Commissioned Dropside Tea Trolley

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Vintage drops side tables or tea trolleys are some of the most versatile pieces for interiors, often petite in side with a multitude of modern ways to use them; from holding towels and soaps, as a small decorative hallway table, a table for holding liquors, work it as a half round table with one side extended out as a front entrance table or use it as a piece for holding extras in the kitchen or as a tea trolley, we find these to be super multifunctional and depending on how you plan to use yours you can decide on an Artisan Paint Finish to suit. 

This piece has been revived to work in with our clients home, with a tired top a hand painted decorative wood finish has been creating using only Artisan Chalk Paint and coloured waxes. The frame neutralised in a Sophisticated neutral, aged to work in with the markings and history that comes with the piece and the wheels revived in Artisan Metallics. Overall giving a completely different interpretation of the piece and allowing our client to continue having this character piece whilst  having it stylishly  fitting in with the re-styling of her home. Hold on to those Old fold out tables and tea trolleys they are a gem when it comes to it multitude of uses and ways to revive it in Artisan Paints 

What we did :

Painting (The Top and tray ) : 
Hand painted with deep linear texture (painting in one direction )loading the paint up very generously in Tahr Premium Chalk Paint; using a Staalmeester 3600 Pure Bristle brush for texture over brushing in one direction for deep "one way texture" in two coats. (you may get some pulling of the paint but this is all part of it) once dry; lightly sand any irregular texture using 240 grit sand paper ( the texture will powder off like chalk dust) ensuring you leave plenty of texture behind 

Waxing: Apply Artisan Dark wax directly over the dried Tahr in one direction  replicating wood grain and ensuring you apply one section at a time, then wipe with clean lint free rag (in one direction) until touch dry. Repeat until you have covered the entire top.

Then mix yourself a strong potters clay coloured wax  60 paint 40 wax, and lightly dry brush  with a clean and dry staalmeester 3600 pure bristle brush in a linear motion (one way) to create subtle variation 

TiP: ensure there is very little of this wax on your brush, load up just the tips of the brush then dab it on a rag to remove some then lightly dust it over your table top in one direction; we're talking teeny tiny amount. 

Once done use clear wax on your pure bristle brush and lightly dry brush over the entire surface this will blend and merge some of the variation as well as add another protective layer. gently and lightly dust excess off with a clean lint free rag. 

Leave about 40 minutes then come back and buff your beautiful decorative wood finish with a clean lint free rag to help set and add a bit of sheen to the finish. 

Frame: Paint in a 50/50 mix of Potters Clay and Crisp white using a Staalmeester angled brush and pointed tip size 12 ( use a brush in proportion to the frame you are painting

Waxing the frame: mix 50 / 50 clear wax and dark wax to create a subtle dark wax and brush over the frame and wipe back with lint free rag, to create low lights and age in edges and dips lightly dry brush full strength dark wax and gently wipe with rag. 

Wheels : paint in Carbon Black Premium Chalk Paint, then Pewter Metallic Creme 

Tip: with pieces like this its sometimes easier to tip it upside down first and paint in this view before turning it upright then painting what you can see 

Inspired by this project? To  purchase Artisan Premium Chalk Paint  click here

To purchase Staalmeester brushes for best experience  click here

To Purchase Artisan Waxes  click here

To Purchase Artisan Metallic cremes click here


Or to explore it all in person, save the photo and bookmark this page and find an Artisan Retailer by clicking here  

The Artisan Company is a New Zealand owned and based company focussed upon making and providing the highest quality decorative paints and tools for homes and all types of spaces. Born out of a rich heritage of bespoke furniture and interiors through the merging of Taylored Revival and Vintro Paint NZ and with several decades of experience we are unashamedly focused upon luxury DIY products and in helping people achieve bespoke looks in their interiors. 


As NZ's only bespoke paint manufacturer making our own exclusive formulations including our flagship Premium Chalk Paint we combine technology with our fine tuned natural skills. We use advanced machinery with an exact accuracy measured within less than a ¼ of a ml and use a custom formulation database with complex colours formulated by hand; most of which can't be replicated by machines. Our trademarked FLOWplus® technology further differentiates our range being built in from the ground up and allowing our thick full bodied and highly pigmented paints to mould and flow effortlessly. We are a proud NZ company who promotes and uses local suppliers and products wherever possible. We also aim to have a positive impact on environment through low VOC paints, minimised wastage and smart use of materials.


To provide the best possible experience for our customers we have also curated artisanal tools including the world renowned Staalmeester brushes which work in perfect  unison with our Premium Chalk Paint and otehr ranges with there rich and creamy consistency. From the advanced bristle materials through to the  INOX steel ferrules it all really helps to achieve the best results, and yes brushes do make a big difference to your painting experience and finish.

Aside from our unique range of products, we are also proud of our decades worth of experience in the field of decorative painting and training. Having been recognised locally and overseas for these efforts has also led us to directly train over three thousand people and paint over two thousand bespoke furniture or interior pieces for clients.

Heritage of Taylored Revival


Taylored Revival or TR as it was known by its regulars was a family business started in a garage in East Auckland in 2012. A leading decorative painting studio which undertook thousands of commissions projects over the years and was considered the leading Chalk Paint retailer in the Australasian region. Progressing through the years from a small retail store in Whitford through to a large format 300m2 retail site in Botany. Take a quick look at the history and the prequel to The Artisan Company below.