This particular custom order came to me… a bit… well… looking for a serious make-over. A gorgeous piece- just “struggling” a bit. There was plenty to work with: a tall back that supported a swinging mirror, a unique shape, and original black porcelain handles, which were in good shape! The painted design on the drawer fronts were probably beautiful at one point, but most of it had chipped away.
I started sanding off the painted design on the front of the drawers, but I could see how dry the piece was. I decided to sand the whole piece down to the original wood, to breathe some fresh life into it. It’s funny you know, having a conversation with a piece of furniture like: “Stop that fussing, you’ll look better in the end,” but I didn’t receive too much back talk. When the piece wall sanded, it looked alive again.
Pretty good right? Yes, yes indeed. However, I knew that the wood was so dry that it was going to completely soak up the paint. I used KILZ primer to give a solid first coat, which also covered up any stains.
If you follow my blog, you will notice that I try to name the pieces because it’s just more fun that way. I titled this entry “Civil War” for a couple of reasons:
- It was a battle for beauty
- My client provided me with the paint color. Benjamin Moore’s “Confederate Red.” (Although Benjamin Moore has recently changed the name to “Patriot Red”)
The color is so rich and vibrant, it was a perfect fit for this piece. Anyway, with a few coats of paint and sealant, a bit of re-assembling, and freshly polished hardware, this piece turned into a beauty!
I think it is important to note, that not all pieces need to be “distressed,” and sometimes I feel like distressing is the go-to nowadays. Personally, I think you need to get to know the piece you are working with. I felt that because this piece already had such a unique shape, ornate mirror, and black porcelain handles, it didn’t need distressing. I felt it would be too “busy.” You may disagree, but I’m sticking to it. Here is the finished project:
Renewed Reloved 