French and Italian furniture historically have been known for their attention to intricate detail. At the beginning of the 17th century France greatly prospered and French furniture moved in a new direction. Life became more grand and luxurious and the demand for fine home furnishings became more widespread.

Louis XIII at the age of age of eight began his reign in 1601, and it was at this time when new and exciting forms of furniture started appearing. Both the grand and luxurious furniture became available and also furniture for everyday use became was more accessible.

Styles of ornament in the 17th century became varied, and more ornate with much scroll designs and shell carving. Typical motifs included birds, vases, bouquets, garlands, branches of leaves and fruits.  Baroque style peaked popularity in the 18th century, and originated around the 16th century in some areas around Europe. The style was excessive and the ornaments were grand.  Oak, walnut, chestnut, and ebony were frequently used for the majority of furniture, while the ornamental portions were fashioned out of the exotic woods such as rosewood, sandalwood, and tulipwood.

White Rcoco Ornate Console By Karen Golden Russell

Guilding was excessive and utterly beautiful! Everything was gilded or accented in marquetry with mounts and inlay of onyx, porphyry and lapis-lazuli.    Rococo styles closely followed after and was associated with Louis XV's reign but started at the beginning of Louis XVI's reign between 1720 and 1730.   Rococo styles were as grand as Baroque styles but less imposing  in scale.

Rococo ceiling stucco at the Neues Schloss, Tettnang

Decorative accents otherwise known as ormolu were made out of brass and colored woods.  Exquisitely carved decorative accents adorned furniture with great use of of motifs consisting of shell decoration, plant and flower motifs, C scrolls and S scrolls.  Rococo styled rooms featured many decorative moldings from the ornate furniture.  It didn't end there, small sculptures featured ormolu details, ornamental mirrors were adorned, and complementing architecture featured substantial reliefs.  The decorative impressions were seen everywhere during this time.   Furniture has never been made the same since this point in history.

Our suggestions for TOP QUALITY Brass Ormolu:

Ari's Luxury- features authentic classical furniture ormolu for your french and Italian furniture.

Today, you can buy quality brass ormolu from Ari's Luxury on ebay.  Their selection is simply the best on the market for neoclassical decorative mounts and appliques.  The decorative designs are made from quality metals, and feature very rich detail.  If you can afford it, and are investing in a quality antique, I do suggest to buy brass accents from them.  You will find at Ari's Luxury authentic designs which you cannot find in wood, plaster or clay molds.  I would imagine Ari's Luxury has spent years building up their authentic collection of decorative Ormolu.

Wood appliques have one distinct advantage over the rest of the appliques.  - They can be stained, as they are real wood.  If you are after an authentic carved look, wood appliques could be what you are after.  Today decorative wood appliques can be purchased and hammered on to furniture.  These appliques can be stained and are mentto replicate carved wood for a fraction of the cost and talent.   Plaster motifs can also be painted to replicate wood with faux wood painting, but it does take some skill to make paint look like realistic wood.

Here are some of my faux wood painting projects.  You can paint faux wood too!

Faux Burl Wood, Burl Wood Side Chests, White Crackle Furniture, Perfect White chests, Swedish White Chests

Wood will always be more durable than plaster.

Here are some of the best sites on ebay that feature decorative wood appliques:

Grand River Wood Products- Features a variety of decorative wood appliques as well as table legs and corbels

Wood N Shop- Features a generous amount of decorative embossed wood appliques which can be hammered on to any chest front, table leg or chair.

Habbys Sports And Collectables- has a small selection of wood carvings.  They have some beautiful carved bell flowers and other neoclassical designs

Joslin Home Products- Features a small selection of beautiful embossed wood appliques

DesertRoses Designs Craft Shop- features a nice selection of finials, hardware and decorative accents

Painted Buffet-Sideboar d Ebay Seller Jwplus4

Plaster Molds

Plaster Molds have a benefit that they can be produced for a fraction of the cost and mass produced from your home for a wide variety of projects.  A large wood relief can be purchased for 20 dollars, while a whole bag of plaster can be 9 dollars and could serve multiple projects.  Working with plaster can be incredibly rewarding especially if you enjoy a wide variety of ornate decorative details.  The draw back to using plaster on your drawers is plaster can be easily broken, compared to wood, or resin molds.   If you have children who like to play, the plaster could be broken compared to wood appliques.

