Happy Sunday! Its a beautiful day here in Atlanta, although still chilly at least the sun is out. I’ve been working on painting my cute vanity in the master bedroom this week and it was a good week to work inside and get something done. Feels good to get this painted, so now it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb anymore.
If you’ve been reading my blog awhile, you know that I got this years ago at a yardsale (it’s by Henredon, so a nice piece). I didn’t really love the natural color it was and back then painted it black. Then a couple of years ago, I decided to add green in my living room and painted it this vibrant green color, which I loved. But now that I’m using it as a vanity in the bedroom, this color sticks out like crazy, so time for a change.
I’ve worked with Kilz many times and they make Joanna Gaines paint line, including her chalk paint, so they asked me if I wanted chalk paint for a project and this was the perfect piece. I chose Silos District, a pretty deep blue shade for my vanity makeover.
Using a small foam roller, I rolled on the top and used a small paint brush for the sides. It took 2 coats, but really covered nice and smooth. If you’ve used chalk paint, you know that it goes on smooth, but leave a chalky feel and you want to seal it with something so that it doesn’t rub off and sealing makes it feel finished. Many people love using wax to seal chalk paint projects, but I just don’t love working with the wax, plus it’s a little time consuming to get on smoothly and I like a more protected top coat.
This was after 1 coat, but after 2 coats it was nice and covered and then I added a top coat. I had another type of satin varnish around that I’ve used before and I’m not sure if it had been sitting too long and was too thick or what, but when I spread it on the top and brushed it smooth with my paintbrush, it started drying too fast and didn’t smooth out well at all.
I let it dry overnight and then went back and added another coat of this Polycrylic top coat in a matte finish, using a paint brush. It’s not a perfectly smooth finish and if I hadn’t put that first top coat on, it would have been smoother, but I’m happy with it nonetheless. I’ll be using this vanity for makeup and so it doesn’t have to be perfect.
I’ll be changing out the fabric on this stool as soon as I figure out drapery fabric so for now will leave on the black and white zebra fabric. I painted the stool with 2 coats of Magnolia Home paint and sealed it with the matte sealer too. It’s hard to show the exact color, but the stool above is pretty accurate. The lighting either washes it out or makes it too bright.
Now it’s all finished and I’m so happy to get this project behind me. I hung that antique store mirror up and put it to the left of the window. I’m leaving room for drapery panels to be hung on that window when I find the right fabric. You can see there’s a little damage to the bottom of the mirror, but I’ve got some stain that I can touch it up with.
Here’s a close up of the detail on the legs. I used Rub and Buff on those when I painted it the first time and love the little gold accent which highlights the brass hardware on the front drawers. The paint color isn’t quite this bright.
A look at the side. You can see the brush marks, but overall I’m very happy with how it looks. The color is perfect and just what I wanted!
I love the new color and doesn’t it fit in so much better now? That little lamp is a thriftstore find from a few years ago and I still love it too. I shared this on Instagram and someone commented on my vintage Clairol makeup mirror. Who has one of these? I grew up with one of them and had another one as an adult. When it finally bit the dust, I looked on Ebay and ordered this relic from the past. I love my antique makeup mirror, haha! This is the perfect spot for me to put on my makeup.
Here’s a little peek at the bedroom progress this week. I ordered this bench from Joss and Main and love it! It’s the perfect color and look for what I’m going for in the bedroom. Can’t wait to find fabric and get Euro shams and also drapes made later on. It’s a process to decorate a bedroom and I want to take my time and get it just right!
Hope you enjoyed seeing this little project, one more step to getting the bedroom completed!
Thanks to Magnolia Home/Kilz for sending me the paint!
Great color! Looking very pretty and love the brass on the legs of vanity. Gives it some diffention!
Love your paint job; the color is verry pretty! Your blues look so pretty all together!!
It fits in so perfectly now! I will say, I still like the quirkiness of the zebra cushion! I know … drapes … must coordinate! 🙂
Love the color. I recently took a chalk paint class. We did the wax. I do like the look of the different wax colors especially on details. Instructor said she offer deals table tops with harder finish. Think I will enjoy using both.
Do you ever use the wax?
I have several pieces to paint, soon.
Love the way your using blues. Giving me inspiration I will be using blue in our new home.
HI, Brenda, I have used the wax on a few pieces and just found it hard to get even and buffed out perfectly. And I think the wax doesn’t exactly protect from scratches or getting marks on it. I think the wax is really good for more chippy or distressed pieces and I’ve seen them done beautifully, it’s just not the look I’m using in this house. I prefer a full coverage paint and sealing with the poly for extra protection. I just found wax harder to work with, but it’s probably just me.
Another issue with using wax is that not only is it more time consumimg than other topcoats it has to be reapplied approximately every 6 months. I may occasional use for my own pieces I paint but do not use it for customer pieces.
P.S It s not just use ….wax is difficult to use and very time consuming.
Pretty blue .
You could always go over it with a verygine grit sandpaper, wipe with a tack cloth and put a final coat on.
I had one of those mirrors! I think it finally died…along with some awesome hot rollers I used to love using for updos. (I’m a hairstylist.).
I may try doing that with a light sanding. Would probably smooth it out more. But really I’m not too worried about it, it will be a hard working piece and I use a towel where I do my makeup so it doesn’t get all over the place.
