Art dealer Guy Morrison and Penny Morrison Wales Home.

There's nothing better than polishing off your favorite room with a hypnotizing piece of furniture that gets all your visitors talking, except maybe a hand-painted piece created with environmentally friendly supplies and [...]]]> Chicken Wire Panelled French Armoire Holding A Collection Of Hats

Art dealer Guy Morrison and Penny Morrison Wales Home.

There's nothing better than polishing off your favorite room with a hypnotizing piece of furniture that gets all your visitors talking, except maybe a hand-painted piece created with environmentally friendly supplies and practices. Traditional furniture refinishing practices can be teeming with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can negatively affect your respiratory system and the environment, but there are plenty of green, earth-friendly ways for you to give your home the hand-crafted beauty you dream about.

This year, why display your Mother's Day flowers with pride on something you hand finished for the occasion? Furniture gives our homes character, prestige, comfort, and a unique sense of you.

Sealed With A Twist

Using a non-toxic stripping agent to get rid of the old paint or stain is the greenest way to go. Products like Franmar's Soy Gel Paint and Urethane Remover work well to remove all types of abrasive paint and stain (even lead, but it's probably best not to handle anything with traces of lead on it), while still being gentle on the environment. This product is also 100 percent biodegradable. It works by trapping particles within itself and keeping you from being exposed to them.

Ventilation Station

Breathing in fumes from old stain or paint, and adding new stain or paint can create toxic runoff that affects you and your surroundings. If you have a garage, workshop, or even a storage shed, working from within it will help contain any harmful dust or debris from being let out into your yard or the surrounding area.

Detox Rocks

While you're working with furniture and refinishing, even if you're savvy enough to use natural products, it is still important to protect your lungs and the surrounding area from exposure to any past harmful chemicals the piece has been treated with. A sturdy vacuum of the area and an N95 mask should do the trick.

Pick Your Paint

VOC-free paints are optimal for refinishing your piece. After centuries of trying to perfect and improve how we color our furniture, it's no surprise that our ancestors who lived off the land may have known a thing or two about using the earth's natural bounty of resources to create a beautiful piece of furniture. Milk paints are another sensational source of color and mystique to use on your pieces, a throwback and a beautiful way to polish your pieces. If you're going for the au-natural semi-finished look, you can make your own furniture polish by combining two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice, (virgin olive oil is not recommended) and applying in circles with a cheesecloth.

Authored By Michelle Alvarez- Michelle is a DIY kind of gal. She is constantly coming up with crafts and projects that are cheap, easy and fun.

Stoneware Studios produce in Ireland a range of Natural Limewashes and Traditional Paints for historic buildings. We are also the national distributor for the highly acclaimed Earthborn range of paints and decoration products.

Earthborn is a range of eco paints and natural varnishes designed to provide a healthier and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paints and varnishes. Whether you are looking for VOC free paint, organic paint and varnish, water-based paint, water-based varnish or high performance paints and varnishes, Earthborn Paints has the product you require in its portfolio of natural and eco friendly paints and varnishes.

Chateau de la Goujeonnerie

Distressed Blue Painted French Blue Cabinet With Chicken Wire

Country Living Magazine

Cream Painted Armoire- Unknown Credit

Designer Rachel  Ashwell

Art dealer Guy Morrison and Penny Morrison Wales Home.

Painted Hutch Featured in French Country Living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg

Art dealer Guy Morrison and Penny Morrison Wales Home.

Red Painted Cabinet Featured in Skona Hem Magazine

White Painted Furniture tolix chairs, Swedish Wood Country Chair

Lisa Fine Textiles

Furniture restoration expert Carolyn Pickell has refurbished most of the furniture in  her store Side Furniture on San Pablo Avenue including; the french chair with vintage upholstery that she painted pink, Photo: Kat Wade Read more

Romance With Flowers- See This Whole Store Here.

Pink Farmtable- Faded Plains Blog

Worcestershire Barn Conversion- House To Home Magazine

Vibeke Design

Vibeke Design

All Dolled Up - Reclaimed Furniture By Hand

All Dolled Up - Reclaimed Furniture By Hand

All Dolled Up - Reclaimed Furniture By Hand

JoAnn Barwick's Blue and White Home Florida- Freshome

JoAnn Barwick's Blue and White Home Florida- Freshome

JoAnn Barwick's Blue and White Home Florida- Freshome

]]> http://thepaintedfurniture.com/green-dreams-environmentally-friendly-restoration-furniture/feed 0 http://thepaintedfurniture.com/spring-cleaning-donate-and-upgrade-your-furniture http://thepaintedfurniture.com/spring-cleaning-donate-and-upgrade-your-furniture#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:41:57 +0000 Mer http://thepaintedfurniture.com/?p=1670

You've gathered supplies for the end of the world. You save every piece of scrap you can, just in case you need it for the next Pinterest craft. Your friends have labeled you as "hoarder" and think you need to start decluttering your life, and your home. A simple Internet search of "tips for [...]]]>

You've gathered supplies for the end of the world. You save every piece of scrap you can, just in case you need it for the next Pinterest craft. Your friends have labeled you as "hoarder" and think you need to start decluttering your life, and your home. A simple Internet search of "tips for reducing clutter in the home," will give you more than two million results. It seems you're not alone. According to a 2008 survey conducted by the National Association of Professional Organizers, 65 percent of respondents noted their house was at least moderately disorganized and 71 percent thought their quality of life would improve if they were better organized.

