French Chest Makeover with Pure & Original Paint

Honestly, until about a month ago, I’d never heard of Pure & Original paint.  And, what I’ve learned in the last few weeks is that it is a highly-refined paint made from all-natural ingredients.  Because of the way these ingredients are milled, the resultant finishes are super-silky…..without sanding.I know!!  

It sounded too good to be true.   So naturally, I had to give it a try.

I received free paint from Pure & Original in exchange for writing a review on the blog. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are 100% my own.

Luckily, Pure & Original was the sponsor of this month’s Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest.  And I was one of 60 lucky bloggers with a chance to put this paint to the test.

Three Colors and One French Chest

First, colors were chosen that best fit the contest theme “Pure Colors, Original Elegance” and the piece I planned to paint.  And I gotta tell ya, the colors are totally dreamy.  All of them.  I had a really hard time choosing.

But this old gal, who had been hidden away in a closet for about 20 years, was more than ready for a swanky updo. 

First, she was washed down with mild soap and water.  Sanding really isn’t necessary for this paint, but we prepped the piece before the paint arrived…with the all important directions. 🙁   So, ooops.  This piece was lightly sanded.

The First Layer of Paint

Next the first coat, a medium-deep green called Sea Moss, was brushed on the entire piece.  The paint was very thinly applied at the centers of the drawers, sides, and top. Then a heavier coat was spread to the edges and corners.

The paint is actually pretty thick, but responds beautifully to a damp brush and a drop of water.  Anytime the brush began to “drag” on the wood, it was actually just a little dry.  Dipping the brush tip in water and dabbing on a paper towel remedied the drag every time.

In fact,  this is the most hydrophilic (water-loving) chalk paint I’ve ever used.  By adding a drop of water now and then, the paint worked with great ease and could be manipulated until I got the look I wanted.

The Second Layer of Paint

The second layer, an icy-blue called Lagoon Water, was heavily applied in the centers and lighter at the edges.  This gave the look of having been distressed, but without any sanding.

The Third Layer of Paint

Then a third layer, a green-tinted white called Kiwi White, was applied to the entire piece.

An artist brush was used to apply additional Sea Moss into the nooks and crannies.  A damp cloth was used to wipe excess paint away while it was still wet.

To achieve an exact match, the decorative pieces on the left and right sides were finished at the same time.

The same Sea Moss also adds a pop of color to the drawer sides.

The Finishing Layers of Paint

All of the paint colors were layered-on until they melted together.  The Sea Moss is highlighted in crevices and the other two are layered together on the flat surfaces.  If you get really close, the layers are evident; but, from a distance, the piece just looks like it has good depth of color.

The Hardware

The hardware is original to the piece.  It is an antique brass with a lovely patina.  I had no intention of polishing or coloring this hardware so it was really important to work with the colors until they played well with the hardware.

As the vignette was assembled for the photos, my mind returned to the theme, “Pure colors, original elegance. ”   And, for the life of me, I couldn’t think of anything more pure than white linen……

…….or more elegant than Pure & Original paint on a French-style chest.

Many thanks to The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest for hosting this wonderful event and to the most generous #sponsor, Pure & Original.

If you enjoyed this makeover, I do hope you will share it with your friends.

The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest Team:

Also linking to these Fab Flippin Hosts:

Carrie at Thirty Eighth Street

Stacy at Anastasia Vintage

Bloggers interested in joining future contests should contact: info@fabfurnitureflippincontest.com

#puredesign #pureoriginalpaint #fffc2016 #fabflippincontest 

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