I love the new blue color you painted your vanity, and it’s going to look great in your master!
Love the new color. And agree with the comment above. You can always use a VERY fine sandpaper to scuff sand and add another coat. I have had this happen to me before, brush strokes or a light haze. Your master is coming together quite nicely.
Thanks, Lauren, I will probably try that and give it a light sanding.
Love the vanity–you did a good job! I’d like to see the mirror in the middle (OCD anyone?) and the lamp in the corner, unless it and the makeup mirror (a classic!) have to be on the same side. That way you get light from the left and the right to balance the light on your pretty face. You’re young, but I find that as I’ve gotten older I’m sensitive to balancing light in a room. Hope you’ve got another project lined up for our awful Tuesday weather coming!
Thank you! I want to keep the mirror on the left so I can hang a drapery panel there eventually. I could move the lamp over, that’s not a problem. Ugh, getting older…I’m really starting to hate looking in the mirror these days, my face is falling and it’s not fun to watch.
Wear cowl necks–they catch everything! 🙂
The hanging mirror bothers me, too.
I think the mirror should be centered
Looks off balance now even after installing drapery panels and move lamp
Other than that superior job and mixture of blue – adds depth, dimension
Good job – but center mirror
Looks great! I, too, had this mirror! Brings back good memories!
Your making a beautiful bedroom for you and Mark.
Your final product looks good.
I’ve used the Annie Sloan paint on a couple of projects. The first time I tried the wax and it was okay – but could not get it to look like I wanted…then later I painted over that with a ‘custom’ color of Annie Sloan – that I mixed up myself – but it is trying to chip off – I’m sure because of the lingering wax – even though I tried to sand it rough. Thankfully it’s on a sofa table that I did not pay a lot for – purchased many years ago at Rich’s.
Yes I owned the Clairol makeup mirror back in the 1970’s – no idea what happened to it. AND the Clairol hot rollers – which my daughter used well into the 1990’s – before they gave up. Clairol made some good products back in the day! Happy week, Rhoda.
That turned out great- love the color. I’ve never tried chalk paint and always wondered about the waxing part. It all sounded too detailed for me. I like the accent detail that came with the vanity and I’m glad to see you didn’t paint it out. Thats a cute lamp. I remember those vanity mirrors and the rollers!
Love that shade of blue! I had a piece of glass cut to go on top of the dressing table in my guest room. No worries about powder, nail polish, etc…windex and go! I’m with the rest of the OCD crowd about the mirror, but I know you have a vision. Yes, had that same makeup mirror and hot rollers too! My sister just gave me an awesome one from Costco. My old eyes need the light and magnification, but whew, my face is falling too!
Love it! Makes me want to paint something!!
Yes, it sure does look so much better in the bedroom now! Great color choice, and I really like the rub & buff finish.
I think you need some higher-up blue to balance all the blue in the bench and table…the mirror looks disjointed…so perhaps a tall vase with brown natural stems and blue-ish flowers/leaves..something upward to balance? maybe wall art to pick up the blue?
Hey Rhoda…Looks great! I love that shade of blue & the vanity is fabulous! Yes, I use to have that makeup mirror but haven’t used one of those in a while. When I first got contacts for reading upclose I bought a round little mirror & on a swivel stick that stood with a weighed bottom. Boy I loved that thing. I could learn to get my contact in quickly and was perfect for eye makeup . Used it forever until it was so old I had to throw away. Now I have one from Ulta that is magnified on one side and just mirror on the the other side. It flips around. I hate getting mascara on the big vanity mirror so always like having a mirror for at least eye makeup . I use waterproof since I am a contact wearer & can’t adjust to glasses. Enjoy your newly painted vanity area station – looks like a pro makeup artist lives there! 🙂
One other little thing…..you could paint the mirror frame to tie in with the vanity . Just a suggestion to think on if the mirror wasn’t expensive and you don’t mind using paint on it. 🙂
I agree that painting the mirror would make it blend in more. Lessening the off center issue. Perhaps the mirror could be white..to match the trim.
That is a gorgeous shade of blue. I used to have one of those make-up mirrors, and now that I think of it, I’m wondering what happened to it! Clairol should make those again. They are great.
Vanity looks terrific. Good job!!!
Like others suggested, a bit of sandpaper and another cost will take out brush strokes…only if it bothers you!
As for mirror on wall…it being off to the side bothers me too. I realize you are leaving room for drapes but maybe drapes will go more right. Lamp to the left corner would reflect more light.
I have to agree with someone above who suggested painting mirror. YES! It would tie in better. Blue like vanity? or Gold Rub N Buff? Also perhaps get rid of eagle, it looks so masculine. A teardrop finial would work better. Our secretary, from grandmother, had an inter-changable eagle or teardrop finial. (we got rid of eagle) Much more feminine!!!
I had a Clairol makeup mirror as a teen/young adult. It was great but died 🙁
I now have a Conair regular 1x/magnifying 10X lighted mirror in oil rubbed bronze (also comes in brushed nickel and other styles in polished), available on Amazon. The 10X and lighting are superb and the graceful shape looks so much prettier on my bathroom vanity counter!
It is fun to see all that you are doing in your new home with Mark. The house is looking terrific and you two are so HAPPY!!! I wish you two a lifetime of fun, happiness and love.
G