We can't wait to share this next furniture makeover with you! If you've followed us for any length of time you know that we are big proponents of altering furniture when it makes sense. We're firm believers that just because a piece for furniture starts out as something doesn't mean it has to stay in its original state. If it's not functional, if it looks outdated or doesn't fit your decor, ALTER it! You can easily update your furniture by painting it, adding legs, taking off doors, adding design elements or simply just re-thinking it's purpose. Today, we're going to share some examples of DIY painted furniture refinished with all of these in mind!
Oooooh it feels good to be back with my brush in hand! Oh, I have missed you! We've taken a long siesta to do some traveling, moving and house projects over here. But, it feels good to be back in the saddle to tackle some long awaited furniture makeovers.
I love thumbing through my Restoration Hardware catalogues. Just about every page is eye candy for me. I just wished their prices matched my wallet! It has a permanent spot on my coffee table and I enjoy thumbing through it to look for inspiration for future projects. I'm currently obsessed with this bookcase. I'm digging the dark grey hue that's paired with the gold/brass tones of this particular space.
I
came across this vintage dresser at an estate sale. It was in excellent condition except for some scratches and a bit of wear. I love those kinds of makeovers!
Check out these handles... they were dark. The handles original patina was masked under I don't even know how many years of age and dirt.
Lucky for me I know about Brasso and the toothbrush. Works like a champ every time. I didn't have to scrub very long before its original shiny self decided to come out and play.
Look at the difference! That Brasso stuff is really amazing!
I refinished Mr. Manchester in a custom color mixing 1 part Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Graphite and Coco and finished him off with Clear Wax. And here he is all put back together...
I'd love to see someone purchase this RH inspired piece and customize it as a bathroom vanity. That would look FABULOUS!
I have a piece of furniture that I refinished years ago that sits in my living room and makes me smile every day I walk through the door. There's a story behind this piece that contains some wonderful life lessons for me. One of the reasons that I was drawn to it were her legs. She had six of them.. something you don't come across very often. My husband has tried to convince me to sell her on several occasions, but I'm still in love with her, so in the living room she stands.
I found another six legged friend that I'm excited to share. It's lovely in its simplicity, straight lines and detailed trim. Once updated, Mrs. Roosevelt would look lovely in a bedroom, in a dining room or fabulous converted into a vanity in a bathroom.
Her before wasn't too horrendous, but the color of the wood wasn't outdated and she had some wear on her top and edges. Like my piece in my living room, I decided to refinish her in Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Old White and Clear Wax. Her original vintage handles were updated in black. I wish I had room for two six legged friends at my house. ;)
Here she is in all her glory...
Never look at just what stands before you. Always look at the potential...
I thought I would show you a little before and after of a piece only a Grandma living in Santa Fe could love. At one time somebody worked really hard to hand paint that Aztec detail on this vintage Bassett buffet. The hardware? Beefy western man handles and improvised metal twisty ties. Oh yeah, this one was a beauty. :)
This one was an easy visual. I loved the clean lines, the feet and the circular details of this piece. I closed my eyes and forgot about the bright colors and rusty handles and I pictured her soft and elegant perched in somebody's dining room. Their sparkly chandelier would dance off the bling bling that I would purchase for this piece. It was a pretty picture inside that head of mine.
So, I turned to an old favorite color of mine. Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Coco. And protected it with a ASCP clear wax. The original piece came with three different types of handles & knobs. I chose to simplify the piece by painting it in one solid color and I selected two rhinestone circular knobs to play up the circular detail that was already in the piece. The rest of the drawers received matching silver pulls and the outcome? Ahhhh... so much better!
Don't be afraid to paint. Don't be afraid to change out the hardware! It's simple. It's easy. And it will give you a big impact for little money...
Some people get excited when they get a rebate, a birthday card or coupons in the mail. I like those things too. But, my smile gets even bigger when I receive my Ballard Designs & Restoration Hardware catalogs. I love it when the house is really quiet and I get relax and slowly flip through each and every page.
I saw this next piece in its raw form and after getting a quick glance of the hardware, it reminded me of something out of RH. There's something industrial about them. (Oh, you can't see them? Is that because the darn photographer I took a picture before the volume indicator turned off?) Sorry. :(
Here. try this one...
If I went dark with dear Mr. Andrew, I decided those babies would really pop. So, Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Graphite it was. I love the contrast. Here are a few pictures of the after.
Go find yourself a thrift find and paint it! You'll get dove tails and heavy solid construction at a fraction of the cost!
Mr. Windsor was long, heavy and in badly need of some sanding. But this
buffet had terrific bones with amazing platter storage and a great
serving surface. It just needed some love.
For this makeover, we chose Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan
in French Linen and then finished it with a clear wax. We decided to
leave the vintage hardware as is and love the contrast effect it as
against the gray. This piece really came out looking so soft and
buttery, I was tempted to lick it… but I didn’t. In all it’s glory, I
present the new and improved, Mr. Windsor…
Sometimes I wish we could go back into time. The simpler days… the
time period when families would gather round the kitchen table and play
board games and eat popcorn. The days when children could ride their
bikes and play outside with all the other neighborhood kids without fear
of being taken. The days when dinner was made from scratch, folks were
more honest and things and people were appreciated better. AND the days
when furniture was made rock solid. :)
And then it’s finds like this that reminds me I can still find
quality made furniture. I purchased this dresser from an elderly lady
downsizing and moving back to my home state (small world). I opened a
drawer and saw a vintage label for Maslow Freen Furniture in NY. How
lucky for me! They knew how to make furniture… I seriously think I broke
both of my arms just carrying my end to the truck.. and that was with
the drawers already out.
I was enamored with the pineapple shaped legs and it’s V detail at
top, but what I loved the most about this piece was the bird hardware on
the drawers. In fact, I thought so much of the birds that I decided to
paint it a peacock blue hue. The formula for this color was 3 parts
Florence mixed with 1 part Aubusson Blue and 1 part Louis Blue Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan. I protected the piece using both clear dark wax… it muddied it up nice and pretty and gave it a nice rich tone. :)
Here’s a few of the after…
This is long, it’s heavy and now the details are beautiful!
