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    Home » Painted Furniture » Flipping Furniture: Red White and Blue Painted Furniture

    Flipping Furniture: Red White and Blue Painted Furniture

    This post may contain affiliate links

    This flea market furniture flip was as easy as pie. The ugly chest of drawers was covered in layers of paint when I spied it at the Nashville Flea Market. Cleaning it up and distressing the paint gave it a whole new look. I didn't even open a can of paint for this one. The piece was already painted with three colors.....red, white, and blue. What could be more perfect.

     

    Flea Market Furniture Flip Distressed Furniture Makeover

    This project just goes to show that before jumping into your usual thing you should consider what you already have to work with. In my case that meant no painting required. For this project I just worked with what was there.

    distressed furniture is red white and blue

    White paint with chunks of red and blue paint showing thru after the distressing. The details…..

    Buy furniture at the Nashville Flea Market and flip the furniture

    I bought the chest from the Nashville Flea Market a couple of months ago. I think I paid $30 for it. That figure is stuck in my head for some reason. Can you see where the paint is peeling off and there is blue paint underneath? It’s really hard to see but on the drawer fronts there is red paint peeking through the peeling paint.

    how to distress painted furniture to reveal layers of paint

    I’ve learned a few things in my painting journey and one of them is that everything doesn’t have to be re-painted or…. painted at all. Work smarter not harder.

    how to distress layers of paint

    I took my electric sander and some 100 grit sandpaper and went to town on the chest. I ran the sander all over the chest and the drawers. The sanding removed the yellowed layer of white paint. I didn't really notice how the white paint had yellowed until I started distressing it.

    cleaning used flea market furniture

    The piece was really really dirty. I used the shop vac to take off as much of the crud as I could then cleaned it all over with Simple Green.

    spray paint furniture hardware for a whole new look

    If you noticed in the before picture, the knobs were pink and there was one missing. I found two matching replacement knobs for the top drawer. The only spray primer I had on the shelf was Rust-Oleum automobile primer. I have no idea where the automobile primer came from. Anyway, I sprayed all of the knobs with the primer. Then after the primer dried I spray painted the knobs with this pretty gloss red!

    red white and blue furniture

    I could not have improved on this piece by adding yet another coat of paint. The red and blue colors are deep and rich. That's how I like them. For the final touch and to prevent more peeling, I applied a coat of Howard's Neutral Wax.

    Flea Market Furniture Flip | Layered Paint Furniture Idea

    I gently distressed the painted knobs. The swirls on the replacement knobs were perfect for distressing.

    red white and blue furniture

    I know this look isn’t for everyone. Some of you will hate the over-the-top peeling/distressed paint finish…..and some of you will love it. To me….. the red, white, and blue color combination was too good to paint over. I really liked the little chest of drawers and was in no hurry to sell it. I kept it for a number of years before changing it out for other decor.

    flea market furniture flip

    The red, white, and blue chest looks great in the blue bedroom. The perfect decor for patriotic holidays.

    before and after furniture makeover on a flea market find

    When I first started painting furniture I would make a plan and it always included painting….always. Now I’ve learned to look at the furniture differently and see if I can work with what is there. I found this article with a lot of helpful information.....How to Start Flipping Your Furniture.

    Sooooo…..let me know what you think. Do you like the layered paint look? Thanks for being here friends, Kathy

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lola Fields

      June 03, 2022 at 8:53 pm

      Love the chest!

      Reply
    2. Naomi S.

      May 22, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      It's very cute, and will look great in just the right spot. It's just a bit over the top for me with distressing, but maybe that's just because I don't have a place where it would look right in my home. I think in a kid's bedroom--boys, specifically, it would be perfect. Good call, Kathy!

      Reply
      • Lori Sawyer

        December 17, 2021 at 6:55 am

        I've seen this post before and love it! Happy Holidays!

    3. Suzee B

      May 22, 2019 at 8:48 am

      Have loved this since I first saw it!

      Reply
    4. Cheryl

      May 22, 2019 at 8:14 am

      What a lucky find and brilliant on your part to do this! Love it!

      Reply
    5. SharonFromMichigan

      May 22, 2019 at 7:14 am

      Perfect piece for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend! You have a great eye. The piece looks beautiful! It should fly out of your shop!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        May 22, 2019 at 8:06 am

        Thank you Sharon!

