The Gilded Lady

A couple of months ago I saw a great blog at Hospitality Designs (metallic paint project ) using Martha Stewart Golden Pearl paint.  I immediately knew I had to use this on something.  I found a waterfall highboy dresser and vanity that were in pretty bad shape that I thought might work, so off to Home Depot I went for my paint.  On the way home I stopped at a yard sale and found this little skirted vanity table from the 1940's or 1950's.  Doesn't she have beautiful legs?  I knew she would be my golden pearl project.
  First let me state that I am not sponsored by, or have I been asked to endorse this product (I wish).  Second, I love all of the Martha Stewart products I have used so far.  I used the Thundercloud metallic paint on a chair and table (The Black Beast and Cocktails Anyone), and the Black Coffee glaze on a bunch of projects including (Silverware Chest to Art Box and RH Style Zinc Dresser).  I couldn't wait to try the Golden Pearl paint out, so as soon as I got home I opened it up to put some on a test board.  Hmmm, I thought, this has a really funky smell, it smells like sour milk.  Oh well maybe it has something to do with the pigmentation.  I went ahead and painted some on my bare wood test board and I loved it.  Then I started on my vanity, and a chair that I picked up last fall that has pretty legs that go well with the vanity.  First I removed all of the small nails that were used to pin the skirt on, then my husband filled all of the holes with some putty.

Next I primed them and then started to paint.  OH NO!!!  The paint just streaked on, making it look like a really bad '60s antique job.  Remember that funky smell?  Well the best thing I can come up with is that the paint got frozen somewhere in transit or storage.  I absolutely do not blame the Martha Stewart corporation, it is just something that happens.  Everyone told me I should just take it back to H.D. and they would exchange it, but I literally live in the sticks.  It would have cost me more in gas than the little jar of paint cost, and by this time I just wanted to be done with it.

 I figured "in for a penny, in for a pound" so I let it dry and put on a second coat.  This coat did the trick, it covered much better and gave the pieces the finish I was looking for. All in all I would use this paint again, I would just make sure that it wasn't spoiled first.

Now for a little more bling.  My sister had given me a shoe box full of broken jewelry (what a great gift), where I found this pin.  Isn't it perfect?  My husband ground down the drawer knob, I painted it up, then glued the pin on.  I spent an hour at Hancock Fabrics with my test board in hand until I came up with the fabric to cover the seat.  I think it matches really well.

I know these vanities are supposed to have a ruffled skirt on them, but really who would want to cover up those gorgeous legs, in other words "why gild the lily"?  What do you think, is she dressed up enough?

 Linking up at:

beyond the picket fence

miss mustard seed 
the shabby nest
  pjh designs 
french country cottage 
this that and life