Meet Emily Price of Thirteen 79 Design, our featured artist for June. Emily excels in all segments of refinishing...from the prep-work and painting to the staging and photography.
Stay in touch with Emily:
The Art of Refinishing
WE ARE GIVING AWAY TWO OF EMILY’S FAVORITE ZIBRA PAINTBRUSH!
YOU MUST COMMENT BELOW TO BE ENTERED!
For an additional entry, note in the comments that you shared on social media and/or you listened to the podcast! All those that comment will be entered into the random drawing to win one of two brushes. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Contest closes Thursday, July 1st, 2021 at 5:00pm EST. The winners will be announced below once they have responded to the email notification we send out to winners so make sure you check your emails July 2nd and July 3rd!
Click on plus signs below to reveal Emily's answers!
How long have you been refinishing furniture?
A little over 4 years now.
Tell us how you got started?
My background is interior design and I had a whole Pinterest board dedicated to colorful pieces of furniture I adored. Back in 2014 I had the piece, I had the paint…..but then we added to our family and moved to another state. After we settled into our new home I got the bug to be creative again. Did a little research, got out the 2 year old paint, a bright grass green, distressed and waxed and was immediately hooked. From there I started scouring Marketplace for cheap pieces and hitting the thrift stores. Once I realized I could actually make a side income from this….things snowballed into what they are today. Painting all the things!
Do you refinish for personal use or do you sell?
I do both, but these days I mostly sell. Once I was able to fill my home up with affordable thrifted and re-imagined pieces I started selling what I had refinished on the Marketplace and from there I picked up friends and clients wanting customer work done on their previously loved pieces. I love how people have been inspired to keep their family heirlooms that they don’t necessarily love, and want to make them their own piece to treasure. I also became an antique booth vendor as a place to sell items I had refinished without them taking up space in my home while they waiting for the right buyer.
Do you have a favorite furniture style that you like to refinish?
My favorite style of furniture to refinish is anything that looks weathered and worn. Most of the furniture I refinish isn’t in great shape and I love how a layered, old looking feel pairs with the character of the imperfections in a vintage piece. But, my own personal style is extremely eclectic. I love all the styles from sleek and modern, mid-century, chippy rustic farmhouse…..and I love pairing them all together in the same room.
What paint medium is your favorite?
My favorite paint medium is Chalk Style paint, particularly Wise Owl.(not sure if allowed to say that😉 I love the colors and natural qualities, love how it blends and mixes. I have the most fun when I use a brush rather than a sprayer.
Do you have a favorite piece you've refinished and why?
So hard to choose! I think my favorite pieces are the ones that are inspired from a high end look but are far more affordable. The look for less sort of thing. So I guess I’d say my navy and white faux inlay stenciled dresser is one. I was inspired by an Anthropologie bone inlay dresser. I was able to achieve that same look, on a bigger piece, and sell it for far far less than the Anthro price. Plus the staging on that one was super fun for me.
Overall, not exclusive to furniture refinishing, what is your favorite color?
Another hard one! I joke that I tend to wear mostly black and design with mostly black but I love nothing more that playing with color! So….other than black, my favorite color is blue….on the turquoisy teal side. I have a dose of it in every room of the house. It might be a vintage glass vase or a pillow, but its there. But I honestly gravitate toward playing with odd color combos like nude paired with bright red-orange, or chartreuse paired with a plummy raisin. Color play brings me joy!
When you aren't refinishing furniture what do you enjoy doing?
In my spare time I love being with my family, exploring outdoors, reading and researching….. I’m a magazine junkie so a comfy spot on the sofa with a shelter mag is a good time for me! Music is on in the background daily. And I’m a soccer mom….love watching my kiddos do all the things.
Do you have any tips you would like to share?
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but the best thing I ever did was personally reach out to artists I admired and connect and make friendships. Its crazy to think I have friends all over the country and world that I can go to for advice, criticism and opinions. So many amazing folks out there. I also love to connect with other local small businesses and support them as well. We tend to shout each other out on social media and it helps to establish a trusted line of like minded folks that you can refer. Whether it be another furniture artist, painters, contractors or even local restaurants as well. So in a nutshell, community has been the best thing for me to learn and appreciate.
Do you have a favorite Zibra Paintbrush and why?
I do! It’s the Palm Pro! Love the shape, how it becomes an extension of your arm and it cuts in perfectly!
OUR PODCAST FEATURE WITH EMILY PRICE: Learn more about Emily and her pieces. She also shares about the technique of WET DISTRESSING.
8 comments
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Emily is such an amazing and inspiring artist! I truly LOVE her style!
Shared the giveaway on Instagram :)
I just started painting furniture! I love it! I am about to finish my first project! I love my Zibra brushes and I tell everyone about them!
Emily does excellent work. Listened to podcast and shared!