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Painted Furniture Show and Tell— Dresser/Buffet makeover

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You Can Paint Antique Furniture

I know I might get a lot of flack for my view but…..you can paint antique furniture…it’s okay. If you want to paint antiques go for it. Your furniture, your decision. I hope you like this makeover though. I worked hard on it and I think the makeover does the dresser justice.
You Can Paint Antique Furniture Distressed Paint
My good friend Sara is now a business owner. She has a shop called You Never Know in Clarksville. When Sara  became a shop owner she offered me a great spot in the store. I would have a nice location near the windows and also be able to do some painting in the space. I jumped at the chance to be part of her dream.
The location of the shop is great and Sara is a savvy business lady. Like me she loves to paint furniture and we bounce ideas off each other. She has a wonderful sense of humor and she keeps me laughing (wiping the tears with paint stained gloves).

antique empire style furniture

Her shop is where I found this great piece of furniture. I just rolled it back to my booth (had to pay for it first, of course) and waited for a few free hours to work on it.
I finally had time to do some painting. I love the design of this piece. It was missing most of the hardware and someone had added a few new green knobs. The new hardware was nice but not for this piece. I removed the new hardware along with the old and got down to painting. The new hardware will be used on another piece sometime down the road.
You can paint antique furniture
I decided on a turquoise and brown color scheme. I mixed the turquoise myself from paints I had on hand and I used Caromal Colours Reclaim Mocha for the top.
paint antique furniture
They don’t make furniture like this anymore. How about those feet. Love the curves.
distressing painted antique furniture
I distressed the chest very heavily. I always use 60 grit sandpaper and an electric sander when getting serious with distressing, otherwise I would be sanding for hours.
heavily distressed paint
I let the paint dry well and used wax to give the raw distressed wood an aged look and also to add a little sheen. The turquoise is really pretty. The photo doesn’t do the color justice.
antique furniture
Another look at those pretty feet after the distressing. Anyone know what this style is called? You guys are always so helpful.
painting furniture
A close-up after I applied a coat of Liberon wax and put on the new hardware. I purchased new hardware for this piece instead of using vintage. The knobs are a matte brown and they came from Hobby Lobby. With all the distressing and the two tone finish there was no need for bold knobs!
The turquoise blue and dark brown are perfect together. I distressed the top of the dresser also.
Hope you guys like the makeover. How do you feel about painting antique furniture. It’s okay if you don’t like the makeover just be kind in your comments.
Find Reclaim Paint and other favorite paints and tools on the Petticoat Junktion Amazon Page here. (Amazon Affiliate link, read disclosure here).
Thanks for being here and have a great day, Kathy
This post first appeared on Petticoat Junktion in 2011. The images and details have been updated. 

Comments

  2. Thanks for the great plug on the shop. I'll be your “wing man” anytime on project! It's great having you at the shop and even greater having you as a friend.

    PS Rent's due by the 5th. Haha

  3. You are truly an inspiration. Your work is amazing and this painted piece of furniture is beautiful as is all your painted pieces.

    Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day,
    Gail

  10. The dresser came out great, love it! Like you I also love to pick things out of the trash, I've gotten chairs, a dresser, fences, birdbaths, all kinds of great things. Will be your newest trash picking follower, Laura Cottage and Broome

  21. Hi Kathy!

    I can see why so many people liked this; I like it too! Your distressing is really cool! I refinished my 2nd Empire dresser a couple weeks ago similar to yours:)

    Have a VERY Merry Christmas!!

    Shelly

  22. Beautiful and well done.
    your dresser/ hutch; Empire style and the feet are called C-scroll

  23. Kathy I’m with you if you want to paint it … paint it … although I have seen some sad cases ! lol
    I love this piece its come up a treat … you’re the queen of distressing haha

  24. This is one of my favorite pieces you have done. It is an Empire style of dresser and lends itself well to distressing, a lot of these pieces were actually relegated to the workshop or barn as storage pieces so the painted and distressed look is perfect! Great job, I know it will sell quickly.

  27. I really love what you have done!! I have one question….I noticed you had painted inside the drawer area….is this consider sloppiness or a mistake in the painting, antiquing, chalk paint world? I am a beginner and have been told the “sloppiness” devalues your piece…..is this true?? I do love your work and I personally do not think you are sloppy!! Just a curious beginner!! ❤️

    • Hey Carrie, Thanks for the question and the nice comment! Sometimes I don’t tape off the drawers and other areas like I should. If it is a custom piece or the furniture is in really good condition I tape off those areas and try to be really neat. I actually painted this piece in 2011. I posted it again because a lot of my readers haven’t seen my older projects. Since the dresser was in rough shape and I was heavily distressing it I didn’t worry about keeping everything neat. Probably not the thing to do. Just being honest with you.

  29. Well….it is, shall we say, “interesting.” For me, a little too rough, Kathy. I know I’m in the tiny minority that would say that, but I must be truthful. I will say that I would be curious to know whether, if I lived with it for a while, it would grow on me. It might, but I dunno. I am curious to know whether it sold quickly for you. And would you do this type of make-over again–or have you already?

    It is always fun to see what you come up with!

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