The temperatures in Dallas, Texas are slowly dropping and I mean SLOWLY…it’s the end of October and the forecast for today is a high of 85. This northerner has been ready for sweater weather for over a month! Cooler temperatures means I can actually take time to paint furniture outside. And right now, painting in my backyard is the only feasible spot. The house is filled to the brim with furniture [a combination of my own and my mother’s since she moved all her things from Atlanta recently and we’re just beginning the build of her studio [read more here!]. I can’t work in the garage like I normally would [again a la the construction], so I’m extremely limited on my work space and ability to even store any pieces. I’m now at a ‘one in, one out’ capacity. That means, I can’t buy or paint something new until I sell a piece. I’ve had this happen before, and though not ideal, I still am determined to continue to paint during the months prior to having my fully functional workshop ready.
I’d like to introduce you to the first large piece I’ve painted in a while. I found this piece at a local antique shop. I immediately fell in love with the art deco style of this piece: the waterfall edge, the fluted detailing, the original wood and brass hardware. It was really quite a find! Something about it felt a bit dark and moody, and almost steampunk in style, so I painted it in a graphite, a deep charcoal gray from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint [an exceptional quality paint line]. It’s finished in a clear wax, which gives it a satin matte finish.
This piece provides ample storage in a living or dining area or would make an excellent entertainment console. Solid wood, beautifully crafted pieces like this are hard to come by and is why I always encourage purchasing vintage.
Photographing this was a bit of a tough one. I quite literally have no free walls to shoot furniture on, and so I tried my best to make do in my dining room [easily the darkest room in my home]. The photos don’t do this piece justice. If it doesn’t find a new home soon, I’ll likely reshoot it and style it with a combination of vintage, industrial and rustic decor. If you’re interested in this piece, head to my shop page for more info or to see the other pieces I currently have for sale!