Mar 28, 2013

Cupboard makeover








Last week we spent in our summer house in Murter, on the Adriatic coast. But didn't just  enjoing long walks. I finaly managed to makeover an old cupboard I planned for years. And I am very proud with myself - I like the final result (which is not always the case), and did it in three days. There are some details I'll add next time we go there, but this is it.


See below how the cupboard looked like before I rufurbished it - ugly and ruined:






I was taking pictures and prepared tutorial how to makeover and paint cupboard.



Tutorial how to refurbish cupboard (or other piece of furniture)



Material and tools




Acrylic paint and primer
Acrylic paints and primer; transparent oil varnish


Acrylic filler and spatulas
Acrylic filler and spatulas


Orbital sender and sanding paper
Orbital sender and sanding paper





Sredrivers
Cordless impact driver or ordinary srewdrivers


Roller and brush
Roller and brush





Additionally, I used some foils for stencils, golden acrylic decorative paints and thin brushes and glazing medium for glazing.



Step 1: Review and decide what to do



cupboard before refurbishment







Take a photos of the cupboard from the all angles - not just for the archive, but to be sure how to assemble all pieces after the refurbishment. Thoroughly review piece condition to see what you need and can do. Sometimes you'll need to ask for help from  some handy friend or professional carpenter, or just need to borrow some tool. And sometimes you'll find quite different usage of the item. This cupboard, focusing just on the wood, was in rather good condition - few damages on the sides and door edges  I decided to repair with filler.



Step 2: Dissemble all pieces




hinges for cupboard door


Philips screw




Dissemble all pieces, it is easier to work. Take photos while doing that to be sure how to assembe them. I am planning to replace those slot screws with Phillips ones, as have cordless impact driver (borrowed from my hubby).


Step 3: Repairing and Sanding 




how to apply filler


how to apply filler and repair wooden furniture

how to apply filler and repair wooden furniture



Before starting to work, I cleaned and washed the cupboard with dump cloth, used water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid in case of greasiness.
Minor damages I found on the door edges (and inside, on the cupboard sides), I repaired with the filler. I used acrylic one, it is fast drying and easy to apply. Put some ammount on   the spatula (or directly on the damaged place) and flatten it with spatula. The coat should not be thicker than 1 mm - if necessary, repeat the process. When the filler is dry, sand the repaired place and view if it is visible on the surface - if it is below the overal surface level, need to add filler. If it is higher, need to sand a little bit more.


Step 4: Sanding, Priming, Sanding



sanding cupboard door


Priming cupboard door




Sanding and priming are important (although strenous) steps in furniture makeover. Skipping preparations might not be visible at once, but can impact the resistance of paint peel off. So, I sanded door (both sides) and carefuly cleaned the dust with damp cloth. I used orbital sander and sanding paper grade of 40. After that, applied the  first coat of primer. About the benefits of the primer you can read in more details in the post Furniture makeover 3 - Benefits of primer. As the primer is white, you can easily check if you repaired all damages and if some repairs are still visible (not leveled with the surface). Sanded again (with the finer sanding paper grade of 60) and applied second coat of primer. This process I did for the second door and outside  cupboard surface. Inside the cupboard just applied two layers of primer. 




This is how cupboard looked like after the firtst coat of primer, much better then isn't it?

Step 5: Painting (at last)




At last, I was ready for the painting - the best but the most challenging step.  I am always beeing afraid of what will be the final result. Am I going to be dissapointed after all these efforts? So, I started. I am using roller for the painting and brush for the edges. I usually first paint all the edges and then paint surface using roller.






This is cupboard after the first coat of paint. In my experience, it is better to use two (ans sometimes three) thinner coats of paint than one thick. 







And cupboard after the second coat - quite good.




For the doors I used a light blue color I mixed myself, using white and blue acrylic paint and added a litlle bit of yellow pigment. When mixing paint, general rule is to add darker paint into the light one (not vice versa, the result will not be as expected).
Decided also to add decorations and used stencils and golden paint for the anchor and 
rudder.

Step 6: Distressing - glazing




At the end, I decided to distress doors by glazing them.


First, I waited  the base paint to dry completely - that's the beauty of acrylic color, it took just about 20 minutes (may be even less).

Mix the glaze with the paint according to the manufacturer's instructions - I put 1 amount of dark blue paint to four amount of glaze. Applied the glaze to the door in sections using a brush. Before the glaze dries, used a clean cotton rag to blend the glaze until achieved the desired effect. When the glaze dries, you can always add additional coats of glaze until your  piece is the colour you want it to be.






