2018 Design Challenge

Dancing Juniper Mountain juniper i cut from the datil mountains ,this piece is super rich in color and the turquoise really pops, this is a big piece at 10.5" in diameter and 13.5" tall ,finish is general finish arm-r-seal oil and urethane top coat gloss, then buffed with the three stage beal buff ,skipped the carnuba wax and used renaissance wax.

This whimsical piece was one 2x2x24 inch piece of rosewood - and I wanted to try something different with it!

I used my bandsaw to texture the portion that wasn’t turned. The turned portion received 3 coats of EnduroVar, with a light 600 grit sanding between coats. The third coat was sanded to 12000 grit with MicroMesh before a carnauba wax buff. The contrast is pretty striking. About 9” tall overall, the turned stem is 5”, and the goblet is 4”. Those numbers are reversed for the...

Finish is everything. If the finish is not good it can ruin the whole project. Many times it takes as long to finish a project as it does to turn it.

I generally sand as much as I can while the project is on the lathe and then hand sand the finishing touches.

Inlayng TURQUOISE and COPPER in the natural cracks and voids is the last thing I do before putting the final sanding touches on.

For my finish I use General Finishes SEAL-A-CELL clear and ARM-R-SEAL gloss topcoat...

This is a simple segmented bowl that endevors to use the natural colors of the various woods to make an attractive package.  The woods used are Purple Heart, Cherry, Olivewood, Mahogany, Padauk and Walnut.  The bowl is 5" high and 9" in diameter at the top and is approximately 3/8" thick.  The bowl was made in 2017 and contains 136 pieces. 

• General Finishes Seal-a-Cell Clear and Gel Topcoat wipe on Urethane Satin

10 inch Spalted Ash bowl finished with GF Wood Bowl Finish

This bowl is made 100% from recycled skateboards, and is finished with General Finishes High Performance Top Coat (gloss)!

Finish is everything. If the finish is not good it can ruin the whole project. Many times it takes as long to finish a project as it does to turn it.

I generally sand as much as I can while the project is on the lathe and then hand sand the finishing touches.

Inlayng TURQUOISE and COPPER in the natural cracks and voids is the last thing I do before putting the final sanding touches on.

For my finish I use General Finishes ARM-R-SEAL clear and SEAL-A-CELL gloss topcoat...

This Mid-Century piece was a disaster when we found it all alone, abandoned on the side of the road. Lucky for this piece, we saw that it had potential! We sanded off all of the old finish, then applied Merlot dye stain. It looked even better than we imagined! The dye stain really made the wood grain pop. We topped off the finish with three coats of High performance Semi-Gloss. This piece was totally revived thanks to a little elbow grease and the amazing products of General Finishes.

Stripping this thrift-store find down to her bones, I rebuilt her to last another lifetime! Using General Finishes Weathered Grey on the entire piece, I brought out the beautiful wood grain she had hiding beneth the surface of her old garb. After allowing her to dry, I lightly sanded with a 400 grit to accent the wood grain further. To lighten the piece up even more, I used a mix of General FInishes Snow White and water to make my own white wash to place around her outside and edges, leaving...

Cerused beauty! After this rustic dresser was cleaned and stripped I applied dye stain then sealed with wax free shellac. Lime wax was applied and wiped back to highlight the natural patterns of the gorgeous tiger oak. The body was painted in a custom gray which complements the grain beautifully, then sealed with a flat topcoat. 

COLOR RECIPE

• Custom mix of Paris Grey and Graphite Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan 1.5 : 1

PRODUCTS USED

This table is over 100 years old but built solid and in great shape and will probably last another 100 years, which is what I love about antique furniture! This particular piece was brought to me from a client who had it in their family from generations and at one point was covered in linoleum! Stripped down to its natural state, refinished in Pecan water based stain and then multiple layers of top coat brought this table back to life!

This hutch received an update while staying true to the client's decor.  Refinished in Black Stain with the doors and drawers done in Antique Oak, a two tone combination challenging the outdated stigma that black and brown can pair well together.

These cabinets were custom built to satisfy a unique need for our clients! They had a limited space, wanted to maximize their storage options, enjoyed clean, modern lines & needed a place to house their wine bar! These were custom designed & finished with Java Gel Stain for a gorgeous finish!