Our best suggestions for Plaster Molds:

Victoria Larsen- Has a very nice selection of hand picked architectural molds and stencils.  Many of her stencils (such as her tree stencils) can be used with plaster to create a 3 d effect on your walls.   She just features molds which could be used on cabinetry, drawer fronts, ceilings and walls.  What I enjoy about her selection is her molds are typical designs which would be found in the 18th century homes.

Go Statue- Go Statue is highly recommended in my books.  I have ordered a few of their molds, and I have been impressed with their service.  They carry a variety of molds.  The ones I have ordered are very durable and capable of producing thousands of molds without breaking. Their Tuscan molds are my favorite, and I have used them for a variety of projects.

Do it Yourself Chic - Sells ready made Furniture appliques.  They carry a large selection of shabby chic large molds for drawer fronts and headboard frames.  They have over 200 appliques to choose from.

Go Statue Embelishment Molds can be used for dresser drawer fronts and furniture.  Some of their more delicate frieze or pediment molds can be used with polymer clay instead of plaster.

Simply Craft has a beautiful selection of molds which could be used INTEAD of keyholes.  Although the purpose of the molds were intended to be used as soaps, the decorative portion of the mold can be used with Polymer Clay, and gold or silver leafed for a decorative accent on your dresser.  They have some pretty shell molds perfect for a nautical themed dresser, and some horse molds that would look very nice in an equestrian girls room.

Making Molds From Plaster of Paris

1. Mix according to the directions on the Plaster of Paris bag or box. Use a plastic bucket and pour your water into the container. (We recommend using a plastic bucket or margarine plastic container to mix in. As you are finished your project, after a day, the concrete or plaster will dry and can be easily removed from the edges making an easy clean up) For example 1 cup water and two cups of plaster. A metal whisk makes mixing relatively quicker than a regular mixing spoon. Don't mix up more than you need, as any extras just go to waste. NEVER, ever rinse compound down your kitchen sink It can harden in your pipes.

2. Spray your mold with a release agent. While some sites recommend cooking spray, it has turned out disastrous for me. I have found a light coat of Vaseline works well, although this may not work with concrete because I have never tried it. Mud Art suggests that diesel oil has worked the best and doesn't cause adverse reactions with the concrete. Mold release sprays are designed to help release the cured concrete from the mold and eliminate air bubbles and pockets. Thicker oils such as baby oil, mineral oil and some vegetable oils actually cause air to be trapped in the concrete more than usual, which I can confirm happens with plaster of Paris also. They tend to create small indents in the plaster which ruins the plaster mold.

3. Pour the plaster mixture in to the center of the mold. Once the mold is filled to the top, tap the edge of the mold to bring any air bubbles to the surface. Level out your mold with the edge of a knife, paint mixing stick, squeegee, or any any other flat edged item to level off the plaster which will allow you to have a smooth backing to place on your dresser front, or walls.

4. Let your plaster cure for 1 to 2 days. My general rule is to leave the mold to set for thirty hours. This will allow the smaller delicate details of the mold adequate time to set and harden, eliminating breakage by removing it early. If you intend to "hang" your plaster pieces on the wall instead of mounting them to the walls or dresser fronts, simply fashion a "U" wire hanger and insert it in to the back of the plaster while it is still wet.

5. Releasing the mold should be done with careful patience. Turn the mold over and lightly press around the mold until you feel a release. As you use your mold over and over, the mold over time will extract the pieces easier.

6. Again with careful hands, round any rough edges with your fingers. If the mold is quite hard, you can use a finger nail file for the edges.

Applying your Mold to Your Dresser or Walls:

1. Before beginning, be sure your mold is absolutely dry. With Plaster of Paris, it should almost be lightweight. Let your molds dry for several days before adhering them to the wall. If you don't let them dry, the existing water in the mold will make the mold too heavy for the wall. Take the extra time for it to dry so it can adhere correctly.