With so many tips and tricks to a clutter-free home, you can relax and breath easy after one weekend of organizing. Just remember: simplify. You don't need three semi-working blenders or 5 couches in your home. Here's what you can do:

For the Living Room

If you love knitting, don't leave everything out in the open. Contain it in a wicker basket next to the couch. Does your man love reading the newspaper? Place it on a metal tray in the morning and throw out the paper at the end of the day. Take a few minutes every day and do a "sweep" of the room. Pick up any toys left by children or supermarket ads you left on the couch. Do you have three couches in your living room? Why? Are you expecting an army to pop by at any moment? Sell or donate a couch, you don't need three.

For all those sentimental items you can't bear to toss, don't let them clutter your space. Rent out a personal storage unit, which can be found on almost every street corner. Interesting fact: The self storage industry generated more than $22 billion in the U.S. in 2011, according to the Self Storage Association.

For the Office

Isn't it about time you switched to paperless billing? Do you really need a statement every month from your bank or the electric company letting you know your bill is due soon? Monitoring these online can save you a mountain of papers floating around your office desk and save you time, too! How? Now you don't have to spend an afternoon shredding document after document. And most companies will offer you incentives to switch to paperless. And did I mention it's better for the environment? The paper, water and greenhouse gases that companies produce to make your statements will cut down drastically.

Do you have a dozen software CD's in your desk drawer? Why? If you've already downloaded the software or program to your computer then why keep the disk? Don't just toss them in the trash, the contents of the CDs can be toxic to the environment and the plastic could take years to decompose. Find a local company who will take them for you and dispose of them properly.

For the Bedroom

If you're still holding on to 10 sets of sheets, including those floral bed sheets you've had for a decade, please toss them. I beg of you. With so many great sales throughout the year, there's plenty of opportunity for you to get new sheets. And you really only need two sets; that way when you're washing one set, there will always be a clean set ready for you to use.

Can't wait till the sequel to your book comes out? When it does, don't buy the book. Instead, take a trip to the library or buy an e-version of it. I admit, I had a problem with this at first. I love having my own copy I can hold. But it takes up so much room! Before you know it, you'll have more bookshelves than any one person needs.

Guest Post -Janice Carr- Janice is a freelance writer who shares her tips and recipes with readers online.

DIY Dipped Coral Entry Table By Emily At the sweet beast

Sanderson Wallpaper

Jonathan Adler Chippendale Side Chair

anthropologie.com

Coral Painted Table -  heart handmade | originally 101 woonideeen

Pop Art Painted Furniture Silvia Zacchello

Tv show producer and a blogger Janet Lee's Home.  Author of Living in a Nutshell

Green Painted Bentwood Chair From The Conran Shop

A Vintage Chair Updated With White Paint and Lime Upholstery- House To Home

Lonny Magazine 2010 Designer Cath Kidston

Lonny Magazine 2010 Designer Cath Kidston

Lonny Magazine 2010 Designer Cath Kidston

Farrow & Ball Paint is used in this green living room with painted furniture in the same color tones.  Featured on House to Home.  A Chinese Chippendale Chair is updated with paint.

Painted Cabinets - Featured in Lonny Magazine

Paint Dipped Furniture From House And Home

Hand-painted Bamboo Brooches by Whimsy Milieu

Use different colours, like this playful & colourful range from UM project

A DIY dipped tutorial from house of earnest

Consider Dipping Your Furniture, such as seen with these painted clips

Use Painters Tape On Your Chests and Dressers and Combine Two Colors

Photos courtesy of Lostine Baguette Board with milk paint dipped edges

Use Natural Wood With Brighter Paint Colors.  Picture Pure Deco

House Beautiful Magazine featured the top favorite red colors from the most recongized interior designers.  Here are my favorite 9 red shades of paint from their selection of 24

TOP ROW:

1."This is a really deep coral, kind of like a cheerful Chinese red. Pinks and reds to me are synonymous with frozen drinks [...]]]>

House Beautiful Magazine featured the top favorite red colors from the most recongized interior designers.  Here are my favorite 9 red shades of paint from their selection of 24

TOP ROW:

1."This is a really deep coral, kind of like a cheerful Chinese red. Pinks and reds to me are synonymous with frozen drinks and relaxing." -Richard Mishaan Pictured, Benjamin Moore's Chili Pepper 2004-20

2."When I look for red, I want a pure, true red, like the color in the American flag. Ralph Lauren does absolutely the best. It's the essence of red. It makes me think of boating or polo." -Suzanne Kasler Pictured, Ralph Lauren Paint's Dressage Red TH41

3. "Red never goes out of style. It's full of life — always fresh, always fun to wake up to. We go for reds with less blue in them and more orange because they're happier to live with." -William Diamond and Anthony Baratta Pictured, Ralph Lauren Paint's Lattice Red IB57

MIDDLE ROW:

4. "It's a true, deep red. I like the temperature of it: it's a bit cooler. But a little red goes a long way. It's good in areas where you don't spend much time or in boring areas that need a strong burst of color." -Roderick Shade Pictured, Benjamin Moore's Million Dollar Red 2003-10

5. Benjamin Moore's Redstone was used in Eldon Wong's cupboard.

6. "All my life I've pursued the perfect red. I can never get painters to mix it for me. It's exactly as if I'd said "I want Rococo with a spot of Gothic in it and a bit of Buddhist temple" — they have no idea what I'm talking about." -Diana Vreeland Pictured, Benjamin Moore's Red 2000-10

BOTTOM ROW:

7. "Red is the color of excitement, and I tend to go for corally orange reds. With red, you know you've arrived and you glance in the mirror and realize how great you look and breeze right in." -Keith Irvine Pictured, Benjamin Moore's Salsa 2009-20