These are one of my favorite projects to date. They were falling apart and needed a lot of loving. I fixed them up and stained/painted them to be the seating area in my studio. I love how they turned out! 

This coral vanity is ready for a girls room or the perfect addition to a reception. The handles have been replaced with gold knobs and the side drawers are lined with an elegant gold polka dot paper. 

Unusual commode, simple, with interesting dimensions. In a narrow range of cold colors where blues and purples permeate each other. Layered applied General Finishes paint in Klein Blue, Royal Purple, Coastal Blue, Lime Green, Snow White. The shimmering metallic effect of Pearl Effect in gold and Brick Red was applied on the spot. Visible cracks and splinters add "years". The center is an energizing plum.

The look of this dresser makes my heart beat faster. Age-old, made of solid wood with elements of oak veneer. One of its kind, aged by multi-layered application of a whole range of mixed colors on the furniture, which gently penetrate each other creating an impression of being damaged by time. The inspiration for it was impressionist paintings trying to capture the fleeting moment and the sensual play of colors.

Incredible, one of a kind, full-color commode. Layers Painted with General Finishes milk paints, applied one by one in the following colors: Coastal Blue, Halcyon Blue, Klein Blue, Persimmon, Sunglow, Coral Crush, Linen. The rust effect is the color of Pearl Effects, Tawny. Handles adapted from the old dresser.

This Blue Jean Girl is stunning!

I'm in love with Coastal Blue and it brought out the modern look of this piece.  With the brushed snow white on the drawers that where sanded back to give it a jean look.  

With all this color this free-spirit stops you in your tracks. With a General Finishes Coastal Blue base it is layered with a little help from Modern Masters Apple Green and Copper Penny. Let's lighten the Coastal just a bit with some Klein Blue that will help bring out those details. Wait, it's not quite finished yet, lets add some Artistic Painting Studio Copper foil to those pretty legs and hardware! Ahhhh, now let her go and watch her fly.

This old gal brings flair to any room . Not your tech look. But for those of us that beat to a different drum and live of the beated path. Its the perfect fit.

I loved the lines of this petite china cabinet but almost didn’t buy it. It was missing a glass panel and shelves and had a couple other things wrong with it. But my friend made me a good deal and challenged me to “make something cool”. Never one to shy away from a challenge, I loaded it in my car. It lingered in my studio for a long time before I knew what to do with it. Taking my cue from the architecture of the piece I decided an Indian inlay look was the way to go. Playing off the...

Her golden crown sits atop copper highlights in her hair. The Sea is a wash of watery blues and greens. She is Athena, queen of the Sea. 

No question this is a beautiful buffet.  With great carvings and detail work.  And it has it's flaws; although quite minor and cosmetic.

I really wanted to embrace the British Colonial era, and I knew I wanted to focus more on the finish of the body, rather than the center image transfer. 

I think, on this piece, the image transfer is secondary.  And because of that, I choose to mute the image.

My aim when working on a piece of furniture is never to make it look '...

This beautiful antique dresser was transformed using General Finishes Milk Paint in the color Persian Blue then finished with a Re-Design Transfer, glass knobs and clear wax. 

A 50/50 blend of General Finishes Linen and General Finishes Holiday Red, then I wet blended with Linen applying both the mix and the linen with the same brush.  The 50/50 blend was then placed in a water bottle with a 60/40 water to paint ratio, and I sprayed starting at the top of the dresser for some cool weathering and a drippy effect. General Finishes Driftwood was used for the top, I then sealed everything with with High Performance Topcoat in satin.  The IOD Transfer was applied, then...

General Finishes Queenstown Gray and Antique White milk paints were used to create this Chalky effect on this pretty chest of drawers.  I wet blended the colors during application and then added a little DIY Paint Kissing booth for a pop of color.  The top was painted in Antique White and glazed with a custom gray glaze.  The body of the dresser was sealed with General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in Satin.  Then the beautiful IOD Transfer was applied.  I sealed again with the HP Satin...

