The Sanchez Mirror: Aging With Dark Wax

Gold has snuck its revolving way back into fashion. Gold bangles. Gold lamps. Gold organizers. Gold hardware. If you've opened a magazine in the last year you know what I'm talking about...

Image via Style Me Pretty

Image via Lauren Nelson

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Image via The Every Girl

Image via Style Me Pretty

Image via HGTV

If you've ever shopped for gold vintage mirrors you know how expensive they can be. Don't spend your hard pennies on the high price tag... go diy and create your own!

There are lots of gold toned spray paints out on the market. Some have more of a yellow undertone, some are more brassy. Use your favorite brand or whatever your preferred gold tone is.  If you want an aged frame to replicate a really old vintage frame, use dark furniture wax on top of your paint.

We took this lovely mirror purchased from a thrift store. It had a nice size and the shape had some lovely details. But the color was... eh.

The frame received a little bath in Rust-Oleum American Accents Bright Metallics Gold.

And when we were done, it looked like this. A mirror just sprayed painted gold. No dimension. No depth. No character. Chintzy, right?

Watch what happens to Mr. Chintzy when I add lots of fabulous Annie Sloan Dark Wax to it.

So much better...

Now, no more paying for expensive vintage. Go make your own.

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Windsor Buffet

 Mr. Windsor was long, heavy and in badly need of some sanding. But this buffet had terrific bones with amazing platter storage and a great serving surface. It just needed some love.

For this makeover, we chose Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in French Linen and then finished it with a clear wax. We decided to leave the vintage hardware as is and love the contrast effect it as against the gray. This piece really came out looking so soft and buttery, I was tempted to lick it… but I didn’t. In all it’s glory, I present the new and improved, Mr. Windsor…

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Radke Mirrors

Another mirror post?! I know. I'm sorry. I've found a lot of them lately and I just can't help myself. They make me happy. :)

I advertised an emerald green mirror in our shop and within 24 hours there were several people taking a number to purchase it. So when a customer contacted me and learned that it had been spoken for, I offered her these instead. If you look beyond the color, you’ll notice all kinds of fabulous curves and details. And in an emerald green, they would look spectacular!

After two coats of Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Antibes and Dark Wax, I think they look smashing...

I have to admit, I’m a little bit green with envy.  I wish I had a spot for them in my own home. Until they get picked up, you’ll find me here. Sitting on the carpet. Drooling.

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Riley Chairs

My heart skipped a beat when I found this chair on Craigslist. Then, I found out that there wasn’t just one, but two of them! They were interesting, they looked comfy and the people that were selling them were practically giving them away. But, the color of the wood and the fabric choice were not my style.

 

I knew recovering them would be a little pricey, but I didn’t care. Before I picked these up, they were already transformed them in my head. :)

I chose this fabric from Fabric.com and painted the chairs in Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Old White.

Isn’t it amazing what a little paint and print can do?

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Cascade Mirror

I wish I had a before picture… but just picture it all brown. :) That’s what happens when you get too excited and forget to take the “before”. It came off a dresser set from the 70’s. A little Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Pure White & some glaze made all the difference. Now you can see the all the delicious details that were lost before.

Before you pass by another old mirror. Stop. It's amazing what a little paint can do do change the look. Go neutral or go bold. Replace your boring builder mirror with one that has personality. Put it up in a entry way or lean it against a mantel. 

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Madison Park Mirror

Years ago I was hired by a well to do family to help them organize their home. A room in their basement looked liked a mini REI. And what was viewed as trash to them was a gold mine to me. I can’t even begin to tell you about the enormous amounts of things that we donated. It was gratifying though to see that the community would be getting some really nice things in their local thrift store. (What I really wanted to do? Was make a bee line down there to purchase all those really nice items.) But I didn’t. I did however muster up the courage to ask for a large empty frame that was about to be discarded into the garbage. Apparently, it came with a really expensive painting but the frame came in a brassy gold color (not their style). So they purchased another frame for their painting.

 I painted it in Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Old White and then put a tinted glaze over the top to really pop out all that gorgeous detail. Then, I had an inexpensive mirror cut and WALLA I had me a large mirror.

 

I love that this didn’t end up in the trash. It really is amazing how a little paint can transform something and make it gorgeous again.

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Cascade Buffet

I found her on Craigslist. Advertised as a 1960’s vintage dresser, she was heavy! She had me at her knobs... they were spectacular! I was so excited to start this project that I forgot to take a before picture... I really hate when that happens.

I chose Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Old White. It went on like butter, giving it a natural shabby distressed look. The application of clear wax and buffing gave me an arm workout.But she was worth it. She was snatched up within an hour.

 Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Damask Armoire

Let’s face it the before was scary. This is the picture I snapped when I went to pick it up. Uh, that’s red velvet behind those drawer faces! My eyes went directly down to her feet. It was kind of love at first sight. I think I sat on this piece for a week. Toying with the different color options and in the end, I decided she’d look great shabby’d up (if that’s a word?).

Annie’s Sloan Old White it is.

I wish I would have had a spot for her somewhere in my home. A young lady snatched it up for her office. It was going to get her all organized she said. And then smiling she said, “I’m gonna spend a lot of time in my office looking at her.” …I’m so glad Mrs. Damask Armoire will be appreciated.

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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The Kroeger Dresser

Sometimes you see a piece of furniture and you know instantly what you’d like to do with it. It wasn’t so much as the outline of the dresser as it was the hardware on this one. I loved every chunky handle. You just can’t buy hardware like this anymore.

I took one look at it and knew that that aged hardware would look amazing against Annie Sloan’s Graphite. She needed a good dusting and I needed some David Gray. After two coats of Graphite and some clear and dark wax this dresser was transformed into this…

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street

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