My house is full of old stuff. Antique and vintage furniture is everywhere whether salvaged, bought or gifted. I like having the old and worn around me–it gives me comfort and makes me smile. I love things that have history. Chips and cracks add character. Eclectic chic is how I roll. But sometimes that “old stuff” is just begging for a makeover. As in the case of my nightstands.
Just over a year ago, while helping my parents shop for antique furniture for their living room, my husband and I fell in love with an art deco bedroom furniture set that had to come home with us. So it did. Well, being that I am a total sentimentalist (emphasis on “mental”), I had a hard time parting with the furniture we had–which was an old set handed down to us from my parents. This particular set had been in their bedroom when I was a kid and I had strong ties/memories to it. I was happy to adopt it. And I didn’t want to say goodbye to all of it. In the end, we decided to sell the dresser and nightstand but we kept the vanity…which became two nightstands.
Old Old:
vs
New Old
Old old vanity become two New old nightstands (yes, my life sounds complicated)
How clever and frugal of us, non? However, these pieces did not match the “new” art deco ones so I had planned from the get-go that I would paint them…eventually. Well, eventually finally happened. I have a friend that is HUGE into chalk painting. He is a dedicated Annie Sloan chalk paint follower. He chalk paints everything! And I mean everything (except his dogs–thank goodness). I spent an afternoon with him and his wife and received a helpful crash course on how to chalk paint. A few days later, I had painted those nightstands AND parts of my vanity. The goal was to bring all the furniture pieces together in some sort on congruous harmony even though the styles and lines of the furniture differ greatly from one another.
Before/After New Old Nightstand:
The pink vanity/desk was a new addition to the bedroom. I was using it as a desk in an upstairs office. However, as I have mentioned, there are big changes happening around Bliss House and I had to either make room for it or sell it. It was way too cute to sell (obviously). And I believe I have already made a case for my sentiMENTALity. Truthfully, a vanity in the room was a good idea anyway–I needed good light for doing my make-up (the bathroom light is horrid!). So this is all a good thing but adding it to the menagerie of orphaned furniture pieces made the room look confused. Enter Annie Sloan’s “Graphite” paint.
Before Old Old Vanity:
After New Old Vanity:
By painting the nightstands and the top of the vanity in the graphite then adding some silver gilding for accent, I think I achieved a more harmonious look for the room. I also re-framed a pretty rose water-color picture into a black/silver frame to pull more black into the room.
Here’s a “pano” view from my iPod (first time doing this):
Of course Mr. Rockefeller thinks all of this coördination and change had to do with him…having his People’s stuff match his kennel. Whatever. He just thinks he’s top dog because we recently upgraded is bedding to a feather bed. King Rock.
If you haven’t tried chalk painting, I encourage you to try it out. It is a super easy and quick way to liven up an older piece of furniture. Here are a couple of links for more information about the technique:
Annie Sloan
Shelley’s House
In general, Annie Sloan paint is expensive but a little bit goes a long ways. I bought a quart, did all three pieces (2 coats) and still have 2/3rds of my paint left. And don’t forget to wax!
Have you tried painting furniture? Any big Spring projects are your list?
~~Heather~~