2. Joint compound does a wonderful job of gluing your plaster ornaments on to dressers and walls with ease. Simply trowel the compound on the back of the piece where you wish to mount it on the wall or drawer front. Hold the ornament in place for a few minutes. Larger pieces may need extra time. Clean up any compound that has spilled over the sides. You want to create a seamless flush look between the wall and the ornaments. I leave my pieces to dry over night.

3. After it has dried over night, use water and compound and fill in the areas that are exposed between the ornament and the wall. Smooth it as you go. The overall effect should look part of the wall, not a decorative piece just stuck to the wall. A little bit of water on your fingers will create a seamless look. This step creates a more "professional" and "finished" look.

4. Once the compound has dried and you are pleased with the overall look of the dresser drawer or wall, you will want to paint your ornament. Plaster will not take paint well. Mix together a solution of 1/2 white glue such as "Elmer's" mixed with 1/2 water to seal the porous plaster so that it will accept paint evenly and smoothly.

How to Make Polymer Clay Molds:

1.  Always slightly dust your mold with Baby Powder.  Next, gently tap out the remaining excess power before pushing the clay into the impression.  If it does get stuck, try putting the mold with the clay in it into the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes this will help it  release.  I tend to use a very fine crafting knife to gently lift the mold from the back.  As you lay your finished molds on a cookie sheet, trim around the mold for greater detail.  Again, I tend to use a craft knife with a very fine point to do my altering.  Bake according to the clay manufactures directions.

As you take your molds out of the oven, they are ready to be hammered into place.

I have found that withsmaller details, Polymer Clay is the very best choice to decorate a dresser with.  It doesn't shatter to pieces like plaster of parisdoes, and it allows me to hammer the pieces in place compared to plaster of Paris.  Although it doesn't work so well with very large castings, it can be used for decorative edging, and making key holes.  Simply gold or silver leaf these castings and it replicates brass decorative ormolu.

Reccomended Stores on Ebay for Polymer Clay Molds

Premo Sculpey Polymer Clay stays plyable until you bake it in the oven.  It is available in a number of colors, but gold seems to be a good base if you plan on gold leafing your molds later on.  Black is the other color I use most often.   Buy it by the pound, for a better value than any stores can offer.

Crow's Nest Studio  Specializes in polymer clay molds. I recommend their Embellishment molds, Insect Molds.  Their molds would be dynamite for jewelry.

Beauty & Craft has a large selection of Polymer Clay molds.  I especially love the animal molds which can be used for both Jewelry and dresser ormolu.  The swallows bird would look spectacular gold leafed and hammered on to a dresser.  The decorative molds are especially beautiful for small accents.  The sea life molds are very pretty for a nautical dresser.

How to Use Concrete Molds

1.  First you want to lubercate your mold before using it.  Oil the mold lightly with concrete form oil or light machine oil before pouring the concrete.  There should be a light film on the mold, but not pooling amounts of oil.

2.  Next mix your dry concrete in a plastic bucket and add water a little at a time while mixing.  Using a plastic bucket will allow any remaining concrete to be easily removed and cleaned after it has dried for a day.  The concrete mix should be thick, not thin.   Powdered colorant can be added after both water and concrete are mixed together. Liquid colorant should be added before adding your water into your concrete mix.

3.  Tap the edge of the mold to bring to the surface any air bubbles trapped in the concrete or plaster.  Tap the edge of the mold until no new bubbles appear on the surface.

4. Let your mold dry for about 24 to 36 hours.  One good indication that your mold is cured is when you can no longer scratch the concrete or plaster with your thumbnail or a toothpick.  Removing the plaster or concrete before it is dry, will result in it breaking in half.  To many times I have ruined a mold because I was too excited to see what it looked like.  A general guideline is to leave the wet concrete in the mold for thirty hours.  This will help elimate the breakage of delicate parts as you extract the mold.

5.  To release the mold, place a support board on top of the mold, and gently turn the mold over.  While holding the mold, be very gentle to push down around the mold to extract it.  Additional drying time is needed for the mold to fully dry.  Plaster when dry should be relatively light to lift.  Leave it dry for several more days before using.