8."I prefer the warm, vibrant reds to the historic reds, which are beautiful but sedate. This is a daring red, a real fire engine red. It has a playfulness that reminds me of a little red schoolhouse." -Ruthie Sommers Pictured, Fine Paints of Europe's Dutchlac Brilliant Tulip Red W1001B-M

9."Lately I'm on this anti-completely-neutral kick. You have to have some seasoning in your rooms. Sangria is good, universal-donor red — not too blue, not too orange, not too dark." -Elissa Cullman Pictured, Benjamin Moore's Sangria 2006-20

This exquisite George III Style Secretary features red japanned hand painted gilt depictions. The secretary is fitted with brass knobs and pulls and features the original drawer lining and mirrors. Herringbone Home has this chest marked at $16,500

George II style Red Lacquer Gilded Framed Mirror

Victoria Stuart Burke

Pair of Baker Chinese Red Lacquer Side Chests

Atlanta Homes Magazine

September October 2011 Issue Lonny Magazine

Tory Burch Store at Madison Ave NYC- thestyleandtravel-journals.blogspot.com 

Lacquered Walls  Tory Burch New York Flagship Store

Red high gloss lacquered bombay chest. Design by Laserow Antiques & Interior Design. See this chest together with art by Carolina Gynning and sculptures by Agneta Gynning at the exhibition Gynning X 2. Featured on Old Vs New

Ceiling, walls, and mouldings alike were painted out in a cherry red at this New York estate, as designed by Steven Gambrel.

Tiffany & Co. accessories designer Richard Lamberston made a bold statement in his beautifully organized Manhattan closet with Farrow & Ball’s Rectory Red paint. (October 2011)

18 Red Rooms for Design Inspiration : Architectural Digest

Interior decoration by J. Randall Powers.
Architectural Digest (November 2011).

Chinese Red Lacquer Console Table

Late 19th Early 20th Century Japanese Red Lacquer Stand

A Nest of Five Antique Japanese Red Stands

Pair of Red Lacquer Queen Anne Styled Chairs

Benjamin Moore's Red Poppy Paint

Nancy Boszhardt Design- Seen on jenningsandgates.blogspot.com

Suzanne Tucker and Timothy Marks From The Enchanted Home Blog

Pair Red Lacquer Round End Tables With Chinese Decoration

Early 20th Century Chinese Lacquer Lac Burgaute Tea Table

Brass Faux Bamboo Stand with Chinese Red Lacquered Shelves

This wonderful folk art style cupboard is a grand example of color and style from the 19th century. This style of cupboard was originally made for bread or pies to be stored or to cool down after coming out of a hot oven. [...]]]> Original Robin Egg Blue Pie Cupboard From The Midwest 1870-1880

This wonderful folk art style cupboard is a grand example of color and style from the 19th century. This style of cupboard was originally made for bread or pies to be stored or to cool down after coming out of a hot oven. This style of cupboard was likely a pantry or cupboard used for food or grain storage in the kitchen. The color of the cupboard is a Robyns egg blue, and features wonderful patina.

It has small original screens and cut outs on the top sides of the cupboard. The drawers of this cupboard are mortised and use square nail construction. This piece is probably from a Farmhouse in Pennsylvania- Sold through East Meets West Antiques

Below we have a mid 19th Century American Painted Tabletop Set of Drawers.  This handsome set of drawers has their original brass knobs and red-brown stain, and a later vibrant aqua blue paint. Each of the 13 drawers is marked with a Roman numeral, which corresponds to an etched Roman numeral in each slot. Excellent cabinetwork with dove-tail construction throughout; American circa 1840. Sold through M. Finkel & Daughter

Check out some beautiful English and Country painted pieces below:

Mid 19th Century American Painted Tabletop Set of Drawers

Country Style Paint Finishes

Green Painted Cabinet From Tone on Tone Antiques

Juniper Hill Antiques

Pennsylvania Jelly Cupboard In Tomato Red Painted Surface - Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques
19thc Original Red Painted Jelly Cupboard From Maine- East Meets West Antiques

The Mod Shop- Edward Chair

Painting furniture can be an outstandingly satisfying craft. You can find an old, outdated piece and breathe new life into it with a simple color of paint. Once it’s in a new space, it can brighten and invigorate it, adding charm and drama all at [...]]]>

The Mod Shop- Edward Chair

Painting furniture can be an outstandingly satisfying craft. You can find an old, outdated piece and breathe new life into it with a simple color of paint. Once it’s in a new space, it can brighten and invigorate it, adding charm and drama all at the same time.

Sometimes the hardest decision of all is what color to use. When you want to go bold, here are some top color choices to consider.

Emerald Green

Emerald green is the hot color of 2013, according to the design industry. It connotes thoughts of riches and a recovering economy, and its lushness can bring a look of jewel luster into your home.

Because neutrals are still popular to decorate with, a splash of bright, bold, emerald green can be a lovely contrast against beiges and tans. Think about painting a chest or end table emerald green and adding some gold or silver accents or hardware. You’ll have a standout piece that will take charge.

Red

It seems red is a classic for painted furniture, one that can last through the years. Every room can hold a bold piece of red painted furniture, and the colors can range from candy apple to deep garnet. Like emerald green, a deep jewel tone will add drama, and a brighter red will add cheer.

Whether it’s a chair, table, or something else, a red accent piece of painted furniture will work well with almost any other color schemes, from neutral palettes to brighter colors ranging from blues to greens to yellows. Red can add freshness, drama, or whatever look you’re going for.

Blue

Colors of nature are very in right now, so painting a piece of furniture with the bold tones of blues in nature will be just the thing to do in 2013. Blue can be soothing like the sky, or invigorating like the sea. Choose from any blue shades to create a bold standout piece that will bring the natural world indoors.

