A room Divided, Shuttered and Distressed
Shutters are one of my most favorite projects, and this one was no exception:
I bought these doors many years ago as a way to create an entry way in our home. We have a very open floor plan. Open the front door, you are in the Living room, the Dining Room, and heading up the Stairs all at the same time. My idea was to create the “illusion” of an entry way. This idea didn’t last long as two bifold doors and three very active small children were not a good mix.
(photo courtesy of Home Depot, my before photo is long gone)
They were banished to the garage for many years. Last Fall they were called back into duty to serve as dividers again, and a place to hang things for sale when I had a larger space at Paris Flea. At this point, I painted them with CeCe Caldwell’s Virginia Chestnut, and did a quick Tobacco Stain Glaze on them for an aged look.
It’s like “Where’s Waldo, try to find the shutters in the picture
When I decided to go back to a smaller space, they went back to the dungeon again. Fast forward to this Spring. We have our new warehouse at Paris Flea, and I have a little “vignette” along one of the walls. The warehouse walls are very high, and I needed some tall items to stage my space. Call in the Dividers! They got their final treatment, and were not coming home again. I mixed Blue Montana Sky, Dover White, and Pittsburg Grey. We brushed it on in the same method that I did this dresser. One color per cup of paint. One cup of water. Dip the brush in the water, then lightly in the two paints, and “blend” together.
When the paint was dry, I went back over and did a “wet distress”. This is one of my favorite and easiest finishes to do with CeCe Caldwell’s 100% Natural Chalk and CLay Based paints. Just take a damp rag, and literally rub the paint off where you want it distressed.
The Room Dividers were pressed into service one last time to take some pictures of some of the items I sold at our last Paris Flea. Lucky for me, and those darn dividers, they were sold too.
I love the rustic, beachy look they have now. Amazing what some CeCe’s can do!
Want to create beautiful Shutters or Dividers for your own home, or would you like to learn how to use CeCe Caldwell’s paints yourself? Check out my Tutorials page for tons of great tips. Or, come see my friend Kim and I at our Workshop/Studio in Livermore, CA at Oui Redoux for a Workshop! Or check out the Workshops page on this site.
PS If you like this look, check out my smaller shutters for a similar finish, and instructions on how to “wet distress” CeCe Caldwell’s paints.
what a pretty blue!
Good luck with your project and I love what you did with the frame and the shutter door. Love the blue!
Cynthia
I’m the lucky owner of that FAB red barn star! LOVE IT!!! Great paint combo on the shutters…
the shutters look so great and fresh in blue! happy monday, friend!
Handy dandy and pretty, too! Great color, Karen 🙂
xo Heidi
The shutters are beautiful! … Looks like a great big project going on there!
When you paint the stairs how are you going to use the upstairs? That is one big undertaking.
That blue is wonderful! I cannot wait to see your stairs done, I don’t envy you though, that’s quite a job!
So excited to see what your hallway looks like! I did that to my stairs a while ago and yes, nasty dirty under there…ick! I’ve bounced around the idea of painting the subfloor in the hallway too so I’m very excited to see how yours turns out! I don’t always comment, though I love your blog and read every post! Thank you!
Your shutters are adorable and I absolutely love the color. I just did a post on stairs that you might find enjoyable. I have just started following you through bloglovin. Would love for you to stop by my blog sometime.
Thanks, Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design
Hi! Where did you get that adorable star? Thanks JM
Ooooo, i LOVE this blue you made!!!! Pinned:) http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2013/06/handkerchief-party-bunting.html
Thank you for the painting technique tip using different colors at one time. Love those shutters.
Love your blue painted shutters.
Oh, I have one of them stars but it’s still in storage in my hubby’s workshop. One of these days I’m sure he will get it hung for me…………..maybe when it’s snowing in July here in Tx. : }
Love the color of the shutters and can’t wait to see the progress on the stairs….”pour gravel over it”…….you’re killing me. Smile!
I have a question rather than a comment, hope that is ok.
What do you use to “prep” your pieces before you paint them? To remove polish and dirt buildup on stained pieces.
I love your blog and work, very inspiring to get busy with all the projects I have to do!!
So funny…I was just at the Paris Flea Market a couple of weekends ago. You must be in Northern Ca? The shutters are great! I love it when something serves its purpose so many times over…
Great shutters, but as for the stairway treads, I’m heading to the lumber yard and replacing those before I would ever have the patience to sand! And at my house…. it would be a year to finish them either way.
Come to Pittsburgh and get some REAL snow! I am going to try that paint method real soon. It sounds so fun and “unplanned”. I hope your biceps don’t give out while you reno your stairs. I know they will turn out gorgeous and can’t wait to see them.
u love that soft pretty blue! and i can’t wait to see your progress!
Lovely! Lvoe the color! And I think these probably work better as room dividers than old shutters because they are lighter and more even along the bottom edge right?