Mold Creations gives their instructions along with the recipes for different concrete molds.  They also carry colorants which can be mixed into your concrete and plasters.

Recipe for Concrete

Concrete is made of up sand + gravel + cement. Cement is the glue that holds the sand and gravel together. The gravel or aggregate as it is referred to is what provides the strength in concrete.

Mortermix is just sand and cement.   If there is no gravel, your molds will have no strength.   Morter mix is generally used just to "glue" things together like bricks and stone.

It is highly suggested that if you are wanting to make wall hangings or fence art, and so forth morter mix is great. If you want to actually walk on your stones do only use concrete mix.

 A Mix Recipe without Gravel:
- 1 3/4 - 2 quarts of water
- 5 quarts of sand
- 2 1/2 quarts of portland cement
 

Recipe for Concrete Mix with Gravel:
- 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 quarts of water
- 2 quarts of portland cement
- 3 quarts of rock
- 4 quarts of sand

In a mixing bucket, mix all dry ingredients together. Next in a seperate bucket add 3/4 of your water slowly into the mix of dry ingredients.   Continue to add the rest of your water until you reach a pancake batter consistency.  You may not need to use all of your water

Sand, Vermiculite and Perlite are all variations that will achieve looks that simulate granite. Vermiculite give a somewhat sparkly look.  The overall look can duplicate smooth concrete than aged
stone.

 
Recipe 1
- 1 quart of water
- 3 quarts of portland cement
- 3 quarts of peatmoss
- 3 quarts of medium or fine perlite

Recipe 2
- 1 1/2 quarts of water
- 3 quarts portland cement
- 2 1/4 quarts sand
- 4 quarts peatmoss

Recipes for Lightweight Concrete

- 1 quart of water
- 2 quarts portland cement
- 3 quarts sand
- 3 quarts perlite

Variation for Lightweight Concrete

Recipe 2
- 1 quart of water
- 2 quarts portland cement
- 2 quarts sand
- 3 quarts vermiculite

We hope this guide will help you design the ultimate dresser of your dreams using decorative accents to kick it up a knotch!

The Secret Cabinet Sold By Anthropologie

The picture above is the Secret Cabinet being sold by Anthropologie which features a beautiful yellow interior

Painting inside your dresser and cabinets.

1. Clean inside your cabinets.

It is guaranteed that the inside of your cabinets and drawers have a bit of loose dust.  Vacuum the inside of your dresser drawers. When cleaning inside of your kitchen cabinets, be sure the surfaces are completely free of all grease, grime, and residue. With kitchen cabinets, and china cabinets, take the extra time and take off the cabinet doors.

2. Sanding

Sanding can be one of the most tedious parts of painting, but it is well worth the time and effort.  It is certainly not the most enjoyable part of the process, but through out the years your work will pay off.

Dressers:

A good primer is all that is needed most of the time for the inside of drawers in chests and dressers. Never never never cut corners and use a sticky drawer liner.  Over time these liners have ruined so many drawers and I personally have spent hours scratching inch by inch to get them out of vintage dressers. A better alternative is felt or velvet lining cut to size. The outside of a dresser and top of the dresser are areas that would need to be sanded before painting, though because most drawers are not painted and are of wood, a primer usually does the job quite well. Cover Stain primer sticks to almost any surface without scratching off. Test one drawer and if the paint peels off, it would be likely you need to sand before painting.

White Painted Cabinets -Photo Credit Pink Wallpaper

Kitchen Cabinets, and China Cabinets

With kitchen or china cabinets it is necessarily that a slight sand will make the surface more porous to accepting paint. Fine grit sandpaper - 150 or finer is recommended.  A slightly sanded surface will allow the primer to bite and hold onto the cabinet surface and will greatly increase longevity of the paint job. With china and kitchen cabinets that take a fair bit of abuse each day, this step is absolutely necessary. Please do not skip this step.  I painted an interior of a china cabinet with black flat oil paint thinking it would do the job of a primer, only to come to know after it was completed that it didn't stick at all. It was disheartening to scrape off the paint and start over again all because I didn't sand first.

