Home Sweet Home #23

Welcome to Home Sweet Home!   I am mixing paint this week with gesso and I thought I would give you an update on how this has been going.  This is the inspiration picture, on the right, of a antique cupboard in a beautiful bathroom.  I have got the color on my cabinet here on the left.  

 But, before I arrived at that color I mixed paint awhile.  Here I mixed gloss Hunter Green by Valspar with Gesso.  All of these are too bright.  

I painted the cabinet with one of the above paint mixes and I realized it was much brighter when dry than when I mixed it.  So, back to the drawing board.  This color is what I would call teal.  It is just the hunter green mixed with gesso and there is more Gesso than paint in the mix.  How was working with Gesso?  I loved it!  It goes on smooth and covers great.  Across the room my husband was using our trim paint and painting the door for the bathroom and the old color bled through and he will need 2 coats.  This is not the case with this gesso mix.  It has great coverage and all I needed was to lightly sand and give it one coat.  It is chalky!  

 So, I finally realized I would have to break down and get a gray to mix with this to achieve this muted shade I was aiming for.  I went to Walmart and got a basic gray.  I mixed some more and this gray was the key to the color.  The gray (it was semi-gloss latex interior) was Time Worn Stone.

So, if you just want to paint with a normal paint it would save time to find a sample of the color you want and get it scanned and have the paint mixed.  But, if you want to use gesso to get that chalky finish you will have to mix paint.  What I learned was that when mixing paint start with the palest color first, for example the gesso and add the color slowly to get the desired tint.  You have to stop, all the while, when doing this and paint on something and let it dry to see how dark it gets when dry.  And, that was the other thing I noticed the wet paint is much paler than it will be dry.  So the sampling process I did above on the white cardboard is very useful.  Do I want to use gesso again?  Yes!  I am going to paint some chairs and a chest with it.  I also can't wait to sand it and see how it ages.  

Thanks for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Now, I would like to feature some wonderful post from last week's Home Sweet Home.

First, Desire Empire got my attention with a beautiful Orange cake and a roasted chicken.  Click the link to view.

Next, The Tablescaper had the most romantic tablescape under lights.  Click the link to view.

The Pear Tree Cottage had the most gorgeous after dining room when she rearranged some walls.  Click link to view.

And last, The Precious Little Things in Life shows you how to create these book covers as well as many other links to DIY book covers that will have your bookcase looking chic.  Click the link to view.

Now onto today.

I will join these ladies today:

Open House Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Feathered Nest Fridayat French Country Cottage

Treasure Hunt Thursday at Blue Creek Home 
Pearls and Lace Thursday  at Faith, Grace, Crafts

Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  If you find your link deleted, add the link, and then try again.  (I have been deleting a few links.  Inlinkz sets the rules.)

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!

Mixing Your Own Paint Colors

Excuse the mess around here.  Hubby is off for a week and being very spontaneous, he starts peeling the wallpaper off of one of the bathrooms.  I am given the challenge of redecorating this bathroom with mostly the supplies we have on hand because, being an unplanned remodel we will buy only what has to be replaced.  We discovered if you buy a new vanity cabinet they are at least 4 inches taller than what we already have.  Well right away that means a plumber to redo the plumbing and that won't do, so we are going to paint the vanity cabinet.

That means starting with the paint I already have.  The color scheme for the house is set.  We have paint for the walls and trim, so, we are good there.  But, the vanity, that should be an accent color, something different.  I start with the paint I already have.  This is Benjamin Moore's Georgian Green.  I saw it on Kim's blog Savvy Southern Style.  Not being at a Benjamin Moore paint dealer the day I purchased this, they matched it on the computer and mixed it at the Pittsburgh Paint counter.

Here is a trick I saw on Pintrest.  Isn't that smart.  You don't get such a messy paint can when you wipe your paint brush on this.

So , my sample of Georgian Green matches the swatch I painted really well.  I just sanded my oak cabinets lightly and went to painting.  This color was just too yellow. 

So, using what I have on hand I pull out some cans and bottles.  To the left is a standard Valspar Hunter Green they stock on the shelves.  The Georgian Green, center.  I am still not done with it.  And, on the right a bottle of Gesso.   Rosemary at Villabarnes introduced me to using Gesso beyond the canvas.  Visit her and learn all kinds of uses with Gesso.

So, finally, I am mixing paint.  The one on the left is hunter green with gesso.  Gesso has a chalky texture and it mixes and looks beautiful with any paint.  The next is the Georgian green.  Then I mixed the first color (in this sample board)  with the second, this is the third color.  The last color is the third mixed with a yellowish white (Brandied Pear by Pittsburgh Paint) that will be on the wall.  *Note: The first sample on left is very blue based by mixing it with the very yellow Georgian Green we get more warm tones in the sea green I am creating that will work well with the golden hues that will be on the wall and the trim.

So, since hubby threw this project on me I have done everything backwards. Ha.  Now that I have a color I like on the left here (it was the third sample above), I have found an inspiration picture to take me in the direction of how I would like to see the colors turn out.  I have a mocha Valspar glaze and a dark wood paste wax to finish the cabinets.  It should look pretty similar to the cabinet in this picture.  I'll let you be the judge.  The bathroom will look nothing like this picture, I am just using the color inspiration.  Stay tuned to see more of the spontaneous bathroom remodel.  You should get a really good laugh out of the before pictures, remember I have raised three boys!