This piece is definitely in my top 3 of favorite pieces I have ever done.  The minute I picked up the dresser I knew I wanted to use a transfer on it.  I found the new colored transfers and fell in love with the design.  I painted the base in a deep gray, Queenstown Gray, painted the drawers in Seagull Gray, light enough to make the transfer pop.  The transfer was the crowning glory.  It looks perfect with the chosen colors.  After sanding the top I felt a stain was needed to show off the...

Where to begin.... viewing the before/after you can barely see this is the same space! The selection of GF Antique White and Driftwood Gray is the perfect combination for a bright, modern farmhouse design. Add in the gorgeous red island and this space looks as if it is straight out of a magazine!! 

Ahhhh.... the snow white dream kitchen! Who wouldn't love to shuffle into this beauty each morning for that perfect cup of coffee! These cabinets once boasted a stained and glazed Tuscan look, but the final stage of this kitchen transformation was painting the cabinets a beautiful pristine white. We all know how hard pure white can be to achieve that perfect look, but General Finishes milk paint in Snow White rose to the task! The island compliments in General Finishes milk paint in...

This house was flooded and took 2 years to rebuild into a dream home. This kitchen was raw. The client wanted a unique finish to tie in the center of this breathtaking kitchen that over looks the cove of the lake. 

Key West GF chalky finish was used to create a blue water finish to tie into the barn and tin ceiling and crisp clean white cabinets. 

This kitchen was overload of honey oak, when starting, making it outdated and dark. It was quickly modernized into a brighter space by painting the cabinets and updating the hardware. The kitchen island was painted a different color to add some contrast. 

This ordinary builder grade oak bathroom vanity has gotten an high-end makeover! I am often asked how to approach deep grain oak cabinets. My solution is embrace it! Using General Finishes Milk Paints, I created a faux gray stain that has transformed this vanity into an undeniable beauty fit for a Pottery Barn Catalog. New DLawless hardware was the perfect touch to this stunning makeover.

After living with my kitchen cabinets for over 30 years, it was time for an update!  I added trim molding to the plain doors and drawers and gave everything 2 coats of General Finishes Dark Chocolate Milk Paint.  I then stenciled a subtle design inside the newly-created "panels" using General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint.  After sealing everything with 2 coats of General Finishes High Performance Top Coat in Satin, I added new knobs and pulls.  The cabinets look brand new and are such a...

Wowza was this a big one!  This is a beautiful kitchen, but the cabinets needed an update and bring some light!  Using General Finishes Anitque White Milk Paint we transformed this kitchen to be enjoyed for many year!

This is a bathroom I refinished for a client's beach home. She wanted a coastal chippy look but wanted the cabinets to be smooth to the touch and durable. 

This kitchen underwent an amazing transformation using General Finishes Antique White Milk Paint. The cabinets were sanded and cleaned and prepped to a super smooth finish. Then, starting with hand rolling and brushing the base cabinets and spraying on the paint for the doors and drawer fronts in GF Antique White Milk Paint. Next, topcoating with GF High Performance Topcoat in Satin. After came the depth and detail that was brought out, using the General Finishes Pitch Black glaze. This...

his honey oak kitchen was needing some love! 

For this project, I cleaned the cupboards and doors three times using dawn and water, krud clutter, and then plain old water. Next, I sanded the wood with a 220 grit and cleaned off with rustoleum branded tack cloth. 

Because I was painting oak, I primed the cupboards with 3 coats of Kilz Stain blocking primer, with a light sand in between each coat with a 400+ grit paper. The top cupboards took 3 coats of...

Three cabinet colors in one kitchen? Why, YES, thank you!!  What a combination of colors for these 1970s kitchen cabinets! This gal is definitely not afraid of color and wanted her island to be a turquoise stunner! The upper cabinets were painted in GF white Enduro Poly in Satin. The paint was taken up past the cabinets over the old paneling to give the appearance of taller cabinets and more openness to the kitchen. Enduro custom mixed in Driftwood was the perfect color for the bottoms...

An elegant twist on the homey feel of farmhouse design! This subtle two-toned look was achieved by using GF Antique White on the upper cabinets and GF Seagull Gray on the lower cabinets finished off with GF Driftwood on the island!

