I repainted an old piece of furniture and it has turned out fabulously, if I do say so myself.
The Mister and I bought this "antique" (read: old and overpriced) secretary when we first got married. It was a creamy yellow, distressed and glazed, with giant crystal knobs and pretty blue tassel hanging from the key to the top. I think I was tricked into buying it because of the bling, because I don't really like glazed and distressed furniture.*
It was one of the first pieces of furniture we bought as a married couple. It sat in the foyer of our condo. When we moved to our house, we couldn't figure out where to put it, so it sat in our basement for a while. Then we loaned it to my mother, who used it in her entryway for a few years. My mother is now rearranging, so she gave it back to us. This piece is perfect for our living room.
The exterior is Benjamin Moore Bella Blue in high gloss**, and the interior is BM Teardrop Blue in semi-gloss. The pictures are reading just a bit more turquoise-y than it looks in real life. The true color is more teal than the pictures shows.
I love the way this piece came out. Now I just need some fun items to display on the shelves....
*Since I started reading design blogs a few years ago I've done a lot of thinking about our style, and I think that in buying this piece I responded to the traditional lines of the piece. But glazed shabby chic makes me itch to whip out a paintbrush, so that's what I did here.
**I went to the terrible-but-close-to-my-house BM paint store I hate. I told the patronizing guy behind the counter (seriously, why do I keep going back?) that I wanted a quart of high gloss, and he said "No you don't." Um, well, YES I DO. "No, you really don't." LISTEN, BUDDY, give me a damn quart of high gloss. "What are you going to do with it?" What the hell business is it of yours?? Why must you interrogate me and judge my painting habits every time I come in here? I'm giving you money to give me paint, not attitude. No one EXPECTS the Spanish Inquisition.
Not that I said that. I said "I'm painting furniture." He says, "well, I guess that would be ok."
(((steam coming out of my ears)))
The Mister and I bought this "antique" (read: old and overpriced) secretary when we first got married. It was a creamy yellow, distressed and glazed, with giant crystal knobs and pretty blue tassel hanging from the key to the top. I think I was tricked into buying it because of the bling, because I don't really like glazed and distressed furniture.*
It was one of the first pieces of furniture we bought as a married couple. It sat in the foyer of our condo. When we moved to our house, we couldn't figure out where to put it, so it sat in our basement for a while. Then we loaned it to my mother, who used it in her entryway for a few years. My mother is now rearranging, so she gave it back to us. This piece is perfect for our living room.
The exterior is Benjamin Moore Bella Blue in high gloss**, and the interior is BM Teardrop Blue in semi-gloss. The pictures are reading just a bit more turquoise-y than it looks in real life. The true color is more teal than the pictures shows.
 |
| This picture seems closest to the true color. |
I love the way this piece came out. Now I just need some fun items to display on the shelves....
*Since I started reading design blogs a few years ago I've done a lot of thinking about our style, and I think that in buying this piece I responded to the traditional lines of the piece. But glazed shabby chic makes me itch to whip out a paintbrush, so that's what I did here.
**I went to the terrible-but-close-to-my-house BM paint store I hate. I told the patronizing guy behind the counter (seriously, why do I keep going back?) that I wanted a quart of high gloss, and he said "No you don't." Um, well, YES I DO. "No, you really don't." LISTEN, BUDDY, give me a damn quart of high gloss. "What are you going to do with it?" What the hell business is it of yours?? Why must you interrogate me and judge my painting habits every time I come in here? I'm giving you money to give me paint, not attitude. No one EXPECTS the Spanish Inquisition.
Not that I said that. I said "I'm painting furniture." He says, "well, I guess that would be ok."
(((steam coming out of my ears)))
It looks great!
ReplyDeleteIf you want a little extra bling, I've seen some people line the back with cute paper....
I'm so glad the guy finally approved. =)
ReplyDeleteIt turned out really great. I love the color.
It looks fabulous! Great job! I love how you did the lighter color inside. I am actually looking to paint a dresser a similar color -- I will have to check out that color.
ReplyDeleteI love the interior color!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, you did a great job! Love the color. I like bold colors on furniture!
ReplyDeleteWe have this very same secretary! I could not believe it when I saw it! Maybe I can convince my husband to do this to our piece...he's been reluctant to have me touch it, but I've done other things in the house that he likes. The glass doors originally had woodwork as well. Awesome job!! Do you know the age of the piece? My husband's grandparents had it.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, ours is stained mahogany wood, I think. Yours may have been repainted from the original when you purchased it.
ReplyDelete