Sherry

I will link this to:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Sailor's Farewell

I have a new tea cup that belongs to set of dishes I found.  I was looking the dishes over at the thrift store really debating the purchase.  I noticed each piece had a different scene on it.  (I love transferware like that.)  Then I picked up this teacup and this cinched the deal.  This scene is called Sailor's Farewell.  How romantic and sweet is this?  The picture portrays a guy telling his sweetheart good bye before a voyage.  

The other side of the cup is just as pretty, although I have no idea what this stuff is.

This is my Texture Tuesday picture.  Our challenge was something pink.   I have tried so hard to capture this effect and I think I am getting the hang of it.  Here is the recipe:  I put a layer of Sweet tart with linear light at 40%.  I created a layer mask and erased color from the rose at 20% opacity.  Then I put a new layer called Trust on multiply at 57%.  That's it. 

The cup belongs to a pattern of English transferware called Fair Winds by Alfred Meakin.  
Thanks for coming by my blog today!  I don't get to every comment each week but I read them and get to as many as I can and I thank you very much for taking the time to visit me and leave a comment.

Sherry

I will join these sweet ladies, go and visit them:

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life

Texture Tuesday  at Kim Klassen Cafe  
Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tuesday Tea for Two at The Plumed Pen

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday  at The Silken Purse

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday at Breath of Fresh Air

Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Tea Party Tuesday  at Sweetology

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life 

New Lights!

I am happy to get new lights in my kitchen.  This is an original light over by the sink.   This light is 28 years old, brass, and really 80's.

This is the matching light that hangs over by the table.  I didn't replace them just because they were dated.  It was time to replace them because they were dangerous.

We just replaced these today and this bigger light has been smelling like it was burning.   

 This is the new light by the sink.

 Here is the new light over by the table.   We put a lot of thought into the wattage and the number of lights because, at the end of the year they are phasing out our lights as we know it.  We wanted to make sure there would be a good amount of light.   I don't know if you have tried the new lights out there but, they don't light a space the way incandescent lights do-no glow.   So, it will take some getting used to.  

Hubby is resurfacing one room in the house this week with a knockdown drywall finish.  After he gets comfortable doing it maybe in the next year we can say goodbye to the popcorn ceilings.  More about that makeover soon.

Sherry

I will link to:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Before and After Party  at Thrifty Decor Chick

Home Sweet Home #22

Welcome to Home Sweet Home!  Today I am sharing a thrifty find.  I am giggling as I type, because this was one of those thrift store finds I thought had slipped away.  Three months ago I saw this set of transferware with this ship on it at the thrift store.  I loved it but, at $65 I passed it up and considered it gone.  I knew someone would love it as much as me and it would be sold.

Then my July/August copy of Victoria came.  This was a feature on a coastal inspired table settings.  Do you see the plate in the second picture down on the left side.  Yes, it is the same pattern.  It is called Fair Winds by Alfred Meakin .
 

Here is a tablescape by Victoria magazine (July/August 2011) with the transferware.

So, I visited the thrift store a week ago and there was no tag on it.  They said they would get the price and call me.  I couldn't stand it any longer and went into the store this Tuesday and the owner said they would take $30 for a full 8 piece place setting (47 pieces in all).  It was in near mint condition, just a little crazing on the back of one plate.  It list on Replacements Ltd. for $369.95. It came home with me for an early birthday present.  I have a weakness for coastal anything, not to mention transferware with a ship on it.   It is so pretty every piece has a different scene on it.  I am not showing it all on purpose, wanting to photograph it in several post.  My rule on thrift stores is usually only if you need it and it is under $5.  If your heart desires it greatly and it is over $5 wait it out and see if it goes on clearance.  Then get the lowest price you can wait for.  Usually I have forgotten I want it when it is marked down.  If I am still thinking about it and it goes on clearance then I must need to get it. Ha!


Thanks for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Now, I would like to feature some wonderful post from last week's Home Sweet Home.

Candy at The Little Round Table did not one, but six vintage holiday tables.  Click the link to view.

English transferware expert, Nancy, at Nancy's Daily Dish did a beautiful holiday table setting with a Paul Revere themed transferware. Click the link to view.

Next, Stefanie over at Rose Petals and Rust showed off a wonderful dining room remodel.  Click the link to view.

Cindi over at Rustique Art made shims into place mats.  Click the link to view.

And last Concetta over at Concetta's Cafe made this beautiful Nova Scotia Blueberry Cream Cake.  Click the link to view.

You guys are amazing every week!  Very hard to pick a handful of post to feature!

Now onto today.

I will join these ladies today:
Seasonal Sundays  at The Tablescaper

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Feathered Nest Fridayat French Country Cottage

Treasure Hunt Thursday at Blue Creek Home 

Thrifty Thursday  at Tales from Bloggeritaville 

Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove

Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  If you find your link deleted, add the link, and then try again.  (I have been deleting a few links.  Inlinkz sets the rules.)

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!