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Showing posts with label refinish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label refinish. Show all posts

August 30, 2013

Chalk Paint™ Makes Our Ears Ring

It's true!  Chalk Paint™ really does make our ears ring, because customers have been calling all week to ask if our latest order has turned up.

It looked a bit like Mother Hubbard's cupboards here and we've all been waiting with fingers crossed, hoping our shipping service would arrive bearing our favourite little brown boxes before the long weekend.

Well it did!  And the shippers must have known how important an occasion it would be for us, because the delivery arrived wearing a party hat.



For Chalk Paint™ fans like us it is absolutely something to celebrate!

Let the creativity commence!

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique
_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

July 29, 2013

Reimagined Monday: Country Grey Console Table

Who doesn't love a console table?  They fit well in most spaces and complement any room.  We've used them as sofa tables, foyer tables, hall tables and vanities. And when they are painted with Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan... well, they are just that much better!

Today's Reimagined Monday feature comes from Nancy Allen, friend and part-time buyer for Apple Box Design Studio. In Nancy's travels, she found this adorable console table and decided to give it a makeover:


This is what Nancy wrote us about her project:

"LOVE LOVE LOVE CHALK PAINT!"

"I was so anxious to get started I forgot to take a "before" picture...oops!  This picture is from auction photos as this little gem was bought at an antique and estates auction for $50....guessing it fell under the "estates" part of the auction as it was not an antique.   I was looking for a small console table for my mom's garden room and this was perfect....well, almost perfect...it still needed Annie Sloan Chalk Paint."

And this is the transformed table:

It was finished in Country Grey and lightly distressed, then buffed with clear Soft Wax.

Nancy, we all agree... you did a fabulous job!



Don't forget to enter our monthly contest for your chance to win!

Here's the info:

Reimagined Monday Draw
We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw.

Send your name, pictures and story to:
info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique
_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

July 22, 2013

Reimagined Monday: A Diamond in the Rough


Stop in at any thrift shop, and you will likely find at least one of those boxy, outdated end-tables that is a throw-back to the heyday of chunky, oversized furniture.  Most people would pass it by without a second glance.  Others, however, ferry it home with excitement from the aisles of Sally Ann, or from their parent's basement, or from a neighbour who is tired of looking at it or a friend who just can't use it anymore.

And what separates the passer-by from the person who sees it as a diamond in the rough?  In our world, that would be Chalk Paint™ and Milk Paint!

Today's Reimagined Monday project is the perfect example of seeing past the cosmetics, but also a lesson in how easy it is to go back and make changes if your tastes warrant it!

This was Marguerite Velthuizen's end table:


...and this is her experience:

"A few weeks ago, a friend of mine gave me some old furniture that she no longer had room for.  It had some great bones, but I wanted to give it a fresh look.  My on-line search led me to Annie Sloan chalk paint, which, in turn led me to Apple Box Boutique. There is only so much you can learn from the internet, and  I so appreciate all the helpful advice I was given by your super-friendly staff."

"For my furniture, I wanted a  look that was somewhat antiqued, to bring out the detail, but not overly distressed.  This is what I ended up doing:  I cleaned my night table with TSP, and rinsed well. I knew I wanted new hardware, so I  removed the existing hardware, and filled the holes with a wood filler. I sanded the filler flat, and wiped off the little bits of filler. I gave everything two coats of CoCo paint, using a cheap chip brush from Home Depot.  Since I wanted to minimize brush strokes in the finish, I diluted my paint; roughly 4 parts paint to 1 part water.  The paint went on beautifully, and gave great coverage."

"Next I clear-waxed everything.  I was glad to have invested in a good wax brush. I wiped off the excess wax with a lint- free cloth.  I then applied and wiped off dark wax in the same manner, and hated the dark blotchy results!  On went two more coats of paint, and one more coat of clear wax. Next I mixed my dark wax with an equal amount of clear wax, and applied it with the wax brush, immediately wiping off the excess as I went along. Much better!" 

"I found some great hardware at Home Depot, and after 24 hours, buffed the living daylights out of the cabinet.  I love how it has turned out."


The finish has a gorgeous sheen, and I have noticed it has become nice and hard over the past week or so.  I can't wait to finish the rest of the furniture!"

"Thank you so much for your help. I know I'll be back for more paint."
  

It is our pleasure, Marguerite! Thank you for sharing your fabulous project with us... we can't wait to see what you do with the rest of the pieces!

We wish Marguerite good luck in this month's Reimagined Monday Draw!


