Nautical Inspired Cabinet Using Poets Paint Cape Cod Blue and Driftwood Grey
One of the best things about what I do is finding fun pieces to work on and trying new products. I am always on the lookout for furniture. Always. So when I saw this adorable cabinet on a swap site, I had to have it. It was in great structural condition which is always lovely but had some staining from prior use. I knew immediately that I wanted paint this piece with two different colors for a little contrast. A neutral inside and a pop of color for the outside.
Something about this piece made me want to go in a little bit of a nautical direction. I think it might have been the lines and the details on the doors. So I decided to go with a blue on the outside and a grey on the inside. I immediately thought of the Poet’s Waterglass Paint line. They have several colors that I thought would suit my coastal/nautical vibe for this piece. I chose “Cape Cod Blue” for the exterior 
and “Driftwood Grey” for the interior.
I started with the Driftwood Grey and decided to use it on the entire piece for several reasons. First, I knew I wanted the interior of the top and bottom to be that color. Secondly, I find grey to be a wonderful way to prime a piece what may have some bleed through. I ALWAYS thoroughly clean my pieces with a paint prep cleaner. I prefer Krud Kutter but you can use TSP or vinegar as well. And in most cases with a darker wood I will seal with a coat of shellac. With this piece I did not but the Driftwood Grey went on wonderfully with no bleed through at all. Here is what it looked like after ONE coat of Driftwood. I was really pleased with the coverage.
I did one more coat on the interior of the top and the bottom in the Driftwood and then used clear wax to seal them.
Then I moved on the exterior and cracked open the Poets Paint Cape Cod Blue. It is a really pretty light blue with grey undertones. I thought it was perfect for my nautical direction. The Cape Cod Blue went on wonderfully over the Driftwood Grey. I used two solid coats and then touched up some areas here and there . It looks very gray at first but the tone really brightens once its waxed.
I decided that the detail work really needed to pop so I went back with an artist brush and painted the detail work with the Driftwood Grey. I thought it may take several coats since I was painting a lighter color over a darker/brighter color but was pleasantly surprised when it only took two coats. Which is extra awesome when you are hand painting small detail lines. I thought the end result really made the details pop and reminded me of the white details on a sailor suit. Here is a close up on one of the details on the doors….
I always wax all my pieces to ensure a sealed, durable finish. With this piece, I first used clear wax to bring out the richness of the Poets Paint Cape Cod Blue and then went back and lightly white waxed it to add some depth. It’s a subtle finish but think it really adds some dimension. As a finishing touch, I added new knobs that I just LOVE. I had to use them and they really made this piece say “Nautical Chic”. After I had finished up, I took it to my shop space and staged it for sale.
All in all, I really enjoyed working with Poet’s Paint Waterglass Paint. I have used it on several pieces in the past as well. It always goes on smoothly and dries quickly for great coverage. One thing I have always noticed is when you sand it, it shimmers! It must be the waterglass liquid properties in the paint. It disappears when you wax it but I just love that when I’m sanding. And this paint dries HARD. It has a smooth finish every time and distresses easily as well. I can’t wait to try some of the new colors as they roll them out this summer.
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Here’s a creative way to create chalk paint candleholders using odd bits and pieces everyone has around the house. I’ve mostly used glassware but here is just a sample of some of the things that you can use: glassware, jars, caps, screw tops, bottlecaps, candle covers, cat food cans, food cans, bowls, dishes – plastic, glass, tin, metal, stoneware, ceramic, wood, etc. The possibilities are really endless. Just find shapes that you like and start stacking them to form a design you like. I often invert them.
