Pearl Blue and Silver Leaf Desk Redo... (Rub n Buff)

Holy Crap!  I've found a new color of Rub n Buff that I'm in love with!  Pearl Blue!  I figured I'd venture away from all the golds I've been trying and give a different color a try.  Wowzer!!  It's sooo beautiful.  Ok so maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but I really do love it.  I have this old desk I found at an Estate sale that has some finish issues.  Let's just say it had been well used and loved!   I thought it would look nice with a vintage glam look.   Take a looksee. 

Here it was before,

 I love, love, LOVE finding old furniture and giving it a facelift! I think I could do it 24/7.  I guess that's why they say, when you love what you're doing, it doesn't seem like work!  (or something like that)

It's like my version of yoga!  HA!

Here it is now! 

I used Pearl Blue Rub n Buff on the drawer fronts, the sides, and the base of the desk.  Then I used Silver Leaf Rub n Buff on the top and pulls and around the edges of the drawer fronts.  I have to say that using Rub n Buff on large flat areas is a little more tricky.  I had to dilute the Rub n Buff and then paint the whole piece using an artist brush to get a more solid looking finish.  You have to be careful not to dilute the Rub n Buff too much, so using a small brush works best.  I just used a small glass cup and poured a little Deglosser in the bottom of the cup, then squirted a blob of the Rub n Buff on the side of the cup and dipped the edge of my brush in the Deglosser and then swirled it around on the side of the cup in the Rub n Buff. Whoah! Not so easy to put into words!! I tried paint thinner too, but the Deglosser worked best for me.  Once it dried I went back with a cloth and applied another coat of Rub n Buff sparingly.  It took some patience but the outcome was worth it!  I used a whole tube of Pearl Blue on the desk. 

This desk shines now!  Literally!!  The color of the blue changes as the light hits it. 

Click here to check out some of the tips and tricks I've learning while using Rub n' Buff!

Smiles!

~Renew Redo~

Linked:

Somewhat Simple

The Shabby Nest

The Common Ground
Uncommon
FSZ6X4FRSEFV
Vintage Wanna Bee
Tip Junkie

Nailhead Trim Desk... Before And After

Hip hip hooray!  My Rub n' Buff came in the mail today! Just in time for the weekend.  So, I should have plenty of time to get my wall stencil finished up.  In the meantime, here is a before and after using nailhead trim.  I've had this desk for a while. Some time ago, I added marble and granite tiles to the top in a diamond formation.  I didn't really do a "how to" post for that, but all I did was use 12" x 12" marble tiles in the middle and then cut a few granite tiles with a wet saw to go around the edges.  I glued it down, so no grout or grout lines.  I haven't had any problems with the tiles coming up, so... so far, so good, and it's been a long time.  Now I've added a nailhead trim design to the front.  Take a look!

Before

And here it is now.

I used the same stencil on the desk that I'm using for my walls.  I just taped it to the front of the desk where I wanted my design to go.

I used the nailhead trim strips.  Well it's not really strips.  It's just one really long strip, and then you cut it to the length you need.  It's more like faux nailhead trim, but it pretty much looks the same.  This was a HUGE time saver!  The cool thing about using this kind of nailhead trim is that it's bendable.  You can bend it inside the stencil area to get your shape and then nail it in.  But you have to be careful with this stuff because it will cut your little fingers!

I used my plier/wire cutters to cut the strips and then, the most important thing (besides the hammer), is to have a tin punch tool on hand.  The way the nailhead strip works is that every few nailheads there is a little hole in the middle and you use an individual nailhead (that comes with the strip) there to secure it to whatever you are using it on.  The thing is, when you cut it to the length you need, there isn't always a hole at the end.  So the tin punch tool works like a charm to add one.  It also helps to make a pre-hole in the wood if the wood you are working on is really hard.  The nailheads will bend if you hit them at an angle!  Major pain in the butt!  Making a pre-hole helps to avoid that.

So there you have it!  Easy-peasy!

Smiles!

~Renew Redo~