Like red, blue tends to work well with most other color palettes and is a wonderful contrast to black and white.

Lavender

Whereas pink or purple may be too young to place in areas other than girl’s rooms in the home, lavender is like pink all grown-up. A single painted piece of lavender furniture will pop in a room and add that vintage drama that can bring the room to life.

Lavender is a great color to mix with other bold tones, like yellow and green, or use it against a white palette for extreme drama. Have fun with it – go bold – remember, it’s not a kid anymore!

Yellow

Yellow is taking off on the runways now, so why not bring it in the home. A bold piece of yellow painted furniture, from chests to chairs to dining tables, will add a fresh new feel to any room.

Yellow can brighten darker areas and works great with natural woods or metallics. Don’t be afraid to go bold – lean towards the canaries, lemons, and golds rather than the softer butter and cream yellows.

Adding that piece of boldly painted furniture to your home will invigorate your home. Take a look around at what you have already; you never know, the very piece you want may already be in your home…just waiting.

Heather Legg is a writer who writes about small businesses and Spokeo removal, the art of creativity and keeping a positive perspective every day.

An 18th Century Red Painted Dutch Chest of Drawers - G. Sergeant Antiques L.L.C.

Neoclassical Painted & Parcel Gilt Console- Florence, Italy 18th Century- 

Le Trianon  - Fine Arts & Antiques

Italian Carved and Painted Wood Armchair  Betsey Ruprecht Decorative Antiques

Neoclassical Style Painted Deux Corp Bibliotheque Cabinet From Seller Objects Plus

A French or Italian Saffron Painted Cabinet Or Cupboard - The Little Antique Shop -Nashville, TN

19thc. Painted Italian Buffet - Empire Antiques 

Venetian Set of Painted Nesting Tables  Jean-Marc Fray French Antiques 

DE TONGE Provincial Table- Famous French Furniture Manufacture-Coco House, Palm Beach, FL

Wrought Iron Leaf Iron Chandelier In A Happy Yellow- dos gallos

Antique Yellow Painted Wicker Fiddelhead Chair - BG Galleries -Weymouth, MA

French Painted Tole Garden Table - Milord Antiques

Pair of Brass Tacked Footstools Greenwich Living

Pair of French Louis XVI Style Ottomans by Jansen Greenwich Living

1950's Italian Painted Commode- Ambiance Antiques 

Maison Jansen Game Table Greenwich Living

Pair French Rococo Style Painted Bombe Commodes Greenwich Living on ebay

Emerald Green Looks Perfect On Asian Furniture - European Paint Finishes

Chinoiserie Oriental Green Gilt Bergere Armchair Chair By Abbey Antiques on ebay

Green Painted French Provence Styled Furniture- Available Through Cote France

Glossy Green Chest- Works Well on French/ Italian Furniture

Pair of French Table Lamps Greenwich Living

Chrissie's Collection- The Plucky Peacock

Inlaid Bone Side Table - From Wisteria

Red Painted English Georgian Style Highboy Greenwich Living

Vintage Hollywood Regency End tables- RedoneByShari  

Au Rendez-Vous de Montmartre, Paris And Beyond Blog- Red Painted Desk Cote France

One Kings Lane - Design-Blogger Tag Sale - Klismos Chairs

Painted Peacock Headboards From ish & chi

Painted Peacock Headboards From ish & chi

Painted Peacock Headboard

You can never have enough of great furniture if you are a homemaker but the cost is always a problem. Great furniture doesn’t grow on trees, no matter how much you wish for it. Worry not because if you know the right places to look, you can get your hands on some very good [...]]]>

You can never have enough of great furniture if you are a homemaker but the cost is always a problem. Great furniture doesn’t grow on trees, no matter how much you wish for it. Worry not because if you know the right places to look, you can get your hands on some very good pieces with great prices. Of course, it helps if you have some overstock coupons to ease the burden on your pocket. Apart from that, you should check out the following places

1. Yard Sales and Garage Sales

Trash for one might be gold for another. Garage sales are the best place to go if you are one of those people who like to know a bit about the furniture they are going to purchase. Of course, you might not get exactly what you are looking for. But in most cases, a little reconstruction of the idea in your head and your room gives great results.

Feel free to bargain and try to get the best deal. If there are some issues with the piece, you can always get some polishing and repair work done. Remember that you are getting these are very low costs but you have to invest a little to make it presentable and usable.

2. Ready To Assemble Furniture

Flat pack furniture is not what it used to be and you can find many great pieces out of it. These days, the furniture is easy to assemble and create if you have the right tools. The instructions are clear and precise, and if you follow them, then you can’t go wrong.

Go to one of the chain variety stores that keep flat pack furniture at affordable prices. There are a lot of options with this as well. You can get veneer finish that looks like real wood at the price of a basic laminate finish.

3. Flea Markets

You would mostly find used furniture in flea markets, but the main thing you have to work on is a budget. Most people go to these places and get so overwhelmed that they end up buying everything they don’t need. Be clear on the exact thing that you require and fix a ceiling limit for the price. Don’t be overindulgent but don’t be too stingy either.

Don’t be afraid to clarify your doubts about something you like. Ask questions about the material and keep your room’s décor and style in your mind as well. Also, make note of the maintenance requirements of the furniture. Also, if something looks like it just needs some finishing, estimate the costs in your head. Compare it to buying first hand furniture and then make a choice.

Always check the fabric used in the furniture and check how washable it is. Before you use the furniture, get it thoroughly cleaned and checked for bugs and termites. If you have a strict budget, try not to overspend. Use overstock coupon codes to get your hands on some affordable furniture. These tips would ensure that you get what you are looking for and know exactly where to look.