3. Apply a primer.

Over the years, I have found oil based primers more effective, than water based primers. I don't take chances on my furniture anymore by using water based. I have tried Behr Paint and Primer which is great, but on some projects this brand has failed to stick. Cover stain Primer can be tined in a wide range of lighter colors, and is a tremendous time saver because it sticks to almost every surface. Often times, I use just the tinted primer, and a polycrylic satin sealant on most of my furniture. Cover stain also is excellent to sand, so if you want to take your shelves out to distress after the paint has dried, this paint is very easy to sand.

Primer forms a better bond with the surface than paint alone would.  A primed surface means that it is less likely to chip and peel if it gets bumped with dishes or pots and pans. If your cabinets are already painted and you are re-painting them the same color, you can skip this step and go ahead and apply the paint.

If your cabinets are a natural wood grain, you must prime them first. The paint will not stick a varnished surface. Shellac based primers, and oil based carry a very strong odor and caution should be used. It is imperative that you do wear a mask and great caution should be used if you plan on using them with a pneumatic sprayer. It is absolutely necessary that you wear a mask and have a lot of ventilation because respiratory problems can develop even when using a mask with a pneumatic sprayer.

4. Painting the cabinets

After sanding and priming, your cabinet doors probably look terrible. The foundation for a nice coat of paint is ready, and a coat of paint will bring your kitchen transformation to life. A pneumatic sprayer is the best way to get a smooth and glossy finish, though again, heavy precaution should be used to with an oxygen ventilator, or multiple fans and a heavy duty breathing mask should be used.

If you choose to paint by hand you still can achieve a professional finish by using a high quality paint brush or foam paint brush which will even out your strokes. The key to achieving a professional finish with a brush is to use very thin coats. It can be very tempting to paint on very thick coats to get the job done quicker especially after the hours of priming and sanding. Thick coats will mean a uneven finish. The best and most durable paint jobs are built up by consecutive thin layers of paint.

Lightly apply your first coat and let it dry completely. If you really want to achieve a professional finish, take some 400 grit sandpaper and very lightly sand between coats. Ideally you are not trying to remove the paint, but instead preparing a smooth surface for the next coat.  In most cases two coats of paint will cover well, but occasionally three may give better results.

It is best that you take your time at your transformation. I know too many times I have rushed through projects because I was tired and wanted it done, I have regretted because my work has turned out sloppy.  Work at your transformation every day or every couple of days. If you feel rushed or tired, it is very likely that you will try to take shortcuts. After your cabinets are hung, or drawers are in place you will enjoy the bright, clean and renewed space that you've worked so hard to achieve will look dynamite!

A pale blue backdrop sets off the monochromatic scheme From Country Living

Painted Chinoiserie Style Secretary From Greenwich Living Antiques & Design Centre

Early in the 20th century french provincial furniture became popular in America, and grew over the years as mass production during the 50's and 60's grew it to an all time high.  French reproduction furniture was all the rage.  Bedroom sets, living room sets and dining room sets were all styled in the french provincial looks, while at the same time the modern furniture was taking off as well.  The white house during that time was decorated in french provincial pieces.  Today this furniture is surfacing again at thrift stores, ebay, and local classifieds.  It is extremely sought after as it goes hand in hand with chic, chippy, and English decors.  In home decor magazines are glorifying antiques because they are hard to come by and rare to be seen.  In particular, Veranda magazine is best known for featuring painted antiques worth thousands.  One thing is true, french style will never go out of fashion.  Other than Rococo furniture, it doesn't get as glamorous as that!

Myra Hoefer French Country Chest - White Dresser

Antique White Chest French Country - Myra Hoefer

Antique White Chest French Country - Myra Hoefer

Charles Faudree's French Country Living

Charles Faudree's Country French Living

Charles Faudree's French Country Signature

Charles Faudree Interiors

White Accents In A Dark Room

The perfect example of a multitude of colors displayed while still creating the balance with black walls.  Photo Credit Sid Mashburn From Brilliant Asylum Blog

In most instances a room is pulled together using like colors or using two or three colors that work together.  So how do you pull off a look with a wide range of colors?  First, like we mentioned, you need to have a room that is pretty neutral on its own, that being beige, black or white.  Next you need to layer in objects that are well balanced.  Choose objects that are the same size, or shape and combine them together.

