Paint Inspiration: Secretary Desks

Looking for some unique painted secretary desks to 

inspire your next project of the XL size?

Just in time for Easter and Spring~

Crackled doors in cream, a pink and black harlequin

pattern on the lower doors, rubbed white legs and pediment

with touches of gilding~and don't forget the rabbit head!

This might be easier to pull off~

looks like a custom mix of Provence, Florence and

 Pure WhiteChalk Paint® finished with clear

 and dark wax.  I love the look of this fresh color 

on a traditional piece, don't you?

For those that have artist skill a takeoff

on a Gramercy wallpaper motif gets translated

onto a faded out aqua background.  I would consider

doing a hand painted vine and then adding flowers and birds

using Transfer Gel by Artisan Enhancements or decoupage.

Lately I have fallen in love with the look of 

this antique green.  We used Olive Chalk Paint®

to achieve a very similar color and finished it with Gilder Paste

 in African Bronze, which has a greenish gold cast.

After my trip to Colorado for an artist retreat

I played with the Venetian inspired painted 

finishes using lots of color and metallic.

If I were to capture these colors I would start with 

Cream and Versailles and tweak them to make them a 

little bit stronger.  Old Ochre as the base, clear and dark wax

with Gilding Wax or Gilders Paste to finish it off. 

I am working on a massive armoire and am always

in search of inspiration in the paint department!

So far I have finished two coats of French Linen,

but that is only the beginning. Hopefully I get a chance 

to work on this piece during the week and 

I will be back with updates on how it is taking shape.

Sources: These images are from my Pinterst page~

Plenty more inspirational photos can be found there.

Purchase Gilding supplies and Transfer Gel.

Painted Pink Inspiration

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A lovely painted Swedish built in bed.

To replicate this color I would mix Scandinavian Pink and Antoinette 

with some Old White and apply in various layers 

with wash and ragging techniques.

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Pinky peach walls over taupe wainscoting with lots of gilt

The lighthearted pink is grounded by the taupe and the golden accessories

stand out nicely against the pink.  

I recently washed one part of a wall in my shop and it 

was so easy and fun to do. The more I added water and ragged it off

the lighter an airier it became. 

If you want to get a hand painted european plaster look

with ease try applying Chalk Paint® and water 

and use a brush and damp rag for spectacular results!

My ragged wall in Scandinavian Pink, Antoinette and Pure White.

In person it looks a lot lighter~but this closeup shows the unevenness 

of paint application.  Perfection is NOT the rule.

Add more Old or Pure White for a lighter look as well as more water~

this works well with white walls as the under color of the wall

will reveal itself as you rag it off. If you are covering up

the wall color you will need to rag off less paint, or let a

 first coat dry then apply a second coat of a lighter or darker shade.

I loved doing this treatment and plan to do other sections of the shop

in neutral tones using French Linen and Old Ochre.

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When painting furniture many times I look for design 

inspiration and come across beautiful things like this 

stunning blue and pink armoire. 

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Beautiful crusted pink doors with touches of white in the

nooks and crevices.  Such inspiration!

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This is my own mirror that I painted pink once upon a time.

As I redecorated the room it would no longer remain pink,

but it will always be one of my favorites.

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If I wanted to copy this chest I would use Antoinette Chalk Paint®

with a little Old White and plenty of French Gilding wax.

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One project I hope to tackle someday is creating this look~

 paneled walls with decorative molding. You can buy kits

to make these walls, at a pretty price I am sure. But think of 

how gorgeous it would be in the right setting~

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Another paneled wall sets the stage for this palest pink bed.

One fabulous mirror and the room is done.

I would replace the thousand tiny pillows with a few larger

down filled pillows in cut linen velvet or grain sack.

 Most of these projects can be done with successfully

with Chalk Paint® and some require gilding materials.

 Shopping list: 

Antoinette Chalk Paint and French Gilding Wax in King Gold

Many of these projects just need these items.

Pink has always been a color close to my heart~

a long time ago I painted my first house. 

 Myself.  In pink.

I bought Sears Weather Beater paint in the 1980s 

and took it back 3 times to have the color adjusted

to just the right shade of pink.

My old house no longer is pink~

the people I sold it to painted it yellow. 

I can't say I blame them, pink is not for everyone, 

but it sure is for me! 

And I think it suited this little cottage nicely.

Add a little pink to your life with a painted cabinet

or just do the interior of a bookcase or armoire~

 add a lot by doing your walls and furnishings in ballet pink.

As always, I am looking for inspiration to share here with you.

Have a great week! 

And think PINK!