19th Century French Folding Iron Daybed- Lawton Mull

Hans J. Wegner  -The Circle Chair

Frances Elkins' Classic Loop Chair

Cane Peacock Chairs- Designer Katie Graham

A Refreshing Baby Boutique- Bright Painted Furniture

This Swedish farm table from 1st Dibs

Lauder Estate, Palm Beach

Trip Trumeau- Seletti

Re-trouvé Garden Seating 

 Fiberglass Side Chairs From Pieces

Wishbone chair in four shades of blue

 Designer Kelee Katillac- Painted Chippendale Chairs

Designer Kelee Katillac- Painted Chippendale Chairs  

Chippendale Children's Chair Redesigned by Lotus Bleu

Turquoise bookshelves featured on Country Living

Turquoise bookshelves featured on Country Living

1940s Lime-Green Dresser  By Vintage Modern Nina Perry

Decor et Jardin S.A.

Painted Iron Cabinet Seller Antiques on 5

Painted china cabinet Paint Color- Kendall charcoal (HC-166) Benjamin Moore

Tom spruced up an old dresser with a distressed paint job. Removing the top drawer provides storage space and access to electronic equipment. - Better Home & Gardens

Painted Hutch in Butter Yellow

Old dresser repurposed as a bathroom vanity- House and Home

Wallpapered drawers Bryonie Porter

French Painted Enfilade With Faux Marble Top- Foxglove Antiques

The uniquely textured look of marble can add a regal and sophisticated touch to any interior space. Trouble is, marble can also grab a chunk of change out of your wallet. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to [...]]]>

French Painted Enfilade With Faux Marble Top- Foxglove Antiques

The uniquely textured look of marble can add a regal and sophisticated touch to any interior space. Trouble is, marble can also grab a chunk of change out of your wallet. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to achieve this look in your home without having to spend all that money?

There is – if you don’t mind a little paint and hard work. It’s possible to create a faux marble finish on wood and many other surfaces by mixing and manipulating paint colors and patterns.

Preparations

Start by identifying the surface or piece of furniture that you want to transform. Then gather up paint supplies like newspaper or a drop cloth and taking them into a room that is well-ventilated and not too hot or cold.

If the piece has hardware like handles, knobs, or nails, remove them and fill holes with a water-based filler. If there are glass or mirrored surfaces, tape them over.

Begin by wetting the surface with a spray bottle full of water and let it dry for half an hour. Then take some 180-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface so that the paint will better adhere to it. Afterwards, wipe away the dust with a static-free cloth.

Painting

You must now decide whether you want to apply a base coat or begin creating the marble appearance on the current color of the surface or piece. If you need a base coat, apply two coats with a paint pad or foam brush and let it dry for a couple hours.

You are now ready to “create” marble using paint! Put a dab of three different colors onto a plate and slide a sea sponge through each of them. Then take the sponge and dab it lightly along the surface to produce a “marble-like” pattern. For a lighter look, wipe off excess paint as you go.

After letting the sponged paint dry, you’re ready to tackle the marble “veins.” Using either a very thin paintbrush or a feather, dip it into another paint color and drag it along the surface diagonally using a twisting, turning motion; vary how the feather moves, and the shapes of the veins change. After letting them dry for five minutes, the veins should resemble tree branches or lightning bolts.

If you want to soften the marble appearance, feel free to sponge on some lighter shades of paint. Then let it all dry for another two hours.

Seal it in

Now you’re ready to “seal” in the marble look. Take some high-gloss polyurethane or polyacrylic satin and apply a topcoat in line with the wood grain, then let it dry for two hours. Then, using 320-grit sandpaper, lightly buff the surface before sweeping off the dust and applying a finish coat. You may want to repeat this process once after the second coat dries.

Using paint to portray a marble finish isn't as difficult as you might think. And once you're finished, you've got an attractive conversation-starting piece that everyone can enjoy!

Chris Martin is a freelance writer about topics ranging from auto insurance to consumer finance to online reputation protection.

Faux Marble by Pierre Lefumat- $28 Amazon

This is a monument to 60 years dedicated to decorative painting. The first part of the book is a step-by-step guide for painting the most widely imitated marble varieties including white breccia, yellow sienna, sea green, and more. The second part of the book is a gallery of Lefumat's photorealistic faux marble. Each page represents a closer and closer detailed view. Experts and beginners alike will draw inspiration from this magnificent book

Step by step instruction for recreating Lefumat's masterworks in Faux Marble. Over 140 pages of rich close-up color photographs of Lefumat's painted panels. Hundreds of pages of faux marble for reference and inspiration.

Jansen Faux Tortoise Painted  Drawer Chest Greenwich Living

French Painted Enfilade With Faux Marble Top- Foxglove Antiques

Faux Marble Writing Desk-  Hideaway Antiques 

Pair White Granite Urns on Faux Marble Pedestals-  Gottlieb Gallery

Italian Neoclassic Faux Marble Scagliola Pedestal-  David Neligan Antiques

Italian Painted Console Table-  Piet Jonker Architectural Antiques

A Pair Of Painted Wooden Night Stands- Piet Jonker Architectural Antiques

A Pair Of Painted Wooden Night Stands- Piet Jonker Architectural Antiques

19th Century Italian Carved Wood Bust On Faux Marble Base.  Thomas Jolly Antiques

20th c. French Faux- Marble Column or Pedestal- Olivier Fleury Inc.