Colorful White Shabby Interiors

A common example of this is grouping three paintings on the wall, all being the same size, but each having like colors or entirely different colors.   They work together because they all have the common element of size. Another example of this is having a number of throw pillows, all the same size but different patterns.

The key to creating a colorful room is in the balance.  Within the caios you need to create order out of the elements.  And being that color is off limits, try to find the balance elsewhere by choosing all white furniture or like objects to ensure that design was well thought out instead of a mumble jumble of colors.

,Hooker Furniture Seven Seas 42" Three Drawer French Chest 497-85-122,Seabrook Classics Cooper River Chest,Seabrook Classics Lowcountry Riverside Chest,Seabrook Classics Cottage 4 Drawer Chest,Seabrook Classics Cottage Chiffonnier French Chest,Seabrook Classics Cottage Nightstand,Seabrook Classics Creekside Cabinet, Seabrook Classics Drayton Hall Buffet, Seabrook Classics Edisto Chest, Seabrook Classics Four Drawer Chest, Seabrook Classics French Chest

Colorful White Interiors

White Bathroom Vanities

This stunning bathroom was designed by Craig Wright.  Shades of white, silver and ivory play off each other to create a luxurious feel

White Bathroom Vanities

Arched Ellipse Vessel Sink - Carrara White Marble

Ronbow Polished natural Carrar white rectangle marble vessel sink M4013-CW

DECOLAV 1620-M-CWH Round Natural Stone Vessel, White Marble

Bathroom Sink Under Mount Counter by Kohler - K-2602-MF in Satin Bronze

Paragon Mottled Gold Ornate Traditional Wall Mirror 8766

Paragon Black Ornate Traditional Wall Mirror 8851

  2896-DBLT-64 Double Buckingham Bathroom Sink Vanity

32" Fiesta Bathroom sink vanity cabinet Model BA-2873BLT

36" Mirrired Bathroom Sink Vanity - Model # BWV-025/36 Ashley
60" Pastel white Double Sink vanity # 33127M Hungtington

White Bathroom Vanities

3M Pro-Pad PRPD-100 Sanding Sponge, 2.88 in x 4 in x .5 in, 54-Pack

Finishing Value Pack

52-6160 48PC FOAM BRUSH DISP DESC:12"X12"

7777 SP SATIN BLACK per 6 EA

 Rust-oleum Corp/zinsser 1981-830 "Painter's Touch" Multi-Purpose Spray Paint 12 Oz. - White Primer (Pack of 6)

Pro Painter Tips:

- Once you have sanded your piece, you can soften your look by wiping over the distressed areas with your white paint.  You can control how much of the distressing you want to show.  Doing this you achieve a light white wash look in the areas you have distressed.   I find this step really produces professional results that antique dealer show rooms often feature without looking home painted.

-French country furniture is often seen with black or red distressed paint. I have found early on in my painting experience, that you DO NOT want to prime your furniture piece before hand if you plan on using these colors. The problem is you end up seeing the primer once you begin distressing.  Gripper primer does come in a gray for dark paint colors, but if you do prime your piece first, as it naturally ages and shows wear you end up seeing the primer instead of the natural wood.  *Be sure to sand your piece down well, and then apply your paint.  I have always suggested Rustoleum's Satin Oil Paints, because they are quite a bit durable than latex paints.

- When you are applying your paint, use a simple chip brush to apply the paint, and go over your your piece with a disposable foam brush to even out the paint.  It produces the best  results next to spraying your furniture.  The last thing you want is to see is your painting marks.  by doing this simple step, your piece will look professionally painted.

