Tuesday, November 17, 2015

We're Amy Howard Dropouts


It was a black pine table we bought in 1971
and stripped to natural in the 1980s,
and by 2015 had yellowed horribly.

I fell in love with this table....


I tore the page out of a magazine but don't remember
which one it was to credit.

It was an Italian table, circa late 1800s.
It probably had many layers of paint to give it
that wonderful shade.

I thought that R.H. and our firstborn could duplicate it.
Off to Benjamin Moore I went and bought 
Amy Howard's Cracked Patina system.

My guys got busy turning my old dining table
into an Italian masterpiece.


They spent hours in the shop.


Brown Eyes kept them company.


They brought a table leaf in for me to approve
the color I chose for the first layer.


I loved it but panicked at adding the next step
of Cracked Patina,
and the gray paint that would follow that.

Would it give me the look of an old Italian table,
or would it give me a mess?

I decided to become an Amy Howard dropout
and told them just to seal it.


Maybe I'm just not a Cracked Patina kind of gal
because I love it the way it is.

Above is a picture from my next post of a fall table and meal.

I hope you'll come back on the weekend for that,
and I hope you'll tell me here if you're a
Amy Howard graduate!



21 comments:

  1. I am not sure but I think that table belongs to "the glamorous housewife". I am so excited and happy for you and your new table!! Great job! I love the color you picked!!

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  2. Well I hadn't heard of Amy Howard ... so did a google search ... and it said
    " Her knowledge of old world art--combined with a deep appreciation for fine furnishings--has always set her brand apart. Amy invites those around her to open their eyes and see that every piece of furniture can have a story of its own."
    So now I know!
    It's great you have a 'new' table and I love the photo of 'brown eyes'

    Looking forward to your next post of a fall table and meal, your last photo looks wonderful.

    All the best Jan

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  3. I've not heard of Amy Howard, but I think your table looks wonderful! And if you're happy with it, then it was a good thing to stop.

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  4. I agree with Lorrie - I never heard of Amy Howard but I love the color you picked for the table - it looks great and at the end of the day that's what matters!!

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  5. I love your table just the way it is...oh, what a fabulous color!!!

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  6. Well, it's a very pretty table as it is, and I agree with Kim. . .it's a fabulous color. I recently learned about Amy Howard paints -- our Ace Hardware is carrying her line now. I may give it a try sometime. I would probably do a sample board of the whole process to see if I liked it before doing the actual piece. xo

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  7. I love your table and your vision!! You are so cute! I am an Annie Sloan drop out, so I can relate! ;-) Sometimes we have to just go our own way. (((hugs)))

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  8. We don't all have to follow anyone's System!!!

    That's what I say! -grin-

    YOu are happy with your lovely table, and that is all that counts.

    Hugs, Tessa

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  9. At first I thought 'oh no', is she going to have a table after all this?! But to my pleasant surprise I see you not only have one, but it's a beauty!

    Do you know I don't have a 'grown up' dining table? I can't seat more than four people. How sad and pathetic is that?? So I guess what I'm hinting at is can your hunka, hunka man (aka R.H.) make me one? After I buy a house with enough room of course ;).

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  10. Your table looks very nice, Dewena. The color is warm, and it looks long and sturdy for all your family to gather around. Wonderful things happen when someone puts their mind around an idea, as you did. And your faithful workers made it happen for you, that's the most special part of it all.

    love, ~Sheri

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  11. i love that you're an amy howard dropout! LOL.
    i don't even know who she is. but i love the green.
    that shade of green reminds me of a deep pine forest.
    let the patina come on its own... lovingly done by little hands...
    and glasses refilled and leaving rings... and all the wonderful things that happen to a family table with people around it talking and laughing and eating delicious food! the kind of things that bring it to its real life.
    and sometimes even beautiful enough to be famous in a magazine! XOXOXO♥

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  12. I've never tried Amy Howard products but a few fellow bloggers took her a course a couple of weekends ago and now I'm VERY intrigued by this product. I think from the little you showed us today, the color is awesome as is. Looking forward to seeing your Fall tablescape!

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  13. I have never heard of Amy Howard products either, is this regional and do I need to google it??? I really like this Dewena, it is a handsome and striking table, with an amazing color.
    xo
    Jemma

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  14. Amy Howard..that was a new one for me too. I love that your family was transforming your table for you. I'm glad you stopped when you did because I love the color. I can't wait to see it all dressed up. One time I got a small table at a garage sale. Don went to work sanding off the paint when I hollered...STOP! It was so perfect with some of the paint gone that let the other colors show through. I still have it...although it is in the basement now. Love patina...

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  15. I hear you, Dewena. Good for you for stopping when you felt comfortable. Plus this way you can wipe that baby clean and not worry about bacterial building in the "cracks". I love how it turned out and I am glad you love it, too. xo Diana

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  16. Hi,
    I have not heard of Amy Howard.
    I like what I see. :-)
    Looking forward to the rest of the story ;-)
    Carla

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  17. Painting furniture makes me nervous, and I used to have a furniture painting business!!!! Go figure.
    Your table looks wonderful. Very brave and smart move.

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  18. I do love the color and what you've shown so far. I've not heard of Amy Howard either. And I think it is fine to be a drop out! If you liked it where it was and weren't sure about the rest of it...then it's all good! Can't wait to see the other photos!! Much love and hugs to you Dewena!

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  19. Dewena, you set the prettiest table I think I've ever seen. As to the table...you can always go back and do the crackle but it's beautiful as is.

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  20. I understand your worry!!! I bet it's a beautiful table! I have my grandmother's dining table, bought by her I think in the early 60s...not really old, but treasured, because I remember so many Christmas dinners around it! I am drooling over that pitcher in one of the last photos and can't wait to see the post above this because I caught a glimpse ad it looks like YOUR table should be in Homes & Gardens!

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  21. What a beautiful post! In all ways delicious. I really love that shade of green table. It is perfect. The French touches make my heart sing.

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