Pair of Italian Faux Marble Planters-  Dragonette Ltd

Set of Four 18th Century Faux Marble Columns 1st Dibs Paris

Louis  XV Painted Console Table With A Faux Marble Top-  Wirthmore Antiques

Faux Marble Console Table- House of Honey

Pair of Faux Marble Painted Columns-  LEBRETON INTERIEURS

Coffee Table in Faux Marble Green Lacquer - Biggs Powell Interior Design & Antiques

Modern Louis XVI Style Giltwood Table Painted Faux Marble Top- Seller Glo

A Florentine Gilded Console With Faux Marble Top-  Valobra Jewelry & Antiques

Pair Faux Marble Columns-  Greenwich Living Antiques & Design Center 

16 Drawer Vintage Dresser Transformation From Urban Farmgirl Blog

Retro pieces in modern spaces create unique interior designs, and achieving that look doesn't have to break the bank. Decorating with antiques give your interior spaces a touch of nostalgia, and vintage accessories create personality and warmth. Are you bored with [...]]]>

16 Drawer Vintage Dresser Transformation From Urban Farmgirl Blog

Retro pieces in modern spaces create unique interior designs, and achieving that look doesn't have to break the bank. Decorating with antiques give your interior spaces a touch of nostalgia, and vintage accessories create personality and warmth. Are you bored with your drab living room? Does the old furniture in your home need a decorative facelift? Makeover your home by integrating a few beautiful accessories or refurbishing old furniture. The affordability of decorating with thrift store treasures and rare, eclectic pieces also makes the decorative process even more exciting. With some smart shopping tips, creative risk and design inspiration, you can give any space in your home outstanding character and style.

Online Vintage Shopping

Invite timeless antique and vintage pieces into your home to create that intimate, retro feel. Goodwill, Craigslist and online thrift stores are excellent resources for finding affordable, one-of-a-kind items that can be integrated into a modern interior-design theme. Shop Goodwill's online vintage glass selections for beautiful hand-blown cobalt vases or hobnailed milk glass decorative dishes. You can also find a variety of home collectibles and antiques that emphasize that vintage look. For example, a one-of-a-kind telescope luxuriously complements chocolate, leather furniture in any home office. An antique silver-plated hair brush and mirror are great decorative accessories for vintage-themed bathrooms with floral wallpaper or mint green-painted walls.

Make sure that online thrift stores are reliable and trusted before you shop and purchase. Sometimes bargain shopping sites and goods may be too good to be true, and you don't want to experience online fraud or get involved in a scam. Lifelock's Twitter page provides helpful tips for safe and secure online shopping. You can also visit our ShopGoodwill.com resource page for hints on how to maximize your online auction experience and bid on the best items.

DIY Furniture

Refurbish and re-purpose used furniture such as old wooden dressers, cabinets and desks for a brand-new, personalized look. Hand-me-down furniture from your family or items from a yard sale or flea market have such creative potential to become aesthetic focal points in a living room or bedroom.

For an eye-catching look, make over furniture with bold-colored paint and a trendy pattern. Babble.com's the new home ec blog features a chevron-painted distressed dresser. Simply painting green zig zags on the three beige dresser drawers creates a stylish design. Display used books on top of the dresser underneath a crystal vintage bowl and accessorize with a picture frame or shapely vase with flowers. With a little bit of finish and brightly colored paint, you can dramatically change the look of coffee tables, book shelves, end tables and armoires. Choose a color that makes a statement, such as scarlet, mustard or fuchsia, and accent with decor in contrasting colors.

For a children's playroom or bedroom, decorate shelves or tables with glued-on gemstones, beads or buttons. Cluster beads into a fun pattern on dresser drawers or glue colorful rhinestones and crystals along the edges. Chalkboard paint is also a fun and creative solution for decoratively transforming the look a used headboard or table.

Guest Post - Cherie Rodriguez -A crafty mom, Cherie shares her tips with other DIY moms. She loves jogging along the beach and playing catch with Dusty the family dog and hanging out with her 2-year-old, Greta and 6-year-old, Travis.

Black Painted Dresser With New Round Keyholes- Ciruelo Interiors

Olauf Cabinet From Anthropologie

Outstanding Red Painted Chest From Diamonds & Toads On Facebook

Re-purposed Armoire Into A Craft Center from Maple and Magnolia...

Stenciled Georgian Dresser Makeover From The Purple Painted Lady

Brooklyn's White Georgian Dresser

Brooklyn Limestone transformed this georgian dresser with white paint and an overhead projector.  What a beautiful transformation! 

A Tangerine Chest Makeover From A Girl And A Brush

Mid Century Modern Transformation From Classy Clutter

Domino's Floral Modern Painted Chest

Craft Armoire From Better Homes and Gardens

Beautiful Painted Windsor Chairs From Honeybearlane

 Dimples & Tangles refinished this old china cabinet in a fresh green color.

Stunning Herringbone Painted Cabinet At Twice Lovely

Anthropologie Inspired Side Table Makeover Remadesimple

Photo of Rega NY, images by Jamie Hankin

Pretty Yellow Stand With Cane From Urban Outfitters

Yellow Childrens Dresser With A Chevron Pattern - A Little Glass Box

Tree dresser by Aoneko. Created with painter's masking tape.

Painting a piece of antique furniture might be considered a sin by some. It’s possible that funky old table you found at the thrift store is a valuable piece of furniture, which a coat of paint could completely ruin. Before you break out the sandpaper check a few details to [...]]]> Valspar Paint Ad

Painting a piece of antique furniture might be considered a sin by some. It’s possible that funky old table you found at the thrift store is a valuable piece of furniture, which a coat of paint could completely ruin. Before you break out the sandpaper check a few details to determine if the piece is a legitimate antique – 100 years old or more. Before the industrial revolution all furniture was crafted by hand, and handmade furniture has imperfections.

