Vintage Teacart Makeover

This is a sentimental piece purchased for me by my Mother from an estate sale for my BD this year. It is a duplicate of one my Grandmother had in her home. It was in rough shape; dirty, the handle was broken, it had a bit of mold & was stinky. Cleaned it with bleach & sprayed it with killz it as the primer coat. I started out using the Rustoleum Charcoal Grey Spray Chalk Paint and had to switch to the same paint but in brush on due to the heat. The spray chalk paint bubbled in the heat...oh mylanta what a hot mess it was. Note to self don't paint in humid 80+ degree weather again! I had to scrape off the bubbled areas and repaint the entire piece! Sigh...it was so worth it. The brush on chalk paint naturally crackles in a few areas when you apply it in hot weather (which I like). I had a tough time with the matte clear brush on polyacrylic. It went on too thick and showed lines everywhere. I normally like a smoother finish, but in the end the lines gave it character and made it perfectly imperfect! I was very pressed for time so had to complete the project in one day, whew. So it was another happy accident in the making ;) so without further ado, here it is!

BEFORE: Stinky, dirty, moldy & a bit broken.

IN PROGRESS: Paint is bubbling, ugh.

I was so relieved that the wheels and outer rubber rings came off! I soaked the front wheels and the rubber ring for the back wheels in bleach. The water turned almost black, it was so gross.

Had to switch to the brush on. If you do a very watered down coat as a final coat, it helps with the brush lines.

IN PROGRESS: Playing around with placement of the wood appliques/onlays.

Found this gorgeous vintage tray that I refinished to pewter and it is a perfect fit for the top of the cart!

UPDATE MAY 2018:

So I decided to make 2018 the year of lighter color palettes. I went with a lot of light grey & whites. Am reloving the teacart in aged grey chalked by rustoleum!

I love it best this color!

My vintage Mitterteich Bavarian China in Mystic Grey Rose.