How to use Rub n Buff to paint furniture gold

Happy lazy Sunday afternoon, hope you are having a lovely weekend. My family all came home from their travels last night and are full of talk about their wonderful trips. Nice to have them home.

I did manage to get so much work done while they were away. I was asked by a lovely lady, Helen, to paint a huge conversation chair. It was a glossy black and she wanted it gold. I decided the best product to use is Rub n Buff as it is so durable, super easy to clean up if you get it in the wrong spot and  easy to apply especially with a fine brush. AND it looks amazing.

Above is the original finish of the piece and below is the completed piece. I did two coats leaving a full day in between coats. There were times when little flecks of the gilding wax flicked onto the leather but it is just so easy to remove with mineral turpentine on a cloth that I just didn’t even worry about being super neat. The first coat looked good but a little patchy in places but I think the second coat makes it look exactly like proper gold leaf. Helen is extremely happy with it. When the piece is in situ in the amazing room I will share photos.

Here are some other pieces I did this week using Rub n Buff. This time a slightly darker gold, Antique Gold. 

The tall mirror on the left is available for sale. Can hang portrait or landscape. Just email me for details. The other pieces have sold already. 

Personally I think Rub n Buff is way easier to apply than gold paint (you can use a small brush, your finger or cloth) and I think it gives a much more authentic finish. There are times I will use gold paint but I find myself reaching for the tube of Rub n Buff more frequently. Would love to hear what you think?

Fiona 

Antique painted pine linen press

Good afternoon, I’ve been working so hard lately I decided to take the afternoon off painting and I’m actually sitting in bed with the sun streaming in and a cool breeze, watching a movie on my iPad and I thought it was a good chance to update my blog. 

Phil and Jonty are hiking in New Zealand , a nice father and son trip and Sasha is in Spain on a school language tour. so I have been taking the opportunity to work hard and get loads done. I finished this stunning antique linen press last night and it’s available for purchase. Gosh I love it. I have painted the exterior in a limed white chalk paint and waxed finish and the interior I have left as it’s beautiful old scrubbed pine that has never been varnished so it looks gorgeous . 

These pieces are so highly practical as well as beautiful - ideal for storing linen obviously but also they work well as a bar or general storage. . 

Available : a stunning antique pine linen press. Exterior painted in a soft limed white and waxed finish. Interior is the beautiful waxed original timber. There are 4 large shelves and one small ledge shelf at the very top, two drawers with beautiful possibly ivory or bone carved handles. I just adore this piece and think it’s so practical for many uses in your home. Please note this is very old and there is slight old insect damage to the front feet but this has been treated a long time ago and timber is sturdy. 

102w x 45d x 185h cm

$1000  (Now sold)

Pickup Lilyfield or I can get you a delivery quote.

There are a few marks inside the drawers, easy to fix with some felt or paper.  

Do you love this as much as I do? It has me wishing I had a huge bathroom that I could place it in. It would look amazing!

Fiona xx

Vintage china cabinets from the 1920s

I love this old cabinet with all its details and old glass. Such a pretty piece to display your treasures. I have painted the interior in a sea foam green and the exterior in the warm pale grey I always use. It’s just the perfect neutral. 

Available: a stunning very old display cabinet from the 1920’s. Beautiful carved details and the trim around the glass on the doors is super pretty. Ball and Claw feet. Thick glass shelves (removable but not adjustable but you could always drill new holes to change shelf heights). Painted in a warm pale grey chalk paint with a sea glass green interior. Gently distressed and a waxed finish. lockable with original key 

A beautiful piece to showcase your treasures

98w x 33d x 121h cm 

(Now Sold )

Pickup Lilyfield or delivery available

I also did this lovely old cabinet last week - sources and painted for a lovely customer 

This was in the same grey with a pale pink interior. Katrina loves it. 

How beautiful is the backing board.

Hope you are having a great weekend 

Fiona xx

Beautiful vintage furniture from Denmark

I recently was able to buy some beautiful furniture that’s been imported from Denmark. It’s originally from France but has been collected and sent to Australia for sale by some guys in Denmark. It’s completely beautiful.

This ornate walnut cocktail cabinet is staying with me, for a few years at least I think. I am just completely in love with it and it looks amazing in the corner of my dining room. 

I was also thinking of keeping this French console table as I don’t currently have a console under this table but I thought oh I’ll list it and see what happens and if it doesn’t sell it can stay with me...well it sold in 10 minutes and Michelle had the money in my bank account before I could change my mind. 

Beautiful pieces making me so happy. I love the history and craftsmanship 

Fiona xx

Hello again: limed oak trunk and some recent pieces

Oh my goodness I have been so remiss on blogging and then it gets hard to start again...where do I start? What do I share? I have so many pieces I have been doing lately as well as a weekly vintage homewares sale that I am loving and so it seems are all my customers: I thought I’d share a little overview.

This beautiful old oak trunk bench that was made by Sydney master furniture makers, Beard Watson.  I hand sanded it all back whixhwas a great effort due to the detail and linenfolds. I then whitewashed and limed it for the most beautiful finish. 

I painted the interior a lovely sea foam green satin enamel. This piece sold straight away. Such a practical and lovely piece of furniture.

I have some other pieces not yet sold:

This lovely upholstered vintage bench. 

