i met with a client the other day who had the most amazing collection of random furniture . . . it was all over the place. when she told me she inherited the house AND everything inside, i had to pick my jaw up off the floor.
my task: to come up with a way to use and re-purpose as much of what she already has.
so i found this company in burlington that specializes in repainting furniture! (google it where you live!) this is a good option if you find yourself short on time or don't feel confident taking on these kinds of projects. also, as in my case, when there are MANY pieces that would get a new life with a little update. i cannot not possibly commit myself to refinishing her pieces and considering she is a mom with two youngens, i know she will want the easiest solution.
awesome stuff.
the best part is that they use benjamin moore colours!
this last image is very similar to one of the cabinets i want my client to paint.
sorry for the awful picture . . . i swear i took a better one . . .
i think this would look hot painted out white, or better yet, grey. it could be easily incorporated into any room, but i think it would be best used in a principle room, like the living room. with a fresh and funky coat of paint, this buffet would get a new lease on life.
the other, and perhaps more economical way to go is to paint the piece yourself. keep in mind that taking on a project like this can be time consuming, so be realistic about your timeline and schedule. on the plus side, completing this job would be so gratifying! not only would you get a thumbs up for a job finished, but you would be left with a stunning piece of furniture.
here are some basic instructions courtesy of ehow.com, so you can see how straightforward it is.
1. Make sure there's no chance that your piece of furniture is an antique whose value could be destroyed by changing the finish.
2. Set up your work area in a well-ventilated place with nothing around that could produce flames or sparks.
3 Remove drawer pulls and other hardware. Place the furniture on a layer of newspaper or a disposable drop cloth.
4.
Sand the piece of furniture until smooth with sandpaper or liquid sander. You may need to sand the furniture two or even three times, starting with relatively rough sandpaper (100 grit) and moving on to progressively finer grits (150). Wear gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask.
5.
Remove any residual sawdust with a hand vacuum, brush or a tack cloth - you don't want to wet the wood.
6.
Apply a coat of either white brush-on or gray spray-on water-based primer, depending on the size and area of the piece of furniture you intend to cover.
7.
Allow the primer to become dry to the touch; this usually takes 1 to 2 hours. If you're not sure, read the recommended drying time on your can of primer.
8. If the primer coat looks spotty or thin, apply a second coat and allow it to dry.
9.
10. Add a coat of water-based paint. Brush it on with even strokes, going in the direction of the wood grain. With spray paint, make slow passes with the can 8 to 12 inches from the wood surface. Allow the first coat to dry.
11. Add a second coat and allow it to dry overnight
so there you have it. and easy project or one that you can outsource depending on your skill level or schedule. either way, repainting furniture is a fantastic way to refresh your collection and give an old piece a new life.
cheers,
V
