little princess was happy!
I really enjoyed sharing this painted bed process with you. If you want to see a few more of my painted beds, see my Elegant Old Hollywood Bed and my two beds in Classic Black vs White.
If this color palette speaks to you ... here's where you can purchase everything.
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The products listed here are exactly what I used on this project! Dixie Belle Paint company offers amazing products that will make all of your projects successful no matter what your skill level is!
If you would like to paint your own furniture ....but lack confidence with where to start....I offer furniture design consultation! Contact me here and we can get you started on your next project!
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Until next week…..
Stay FANCY….and Fabulous……
XOXO,
Tracey
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