In antiques the dovetails used to join drawers may not be the same size or be perfectly spaced and decorative legs may not all be identical. Round table tops may be “off round” due to the natural process of shrinking and drying over time. Look for nails with square, thin heads or screws slots slightly off-center. Search for saw marks; circular marks indicate the piece was made after 1850 and straight marks indicate an older piece. Consider having an expert look at the piece if you’re still not sure. Once you’ve determined the piece is a good candidate for painting gather your supplies and roll up your sleeves!

Begin by taking the piece apart where reasonable. For example, remove drawers and hardware and remove the leaves of a table. Use a wrench or screwdriver to loosen bolts and screws. Not only will this make it easier to prepare the piece for painting but also it will give you a chance to look closer at the furniture and see if any repairs are needed.

If working with unvarnished wood:

Sand all the surfaces to be painted with fine sandpaper. Give everything a light sand in the direction of the grain. The point is to rough up the wood so it will be more receptive to paint. Wipe down the furniture with a damp cloth or tack rag to remove sanding dust.

If working with varnished wood begin sanding with coarse paper, working in a circular motion. Use medium-grit sandpaper to remove most of the varnish. Finish with fine sandpaper, sanding with the grain until the last traces of varnish are gone and the wood is smooth. Remove sanding dust with a tack rag or damp cloth.

Spread out the drop cloth to provide a clean place to work and to protect flooring. Apply painter’s tape to indicate where the paint will stop and start. The tape will create a cleaner edge and will help you remember which areas should not be painted. Take the time to apply the tape straight and neat for the best results.

Roll on a coat of oil-based primer with the foam roller. An oil-based primer will help paint adhere to the wood. Use a small paintbrush to get into corners and tricky places. Don’t apply the primer too thick and clean up drips as soon as they happen. The primer may look uneven as it dries but don’t be concerned. Allow the primer to dry according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Take a picture of the piece to the paint store with you. Having a photo may help you decide on the right color. If you want to use the piece as a focal point, select a color that contrasts with the walls and other décor. If you prefer that it blend into your existing furnishings choose a lighter, more neutral color.

A coat of paint is an inexpensive way to bring new life to an old piece of furniture. Once the paint job is complete and the paint is dry you can reassemble the piece and make any small repairs that may be needed. Now it’s time to put your new masterpiece to work and enjoy it.

Lindsey enjoys fixing up old furniture in her home whenever she gets the chance. In her spare time, she blogs on behalf of Sears and other brands she loves.

Pump up the volume by applying silver leaf over a special accent chair or chest. The difference between silver and gold leaf compared to metalic paints is night and day. Silver and gold leaf are actually exceptionally thin pieces of metal which are [...]]]>  Beirut Home Showing A Vibrant Silver Chest From Elle Decor Magazine 

Pump up the volume by applying silver leaf over a special accent chair or chest. The difference between silver and gold leaf compared to metalic paints is night and day. Silver and gold leaf are actually exceptionally thin pieces of metal which are applied to a surface using glue.

5 Quick Tips When Using Leaf

1. Prep Is Important.....

When silver or gold leafing, you want to prepare the surface well. The leaf will show any imperfection, so your prep work is important. Fill in any dents with wood filler, and sand your furniture to a smooth finish.

I prefer to use Mona Lisa spray adhesive because almost every other glue I have have used hasn't worked well, and it is one that I do recommend. The Mona Lisa adhesive dries quickly, so you do not want to step away from your project at hand. The glue starts to get tacky within 3 minutes or so.

2.  Be Money Smart When Purchasing Leaf...

In my previous article "French Furniture Restoration - Gold Leaf Tips" I suggested to purchase a specific gold leaf called "Simple Leaf"  The advantage of purchasing this brand is there is no leaf waste.  Gold and silver leaf alone is weightless, and can be broken up quite quickly when you apply it to furniture.  What doesn't get stuck on the furniture, often falls to the ground.  While you can save much of your leaf, there is always going to be waste.  On ebay you can buy large amounts of Gold leaf that it makes sense to not purchase the leaf from a craft store, but on ebay. Picasso Frame located in California sells leaf sheets in 500 stacks for $32 dollars compared to 20 sheets for $9 dollars at Michaels.    You can still support American small businesses by ordering on ebay.

3.  Invest In A Soft Brush

Squirrel hair paint brushes are used by professionals to smooth out the fragile foil over the object. If you use a regular chip brush, the foil breaks up and you end up with a mess.  Consider overlaping sheets slightly and fill any gaps with fragments of foil to ensure the coverage effects you desire.

Like I mentioned above, when you can buy 500 sheets of gold, silver or copper leaf for $35 dollars, why not take the extra step and leaf your furniture.  The final project will look so much richer than spray paint ever could produce.

Dylan Egon for reGeneration, gold leaf on lacquer

Silver-Leaf French Style Armoire From Style Our Home

Silver Leaf French Chest From fabulousandbaroque.com

An original Art Deco 1930s Silver Leaf Chest. From Fresh Vintage Miami

Silver leaf chest of drawers - $1800 vandm.com

Bombe Chest In Silver Leaf- From Lucy Willow

Original 1930s Deco Modern Ziggurat Style Chest - $6000.vandm.com

Pair of Silver-gilt & Painted Chests of Drawers

Pair of French Bombe Chests Greenwich Living

When it comes to baby’s room, everything should be the best. Often times, however, baby furniture is very expensive and specific. Changing tables, cribs, and bassinets are all baby specific furniture types. How can you get baby the beauty furniture you want without breaking your budget? Try these tips:

1.    Paint – [...]]]>

When it comes to baby’s room, everything should be the best. Often times, however, baby furniture is very expensive and specific. Changing tables, cribs, and bassinets are all baby specific furniture types. How can you get baby the beauty furniture you want without breaking your budget? Try these tips:

1.    Paint – Many times you can find great baby furniture used for much cheaper than new. However these furnishings have scratches, dings, or just do not fit with the style in your nursery. One solution to this is to paint the furniture to match your style. Make sure you use lead free and low VOC paint that is safe for baby. Children chew on everything, even furniture, so this is very important. White or pastel colors is usually a safe bet for the nursery and soothing colors like pale blue, pink and yellow help baby to feel more comfortable.

