OMG she is fabulous!!! I love the appliques, too! They look like they've been there all along.

edited to add: I just read your blog post about your start to finish. Now I appreciate the finished product even more!

This post was edited by cat_mom on Mon, Sep 9, 13 at 12:29

Holy Smoke! That is one stunning lilac lady. I would gladly find room for her in my home!

I love lilac, and love your buffet. I have painted my dining table and benches lilac a few days ago, it is a beautiful and underutilized color.

Omg, that is so fantastic! I love how you distressed it. I have an old jam cupboard/sideboard (?) as well as a table that I have been thinking about doing that to, but haven't gotten up the nerve.

When I was younger, my father and grandmother went through the phase when they would buy painted antique furniture and go through the painstaking process of removing the paint and refinishing it. Because of this, I am having a hard time going ahead and painting these pieces. Maybe I should buy something to practice on until I get my nerve up.

One question, when you said you used a deeper base, was the base a primer?

Wow, that is absolutely stunning! Love the color!
Where did you get these applique pieces?

like!

thank you everyone! i'm thrilled she's getting a positive response, but the truth is it wouldn't matter either way - i love her THAT much. hehe isn't it fun when that happens?

Debra - I didn't prime this piece at all. I made my own chalk-like paint using plaster of paris in a deep purple as a base coat to show through where i distressed, and i also left the inside cabinets the deeper color for some fun contrast.

NSM - these appliques came from Homedepot.com (my local stores don't stock them) because I wanted something very traditional as though it could have been original to the piece. I've also purchased great appliques (good quality flexible resin and great variety) from doityourselfchic.com but those tend to be more "shabby chic" with florals and laurels and ribbons.

Wow!! Wow!!

I admit, as I was reading along, and saw the lovely wood finish, I cringed before scrolling down further .... at the thought of lilac, and painting the piece. But I love it! You did a wonderful job -- great shade of lilac, and the appliques look perfect! I also love the not-heavy-handed distressing.

Very impressive, thanks for sharing. This is going in my inspiration files. :)

ETA: great blog post, too!

This post was edited by Miz_M on Mon, Sep 9, 13 at 14:22

She is beautiful! I have a similar buffet that I purchased just before we moved to use as an entry table and planned on painting white. She is too big for my planned space, so right now I have it in the living area. I am waiting on a color to speak to me before I paint! Seeing your beautiful piece makes me want to cancel plans for the weekend so I can stay home and paint! You did a wonderful job!

Oh. My. Looks like you did a good job but I really liked the wood grain on that piece.

It's terrific! The appliques look like they belong there. Good design eye, maggiepie!

Perfection!

Gorgeous!! The appliqués look original!

As a person who just painstakingly painted a patio groove ceiling and the walls for the first time in thirty three years, pulse painted two fuax rattan chairs plus am now painting two sets of four panel room dividersâ¦well letâÂÂs just say that I can appreciate the time, conscientiousness and artful thinking you put into that little beauty!

Love the fun/interesting color! It turned out amazing!

This is so beautiful. I have always felt bad about painting good wood but you have given me the courage. Now I need to find the right piece.

Wonderful job...may you and your family enjoy it for many years to come. Did you make those cupcakes too?

wow! I mean WOW!

ML

thank you all so much for the kind words!

now i'm just waiting on amazon to finally deliver my pneumatic staple gun so i can reupholster the drexel heritage dining chairs. i refinished them a month ago! then the furniture for my future dining room will be complete! i'm going to do a big piece of art too so maybe i won't call it complete until that's done. haha

the projects are stacking up though - gotta keep moving!

oh, i forgot to mention, i jumped the gun posting this buffet because i'm in the process of lining all the drawers with deep purple velvet. :) i'll post a quick pic of that when i share my chairs.

Stunning work! The applique really is the icing in the cake, too.