Hope everyone had a good weekend. We took a little weekend trip and came home last night to a cold house. Guess I will call the repair man to come fix it. Thank goodness it isn't horribly cold out and we have a couple of electric heaters.
Anywho, the other day I was just standing at the kitchen sink and was looking at the mantel in the great room. I was staring at the urns on each end and then I was looking down at my black sink and a thought popped in my head. Maybe the urns would look better black. You can see how they looked before here.
I mixed a very small amount of paint and water in the jar. Very easy to mix this way by just putting a lid on the jar and shake shake shake.
After painting both urns and letting them dry I took my gold gilder's paste and lightly brushed it on the raised details.
I left it like that for a bit and they just didn't look quite right. They looked too new. Too perfect.
So I grabbed my sanding block and started sanding the urns to give them some age.
Now, they look much better and worn. I also grabbed some clear wax and waxed them and that really deepened the color.
Of course after gussying up the urns I made a couple of changes to the mantel. I like adding my pheasants for Thanksgiving.
They came from Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago and they got a gold treatment, too.
The mantel will look like this for a couple of weeks and then the Christmas decorations will come out.
Joining the following:
The urns look great black! Your whole mantel is beautiful!
ReplyDeletelove how the black paint makes the urns stand out. Well done!
ReplyDeletelove them in black.. they look great~!
ReplyDeleteThe urns look wonderful in black and the gold touches are perfect. Beautiful mantel vignette. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteThe urns really look great with the pheasants. I love the painting above the mantle as well, and the old leather bound books.
I have a taxidermy pheasant that sits on the table each fall.
Karen at Garden, Home and Party
The urns turned out so well and your mantle looks beautiful! I've never heard of that paint…will definitely be looking it up! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have a talent with paint!! The black aged look is beautiful on the urns. I like the decor of your mantle for November...rustic and elegant!
ReplyDeleteKim, thanks for stopping by last week and taking the time to leave me some really nice comments. I appreciate them so!
Blessings,
Leslie
Very pretty, change, Kim! I love how the wreath detail stands out on them.
ReplyDeleteThey look fabulous in black! I love your pheasants...I have a couple of brass ones that I leave out year round. I REALLY love your pheasant painting...
ReplyDeleteSplendid in black Kim.
ReplyDeleteKim, I really like black urns on your beautiful mantel. I love when an idea pops in my head while doing the dishes, especially when it turns out to be a keeper.
ReplyDeleteSo simple, but makes such a difference! I love your pheasants!
ReplyDeleteThe look great in either color. Isn't it funny how ideas come to you? Mine are normally at 3 a.m and I can't get back to sleep.
ReplyDeleteGood choice to go with the black! The whole mantel looks so serene and 'old world'! ~ Maureen
ReplyDeleteKim - Those look great!! Good job.
ReplyDeleteJudy
They look great! Just love the accent of the old books too.
ReplyDeletePretty. I like that color of typewriter!
ReplyDeleteThe urns look great, but for some reason I'm not crazy about the wheat.
ReplyDeleteLike the pheasants new color too!
tina
Beautiful mantel vignettes, Kim. Love the pheasants and the painting.
ReplyDeleteThey look great Kim, love them in black. The distressing and gilding are the perfect touch.
ReplyDeleteKim your mantel looks great! I love the urns and the books. Very nice.
ReplyDelete~Audra
Just perfect!
ReplyDeleteI like them black Kim, they really pop!
ReplyDeletebeautiful fall mantel, kim!!! i really like those urns in the black with the weathered look! blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteMuch better in black, and of course I love the distressing.
ReplyDeleteOoooh! I like them in black!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Kimmie!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweeetie,
Shelia ;)
your mantel is so pretty! Perfect for fall/thanksgiving. I love the urns-I'm going to have to check out the befores to remind myself what they were like before.
ReplyDeleteYes, I totally agree...the black touch is perfect. XO, Aimee
ReplyDeletethe black with the gilded gold peeking through looks lovely, so do the pheasants, amazing what a bit of paint can do!
