Sunday, May 30, 2010

Oops - WAY too dirty!


Well, I took Annie of Obsidian Hall up on her challenge to add patina. I assumed that meant antiquing my furniture so I took the plunge and applied some stain. I guess I went overboard and the armoire looks a little like I pulled it out of a garbage dump. The bed looks good, though.


So... to try to fix it I went over it with the original color again with a dry brush.


I think it looks much better and I might lighten it a bit more. Anyway, I think the furniture has much more character now, don't you?


Here are the million pieces from a House of Miniatures kit for six lyre-back chairs, with two coats of walnut stain. I actually managed to get them all together this evening but was way too traumatized by the experience to take more pictures, so stay tuned for more.


Here is the table I made to go with the chairs. It was supposed to be two leaves bigger, but my dining room is too small - fortunately I can fit all six chairs around it, anyway. Will add some gold accents to both table and chairs and then show you when it's all finished.



17 comments:

Merry Jingle said...

The furniture looks really good, the patina really gives them more real feeling :)

And I love the look of your dining room, the windows are fab and the chandelier is gorgeous :)

Ira

miniacollection said...

The result is very good. I like the colour. the furniture is great.
Geneviève

The Old Maid said...

I like the patina on your furniture - though I probably liked the armoire more dirty better ;) Bur that's just me ;)

Margaret said...

I like the patina on your bedroom furniture and the dining table looks stunning in the room, a perfect match I would say.

Carmen Llorca said...

The furniture in the room has been great, I think you should further clarify, quda just fantastic. I hope to see soon the chairs, that will certainly be great to the table, so if patience.
A hug
Carmen

Tabitha Corsica said...

I think you've done well with your bedroom furniture. It is sometimes hard to know "how much" when doing an aging but it is only paint and can always be changed. Good luck with the dining room!

Tabitha

Flora said...

These furniture are aged quite a bit ', the last time I saw them, do you?
But you're absolutely right to take the plunge, the result is very nice, at least in the pictures :-)
What did you use for dark patina?
The table is beautiful and I am sure that the chairs will be too, if I understand your discomfort at having to put all the pieces together :-)
Courage!

The Dangerous Mezzo said...

I think you've done a marvellous antiquing job, Cynthia -- it's really well done. I liked the armoire really dirty, but think you've found a happy medium now that works well in your house!

Catherine said...

I bet you were traumatized! It had to have been scary if you though you had ruined your favorite piece of furniture.

Don't you just love it now though! It looks fantastic!!!

Ascension said...

El tuneo del mueble te ha quedado fantasticamente bien, la mesa me encanta y las sillas te quedaran genial
besitos ascension

brae said...

Is that a spaghetti drying rack?!! That's brilliant! :D Looking forward to seeing your chairs. I, too, was traumatized by a dresser with a million pieces - and, I had to cut them all from scratch! =shudder= But, it was worth it in the end!

Nina in Germany said...

The bed and also the cabinet look great, I like them.
I am your follower Nr.1oo.
Congratulation.

Nina

Lena said...

Very beutiful furniture! I love that colour and patina!

Lena!

Arantxa Fariña said...

The furniture looks great!! i like so much your furniture

Cynthia's Minilife said...

Thanks for all your comments! Nina, welcome as follower #100!! I'm so thrilled. Brae, yes this is spaghetti. I can't remember where I got the tip, but it works great (and Tessie loves to chew on the bits that fall to the floor - hopefully ones with no paint on them);-)

Irene said...

Just catching up here - the wardrobe looks great now. I love that style but wouldn't know where to start with it.

Unknown said...

Cynthia I think it came out wonderful! I also love to age furniture abit to give it more character. I use pastel chalk, it is very easy to put it on, and if you do not like it you just use some water to light it up.

Good luck with the chair, looks very dificult to make!

Sabihax