Wood Chip Brush -- 4 Inch

- White furniture that shows black distressing can look very sophisticated and elegant.  I have found success using black oil paint (with no primer underneath it) and then a (flat) latex on top.  If you do this, lightly sand your oil finish and use a flat paint, which you can later apply a water based polycrylic over your finished piece.  Flat will eat up any dirt, so be sure to coat it with a water based polycrylic or untined glaze.

Oil as the bottom coat makes it quite a bit easier to sand, and it produces nicer results.   If you do plan on doing this on a chair seat, be sure to use a latex over a latex, or be sure to sand your oil finish before adding your flat white paint.  Oil naturally does not adhere to water based paint unless you sand.  So be sure to sand in between coats.

Polycrylic Satin, Quart

- Bright white furniture is never a color you find in true antiques.  Try an antique white or the heirloom white by American Accents.  It is a creamy white, which would fit in with any period antiques.

Rust-Oleum American Accents, Satin, 1-Quart

- Try adding a brown glaze over your white piece of furniture for an extra antiquing step.  Do not add glaze over a flat finish, because the white will eat up the brown pigment.  Paint over your piece with a coat of glaze (un-tinted), which will protect your paint finish, and then add your glaze with a little bit of brown paint mixed together to finish your piece.  The glaze un-tinted can be used instead of your polycrylic as a finishing coat as it dries clear.

 - W26W00960-14 Best Look Faux Finish Glaze

Country Living Distressed White Cabinet

Country living shows this beautiful shabby kitchen with a variety of shabby chic ideas.  This table is very distressed, which can be achieved using a metal brush.  It could use a simple wash of white to tone down the abrasiveness of the wood. In my opinion the white furniture needs a coat of brown glaze so it doesn't look so stark, but then again many people would also disagree.  This picture shows that there are many different levels of distressing that can be used.

Again, another distressed cabinet that shows quite a bit more of an aged look which can be achieved using a wire brush which allows you to pull off more of the paint.

Country Living also shows this stunning distressed antique dresser with antique pulls.

Southern Living features these beautiful signs that feature a variety of distressing.  From the heavy distressing of the yellow garden sign, to the slight distressing of the blue and green signs, you can add in crackling paint and glaze to combine with distressing which produces beautiful looks.

]]> http://thewhitedresser.com/archives/distressed-white-dresser/feed 0 http://thewhitedresser.com/archives/rachel-ashwells-shabby-chic http://thewhitedresser.com/archives/rachel-ashwells-shabby-chic#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0000 Admin http://thewhitedresser.com/?p=189 Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic

<A HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fshatteparadi-20%2F8010%2F55c14ced-bcdf-4604-bde2-a630e20fdb55&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</A>Ashwell’s accessories can be found in the homes of stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Oprah Winfrey, but she didn't start out so big.  As a child she was used to being dragged out of bed early in the morning to go flea market shopping with her parents [...]]]>

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic

Ashwell’s accessories can be found in the homes of stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Oprah Winfrey, but she didn't start out so big.  As a child she was used to being dragged out of bed early in the morning to go flea market shopping with her parents on weekends. Her mother restored and sold antique dolls, and her father was an antique book dealer, so those years of antique shopping developed within her a keen sense of what quality was and the details to look for that made objects valuable.  Ashwell went on to writing several books on treasure hunting and how to buy and resell and repair flea-market finds.  For more than 14 years she has followed her love of  shabby chic elements such as romantic florals, white linen, white furniture, and outstanding antiques which she has developed into a brand that annually brings in more than $10m.  She has also  created a line for Target, in which she supplies her accessories to hundreds of stores around the world.  She now has five more stores,and over 125 employees.  Her stores are currently in Chicago, San Francisco, Malibu, Newport Beach and New York.

Shabby Chic Interiors--My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets, begins with Rachel's breathtaking Los Angeles residence. She features a mountain-top home in the Hollywood, and a beautiful Malibu beach cottage.  She gives a peek into celebrity homes, including the house that once belonged to Marilyn Monroe. This book celebrates all that is wonderfully Shabby Chic.