Available: a lovely vintage upholstered bench. Timber base painted in an ivory white chalk paint and waxed finish: top upholstered in black and white stripe (easy for you to change if you prefer another fabric). 112w x 50d x 50h cm

$245

Pickup Lilyfield

I also have this gorgeous vintage cedar secretaire 

Available: a beautiful vintage ladies writing desk / secretaire. The desk and top drawer are lockable with original key, all drawers dovetailed and smooth sliding, cute pigeon holes inside and a lovely shape all together. Sanded, primed and painted in @fusionmineralpaint Champlain, a lovely soft off white and sealed with wax. Interior painted in a low sheen enamel called Sorrento - a gorgeous duck egg blue. It goes so well with the little chair I also have available for sale. Please swipe for photos.

78w x 46d x 101h cm

$585

Pickup Lilyfield delivery available

Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be here more regularly and I hope you will Be also

Fiona xx

Turquoise tiles on a marble topped wash stand

As soon as I saw this piece I had the colour scheme planned in my head...

Jolie Graphite on the exterior and ASCP Florence (a tiny bit left in an old tin) was the perfect match to the tiles.

I well I doubted myself for

About an hour 

and contemplated different colours 

and 

then came

Back full

Circle to my first idea 

I also did manage to fall backwards off a tall stool when I was looking in my cupboard for the Florence paint. Actually I didn’t even fall, I just stepped down completely forgetting to even tread on the two lower steps. I just went to step from about 90cm high straight onto the ground - it’s like my brain stopped working :(

Loads of bruises on my triceps,

Forearm, hands and my bum but nothing too hurt or broken and I didn’t break the piece of furniture I fell into. Thank god I have lost some weight ha ha 

Anyway I dusted myself off and got to painting. My creativity waits for no one ...

The marble on this piece is lovely very old marble. And tiles are to die for.

Available: I’m in love with this very old piece: a beautiful marble topped wash stand by master cabinet makers Beard  Watson. The tile colour is amazing and I have painted the interior of the cupboard to match; a beautiful turquoise. Exterior has been painted in a charcoal graphite chalk paint, gently distressed and a smooth waxed finish. As a side note, the tiles are removable if you wanted to replace them with a mirror or you can take off the whole top and just use the base. Saying that I love it just as it is. Vintage castors and towel rails on both sides. The marble has a few faint marks towards the back but otherwise it’s in very good condition for its age. 

91w x 46d x 127h cm (NOW SOLD)

Pickup Lilyfield .

I have to say I’m so impressed with Jolie paints. Really easy to use and a super smooth finish and lets just say the wax is fantastic- so much easier to use the previous waxes I have used (not naming names)

If you are interested in buying this piece let me know, it’s even more lovely in real life

Fiona xx

Beautiful French cabinet in gum leaf grey chalk paint

Good morning lovely people: I wanted to thank you for all the lovely emails I’ve had from the last couple of blog posts. It’s nice to be in contact with you again. Today I’m sharing a beautiful cabinet I wasn’t sure I could part with. I really lovely the colour and shape of this vintage French piece.

This piece was so beautiful on the inside but not that nice on the outside. So I have left the interior unpainted, it’s just beautiful timber.

The exterior I have painted in a lovely gum leaf grey chalk paint,- waxed finish and some black glaze and a little

Folding wax. The overall finish is really subtle and soft.

If you are after an elegant statement piece and love this then let me know.

 Available: selling this divine French cabinet with single drawer.I have painted this in a sage green grey chalk paint with a waxed and glazed finish and a little gold on the brass ormulu and braiding. Lovely smooth finish. A very beautiful piece. Single drawer and lockable with a key. The timber interior is very beautiful:

82w x 40d x 91h cm

(NOW SOLD)

Pickup Lilyfield 

Fiona xx

White chalk paint pieces of furniture

A few months ago I got a little confused about what paint I had. I had a tin of a beige colour chalk paint for a custom piece and when I had finished the job I mixed the rest of the tin with a bright white and it made the loveliest soft  white. Fast forward a few months and I needed to buy some soft white paint and I totally forgot that the white I had been using was a mix and not the actual paint I’d bought ...and I went and bought 4 litres of it. When I got home and opened it all I could not believe I had bought 4 litres of BEIGE paint. Far out....

So I’ll be mixing paint to get the soft white colour I like for a long time. 

Anyway .... as you can imagine I am using the mix on lots and lots of pieces. I have these pieces available . These French style drawers which are so lovely. They would work well as a console table or large bedside table also.

The drawers interiors are painted in a putty satin enamel. 

90w (at widest) x 41d x 87h cm

(Now Sold)

I also have these vintage Australian cedar bedside tables. They are very solid and in great shape. The drawer interiors have been painted in an aqua satin enamel. I actually can’t believe these haven’t been snapped up as they are GORGEOUS and usually in high demand. 

Available ; vintage cedar bedside tables with a serpentine front and two smooth sliding drawers. Painted in a white chalk paint and waxed finish (tops have been sealed with a clear coat so you can safely have your water glass on them). Interiors of the drawers have been painted a gorgeous aqua water based enamel. 

Very solid and elegant 

45w x 43d x 75h cm 

(Now Sold)

Pickup Lilyfield or delivery available

This vintage timber mirror has been painted in the same white with a little dark wax for patina. 

Available - a lovely vintage timber mirror painted white with patina added with black wax. A nice deep bevel edge and glass in perfect condition. Ready to hang on strong chain.

92w x 65h cm

(Now Sold)

Pickup Lilyfield only

And finally this vintage French desk I painted for a customer. I loved working on this special piece. My photo certainly doesn’t do it justice. The tope was leather and there are two slide out panels for extra working space each end. My customer was so happy with it. 

Hope you love the colour as you’ll be seeing so much more of it :)

Yours in white paint 

Fiona xx