2018 GF Design Challenge Kitchen Cabinet Category Runner Up

This noble lady displays her loyalty to King and Country, adorned in shades of General Finishes Holiday Red, Antigue White and Klein Blue Milk Paints. 

The table base has been covered with General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint.  A rustic aged effect has been achieved with General Finishes Van Dyke Brown Glaze over the Union Jack flag on the table top.  The glaze has been gently sanded back, just enough to expose a bit of of the Lamp Black underneath, lending a time-worn appearance,...

I’m in love with this piece and how the wood grain pops out of the finish.

I painted it in a persian blue than sealed with sanding sealer, applied pitch black glaze and sanded till wood grain appeared.  Than sealed with flat out flat for a perfect matte finish.  Lightly distressed for a farmhouse shabby chic finish.

We did a bathroom remodel for our very tiny master bathroom. We needed a small vanity.  We had my husbands parents old microwave cart just sitting in the garage and realized it was the perfect size but hated the yellow oak.  I decided to give the General Finish Gel stain a try.  It was my first time ever using it and I couldn’t believe how easy it was!  I sanded the top down to the raw wood but wasn’t able to get the legs completely sanded down so I was concerned it would be splotchy.  It...

This showstopper was custom made using the headboard, footboard & siderails from an Antique bed. 

There was no exact formula for the layered finish. A combination of paint color were layered to achieve an old world finish. The turned front legs were lightly sanded and painted washed in Dark Chocolate. Distressing added in all the right places.

The Lourdes features wood plank seat with custom 

2018 GF Design Challenge 2nd Place Winner - Upcycling Category...

This was a piece for the books. She was old, moldy, dirty, barn fresh, bird poo covered, but yet still had a lot of potential. We needed a bathroom vanity for our bathroom and I knew she would be perfect! After lots of elbow grease, she was thoroughly cleaned. For some reason she had lots of drill holes all over so those were filled with putty. This dresser was sanded and prepped, we cut her legs off and cut her depth down to fit in our super tiny bathroom. Her base was painted in GF...

This beautiful piece features a worn General Finishes blackish finish, natural legs, with black and white floral lined cabinets and drawers. Full of original character and mixed with a modern finish, this piece will undoubtedly make a statement in your home!

• 50:50 mix of General Finishes Antique Oak and Black Cherry Water-Based Stains (top only)

2018 GF Design Challenge 3rd Place Winner - Upcycling Category - Roll Out the Burl-El

My client contacted me about redo'ing this piece of furniture for his wife as a surprise for her birthday. Her grandfather used this piece as his tool/work bench.  I loved the story and was determined to make it beautiful again, so I gave it a lot of TLC. I ended up stripping the whole thing about 5 times to get years of stain and grime off of it. It was also breaking in areas due to the weight of the heavy tools, so those areas needed fixing. After that, I cleaned and sealed it really well...

It came from where?? This sweet little table was beside a bed in a (scary) defunct care facility that was being sold. Someone had started the refinishing process years ago, leaving various layers of stain and varnish all over it, and areas had been damaged. It was so ugly it was almost overlooked! Thank goodness it was rescued and restored!

The bold burls of this Mid-Century Weiman side table glow under hand buffed Tung Oil. General Finishes Lamp Black creates a dramatic frame around...

Chivalrous and sophisticated, this gentleman stands out in the crowd, being recognized as one with a high social standing. Burl wood is highly prized by artists and carpenters for it’s unique shapes and ring patterns. This outstanding specimen was refinished with care and sealed with General Finishes urethane. Eye catching and makes a statement indeed. With doors that open up to 2 shelves, and 3 drawers, there’s ample space for your wardrobe. Complete your design in class and style. 

This beautiful bowed front buffet had great shape & after cleaning & sanding layers of gunk, had great flame burl on the bowe! 

This was a piece picked out from our warehouse by my almost sister-in-law, for her bedroom. She picked out a great shade in Fusion Mineral Paint Homestead Blue, distressed, & sealed with High Performance Satin. The top & drawers were stained with General Finishes Walnut Oil Based Stain - the drawers turned out darker than the top, so I used...