ReplyDeleteKim, I love the way those urns came out. The black is perfect-dressed with the gold. Your mantle looks terrific. Those pheasants are GORGEOUS! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThose look great Kim! I have some urns I have been fussing with and have not been able to get them to look quite right. I may have to try my black chalk paint.
ReplyDeleteThe urns turned out just beautifully. Your pheasants are the perfect touch for Thanksgiving. What a beautiful mantle you created.
ReplyDeleteDear Kim ~ I agree with everyone: the urns look wonderful. Black is not the easiest color to work with. You've given it so much depth with the gold, and texture with the sanding and waste.
ReplyDeleteCheers from DC!
Loi
Tone on Tone
I love them black! The contrast is so much better with the artwork and the mantle. Great job!
ReplyDeleteWhen you started out, saying you were looking at your mantel, I said to myself "uh oh, Kim is gonna paint her mantel again." LOL Love your mantel and especially the pheasants. I have a thing for them you know. :)
ReplyDeletexxoo
The urns and really your entire mantel just look gorgeous Kim! Love them in the black! :-)
ReplyDeleteVanessa
Looks beautiful Kim.....
ReplyDeleteAs usual, your taste is perfection! Love the black against the light colored wall. The little touch of gold really pops!!!
ReplyDeletePerfect!
ReplyDeleteLove those pheasants!!
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful. Please put it back that same way when you are done with the Christmas Mantel.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, those urns have such a classic shape and design, I'm sure they would look good in just about any color you chose, but I do love the dark gainst the lighter wall. Your mantel looks great. I also love the pheasants. I picked one up at HB this year, and by the time I went back to pick up another one, they were all out. Rats. Maybe next year. In the mean time, I love the gold treatment you gave them. I'll have to look into doing something similar with mine. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I really, really, really love your mantel...and with that said ..my favorite urns are...are..the un-black look...b/c I loved the way they matched the mantel. Both are beautiful! I'd like to pick the whole thing up and move it to my house!
ReplyDeleteOh I like the pheasants for Thanksgiving too! We are going to my Mom's for Thanksgiving - and since I will be eyebrow deep in event prep here it's not going to be very pretty for awhile! but the Christmas decor comes out next week so I can dig through it for stuff to fluff my space with at the event!
ReplyDeleteI love how your mantle is decorated....just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit -- sometimes I think you're crazy with the amount of work you make for yourself by changing things up all the time. But those urns really do look good black!! I just love everything about your house.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteI love the urns. They look fantastic and I love the black.
Cynthia
i love the distressed with the gilded details. just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove this, your mantel is stunning! I need to paint mine! Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteJane, there wasn't any work to this really. It took me all of 45 minutes to do both and put them back on the mantel and I enjoy doing this.
ReplyDeleteYes! Definitely bettter in black!
ReplyDeletexo
Andie
I REALLY like how you sanded them and the little touch of gold. They look great! Love those pheasants too, will have to look for some. Can't wait to start Christmas here!!!:):)
ReplyDeleteLooks so pretty Kim! It is amazing what paint can do:).
ReplyDeletebeautiful as usual...i can just see your thanksgiving table...i bet it is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteyour are always being so creative:)
xo
Great transformation, Kim. I do the same thing..staring off into 'space' certainly can do wonders for our homes, right? Thanks for sharing, liz
ReplyDeleteThey look so good and I am loving the pheasants for the season.
ReplyDeleteOh Lord, when you said you were looking at your mantel I thought it was the evil possessed look of a crazed habitual mantel painter. I'm glad to see it was your urns.
ReplyDeleteBliss
What a lovely mantel, Kim--I like the urns with the black and gold and distressed look. The pheasants and wheat are so pretty together as well, and the large bird picture in the center is just right.
ReplyDeleteWow, they are perfect with your painting :)
ReplyDeleteThere you go again...turning something that is already beautiful into total perfection....love the change in color!!....
ReplyDeleteSo many nice comments...here's one more. I love how you think, and I love how you take action! Beautiful results every time!
ReplyDelete