…blue egg Q&A’s

Here are your Q&A’s! Got questions? Email me at: cbensten@blueeggbrownnest.com

I recently sent you an email re the hide and seek screen being sent to Australia. 

One thing I have noticed however with a couple of other chalk painters is that they don’t bother to clean the pieces before painting.  They simply paint over the dust, dirt and when I open drawers they are full of “things”.  At one place I visited in Falls Church, I fell in love and bought a mirror. It was so dirty I asked the salesperson to wipe it a bit. Then after I got home I spent most of the day cleaning and wiping and peeling off the rotten cardboard from the back.  I have noticed the same trend in other pieces I’ve looked at in other places.  Frankly it detracts from the work of the painter and many times I walk away from beautiful pieces because I never know what filth I could be bringing into my home.  I wonder why they do this.  Do you clean and vacuum your pieces before painting and offering them to your clients? I’m willing to pay for the work and furniture but not if I have to start by disinfecting it.

Interesting comment. I always dust, clean out drawers & Windex mirrors before working on a piece. I never paint over dust because I don’t want any dirt getting into the paint. I agree with you. If I am going to buy a painted piece I want to know that it’s been wiped down and is clean. However, if I am picking up vintage pieces, like old ladders and shutters I totally don’t mind that those are covered in old dirt because that is a part of the hunt. If being sold in a shop, I would think that the shoip owner would understand that there is an expectation for a customer to buy a clean, painted piece. That’s just my 2 cents.

I just saw your post today,7-1-15, online and wondered what color paint you used on the mirror? I have a mirror very much like this one and really love that color…I use AS chalk paint too but not sure of this color….

Graphite 🙂

I just ordered my light blue burlap off of the online fabric store you recommended.  Thank you!  Now…quick question.  Do you wash it before you use it?  Is it super itchy?  

No, I do not wash my burlap before using it. I would worry about it fading. I do not find it itchy, especially the alternative colors. I have blue pillow cushions on my window seats that are made from burlap and they are great.

As we learn more about chalk paint, distressing and the “weathered” look, we find that the weathered look is what we may want to do…take that leap and cover up the finish on our almost “heirloom status” dining room furniture, it is difficult to actually make this leap, however:  We do like the weathered look, my question is… we are looking for that weathered, almost drift wood look that is greyish white and with the reddish finish we have, when we cover it with white like you did in the video, then we rub it, wash it lightly will it take on that grey look even thought the current finish is a dark cherry wood finish?  Do we need to paint it grey, then white to get that GREYISH drift wood, weathered look?

You NEED oak to do this look! If you do not have oak or a textured wood it will not work! You can still get a beautiful color if you paint and distress, but it will not be a driftwood.

My question is – Can A.S. chalk paint and techniques be used for a pressure treated wood patio swing? Just picked up a swing for my adult disabled son and would love to give it this look. 

Yes! Just do not clear wax the piece as the wax would melt in the sun/heat.

I am planning to attempt to make my oak kitchen table weathered after viewing your tutorial. Is wax the best thing to seal it with because you have to clean your kitchen table. 

Your choice. I prefer the AS clear wax because this is the overall, rustic look that I prefer. I will hold up like any other piece of furniture. If you want something more you can do a poly.

I found a tutorial that you posted on whitewashing/painting oak tables that you were doing at your house but I can’t seem to find it now. You mentioned in it that using oak worked best. I have some oak end tables and coffee table in great shape but want to do what you did. It’s such a transformation. Can you direct me to it? I don’t think it was an Annie Sloan paint……just a wash.

Here is the YouTube Tutorial on the weathered wood look.

I just moved back to the city and I’m trying to decorate my apartment as a vintage chic style. I have this Ashwood Road Cherry TV Stand that I would like to paint white and distress it a bit. Wanted to know if you work with this type of material.

Absoluetely.

I am curious about what you did on the embellishments on the vintage cabinet you posted on 6/22. What did you do to get the black contrast? Did you first paint them with Graphite and then French Linen? I really like what you achieved. 

If a piece has a lot of detail I like to leave spots of wood in these areas. I do not paint all the crevices, but let the wood show through. I think it adds character.

Thank you for the great video for how to paint cane furniture using Annie Sloan chalk paint.  I’m expecting a baby this fall and would like to paint the hands down dresser from my in laws. Ideally distressed white. Do I need to prime and sand it beforehand? Or treat it like cane furniture? What color would you recommend ? I assume annie Sloan would work? If not, any other baby or pregnant friendly paint?

No need to prime. Watch my YouTube Video Tutorials to see the process. I always like a neutral so the piece can grow with the child. Annie Sloan is an environmentally friendly product so no fumes.

I know you used gray, but the darker highlights. Is that color or dark wax? I would like to know exactly how you get this effect. 

See above answer.