"One of my pet peeves is too much matching, clutter, frills and people being too quick to complete the decorating process. The solution is to simplify. Be without, rather than making a wrong quick choice. Less is more."- Rachel Ashwell

Shabby Chic: Sumptuous Settings and Other Lovely Things

 The Shabby Chic Home

The Shabby Chic Gift of Giving

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Interiors

Shabby Chic Interiors: My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets

"I don't really follow trends as I stick to my palette of pale green, pale pink, pale blue, cream and ivories." Rachel Ashwell

The hundreds of lavish photographs in these books Rachel Ashwell's world of Shabby Chic. Rachel Ashwell, founder of the Shabby Chic home decor stores, for the first time provides her invaluable and much-sought-after advice on how to re-create Shabby Chic style in your own home. With engaging text and easy-to- follow instructions, Rachel details the Shabby Chic basics in a way that will put even the most apprehensive or novice decorators at ease. From flowers to fabrics to lighting, Rachel illuminates all of the elements essential to this unpretentious yet truly exquisite style

Shabby Chic

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating Guide

Denise Richard's White Home

Gerber Slipcover, Vintage Floral Decorative Pillow, Toile Blue Furniture Slipcover Ottoman 551, Pinzon Plumeria 30-by-40-Inch Stretched Canvas Print, Royal Albert Old Country Roses Chintz Tea-For-One, Chintz Cup and Saucers, Set of 4
Modern Chintz Set of 4 Canvas Prints, Sandra's Rose Bone China Chintz 8" Salad Plate

Gerson Small Glass Apothecary Jars with Lids, Set of 2, Apothecary Glass Jar - Medium, Elements-Glass Apothecary Jar, Terra Pastry Stand Set/3

Denise Richard's White Home

Cottage Dining Table- White, Carolina Cottage Antique Ivory Gilda Round Side Table, Homestyles Antique White 42" Round Dining Table Antique White, Round Pedestal Antique Off-White Dining Table, Wildon Home 4241 Morrison Round Dining Table with Empire Base in Natural and White, Hooker Furniture 497-75-201 Bordeaux Round Leg 48" Dining Table in Two Tone Antique White Crackle and Warm Brown Finish, American Drew Camden-Light Round Table 920-701R

Half Moon Console Hall Table with Inlaid Beveled Top in Shell White Finish
,Chic and Shabby White Decorative Turrett Shaped Birdcage White Washed Finish, Simply Shabby Chic Pedestal Table - White, Set of 3 Distressed White Iron Cottage or Shabby Chic Decorative Boxes on a Tray, Round Accent End Table with Inlaid Beveled Top in Shell White Finish, Simply Shabby Chic™ Crystal Candlestick Table Lamp - Tall, Twin Size Poster Bed with Flora Pattern White Finish

Denise Richard's White Home

Antique White Swivel Top Verona Stool- 30", Porcelain Bowl Plate in White Finish - Cherry Blossom, 36" Decorative Cottage-Style Fluted Planter with Distressed White Finish, Giftmark French Style Medalium Arm Chair, Old Hickory Tannery French Parlor Chair Taupe

Italian Console Table Against A Brightly Painted Wall

A)Very colorful looks, such as bright pinks, oranges, greens and blues.

Go for your favorite color, and then layer on opposite colors of the color wheel or complementry colors.  The trick to color is layering in details or it can get a bit too much to stand in.  Stick to a few colors and your room will look pulled together.

Martha Stewart Against a White Demi Lune Chest

B) Pastels such as pinks, lilacs, and muted egg blues.

You can jam in a lot of pastels and it still would work together, but do stick with a handful of colors.  This look is often pulled together with detailed ornate objects.  Do a wall of diffent pastel china.  They will all look differnt and you can work within your pallet to add interest.

White Against Gray Decor Pad

C) Formal colors of grey, ivory, and greenish grey.

White furniture brings in the light, so don't be afraid of going dark on your walls.  Play off the shades of grey in your curtains and accessories.  Bring the light into your room by featuring silver. Do pops of color in a dark room on the walls.  So combine a dark grey room with a colorful painting.  Dark blue or green also works with swedish looks. French blues, and pale grey with hints of blue, sage greens, pale blues, dove greys, olive green and cream.  Earth tones work well such as stone and gold.