2010 September

Project Highlights, Volume 1

September 30, 2010 by Christa @ Stories of a House 3 Comments

I want to thank everybody for participating in the first Project Diaries.

Thanks, friends!

I loved reading all your posts. You are so talented!

Here were some highlights:

Lori @ Projects Plenty’s gorgeous sideboard. She has amazing taste. You must go and see her house!

Between Yellow and Blue’s soft green sideboard with a dark walnut top. So simple and pretty.

Can you tell I love sideboards?

September the March’s stunning board and batten treatment and table vignette.

I need to find a way to convince Romeo we should do this.

A Life of Blue’s gray striped dresser that even made it on The Nester’s blog.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How to Achieve that Beautiful, Rubbed-Through Finish

September 28, 2010 by Christa @ Stories of a House 24 Comments

….for practically nothing. I picked up this el-cheapo coffee table at an auction a few weeks ago. I was originally going to fix it up and sell it, but we decided to keep it.

It was pretty chipped and worn, so I gave it a few light coats of black paint.

My favorite way to rub-through black is to use denatured alcohol, and some steel wool (a scrub sponge works well, too). Be sure you take a damp cloth and immediately wipe away the rubbed-off paint, or it will dry onto your finish and you and your sandpaper will be getting well acquainted. Applying a few light coats of paint versus heavy coats will make it much easier to rub through. Just thin the paint with a little water so it’s not thick.

Next, smooth the entire surface down with sandpaper that is anywhere between 400 & 1000 grit. Just be sure it’s fine enough that it doesn’t sand through anymore paint.

It will look pretty bad after you’ve rubbed through, and sanded everything smooth.
Don’t despair, the clear coat will solve that problem!

Next, if there are areas where the stain was removed down to the wood, here is what you can do:

A brown Crayola marker mimics wood stain beautifully.
You can also use those wood touch-up pens.

Although I sprayed both the paint and the final finish, applying slightly thinned paint with a brush would work just as well. Sometimes smoothing brush marks with a foam roller is a good idea, but may not be necessary.

After the clear coat is dry, I smoothed the final finish with some super fine steel wool, and then buffed out the steel wool scratches with car polish (NOT car wax!).

Here it is in its’ new home (our home):

Products I used:

Black paint: SW Solo Interior/Exterior Low VOC in Semi-Gloss

Rub-through: Denatured Alcohol and a scrubby sponge (or #1 or #2 steel wool)

Smoothing the paint: I prefer between 400 & 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper found at automotive stores

Final Finish: Varathane Floor Finish in Semi-Gloss

Smoothing the Finish: Super fine steel wool, then Maguire’s car polish

Linking to my favorites
Piece of Work Wednesday @Primitive and Proper

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Project Diaries, Volume 1

September 27, 2010 by Christa @ Stories of a House 5 Comments

Come join me in our very first link-up! I’m sure it’ll be small, but one has to start somewhere Can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on!

*Don’t forget, I am hosting a giveaway for a free blog design by Designer Blogs the first week in October.*

Party Rules:
1) Be a follower of Stories of a House, and/or become a subscriber.
2) Add the Project Diaries button to your post.
3) Please only link up home decor-related projects.
4) Add the URL of your post, not your general blog URL.
5) Mosey on over to the other blogs and leave some lovely comments!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Final Finishing 101

September 26, 2010 by Christa @ Stories of a House 17 Comments

Do you have a favorite topcoat?

I use different ones depending on what I’m working on.

In my last post, I shared how I made-over this table:

I love Tung Oil for stained pieces like this. It lends itself to a gorgeous, hand-rubbed finish, yet it is so easy to use. With several coats (24 hours in between each one), it soaks in and fills the wood pores, so it is best used on porous woods. It is not quite as durable as laquer, but pretty close! If you want the very best Tung Oil on the market, you’ll want to check out Waterlox. I’m pretty sure you have to order it because I’ve never seen it in stores. That is what I would use if I ever get my butcher block island.

Tung oil is a natural oil that is thinned with solvents so that it will soak into the wood pores. Once the solvents evaporate, it is non-toxic. You can see that there are dull spots, which means it needs another coat to really soak in. After applying, wait 5-10 minutes, and wipe off excess with a lint-free cloth. Watch for brush hairs and get rid of those before they dry into the finish. I used el-cheapo chip brushes because they dry as hard as a rock and I don’t want to clean them after each coat. You can use a good brush, too, just be sure to clean it with mineral spirits right away.

After 4 or 5 applications, it will appear wet, and feel a little tacky. Not to worry.

Wait 24 hours after the last coat, and knock down the shine with some very fine steel wool and a little elbow grease. You want to be able to run your hand across it, without feeling any tackiness.

Next, bring back some of the shine and smooth away the steel wool scratches
using car polish (not wax) and soft cloths. I used Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound.

Now, go admire your nice, buff arms.

While it takes some time because of the drying time, it is quite simple to do!

Filed Under: Do it Yourself, Furniture, Products I Like, Wood Finishing

Turquoise.

September 22, 2010 by Christa @ Stories of a House 71 Comments

This week I got this text:

“Taking my kitchen table to Goodwill, but it’s yours if you want it.”

Nice.

My friend gave me this table,

and I knew right away what I wanted it to be turquoise.

I sanded the top down to the bare wood, then roughed it up for a very rustic look.

Then, I painted the base in SW Freshwater

and did some distressing.

The top was stained with Minwax Provincial.

I love how all the dents and dings stain darker than the rest.

I also stained the legs with the Provincial to antique the turquoise. I just wiped it on, let it sit a minute, and wiped it off. If some areas were a little heavy, I simply sanded it once it was more dry.

Now all that is left is the final finish (topcoat).

I’ll be back in a day to two for some Product Knowledge 101.

Filed Under: Before and After, Do it Yourself, Finding Furniture, Furniture

Join Me on Facebook & Giveaway Winner

September 22, 2010 by Christa @ Stories of a House 2 Comments

I should be back tomorrow to show you a table I just did in a very rustic finish, and in the color of the year! It’s been a fun project.

Also, will you be my Facebook friend? (Stories of a House joined the 21st century and has a page.)

And, finally, the winner of the $35 Target gift card giveaway is:

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 32 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Aimoku and Tyler said…I’m a follower! I love this blog and all the inspirations I get from it!

Aimoku, I will get in contact with you so I can send you your gift card!

See you guys tomorrow,

Filed Under: Uncategorized

New Blog Reveal & a Target Giveaway!

September 17, 2010 by Christa @ Stories of a House 40 Comments

Hello dear friends and readers!

I hope you like the new blog name and design as much as I do! I cannot say enough about Lauren at Designer Blogs. In a matter of a day and a half, we had accomplished all of the design through emails. She was so patient with me and my vision, and her design exceeded my expectations.

Modern Vintage Interiors has been a great starting point for this little blog. There was a time where I never read blogs nor considered writing one. But, I’ve found myself glued to all of your home and furniture projects, and your inspiration has encouraged me to expand this little blog to include the inspiration I get from you! I just love and appreciate it when someone takes the time to post a tutorial, with product details, which is what I always try to do. I look forward to swapping ideas, paint colors, and finishing techniques.

That is how Stories of a House was born.

I will be hosting Project Diaries every weekend (starting next week) so that we can share our latest and greatest before and afters of a room, a piece of furniture, or simply a project that makes your house a home.

I am also giving away a $35 Target gift card to one of my faithful followers! To enter, just leave a comment telling me that you are a follower, old or new! It will run through Tuesday, September 21st, so spread the word!

Until next time,

Filed Under: About Me