    6. Gwen

      December 01, 2014 at 8:45 pm

      LOVE IT.
      Couldn't improve on an original. What you have there is the REAL thing! It is what we try to imitate with multiple coats of paint and distressing. Good for you for recognizing it.

      Reply
    7. Alberto

      July 14, 2014 at 12:57 pm

      Love it.

      Reply
    8. Annette

      July 14, 2014 at 7:06 am

      I LOVE it!!! It reminds me of the white enamel with red enamel dish pan that my mom had (and still uses) as I was growing up!! Good memories!!!!

      Reply
    9. Dinna

      June 10, 2014 at 6:08 pm

      LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

      Reply
    10. Studio 39

      May 04, 2014 at 3:22 pm

      Such a gorgeous piece!
      And you are so right. I first look at an item to see if it could be preserved as it is or partly painted.
      Your projects are always an inspiration!

      Reply
    11. [email protected]

      October 03, 2013 at 1:00 am

      I so agree with you about not having to paint everything. Some things are best left alone. You gave this piece just enough to make it absolutely perfect!

      Stopping by from Allis and happy to meet you!

      Reply
    12. Dawn

      July 15, 2013 at 10:39 am

      Wow, what a better look. I love the color choices and the distressing:)

      Reply
    13. Debra

      July 08, 2013 at 12:35 pm

      Looks so awesome and I would have left it as well. 🙂 thanks for sharing it with all of us.

      Reply
    14. Marty Walden

      July 08, 2013 at 7:06 am

      Love this, Kathy! You're one of my favorites from the Home{work} Wednesday link party. Thanks for linking up!

      Reply
    15. Still Woods Farmhouse

      July 03, 2013 at 3:35 pm

      I love it! You did a fabulous job on the dresser. I have one bedroom that is decorated in red, white, and blue most of the year. Something like this would be so cute in the room. I may have to rethink the creamy white furniture that is in there presently! I joined you email subscription so that I will not miss your next blog post. I would love to have you stop by Still Woods Farmhouse for a visit when you have the opportunity!
      Blessings from Still Woods Farmhouse

      Reply
    16. Lori @Vintage Charm Restored

      July 02, 2013 at 7:06 am

      Kathy, I love it!! It looks so much better letting those colors come thru!! Beautiful!!

      Reply
    17. April

      June 29, 2013 at 11:43 pm

      Love it! Unique and Fresh. I agree sometimes you can work better with the dresser without paint! Awesome job and vision.

      Reply
    18. Carol

      June 29, 2013 at 11:01 am

      I like it!. You can't go wrong with red white & blue.

      Reply
    19. Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule

      June 26, 2013 at 11:17 am

      Oh wow, see, that is just awesome. The colors couldn't be more perfect!
      Thanks so much for sharing on Project Inspire{d]! Pinning!

      Nancy

      Reply
    20. Lisa Conforto

      June 25, 2013 at 6:58 pm

      That is a wonderful look , came out stunning!

      Reply
    21. Christy

      June 25, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      I love it! I keep going back and re-reading this over and over again and looking at the pictures of it. It's gorgeous!

      Reply
    22. Susan @ SunfowerHugs.blogspot.com

      June 25, 2013 at 12:40 pm

      Very smart. I would have thought you painted it to look like that for sure!!

      Reply
    23. Peggy

      June 25, 2013 at 11:18 am

      I love this. It turned out great.

      Reply
    24. SmallMomentsBigJoy

      June 25, 2013 at 10:49 am

      That is so cool! I would never have thought of looking for what was underneath. I love how it turned out!

      Reply
    25. Dotte

      June 25, 2013 at 9:22 am

      Love all the distressed, chippiness (is that a word?) of the piece... Just amazing! I'd have it in my home, no problem.

      Reply
    26. Teresa Gunn

      June 25, 2013 at 9:01 am

      Beautiful piece. Love that you stopped before starting to decide that it only needed some tweaking to turn it in to such a beautiful piece.

      Reply
    27. Mary Soulios

      June 25, 2013 at 9:01 am

      Love it. I am getting so inspired to paint. Doing my first project next week with the help of a friend and fellow blogger. Can't wait!

      Reply
    28. Jeanette

      June 25, 2013 at 8:53 am

      Mark me on the love it side. Fun project!

      Reply
    29. Pamela

      June 25, 2013 at 8:45 am

      That piece is seriously amazing. LOVE IT.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kathy!

    The creator at Petticoat Junktion and I love decorating my home. My decor is an eclectic mix......

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