Painting and Decorating Furniture [Paperback]

Sheila McGraw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

"...quite probably, the best general instructions on furniture decoration that exist."
- Booklist

Painting and Decorating Furniture is the definitive book on reviving old or unsightly furniture with simple craft techniques. Sheila McGraw shows how to breathe new life and color into old wood, metal or plastic laminate cabinets, desks, dressers, tables, chairs and cushions.

With more than 1,000 step-by-step color photographs to guide the reader, and concise easy-to-follow instructions, the author demonstrates original treatments and techniques, including new stains and faux finishes, decorating with found materials, and inventive uses for fabric, posters and baskets.

Popular treatments such as dragging, smooshing, block printing, metallic leafing, crackled varnish, faux plaster, antiquing, découpage, and other fine art and furniture finishes enhance furniture with freehand, decorative and folk painting. The stenciling and other projects all include patterns.

With expert descriptions of tools and materials, McGraw generously shares her extensive knowledge and years of experience. Projects are easy-clean-up, fast-drying and use water-based paints and environmentally friendly primers, stains, varnishes and strippers. Painting and Decorating Furniture is fully cross-referenced and indexed. The "Read This First" sections prevent mistakes, and complete Materials Lists avoid frustration.

Enormously popular, this new paperback edition of Painting and Decorating Furniture will introduce more buyers to its strong formula of excellent content, beautiful production and indisputable value.

(19991021)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

McGraw, whose previous craft books include Papier-Mache for Kids (Firefly, 1991), gives clear, well-illustrated instructions to over 30 furniture decorating projects. She begins with an overview of the materials, equipment, and basic techniques needed for preparing furniture to be decorated and continues with the projects that primarily involve various paint techniques, but she also shows how to refurbish cushioned seats, mosaic a tabletop, and fabric-cover furniture. Although the directions are generally clear, more detailed techniques such as tole painting are better illustrated in Priscilla Hauser's Book of Decorative Painting (LJ 9/15/97). With the variety of projects illustrated, this book will be popular addition to collections whose patrons are looking for how-to books.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

A great gift for the do-it-yourselfer. (Style at Home Magazine 19991127)

Truly the most inspiring. The illustrated steps and materials lists let the reader believe 'I can do this!' (Newsday 20000301)

McGraw has a wonderful eye for unleashing the personality of seemingly bland, ordinary pieces. (New Orleans Times-Picayune 20000205)

McGraw shows how to breathe new life and color into old wood, metal and plastic laminated cabinets, desks, dressers, tables. (Lee Littlewood Copley News Service 20000412)

This is an 'ooh and ahh' book. (Sandy Guerra-Cline Fort Worth Morning Star-Telegram 20000701)

The highly organized projects are well-illustrated with step-by-step instructions anyone can follow. (Jim Carlson Country Decorating Ideas 20040103)

Truly inspirational ... full-color photographs detailing each step of the project are extremely helpful for the engineering-challenged. (Jennifer Isaac Calgary Sun )

McGraw shows how to breathe new life and color into old wood, metal and plastic laminated cabinets, desks, dressers, tables. (Charlotte Observer )

Beautiful color photographs will provide you with lots of inspiration ... technical aspects are covered in full. (Liz Graham Newfoundland Herald )

A good start for beginners with simple, easy-to-follow projects, furniture preparation and materials. (Joy Kraft Cincinnati Enquirer )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552093808
• ISBN-13: 978-1552093801
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Furniture Design
  • #95 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Furniture

More About the Author

WHERE THE LOST THINGS GO: If you like Love You Forever and I Promise I'll Find You, you'll LOVE my latest book, Where The Lost Things Go. This moving, loving book is a collaboration between a talented writer, Barbara Farnsworth and myself, to make her quirky, sweet, loveable, and reassuring story of a child who loses things and believes they'll be waiting for him a long, long, long long time from now, in heaven, come to life. Barbara Farnsworth first contacted me a year ago when her manuscript landed in my email inbox, and upon reading it, I was immediately intrigued. Her story gives a child reassurance that while something is lost, ALL is not lost. The book was also a rich canvas for an illustrator, moving as it did from indoors to outdoors, through the seasons, and filled with plenty of action.

Do you have a children's book manuscript you'd like me to view? Please visit my website at www.SheilaMcGraw.com

The mystery novel "STILL LIFE WITH CAT AND MOUSE" THE FIRST SYLVIA DRAKE NOVEL has been temporarily suspended. Soon a funnier, juicier edition will be available!

As the child of a creative couple, Sheila McGraw recalls a childhood infused with the smells of oil paint mixed with baking bread from her painter mother and cigarette smoke and freshly cut wood from her hobbyist-carpenter father. Their inspiration shaped her and she recalls spending endless hours drawing, painting and sewing, including a first attempt at embroidery at age 5 when her piece ended up inadvertently stitched to the table cloth.
McGraw began her career as an illustrator and copywriter for advertising agencies, retail fashion outlets and editorial publications. In 1986 she was approached by Firefly Books to illustrate "Love You Forever" written by Robert Munsch. As that book achieved success she began writing, illustrating, designing and photographing a string of highly successful children's and adult craft books which encompass some of her earliest influences of sewing and sculpting, painting and drawing. She also illustrated and/or wrote several bestselling children's picture books. "Love You Forever" went on to become a children's classic with more than 20 million in print and number one on the New York Times Bestseller list. McGraw's "Papier Mache for Kids" was awarded the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award. Her artwork is widely exhibited and represented by the Loch Galleries in Canada.
Sheila McGraw lived in Toronto until 2006 when she married the criminal defense lawyer Lee McMillian and moved to his hometown of Houston Texas. She is the mother of 3 grown sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Painting and Decorating Funiture, January 16, 2000

By 

Kathleen M. Sears - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting and Decorating Furniture (Hardcover)

I have been painting and decorating furniture for 50 years and this is the first book I truly, truly have found well written, clear, informative with wonderful photos and answering questions before one asks. I sincerely enjoyed, and am experimenting with Sheilas methods. (loved the little penguins and cats, nice touch)

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Painting and Decorating Furniture, November 10, 2000

By 

"mgragg" (Lanett, Alabama United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting and Decorating Furniture (Hardcover)

This is, by far, the best "how to" book I have ever purchased. I was interested in some basics on how to paint/decorate a table & chairs for my Granddaughter and found this recommended book at Amazon.com. Best money I have spent in a while. Loads of interesting (but very simply stated) ideas on LOTS of projects. NOW I know how many of those items I have seen in antique stores and craft shows were created. My Granddaughter's table project is now on the right track. Thanks to this book, I have several other projects planned. Cudos to the author!!

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent craft book to revive old or ugly furniture., November 8, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Starkville, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting and Decorating Furniture (Hardcover)

This book is beautifully displayed with before and after photos, as well as clear, detailed step-by-step instruction. Any novice can complete the projects shown in this book. The author fully explains every tool or item you need to purchase (and gives pictures of them). The projects listed are numerous. Anyone wanting to put new life in old furniture will definitely get their money's worth out of this book.