I know…. what am I doing? Spray painting brass!!?!? Why? Brass is in!
Well, I’ve decided that it’s “in”, and I’m just waiting for Style at Home to email me, congratulating me for single-handedly reviving this home decor trend.
But this little brass duo just didn’t look quite right in its original state. I was gifted this giraffe mama-and-babe by my Grandma. She collected brass in the 90’s. Now she’s decided to let me jazz up my living room with some of her brassy lovelies.
It’s cute – you can’t deny it. But their colour is a bit off, and the tarnish in their spots just doesn’t do it for me.
Well, you know how we do it here on Suburble. Mike Holmes may say, “Make it Right”, but this gal says, “Paint it Right.”
Spray paint to the rescue!
Is this not perfect?
Just the right amount of detail… and yet, still simple. I think that because the the finish is now matte, it becomes so much more sophisticated.
And it’s perfect for our house. A mama reaching down to touch noses with her baby. It’s right where we are as a family.
We have this duo standing on a tray on our ottoman (which is an upcoming post – I reupholtered something, guys – and it’s actually pretty nice!) and every kid that has seen this little pair is immediately drawn to it.
Mothers panic. “Don’t bang those! You’ll break it!”
But I brush it off. “It looks like ceramic, but it’s brass. It can’t be broken.”
Yes. It cannot be broken. Savour those words in your mouth, like the first sip of wine at the end of the day that your kid found a Sharpie in the junk drawer.
If the painted surface chips, you just re-spray it. Child-proof home decor.
Maybe I’ll start another trend? Metal knick-knacks that kids can’t break? No longer will all of the good stuff have to be packed away until the kids are in high school. Brass will save us!
Or it will save me. Melissa and Doug is not a home decor company. I needed something to add a bit of style!
If you haven’t joined me in the Brassy Love Parade, consider joining me at the Painted Brass Party. The thrift store is teeming with the stuff!
Love brass like I do? Check out my “I Love Brass” pin board!
Wanna see what I spray paint next? Follow along!
Linked up here:
28 comments
Anne@DesignDreams
so much better!!!!
Tara
Thank you so much, Anne! I agree! 🙂
Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz
I need to start child-proof decorating. I am realizing that I have WAY too many breakable objects, and not nearly enough nose-touching. Also, good call with the spray painting. It looks soft and lovely. Now go enjoy some wine!
Tara
Oh, I think that the true child-proofing happens the minute that your kid starts to crawl. You realize, “Hey… I didn’t know THAT could break!”
Or my kids’ personal favourite: let’s pull everything out of every drawer we can open! Party!
(And I DID enjoy a little vino blanco last night! It was delicious!)
Amy of while wearing heels
Adorable. No other way to describe this set besides for adorable. Job well done!
Tara
Oh, thank you Amy! I really love it too. It’s probably all of those crazy mom-hormones in me that make me love it so much. I’m sure that a 17 year old guy would look at it and say, “It looks like the zoo.”
🙂
Danni@SiloHillFarm
Tara, that is one perfect project! And…I love the line about the kid finding the sharpie…been there!
Tara
Thank you so much, Danni. I love how it turned out. And yes, the kid and the Sharpie? Why does that combination keep on happening?!? 😉
Marilyn
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR….the painted brass is ssssssooooo beautiful! You did the right thing by painting it! 🙂
Tara
Thanks, Marilyn. I admit, I was a bit nervous when I did my first coat. But now that it’s finished? I love it!
Jenna
Yep, I’m with you – some things should stay brass, others need a coat of spray paint! These look much better painted! Love it! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Tara
Thanks, lady! I love the way they turned out! (Though I did have some nerves when the brass was disappearing under the white paint…)
Recreate and Decorate
oh those turned out great!
Tara
Thank you! I’m really happy with their new look! 🙂
Sonya ~At Home with The Barkers
I LOVE these two cuties! I have no problem spray painting a thing 🙂 Found from Blogtalk….Pinning! ~Sonya
Tara
Oh, thank you, Sonya! I think they turned out very sweet! (So happy that you wandered over from BT! I’m going to check out your blog!)
T’onna
Cute & sweet! I think the giraffes look better in white than brass. My mother used to collect a bunch of brass things too…
Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
Tara
I know that there are some collections that are sitting in boxes at mothers’ houses just waiting for spray paint to come rescue them! I was so happy when my grandma gave me her box of old brassies. It also brings back so many memories. I remember these giraffes sitting on my her shelf for so many years!
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet
I will never look at tarnished brass the same again! What a dramatic transformation, Tara! And I love that it has such an expensive look, but if the kids play catch with it, there’s no need to panic. That’s my kinda DIY!
Thanks for linking up at The CSI Project this week. So happy to see you there!
Warmly,
Lauren
The Thinking Closet
Tara
Thank you so much for checking out my little giraffes, Lauren! I hope that you stumble upon some brass worthy of a little spray paint “lipstick”. It’s a thoroughly satisfying transformation! 🙂
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet
Pssst! You were featured over at The CSI Project as one of my Top 5 picks. Congrats, Tara!
http://thecsiproject.com/2013/07/13/winners-of-the-spray-paint-galore-challenge/
Tara
No! Really!?!? Thank you so much, Lauren! Totally going to shout from the rooftops about this! 🙂
barefootbutterfly
Those area cute pair! So sweet that we can re-purpose item that have history! I have been painting brass for quite a while now to & you can use chalk paint as well . I also sometimes wet distress mine so some of the brass shows through in little spots giving a glimpse of the old but not too much 🙂 Just a sparkle. I have a stellar 18″ rearing stallion that I am working on… he used to be a unicorn but lost his horn so im filling the hole in his head & painting him a gorgeous grey with whitewash & wet distressing him to 🙂
Carolyn ~ Barefootbutterfly Studio
artist, photographer,MUA, Nail tech, creative crazy & mom of 3 😉
Tara
I haven’t ever thought to use chalk paint on brass, but I love that idea. Some of my pieces got a bit dinged in the latest move, and I love the way the brass “peek-a-boos” through the painted surface. I’d love to see that horse you’re working on – finding a brass horse has been on my “Must Find” thrift store lists.
barefootbutterfly
would love to show you the before and after! Is there an email address I could send a photo or somewhere I could post it?
Tara
Oh yes! I’d love to see your photos. If you could send them to suburbleblog@gmail.com, I would be thrilled!
Elic
I want those giraffes! I collect giraffes! I ADORE giraffes! I wish I could post a picture of some of my giraffes! I even have a photo my mother took in Kenya of a giraffe!
Tara
Elic, these were a super-common brass ornament in the early 90s. I’ve seen them a couple of times at the thrift shop. I’m sure that you could get your hands on them! I really love this pair – they’re so sweet.