A day has passed and I'm still not sure. I do have two of these fancy mercury glass knobs waiting to be installed so thats all taken care of.
Part of me thinks - its just fine the way it is. Paint it with a couple of coats of sealer and be done with it!
The other part thinks - it sort of looks like badly applied tin foil on an crappy Ikea nightstand. It needs more moxie! Maybe a black geometric pattern painted on top of the silver? A clover pattern? Or some loose script writing to mimic the pattern on the chair fabric? Or maybe something else?
What do you think?
edited to add: The silver leaf finish doesn't look nearly this bright or flat...its just the sunglight bouncing from the window that washes it out a bit. There is texture and some of the black showing through.
what if you made it look like aged mercury glass? Rough it up with 220 sandpaper to let some if the black show through. Maybe add a little brown to the rough areas to fake oxidation. I also like your idea to add script- like a letter written across the top. Anything to break up the silver would be an improvement.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant from Jamie- that gets my vote!
ReplyDeleteI think you need to wrap the leaf right around the edges of the top piece to deal with the egdes,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jamie a rub of grey or brown to take a bit of the super white silver and tone it down. Once you add a lamp or accessories that will break up the look.
I agree..I think it needs some funk..
ReplyDeleteMaybe paint a black Fleur-de-lis?
ReplyDeleteI really can't run sandpaper on it or it will rip off the leaf entirely.
ReplyDeleteI kinda like it just the way it is. What if you got a piece of glass for the top of it to protect the silver leaf, and then if later on you think it still needs more you can go ahead and do it because there is no varnish on it.
ReplyDeleteMagic Paintbrush pointed me to Caromal Colours. Not that I think you need to buy any for this project but they have a tutorial and ideas for gilding.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.caromalcolours.com/gildlearn.php
I picture it with a black glaze on it (water down your black paint?)and then dry wipe it back. Kind of aiming for what the silver black pears look like. At least you wouldn't have to sand to get the look if you dry wipe.
I like the idea of the scripting, that could look really good.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to age the silver. Maybe some black glaze will work. I think it will really be beautiful when it is all done. I'm sure once you age it and add the hardware and accessories on it, it will tone down the silver quite a bit. Can't wait to see the final result.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's not quite right. How about a design, like the blog header on coco & kelley (think it's cocokelley.blogspot.com) Otherwise I am really stumped. Why not submit it as a question to Apartment Therapy - I got some really good feedback when I asked for advice on what to recover a chair - but be warned, some people are really rude on there. But they often have brilliant ideas. You are nearly there I think...
ReplyDeleteIs it too late to add a crackle finish? If it is, maybe a "frame" design. Or something that ages it. The silver's just a little bright.
ReplyDeleteI think it would look great if you could mimic the mirror that inspired this in the first place. So perhaps give it a black border like this coffee table: http://www.treadwaygallery.com/ONLINECATALOGS/MAY2005/images/0923.jpg
ReplyDeleteand antique the silver leafing like this: http://www.affordableartandframing.com/art/mirrors/06048-P.gif
you could even add brads around the border between the black and the silver leaf to mimic the mirror's detail.
pictures, take 2:
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/dc3wtp
http://tinyurl.com/bz5bkh
I agree with anyone who said add some script. Words, even partial words--so cool. Also liked the idea of black glazing. Whatever direction you choose, based on everything else you have done, it will be great.
ReplyDelete"...badly applied tin foil on an crappy Ikea nightstand"
ReplyDeleteyikes. photos usually make things look better and it doesn't look bad at all but if that's the description you've given it (at least some of the time) i don't think you should seal it just yet...you'll probably always think it looks like badly applied tin foil on an ikea nightstand when you look at it in the future...therefore my vote is to give it a bit of moxie. the geometric pattern or script you described sounds nice and would fit in with the aesthetic of the rest of your home.oh, and if you have left over leaf do the edges too that way it doesn't make you cringe when you look at it.
What about a black damask pattern all over the top of it.... to bring some black up onto the top. Then put some of the silver leaf onto the drawer detail (the trim on the drawer) to bring some silver down. Melanie Royals has great damask stencils...
ReplyDeleteI think a border in a Greek key pattern (black) would give it some added interest!
ReplyDeleteI'd just assemble with those fabulous knobs, and "stage" it (with a lamp, etc.) where you plan on housing it. I think you may find that you like it as-is! If not it won't be a big deal to go back to the drawing board. Perhaps quite literally!
ReplyDeleteI like the script idea.
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm a photographer in Ontario and I mostly read photog blogs... but somehow I stumbled on yours and keep peeking at your adventures :) Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteWhat if you had a piece of square glass cut for the top? I feel like it needs a different material to tie in the knobs you're planning to use and the silver leaf... maybe glass would do it? Would it create kind of a mirrored looking top? Just a thought.
What about topping it with a beveled glass top and putting old black and white photos underneath or topping it with an old mirror.
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of your "moxie" to just take this project on, and that sweet gal singin in the rain makes me smile. As an artist, the angst, the push, the hope, the distress, the final countdown....all of it is one big challenge full of joy and pure raw emotion.
I know you inspire so many!
Can we go back to the old format? The pictures were much clearer and it was easier to read. Plus your blog feed doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul - What problems are you having with the feed? I know google reader is working but I'm not sure what other ways people read blogs.
ReplyDeleteThe photos should be the same size and source as before - what trouble are you having seeing them.
I'm with those who like the idea of the script words. I think they would be nice.
ReplyDeleteHmm. I like it. I can't comment on how the sides came out as I can't see them well in the photo but I like the top portion. Whatever you do I'm sure it will just add to me liking it more.
ReplyDeleteYou make me want more space in my home to take on bigger projects. I so don't need big projects but you make me want 'em.
I've followed your blog since finding it on That Home Site during my bathroom re-do. Your bathrooms are an inspiration! First time commenting. The aging to mimic the mirror sounds good. What about wrapping the silver around the edges so the entire top including all edges are silver? That way it would look like a silver top set upon a black base, like the two are separate. But together. The damask idea someone raised sounds nice too.
ReplyDelete...okay, maybe I'm just sentimental and want the old format back.
ReplyDeleteWhat you did looks good but I really think it still needs some more zazzing up...
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think that I would throw it away.
ReplyDelete