Bold vs. Safe {5 tips on picking the right paint color}

By Chelsea

Hi friends! The topic for this post hit me hard the other day when I was staring at these two pieces, (both for the sale on June 7!), pondering how to refinish them.

  

 Even those pieces which I intend to refinish and sell typically have a clear direction in plan from the moment I see them. It's either, "Oh yes. This will be a stunner in French Linen!" or "Spring Mint. Hands down." But every once in a while I'm as torn as trying to decide on which Ben & Jerry's masterpiece to bring home from 7-Eleven, (we've all been there; I'm not ashamed).

And I know a lot of you have had this predicament as well. I get this question weekly: What color? Whether it's your great-Aunt Nillie's curio cabinet or a worthless dresser you found for nothing at a yard sale, you face a big decision if you intend to have the piece refinished or refinish it yourself. 

What color???

Source: shopstylesociety.com

For anyone out there asking that question right now, or perhaps in the near future, here are a few tips off the top of my head that may ease your decision making process. Here we go, in no particular order:

1. Take some good photos of your space and spend a bit of time looking over them. I think we see our rooms differently through pictures than in the day-to-day passings from room to room. The question of what color to paint a piece should start by assessing the space it will go. You may have seen a smear of Orange Sky by Benjamin Moore in House Beautiful and think it's a lovely shade of yellow, but can your space handle such a powerful color? Show your photos to a trust-worthy friend, (whose style and taste you admire), and ask their opinion. Fresh eyes are always helpful.

Source: Chelsea's Garage

Helpful tip: Chelsea's Garage is a great source for fresh eyes. Send a photo of a space you'd like advice on, (whether it's help trying to decide on a paint color for a new piece or even furniture arrangement), and we'll reply quickly with our thoughts!

Source: inthefunlane.com

2. Do a Pinterest or Google Image search of similar pieces to yours, painted. You may just see a photo that hits you deep within and you know that's the direction you want to go with your piece. When I saw this pink table by Holly of In the Fun Lane, I knew I wanted to do something similarly fun and bright in our otherwise neutral dining room, (keep reading)!

3. Give yourself a quick psyc exam: Do you have a history of making big, bold style choices that have affected you positively and increased your confidence in your unique taste? If yes, then go bold! You can handle it so be brave and take the leap. If you're thinking, 'not so much', that's okay! Then there's no dilemma! Go easy on yourself and choose a soft neutral that you know you'll like. There is no sense in trying to like a look that you know isn't you.

For the neutral lovers out there, here are a few of my favorite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint neutrals: 

Old White, (shown below), Paris Grey, French Linen, and Country Grey.

Source: Chelsea's Garage

4. On the fence? Be bold and safe at the same time with a color that works well as a neutral. When I decided I wanted to do a bright color in our otherwise neutral dining room, I chose this aqua, (Duck Egg by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint), because to me, it does work like a neutral. Colors that are very earthy and natural are like chameleons - you can slip them into just about any color scheme and make them work well.

Source: Apartment Therapy, (from our Home Tour)

Source: Chelsea's Garage

Another color that I love using as a neutral is Chateau Grey, also by ASCP. It's the color of moss; you can't miss with that!

5. Let the piece speak for itself. When I'm working on a true antique, I like to maintain its character by using a classic, soft neutral. This is one of the reasons I love working with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Annie Sloan has studied the history of color, primarily throughout Europe. If I'm going to paint over a rich piece that has stood the test of time, I like to respect the age and era it came from by using an equally rich and classic color.

Recognize this one from the first picture up top? It spoke loud and clear and I ended up using French Linen by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Source: Chelsea's Garage

If you ever want some help deciding on a paint color for a piece of furniture, contact chelseasgarage@gmail.com; we're here to serve!

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea

First piece of Spring!

By Chelsea



Hello there! Three days ago I was looking at the weekend ahead with a pit in my stomach. None of us could walk through the garage, that's how full it was. Saturday morning Matt and I got our kids, (who have kind of become wild animals throughout this fierce winter), outside to do their thing, and we tackled the garage. One mound was a trash pile. The other a donation pile. Here are a few words I would use to describe our garage-clearing experience: Invigorating. Cleansing. Therapeutic. Rejuvenating. Terrifying. (every time I went to pick up a bag or towel or move something that hadn't been moved in months, I was sure I'd see a dead animal. Or worse, a living one). Romantic. (hey, watching my man lift heavy stuff is never a bad thing).

So, when I got to drive the van jam-packed with stuff to donate to the thrift store, I couldn't help stepping inside to check out what they had in the furniture section. I mean, we had just cleared TONS of room, so why not, right?!

True as it may be that I was probably not the right one to go to the thrift store, (especially with all the new space in our garage), I really could not pass up this beauty. Thankfully, Matt agreed!

First piece of the Spring season! 

I have a lot riding on this piece, not least of which is a better mood!

Hello rocker-chic hardware!

So, I'm starting on the piece this week. Old White with light distressing, original hardware. Dimensions are 47.5"L x 30"H x 17.75"D. If you have any interest at all please contact me ASAP at chelseasgarage@gmail.com. Finished pictures will be up when it's done! 

And just so you don't miss it, our beautiful Cate, (SIL, just married my brother, incredibly talented DIYer), will be stopping by soon to share some of the amazing projects she's been working on over the past few months. Stay tuned!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

~Chelsea 

Chelsea's Garage Announcement

Posted by Chelsea

Hi friends! I've got some exciting news which I've been itchin' to share with you! But first, a little back story...

Chelsea's Garage has remained a home based business for the past 2.5+ years despite some very kind and tempting offers to display and sell through some of Northern Virginia's most popular antique shops and barns. For this moment in life, however, it feels right to keep Chelsea's Garage, well, in the garage. I can work while my babes play in the front yard or take their afternoon nap just upstairs. I get to meet every person face to face who purchases a piece from me - a unique pleasure which I would have to sacrifice elsewhere. And finally, in staying true to my personal mission for Chelsea's Garage, I can create and offer beautiful, one of a kind pieces at reasonable prices because I have no overhead expenses such as commission or rent. Indeed, life in the garage is good and right for this time.

But the decision to keep my business home comes with it's own hardships. Owning and operating your own small business is both beautiful and trying. When you are successful, that blessing is yours to be grateful for and you can feel proud of all your work. But when things are slow and the business account is empty, you own that responsibility, too. I wish I could say that since I first started out in the Spring of 2011 that the business has enjoyed a snowball effect, growing exponentially and moving forward with zero setbacks. But that is far from the truth! While I can say that Chelsea's Garage has grown greater than I had imagined, I must also admit that there have been times of fierce discouragement. 

Nevertheless, I have felt a lot of peace about deciding to keep Chelsea's Garage at home. But, I've also discovered that doesn't mean I have to commit to working alone!

When my beautiful friend and future sister-in-law first expressed interest in working together, it just felt right. She has only just started, (and has her own job plus a wedding to plan), but it's been such an honor already to get to work alongside this creative soul and I'm excited about what she'll be sharing with us here on the blog, (you'll hear from her about once a week). She will no doubt inspire us all with her ideas and you'll even have the opportunity to purchase her creations through the Available for Sale link. She's begun to settle nicely into working on her own projects in the garage - a space which we not only share for working, but our dreams, ideas, and tons of laughs, too!

Meet Cate.

We are both excited about where this adventure will take us all, and are ever so grateful to you for your partnership through reading, sharing and supporting Chelsea's Garage.

Thank you for reading!

~Chelsea