Thursday, July 14, 2011

Pedestal Update



Many of you have been kind enough to inquire about the pedestals mister man made for me shown in a copy of Atlanta Homes magazine. Unfortunately when it’s hot and humid you can’t stain and I work so time is usually limited for me.  So it hasn’t left me a lot of opportunity to stain but mister man is home this week and the weather perfect so I was finally able to start staining and the results were not a good thing!


The paint store offered up a light gray and a dark gray and I want my pedestals to look just like the ones in the magazine DARK GRAY! So I bought a can of stain and rushed home ready to jump into my project with both feet. Unfortunately it didn’t give me the expected results I was hoping for.

 
I was able to get the first coat of stain on just as mister man and Dylan dog were coming up the drive after their hike. Lucky me to have such an astute husband because the first words out of his mouth were…”THEY’RE BLUE”! Ok we all know that gray can look a little blue sometimes but this gray wasn’t anywhere close to gray so back to the paint store.


I bought a can of black stain knowing it won’t be black black because you wipe the stain off after three minutes so I’m hoping for a charcoal gray. I’m off to try staining again and I’m hoping for better results…wish me luck!



21 comments:

sharon santoni at my french country home said...

if at first you don't succeed .....

debra @ 5th and state said...

wait what did i miss! is that a photo of your home???!!

not surprised but wow, gorgeous, killer.......

mister man is very very good. my guy whom i call 'mistah' will be shown a new idea this evening :-)
debra

LaPouyette said...

Oh Dear!
Terrible sorry for you that it did not work out the way you hoped.

Let me say...I know out of experience that you will not get the result or look you want with STAIN. You need to paint them.

Sent you a mail about painted pedestals some wile ago, have you received it?

It's not difficult to paint and 'patinate' new wood, actually very easy, you just a good undercoat color which can be lighter or darker than the end-color, depend on the look you want. Than another coat with the the top color you like, than rub it down very lightly with fine sand paper and/or wax it. Simple as that. You can do it even now on top of your already stained pedestals.
If you like to know more about, just email me, I would be more than pleased to help. There are different ways and 'methodes' to give an 'authentique' look.

Amicalement,
xxxkarin

lvroftiques said...

I have no doubt you'll get there. *winks* I agree with Karin you should paint them. You can apply a watered down layer of pain and then rub off to get just the look you want. I think the grey blue undertones will work out fine in the end. Vanna

lvroftiques said...

Lol! That should read "paint" although the pain might be more apropos! *winks*

The enchanted home said...

Looking good, you could also consider mixing paint and glaze to get that watered down effect that you are after. I remember a friend did this to a chest and the effect was beautiful but not opaque so you still saw the wood shine through. It was very pretty! I am sure you are going to end up with what you are after and I think they look fabulous.

Heather Robinson said...

Oh my, Debra, I don't have such sage advice to give, especially as they already look beautiful to me! But good luck and bon courage with the next step!

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

You may have them redone by now. Faux finishing is so frustrating. For us it seldom works out on the first try. Actually layers of mistakes often end in a better result. I agree with Tina's suggestion that paint and glaze might work if the black stain doesn't. Can't wait to see them.

Exchange 2007 said...

Beautiful!

Greet Lefèvre said...

I know that it could take some time to get the right color and look! I do hope they are finished by know and that they are ok! So post us the final pictures!!
The pedestals are really beautiful!
Have a wonderful weekend!
xx
Greet

Boxwood Terrace said...

Hi Deb - I know what that's like when it comes to paint/stain. Good luck! I'm sure they'll be just as gorgeous when you're done.
Deb

Blooming Rose Musings said...

We have all been in the same situation! Trial and error. I agree with Karin's comment...it has worked for me and you can do it right over what you've already stained. In the end, they will look wonderful and worth all your work! They are really going to be beautiful!!!

Stacey said...

staining can be a pain in the butt and it's probably even more difficult with that type of wood. however, good luck this weekend and i can't wait to see the results! xx

under spanish moss said...

Oh my, how frustrating. This happens to us often so we know how you feel. We are confident that you will achieve the look you are going for in the end. Wishing you lots of luck and we look forward to seeing the next phase. Have a great weekend! Angela and Renee

Ispirato Design said...

I think the more layers that you put on, the better the end effect. It will just give it more depth- hows that for a positive spin :) You could also consider what Tina said use a glaze. Choose a gray paint that you like and mix it with glaze (as much glaze as paint) paint it on, rub it off -the "blue" coming through will be a nice effect!

Richard Cottrell said...

try another coat of the stain. If it is not the color you want, mix black with water and a slight touch of white. try it on the bottom. Use a lot of water, you can always add more coats, but is hard to take away. good Luck. Richard at My Old Historic House

Blue Muse said...

Stains are so fickle sometimes. I bet with another layer, or even with some of the black you mentioned, it will come out great - a depth of color with the layers! Can't wait to see the next results :)
xo isa

quintessence said...

Oh dear - I hope you finally get the result you are looking for. The pedestals themselves are so handsome - looking forward to see how you solve the challenge!!

SHERRY HART said...

Maybe the dark gray chalk paint that I used will work...the Annie Sloan one. It was fabulous....OH yeah...I want some of those pedestals...lucky you :)

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Debra- The same thing happpened when we stained our kid's hand-me-down playset. I wanted a grey the color of the tree trunks around it, but with so few colors... we got bluish, too! Next time I'll custom mix the stain.

Now two cents you probably don't want. Do you have a pressure washer? Would you consider pressure washing the pedestals with a strong stream to bring out the grain in the wood and make it all look a littled aged before you stain it?

Loretta

Divine Theatre said...

I think the aluminum foil trick should do it! Just rub the shiny side of the foil right over the stain!
I have been missing you, my friend! I have so much catching up to do!

xoxo
Andie

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