My Dining Room!

The much anticipated change in my dining room furniture is COMPLETED! I am very grateful for the hours of help and the skill and knowledge added by my parents to make this project a possibility. 

I spent $80 (Craigslist) on this oak dining room table with 6 chairs:

These 3 barstool chairs came from a neighbor's yard sale, I think it was $10 for all of them. They have been waiting for their makeover for about 2 years.

This little random chair was free... the best price, from our neighbors who we were sad moved far away.

So it is a good memory and a perfect place for our Space Saver baby high chair.

The goal - To make all these pieces of dining furniture match this lovely hutch I purchased (Craigslist) about a year and a half ago. I did not paint this, it was already done.

The process began with many hours of deep cleaning, sanding, replacing spindles (using an extra chair purchased at Goodwill for $1 that matched but was in terrible condition), gluing and overall preparations.

Then, my father used his paint sprayer to spray on a primer coat of white free paint, then a final coat of Clark+Kensington Paint, Southern Plantation color. (Total cost for 2 gallons, $55)

After a few days of drying, my mom and I bravely glazed the table and chairs with a tintable glaze mixed with black acrylic paint. It was messy and slightly stressful because of the speed required to get the right look.

How'd we do?

I'm so glad I took on this project and I'm so grateful for all the support in accomplishing it!

~ Chelsea ~

Before & Afters by Lynda

It's inspiring to see ugly transform into beautiful with some time, skill and creativity!

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Paint Quality & Price

I remember not so long ago when I didn't know there were different qualities of paint. I remember purchasing paint at Walmart and not knowing the difference between flat, satin, semi-gloss or glossy and I didn't know what enamel or latex meant. I still don't profess to be any sort of expert on the subject of paint, but I have learned a bit from smart people around me and from my experience. 

This past week, I tried out a new brand of paint since I got it with a rebate from Rod's Ace Hardware in Mesa, AZ. I love that place by the way (small tangent...) They are very helpful, informative and friendly. I went there first for a free quart of paint and was impressed that they treated me so well when I was there for a freebie. They gave me my free quart in a color I chose, with a paint can opener and a stirring stick. Wow, I'm a fan. So, anyway, the brand of paint I got (quart for free and then purchased a gallon of) is Clark+Kensington, Paint + Primer In One.

This is black Satin Enamel. It was about $28/gal after the $7 rebate. 

And I will have fun with many future projects and this little black gallon. 

And my first project completed with it last week was my simple entertainment center that we were given right before our family started in 2007. 

I love how it turned out. I loved painting it with this paint. The paint went on great (I used a foam brush), dried great and looks really professional. I love that it is not gloppy or thick and it lets the wood grain show through. Because it is enamel paint, it dries hard and durable. 

I am impressed and happy. 

I will be using this paint (but in a cream color) again for my dining set... big job... but coming soon!

~ Chelsea ~

GO ON AUGUST 4TH TO GET YOUR FREE QUART OF FLAT ENAMEL PAINT FROM ACE HARDWARE.