Wood Barn

With the success of the chalk paint I used on the sideboard I wanted to re-purpose our oak TV unit for the living room. This time I decided to be a little bolder with my colour choice rather than use my standard black/graphite. So I chose an earthy orange again by Annie Sloan.

After painting the unit, a breeze again due to not having to prepare the surface, I realised my decision was just a little too bold. The orange was a bit brighter than I’d hoped. I decided to tone it down, and give it a more ‘used’ look by applying a black wax finish rather than a clear one. Applying this was a bit harder because it’s, well, black! I had to apply with a brush and then use a rag to try to give it a more random effect and remove some of the harsh black. It was tricky to get looking natural but was fun to play around with.

As with my other re-purposed pieces, I bought new handles to finish it off. The upshot is a piece of furniture that looks nothing like it did originally and that contrasts wonderfully with the newly decorated blue on the walls. In reality, it’s probably my least favourite piece out of everything I’ve done so far for reasons I can’t really explain. Something isn’t quite right about it but, it works, looks like it belongs and cost very little to upcycle. Cost: Paint £26, Black Wax £13, Handles £10, Total £49