The Painted Bench Blog | Page 2 of 2 | The Painted Bench Hamilton

Fit For a Princess with Chalk Paint™

September 20, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

It’s so satisfying to see our work in its new home! This lovely set was passed down from mother to daughter and we had the pleasure of freshening everything up with Pure White and Paris Grey Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan. A little extra special touch was provided with an Artisan Enhancements stencil, Venetian Damask.

All of these products are available in the shop or in our Online Store. If you would like to recreate this look or have us do it for you stop in the shop or give us a call! We are located at 208 Ottawa Street North in Hamilton, Ontario. 289-389-9281

She Made It Her Own with Annie Sloan

September 17, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

Oh my goodness! Our very own Kerry Russell from Blue Butterfly Renew right here in Hamilton has won first prize in the “Made It My Own” with Annie Sloan contest! Congratulations Kerry we are so excited for you! Kerry is no stranger to winning contests, you may remember that she also won the grand prize in our Canadian 31 Days of Chalk Paint™ contest last year! Where will she go from here???

Kerry used Graphite Chalk Paint™ and Dark Wax and lots of distressing to create this beautifully rustic look!

There is still time to enter Annie’s “Make It My Own” with Annie Sloan Contest by posting your picture here! The possibilities are endless!

Happy Painting!

Good To The Last Drop!

June 7, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat

Everyday while chatting with customers we talk about how far a can of Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan will go. We tell you a quart will cover 150 sq ft and a sample pot will cover 18 sq ft, but its hard to imagine that as a dresser or sideboard or stool. So, we thought we would see just how far that 4oz sample pot could go! With that in mind we went searching in our stash of furniture for something that we thought would really stretch that theory to its limits.

To put things into perspective this bookshelf is 24″w x 29″h x 10″d and had originally been painted for a spring window display with Antibes and English Yellow. We were a little nervous, could we really cover these colours and this size with a scant 4oz of paint?

We hadn’t used Country Grey for anything in a while so that would be our colour! In between customers on a busy Saturday Elizabeth set to work with a small Annie Sloan paint brush and that little sample pot.

If you had any doubts just look at how well Country Grey Chalk Paint™ is covering that lovely bright green.

Fast forward about 15 minutes and lots of conversation about how well its covering Antibes and English Yellow, we have just about half a sample pot left and almost complete coverage! Wow is all I can say!

Within half an hour Elizabeth was able to start the second coat. Before she got started Elizabeth added a dribble of water to the pot, gave it a quick shake and got to work. With just a little more Country Grey we have complete coverage over the Antibes. The inside barely needed another coat as the English Yellow was almost completely covered, but what the heck we wanted to see just how far it would go!

There you go, like that old saying goes, its Good To The Last Drop!

The paint is still a little wet but in about 45 minutes we had 2 coats on this handy little bookshelf all with a 4oz sample pot of the best paint in the world, Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan! Once its dry we can finish off with a coat of Clear Soft Wax and maybe a little Dark Wax if the mood strikes us!

If you’d like more information about Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan or any of her fabulous products be sure to stop in the shop or give us a call. Interested in a workshop? We have a full description of all of our upcoming workshops in our Calendar. You can find your local stockist here.

Happy Painting

Melanie xo

If you’re in the neighbourhood stop in and visit our shop.

208 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton, Ontairo

289-389-9281

Two Years and Counting

May 4, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat

This past weekend marks the second anniversary for The Painted Bench in Hamilton. My journey down this path made much more beautiful with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan started long before that.

For over twenty years I worked with several dance studios creating and sewing costumes. I loved working with the children and enjoyed being my own boss, but about four years ago I decided it was time to move on. Fortunately for me I thought that maybe my bedroom set could use some sprucing up and since I had some time on my hands I went searching for the perfect method for accomplishing that. It took a while but I finally stumbled upon a fabulous store called Diamonds & Toads in St Thomas, Ontario that sold Chalk Paint™ by someone called Annie Sloan! I spent the better part of an afternoon with Michelle Gallant, who was the most gracious hostess and answered all of my crazy questions. I left with my very first can of Old White and a can of Soft Wax knowing that some day soon I too would be selling Chalk Paint™ myself.

Opening day at The Painted Bench. May 3, 2013

I’m sure you all know where this is going, so fast forward to May 3^rd, two years ago, to the day that Nicole and I opened the doors to our lovely little shop on Ottawa Street North. If you haven’t been to Ottawa Street in Hamilton you really should make the trip. It has a rich history as a fabric district all the way back to the early 1900’s and has grown to a street renowned for its fabric, home décor, antiques and trendy restaurants. It was a natural choice for me to locate a shop with upcycled and painted furniture and of course Chalk Paint™ on the street I have shopped on all my life!

Opening day at The Painted Bench. May 3, 2013

The style and layout of the shop has changed and evolved over the last two years and Nicole has her own lovely shop in Oakville now, so as expected things have changed while they have stayed the same. As I write this on the plane on my way to New Orleans for more Chalk Paint™ training, I can’t help but reflect on what the future holds for my wonderful staff and myself. In the upcoming months you can certainly expect new workshops, products and ideas, fabulous events on the street, and any number of surprises! One thing I know for sure is that you will continue to be the most important part of The Painted Bench, for without you we would not exist. So I will take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyalty and support and stay tuned for some wonderful things to come!

Melanie xo

Easy Peasy Smooth Finish

April 27, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat

We really do love our Chalk Paint™ here at The Painted Bench and we love it even more when Annie Sloan creates a video using her decorative paint.

