HOT PINK BUFFET AND FIXING STRIPPED HOLES WITH DOWELS AND GLUE!

First lets start with the pretty stuff!  This is going into a clients little girls room and I think they are going to love it!  

I did a bit more distressing than I normally do.  Not sure why, I just thought it really needed it and looked so pretty as I was doing it and in this case, the more the better.

Now onto boring, but important and hopefully helpful information.

This is a post on how to fill in holes that are stripped and you need to screw into.  I use this trick all the time for hinges.

I always have a container of cut dowels in various dimensions handy and use them almost every day.  Not only to fix striped holes but it is also my first step in filling in hardware holes.

First you want to find the right size dowel and one that is not too long, otherwise you will have to trim it off which is not big deal but it's ok to have it sit below the surface bit and a little easier when screwing the screw back in as well.

fill hole with wood glue.

gently tap the dowel in the hole to just below the surface.

Sometimes I actually need to drill a hole SLIGHTLY larger to get a tight fit with a dowel.  Just be careful not to drill too far….

Let dry!

It doesn't hurt to predrill tiny new holes for the screws.  Just makes life a little easier sometimes.  I like to make life easier.

Same concept, just on another pieces with a few pics...

 Here is an example of how I use larger, premade dowels to fill in stripped holes.  This caster wasn't going back in without a new, solid structure to secure to.


Fill in the hole with glue and tap in a dowel that will fit snuggly.

Because this dowel is pre cut and not very long, I decided it would be safest to cut it AFTER I had it glued into place.

Cut flush.

Drill a hole the same size as the caster peg.  NO LARGER.  Would rather have to work it in than to have it be drilled too large.  Want a tight fit.

tappidy tap, tap, tap!  I would have used my rubber mallet if I could find it.

 DONE!

BUFFET MAKEOVER AND FIXING MISSING TRIM WITH DOWELS!

I was really liked this buffet when I got it and although the drawers needed a good amount of work, new rails and had some missing trim, I wanted it!

I don't even take off the hardware until I have the drawers in perfect condition.  It makes more sense to keep them on as I work on them and plane or sand down drawers so that I can open and close them easily, until I have them working as perfectly as I can.

Typically this type of work is something I do before I prime, but because I was priming that day and didn't have the right size dowel on hand, I did it afterwards. 

Here you can see that I had the correct SIZE I needed but because the base, part that goes into the crack was different, it sunk in too much and needed a little 'lift'.

A bead of filler brought it up to the level I needed.  After letting it dry overnight, it was ready for the dowel/trim.

Here it is cut to size, glued and pin nailed in! Sorry for the bad phone pics, I must have been doing a cartwheel, but you get the idea:)

 We kept the original hardware but went over it with oil rubbed bronze.  Love the contrast of the dark with the light finish.

TRADITIONAL HUTCH TURNED GLAMOROUS METALLIC LINEN CABINET!

This has got to be one of my all time favorite pieces and finishes!  It was really fun to transform this piece from a traditional hutch into a glamorous, gorgeous linen cabinet for my wonderful, out of town  customer!

This piece was for a sweet gal who lives many states away.  After many sample boards, emails, text and pictures…we were on a roll!

 Nothin better than a good 'before' picture!

After the patching, sanding and few coats of primer was complete, the first layer of the process began...

I had this metal screen that my brother gave me a while back and always knew I would find a good use for it.  When my client mentioned she wanted to replace the glass with some sort of metal, I knew this would be the perfect fit.  I did have to spray it oil rubbed bronze because there was too much gold peaking but it is a great contrast with the black glazing.

Cutting this product was not an easy task... my hands were so sore afterwards because it was a very thick gauge wire and I had to clip each wire individually.

Couple layers of glaze and a clear coat of lacquer later…perfection!

Don't you just love the blingy hardware!  They are from Anthropology and beautiful!

Love how the detail stands out with the glazing.  Did my little 'flecking' effect with a hand dandy toothbrush:)

FRENCH PROVINCIAL MAKEOVER, SANDING TIPS AND DARKENING DISTRESSED AREAS

I have always loved french provincial pieces.  They are classic and sweet with their fancy lines and curves.  Even though the lingerie dresser was not originally a part of this set, they are always so similar in style that it didn't matter.  Once everything is refinished in the same color, as well as the hardware, they always blend together beautifully.

I have to point out a very important fact here…you MUST sand EVERY square inch of every piece on this and all pieces to make sure you have a surface that primer can adhere to.  Don't ask me why…I just know:)
This includes those pesky and annoying nooks and crannies! Just do it.  It will save you a lot of work later on.  Again, don't ask…I just know:)

The sweet gal who this set is for, wanted some distressing.  This lacquer product is so crazy awesome, durable and hard that I seriously have to pull out an electric sander when I need to do some serious distressing, just so that I can get through the layers.

Ofter times, when distressing, I don't think that the wood showing through is dark enough.  I personally like to see a darker wood showing through after distressing.
This is when I will often times use a few different techniques to get the look I want. I might a staining pen, little gel stain or maybe a bit of glaze on a piece of cotton wrapped around my finger.  Just "hitting" that distressed spot to darken it a bit, followed by a clean rag to quickly wipe off extras.

BEFORE HITTING DISTRESSED SPOTS WITH DARK GLAZE

AFTER HITTING THE RAW, DISTRESSED SPOTS WITH GLAZE….HUGE DIFFERENCE!