Fixed Up Furniture Goes Art Deco With A Twist
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Fixed Up Furniture !
This fixed up furniture went to the next level with distressing and new knobs. The knobs made the makeover, seriously. And the curved cut outs on the top drawer look art deco to me. You’ll have to let me know what you think. I absolutely love how this project turned out.
Just a peek at the beautifully distressed details and the new knobs. The rest of the knobs are vintage and came on the chest of drawers.
We bought this chest at auction for about $17.50 the best I remember. The chest is solid wood and you can’t beat that price. I didn’t care for the hardware but decided to keep it and just spray paint it white. The two top knobs were awful so the plan was to finish the piece then see what knobs looked the best.
This is how the chest looked after the easy makeover!
The bottom doors were cool. Just a different look for a change instead of a drawer. The sticky contact paper wasn’t as cool.
From the look of the paint I decided it must be lead based. Lead based paint was banned in housing in 1978. You can see I’m outside and using a mask while distressing the paint.
And let me tell you….that paint was on there for life. I used 80 grit sandpaper on the power sander and had to go over and over the paint to distress it. I also got down into the cut out grooves and took off some paint. Details look great distressed.
At one time someone replaced the original hardware. The only reason I knew that was because of the extra holes. I hate that. That’s one reason I didn’t select new hardware for the bottom drawers and cabinet doors. After I finished all the distressing I vacuumed the chest and cleaned it with Simple Green.
Rustoleum spray paint in Satin heirloom white is my go to white paint. It’s not too white white and it doesn’t have a yellow cast to it.
The coat of paint really pumped up the hardware.
The chest looks so much better and the best part is I worked with what was there. I’ve done this a number of times. If the piece is already painted no need to paint again…..usually.
Fixed Up Furniture
Do you guys think the hardware looks better painted?
When I went to my drawer pull stash the round knobs were not my first pick. In fact I didn’t think they would work at all. When I put them on the chest I had that ah-hah moment. Perfect.
I think the rounded carved details on the top drawer and the round knobs make the chest look Art Deco. What about you guys. Let me know.
That’s it for me. Have a great day, Kathy
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Author: Kathy Owen
Kathy Owen is the founder of the home decor blog Petticoat Junktion where she shares tutorials on painting furniture and upcycling thrifty finds into unique home décor. Her DIY projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines.
Yes,definitely the knobs look art deco. They are kinda perfect like it was planned all along. And painting. The other hardware gives a fresh nice look. Really nice piece.
I agree with you and the other responses about the spray painted hardware. It doesn’t fit the look. The only problem with filling the holes is the paint. Since I didn’t paint this piece it will be hard to match the paint. But if I can find hardware in my stash that looks better than the bat wing pulls I will try them out. Another problem is finding hardware that fits the holes already there. I can’t buy knobs like the ones on top because they were a one time purchase a year or so ago!
What a steal! I agree with the other comment that the hardware isn’t modern enough for an Art Deco piece. Of course it’s better painted than left brass-colored, but I would like to see a horizontal, tubular pull on the drawers. Except the top ones–I like the knobs. Of course, you would have had to fill in some of the holes from the original pulls being replaced. I do like the general character of the piece, though, especially those doors at the bottom and the detail at the top. It does have somewhat of an Art Deco piece and would fit nicely with other pieces of that MCM era. But the pulls still bother me!
The round knobs are a good look. The old hardware needs to go. I don’t mind painted hardware but in this case the style is wrong for the piece.
I think I agree with you, especially on this piece. I may prefer a little more contrast this time.
Love it!!!!!! Love the painted hardware:)
I would like it better if round knobs were used throughout. The old hardware does not look like Deco to me. It’s more colonial and mixing styles does not work for me.
Kathy, I love it all. You got it for a great price and it looks wonderful.
Lori
Love how this came out, the piece looks very Art Deco to me by shape and detail ….
love the new knobs. Which leads me to the old hardware which is so “early American” to me and not my style at all. True they look better painted, but I personally would like to see them replaced. As usual, you have done a great job! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!
Painted hardware isn’t my thing, but in this case antiqued brass wasn’t good so painting was good. Every job has it’s own set of rules What happened to the contact paper in the bottem cabinedt?
Personally, I’m not a big fan of painted hardware. I just love the patina of the old metals. I really like the round knobs though!
I think it looks good and I like the painted hardware. A great buy you found! Merry Christmas, Mrs. Claus
Not sure which. I kind of like the hardware painted AND not. Though the knobs I definitely like painted better.
I like the hardware painted. Looks great and live it!