To be on the safe side, first glazed inside of the door, to see the result.


Step 7: Assemble all pieces





Finally, it is time to assemble all pieces together. I replaced slot scres with the Phillips ones (and used impact driver, but ordinary one will do as well). Also sanded a little bit hinges and them with golden paint. 
Read more "Cupboard makeover"

Mar 25, 2013

My trip to the Adriatic sea



Back to Zagreb and looking out the window to blizzard, can't believe that only two days ago I was enjoing beatiful sunshine weather at the Adriatic coast. We spent few days in our summer house in Murter. It is a village on the island and an entrance to Kornati archipelago. I took some photos during walks with my dog -  think you can feel tranquility of the place in this time of the year (in contrast with the summer crowd).


















Read more "My trip to the Adriatic sea "

Mar 18, 2013

Jeans bag upcycled








Spring cleaning could bring unexpected results. I found an old jeans skirt fortgotten behind other clothes but still dear to me, didn't want to give it away or throw. So, decided to make a bag.  Didn't have enough time to make tutorial, but am planning to do.
And below is my model for the decorations.


Read more "Jeans bag upcycled"

Mar 13, 2013

Kitchen curtains tutorial











Few month ago I refurbished my kitchen, these small curtains finished just recently (number of other things to do combined with laziness).
As a general idea, I applied text that used to be very popular decades ago to be stiched on the fabric and hanged on the kitchen walls. So, first I measured and cut off two pieces of fabric. For the text, used first Fantom pen for fabric (it is one of the most useful things in my craft tools bag). By this pen you can write or draw as with any other, but when acrylic paint (or just water) is applied, it vanishes. So, I wrote text first with this pen and then with fabric pen - black and red.
Why did I started this way? I saw a risk sewing first and then write, as I was not quite sure if I am going to be happy with the result. And sewing takes more time and effort than just writing.

How I sewed these curtains, find out below.


Tutorial - how to sew simple curtians







First, I folded raw edge of the curtain - cca 0,5 cm, and did it twice. Pinned the fold and ironed the edge. 
For the bottom edge, procedure is the same, but this time I first folded raw edge cca 0,5 cm, and then 4 cm.








For the upper edge, decorative band was added. I cut 5 pieces of the band, 8 cm long each. Each piece was pinned on the folded raw edge. After that, I pinned cotton strip and, to make sewing easier, I basted stitch the strip.


Ironed all edges and sew on the machine. Curtains are finished. Hung them instead of cupboard door.
Read more "Kitchen curtains tutorial"

Mar 7, 2013

How to clean and care wooden furniture





Is it just me, I am not sure, but I always feel extra energy in spring and urge to clean, tidy dressers, makeover rooms. With the sunny days, stains and dust is much more visible. Stains on furniture could be very frustrating, particularly if this is our favourite piece. But before I decide to buy something advertised on TV (usually rather expensive and inefficient), I try domestic and more 'green' stuff.

Try some of the recepies below, they really work.


'Green' tips and tricks how to remove stains from wooden furniture


 Remove ugly rings left  after wet glasses or vases

Hoe to remove stains using vinegar


Mix equal amounts of (distilled) vinegar and olive oil, rub it with a soft cloth on the stain. Use another clean, soft cloth to remove excess oil and vinegar and polish with the surface. For leather furniture, use only  vinegar-soaked cloth.


Remove stains left after hot dishes 







Mix equal amounts of tooth paste and baking powder, rub it on the stain, leave few minutes and clean with wet cloth.

Thoroughly cleaning dust


Apple vinegar or beer are excellent for thoroughly cleaning stubborn dirt on furniture. Apply vinegar or beer on woolen cloth and rub the surface.





Read more "How to clean and care wooden furniture"

Mar 4, 2013

Spring is here, garden is waiting for us






It was such a beautiful Sunday, sunny all day, after dark, foggy, wet winter. I  finally started spring activities in my little garden and enjoy blossoms of Lonicera (variety that blossoms since December).






 Although  mornings are still rather cold, I bought geraniums on the market and planted them in pots.




 One of my favourite flowers is Nasturtium. I sown seeds in pot, can't wait to see first leaves coming out. 







This is modest and beautiful plant, and during past few years it spread all part of the garden - I just love it. Those photos were taken last year, during August.
Read more "Spring is here, garden is waiting for us "