We have pretty rustic taste in the shop and use a lot of crackly, crusty & distressed finishes, but every once in a while someone asks for a smooth as butter finish. What you say? You can get a smooth finish with Chalk Paint™? We say of course you can!!!!

It really is very simple to create a lovely smooth finish by adding a little water to your paint and using one of Annie’s beautiful flat brushes. This is the perfect finish for all of the wonderful mid century modern pieces that are turning up at local thrift shops and garage sales.

Let’s take a look at how Annie Sloan guides us through the process of choosing and mixing a colour, painting a smooth finish and finally waxing with ease.

Part 1: Choosing Your Chalk Paint™ Colour

Part 2: Painting a Smooth Finish with Chalk Paint™

Part 3: Waxing a Smooth Finish

As I said, easy peasy! If you’d like to give this a try stop into the shop and we can get you started. The possibilities truly are endless with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan at The Painted Bench!

Happy Earth Day

April 22, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat

Happy Earth Day All! This day seems to sneak up on me every year. Just when I think the Earth will always be grey from winter something like this surprises me and I remember the beauty that surrounds us and why we celebrate this day!

First violets of spring

One of the things I love most about owning a vintage store is that we reuse, recycle and relove something everyday! From old dressers to discarded pallets we will find a use for it. We carry products that have a very low impact on the environment such as Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint which contain no chemicals at all and Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan with zero VOCs.

Why not join us today at The Painted Bench in our goal to reuse an old piece of furniture, recycle some old hardware to a new project, or relove something with a new coat of paint? Our beautiful Earth will thank you for it!

Melanie

What Have You Been Creating?

April 21, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat

Did you know that our favourite messages from all of you is your before and after results? We just love to see what you’ve accomplished with a little paint, stain or paper and glue! Take a look at some our customer’s latest works of art.

Lindsey has been busy renewing a tired but beautiful chair by painting the frame and the fabric! Did you know that you can paint fabric with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan? Its so easy and quick and so much more economical than new upholstery! Lindsey used French Linen on the wood and Emile on the fabric.

Perfect painted fabric with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan

Nicole also refurbished this beautiful fabric covered bench with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan. A little Duck Egg and either Old White or Pure White is a classic combination to freshen up any project but on fabric its a sure winner!

Perfect painted fabric with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan

✽ If you’re interested in learning more about painting fabric with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan I will be writing a blog post about this very subject later this week so be sure to stay tuned. For some one on one advice give us a call or stop in the shop.

Last year Lindsey entered her very first project using Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan in a contest we held here in Canada called 31 Days of Chalk Paint™. She won a free can of paint that day for her Aubusson Blue hutch.

Prize winning redo with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan in Aubusson

And with that free can of paint Lindsey brought new life to her lovely china cabinet which she painted with French Linen. Beautiful isn’t it?

A new life for this beautiful china cabinet with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan in French Linen

Carrey has been very busy painting in her kitchen and has shared many of her projects with us. Her latest uses a custom mix of Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan in Provence and Aubusson Blue to match the colour of her dishes. I think we did a great job of matching and Carrey did a great job of painting!

Custom mix of Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan

Christina used Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan for the body and Gel Stain by General Finishes in Java for the top to update her TV stand and what a transformation! I love that we can renew something we already have at home to invigorate our space and save some money at the same time!

General Finishes Java Gel and Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan

Maxine White from Studio Paint in Fonthill, Ontario recently learned all about decoupage at a Painted Bench workshop, Decoupage+Transfer+Craqueleur. She created this lovely table using Artisan Enhancements Transfer Gel as the glue, one of our many decoupage papers, and Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan!

Decoupage by Maxine White of Studio Paint

Another of our students Mariann who took a Getting Started with Chalk Paint™ workshop with us and has put her lessons to good use. With some paint, a little distressing and clear and dark Soft Wax! Just look at her reloved coffee table, gorgeous isn’t it?

A lovely update with Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan, Clear and Dark Soft Wax

So the moral of this story is: You can do it too! Stop in the store for a little one on one information, give us a call or sign up for a workshop, but just do it! Its amazing how good it feels to create something that is truly your own!

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

April 15, 2015/in Uncategorised/by thepaintedbench

Shabby & Chic & Everything Neat

This weekend we will be at The Vintage Marketplace and we hope you can join us! The Hamilton Convention Center will be home to this fabulous all things vintage show Saturday & Sunday.

Join The Painted Bench at The Vintage Marketplace

If you like to shop for vintage anything this is the place for you! You will find everything from clothing to barn board, jewellery to original art, cool kitchy kitchen items and of course, painted vintage furniture and the best decorative paint in the world, Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan! Which of course you will find in our lovely booth!

This joint is jumping! The Painted Bench’s booth at The Vintage Marketplace

This is the third year for The Vintage Marketplace and the second time we have participated. If last year was any indication, this year will be sensational with lots of new vendors and lots of fabulous new treasures at The Painted Bench booth. We have been saving some very special furniture pieces just for this occasion and we have been painting up a storm! As an added bonus we will have a couple of specially discounted Starter Kits of Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan exclusive to the show.

Never tried Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan? Feel free to play at The Painted Bench’s booth at The Vintage Marketplace

Joining us in our booth will be Wes from WiCK’d Wax Creations with his heavenly scented mason jar soy candles! You can’t ask for more than that!

WiCK’d Wax Creations is all set up for The Vintage Marketplace in The Painted Bench’s booth

So plan on spending the day at The Vintage Marketplace, search for that special treasure, catch a fashion show, have some lunch, and stop by and say hi to all of us at The Painted Bench!

The Painted Bench at The Vintage Marketplace