Don't forget to enter our monthly contest for your chance to win!

Here's the info:

Reimagined Monday Draw
We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to:
info@appleboxboutique.com for your chance to win!

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique
_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

July 06, 2013

Announcing our June Reimagined Monday Draw Winner!

CONGRATULATIONS
to

Our June winner of the Reimagined Monday Draw!

Shelley won a $30 Gift Certificate
...and then bought more Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan!
 
Don't forget to enter our monthly contest for your chance to win!

Here's the info:

Reimagined Monday Draw
We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to:
 
♥, 
Apple Box Boutique
_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

June 24, 2013

Reimagined Monday: Three Times The Charm

We've said it before, and it never changes... one of the best things about spending time in the boutique is meeting all the fabulous folks who visit and shop with us. Folks like the trio of vivacious, fun ladies who recently stopped in to browse and ended up with (among other things) a selection of Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan.

One of those ladies is Shelley Oosterhoff Holzman, who after leaving the boutique proceeded with the other lovely ladies directly to the nearest garage sale, then returned for more Chalk Paint™!

It didn't take long for Shelley to whip out the brush, and finish these fantastic projects.  Without further ado... here are Shelley's reimagined pieces:


We love every one of them!

Thanks for sharing your projects, Shelley... you've been entered not once, not twice, but three times in this month's Reimagined Monday draw!

Don't forget to enter our monthly contest for your chance to win!  
Here's the info:

Reimagined Monday Draw
We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to:

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique
_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

June 17, 2013

Reimagined Monday: TV Console Goes Green & Natural


Just over a year ago, Abi Roberts inspired many of our customers with her first ever paint project when she reimagined a french provincial cabinet she'd found on Kijiji (check it out here).  She chose to use Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Emperor's Silk, and explained that even she was surprised by the results of her first DIY project!

Having experienced how fun and easy Chalk Paint™ is, when Abi found a TV Console on Cherished Bliss that she loved it was an obvious choice to use it again for her new project.

Abi shared her latest DIY success with us and we're happy to be able to share it here with you!
 TV Console by Abi Roberts
("ASCP" is Abi's reference to Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan.)

"Although I'm not handy I was pretty confident that I could do this console. I knew the painting part was going to be pretty because I was going to use ASCP. I bought the chest of drawers on Kijiji. 
 I painted the whole thing in Olive green and was pretty satisfied with the results. Painting with ASCP meant I was finished in no time at all.
Then I thought I'm going to do something a little fancy. I was going to put a stain on the top. This is where the hard work came sanding, striping, and staining the top took a few days. It was also very messy.
For the final finishing touches I changed the drawer handles. I then took out the top two drawers and I asked my handyman to build a sliding top shelf to hold my electronics. He also drilled a small hole in the back to pass cords through. 

 All in all, I love my new console. It has the character and the pop of colour that I needed for my living room. If it wasn't for ASCP I would not of attempted such a project. I'm happy that I didn't have to spend hundreds of dollars for a new piece of furniture and I have a piece that I personally created." 

We love it, Abi... it's definitely a one-of-a-kind piece
(and a big savings).

Thanks for sharing!
Don't forget to enter our monthly contest for your chance to win!  
Here's the info:

Reimagined Monday Draw
We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process using Chalk Paint™ or Milk Paint and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to:

♥, 
Apple Box Boutique
_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

May 27, 2013

Reimagined Monday: Annie Sloan Paints Chair Fabric on Hallmark TV (video)

It's Reimagined Monday and today we have an extra-special Part Two for you!

Some folks think it may be 'too good to be true' when we start talking excitedly about painting, stencilling and dying fabric, upholstery and leather with  Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan -- 'cause really, what other product can you paint everything else with and do this too?

So to give you a bit of a peek into the how-tos, here is Annie Sloan using her paint on linen chairs during a second recent interview on Hallmark's Home and Family show. They loved her so much, they invited her back after her previous interview!

Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!



While you're watching, we'll likely be off dying some fabric with Chalk Paint™.  For details on this super-easy technique, check out Annie's book, "Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture and More", now available at the boutique.


P.S.  Don't forget that this weekend is the Highlands Street Festival (Sunday, June 2nd).  This year we have over 100 vendors, musicians, activities and fabulous foodstuffs in the shops and on the streets in Highlands.  Watch our blog starting tomorrow for what Apple Box Boutique has in-store for you!


♥, 
Apple Box Boutique

_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

May 20, 2013

Reimagined Monday: Featuring Annie Sloan and (real) Chalk Paint™

Today is a very special Reimagined Monday.  Annie Sloan, respected decorative painter and creator of authentic Chalk Paint™, was featured on Universal Studio's "Home and  Family",  demonstrating how to use this one-of-a-kind paint and talking about all the reasons we love it too.

Grab a cup of English tea (or your bevvie of choice!) and enjoy!



Annie's book, Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture, is now available at Apple Box Boutique along with her full line of Chalk Paint™, waxes, brushes, books, aprons and more.

Want to learn more? Register or get notified of upcoming Chalk Paint™ workshops.


In the meantime, it is a holiday here in Canada, For most of us, the arrival of this day means we can start planting our vegetable and flower gardens and put the long winter behind us. For the majority of Canadians, it also means a welcome long weekend.

The real deal?  This holiday is named after Queen Victoria, the British monarch who gave royal assent to Confederation. She was born on May 24, 1819 and enjoyed the longest reign in British history, ascending the throne in 1837 and ruling until 1901 -- a period of over 62 years!

At the Apple Box studio, we also celebrate it as an extra day to paint!  

 Have a fabulous Victoria Day
♥, 
Apple Box Boutique
_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

May 13, 2013

Reimagined Monday: Kendal's Kitchen Table Save (and more!)

Today's Reimagined Monday post features a SAVE by the lovely Kendel Stinson.

After a family member watered some plants on the kitchen table, the moisture lifted and buckled the top.  We've all had things like this happen at some point and most people probably rid themselves of the piece, seeing it as a lost cause.

Not Kendel! She whipped out the belt sander to even the boards, and reached for Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan, taking her kitchen table from destined-for-the-dumpster to reimagined rustic.

A piece like this would cost a fortune at Restoration Hardware!

Old Ochre Chalk Paint® with Dark Wax

Besides the Old Ochre, Kendel also had Chalk Paint® in two other colours:  Primer Red and Olive, so she kept on painting!

Here is Kendel's drum table in Old Ochre with Olive Accents.  We LOVE it!


A retro table is given a facelift with Old Ochre and gorgeous Olive to accentuate the 'carved' details:


Antique smoking cabinets are a hot item, and Kendel updated hers to work in her modern living room.

Chalk Paint® in Primer Red

Even over laquer and faux-wood veneers, no priming or sanding is required with Chalk Paint®, saving time, money and energy for summer fun.

Thanks for sharing your fabulous projects with us, Kendel!

What have YOU Reimagined?
Send in your project pics and be entered to win our Reimagined Monday draw!

Reimagined Monday Draw
We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to:
♥,
Apple Box Boutique

_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

May 06, 2013

Reimagined Monday: Aman Dhaliwal's Retro Redoux

Welcome to our first Reimagined Monday in May.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and everything feels refreshed. It's the perfect kind of day to share this fantastic retro redoux!
 
Lovely Aman Dhaliwal of Saman's Balti took this dated table from faded to fabulous, or as Aman put it so well, "thrift store find now one of a kind".

Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan doesn't require sanding or priming to adhere to any surface, but Aman wanted a clean fresh start for her project.

With the colour choice made (the hardest part!), some clear and dark Soft Wax, a good brush and Annie's "50 Transformations" book as a handy reference, it was time to dive in!


Duck Egg is a greenish soft blue, the perfect choice to offset the gorgeous yellow glass on this piece.


Chalk Paint® dries in a short period of time, so there is rarely much of a wait between coats and it is quickly ready for waxing!

Annie Sloan Soft Clear Wax protects the paint and creates a soft, velvety look and feel, though the paint is durable enough to hold up even on exterior surfaces without a finish.

Some buffing with a light sandpaper adds some glorious shabby chic-ness!



Aman brushed on Soft Dark Wax to give the table even more richness and character.



Duck Egg is a favourite at the Boutique, and here's an example of why...


No matter the origins of the piece, this colour always looks great.


This is such a wonderful reimagined little table, Aman.

Thank you for sharing it with us!

What have YOU Reimagined?
Send in your project pics and be entered to win our Reimagined Monday draw!

Reimagined Monday Draw
We would like to highlight more customer projects!  Send us your before/during/after pictures and tell us about your creative process and you'll be entered into our monthly Reimagined Monday draw.

Each month we will give away a different item like paint, brushes, books, supplies, gift certificates and more. You don't have to be featured to be eligible... the month you enter is the month you will be included in the draw. 

Send your name, pictures and story to:
♥,
Apple Box Boutique

_______________________________________
We'd LOVE it if you shared our blog:

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