2.    Repurpose – I have seen the cutest baby changing tables made out of repurposed dressers. Not everything has to be made for a baby. Things that must be safe like a crib should be bought new and specifically for your child, but baby changing tables, rockers and things like that can easily be created using repurposed furniture. Just make sure the styles match and paint it a color to suit the nursery.

3.    Cover –If you can’t paint it, cover it up. An old rocking chair can be reupholstered or even have a slip cover thrown over it. A tablecloth with non-slip pad underneath can cover up an ugly changing table and the assorted diapers and wipes it holds. Fabric covers a multitude of wrongs and can be safely used almost anywhere in baby’s room. Just keep away from the crib to avoid suffocation hazards.

These are just a few of the ways that you can give baby the room it deserves without breaking the bank. Make the most of your nursery and give your home the style you love.
About the Author:

Ken Myers is an expert advisor on in-home care & related family safety issues to many websites and groups. He is a regular contributor to www.gonannies.com. You can get in touch with him at kmyers.ceo(at)gmail.com.

Andrea Wyner for The New York Times

DIY idea shared in Ikea’s Livet Hemma blog.

New York City Designer Lily Bunn

Bunny Crib From Posh Tots

Kids Room Paint Ideas From Pinterest

Painted Robyn Egg Blue Dresser

Check Out the transformation of this nursery at Three Little Birdies blog

A Scandinavian stenciled dresser from Lena Corwin's book Printing By Hand.

Get complete details how Lena made this dresser here.....

Sensational Blue Sideboard With Brass Hardware From Rikke Stil Blog

Check out her hot pink painted credenza on Scandinavian Chic.

Tangerine Louis XV Bedside Table- Sweet Pea and Willow

A single piece of painted furniture in a room can shine like a star. It can add focus, drama, color, and personality all in one. And there is probably a piece of furniture somewhere in your [...]]]>

Tangerine Louis XV Bedside Table- Sweet Pea and Willow

A single piece of painted furniture in a room can shine like a star. It can add focus, drama, color, and personality all in one. And there is probably a piece of furniture somewhere in your house (or garage or attic) that could use a little love and become that piece. It’s not hard to do, and with just a few tips, you can paint a piece of furniture yourself and have something brand-new to spice up any space.

Open Your Mind

When deciding if a piece of furniture is worth painting or not, or where it will fit, open your mind. Focus on the lines of the piece, not the color or even its use. Try to imagine it somewhere else, in a different color, maybe with some added accents, serving a new purpose.

You can paint an old bedroom dresser a bright apple red or dramatic black, change the hardware, and you’ll have a great dining room storage piece. Turn a boring nightstand into a glamorous end table with a bit of paint and new hardware. You can do it – just envision it!

Take Necessary Steps

Once you’ve decided on painting, take a good look at the piece. You will probably have to remove the old paint or finish either by sanding or using a paint remover (even if you use a paint remover product, you will probably need to sand before painting to ensure a smooth surface).

Make sure the piece is clean before painting. You can wash with something like Murphy’s oil soap and make sure all dirt, grime, paint or finish reside, and dust is gone. This will help ensure your new paint job is smooth and even. Plus, it will help it adhere better.

Priming the piece before painting will again ensure a smooth, finished look. Priming helps paint adhere and will help hide any imperfections that may show through the paint. Give that furniture a quick sanding, too, and you are ready for the fun part!

Paint!

Once you’ve prepped your piece and chosen its new look, you are ready to paint! Depending on your piece and its new function, you will either want oil-based or latex paint. Latex is much easier to work with, but oil will have a more durable finish and won’t peel or chip as easily. If you are positive you’ve gotten all old paint and finish off the piece, you’re probably safe with latex, but it you are painting over anything, go with oil-based paint.

Make sure to get the paint in all nooks and crannies; take the drawers out if your piece has them and work around both the drawers and the piece. If you want a distressed look, you can be a bit less precise (but that is a technique in and of itself). Once your paint is dry, give it a light sanding and go for another coat if needed. If you are doing accent painting, let the base dry completely as well.

If you want to give it a clear coat of protectant seal, it’s not a bad idea, especially for high-use pieces, like tables. Then let it dry for a good 48 to 72 hours, and you are ready to use your beautiful new piece.

Your new painted piece of furniture is one of a kind; you did it yourself, and it can be the new highlight of your space. Just keep those few tips in mind and get ready to paint!

Heather Legg is a blogger who writes about creative home tips, the advantages of open plan furniture, and healthy lifestyles, and who also loves painting furniture now and then.

Hollywood Regency Green Painted Side Table 

Buy it from  Funky Luxe

Queen Anne Desk With French Provincial Painted Chair

What an outstanding Paint color combination! from  tobifairley.com

Turquoise Painted Dresser- Hillary Thomas Design

Painted Modernized Windsor Chair from anthropologie.com

A Stunning Asian credenza painted in Rustoleum's 'Saftey Red' Spray Enamel.  She also said she used white vinegar and salt on the hardware!  Wow!

Check out all the details on littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

Pink French Provincial Chest With New Hardware From A Place For Us Blog

Get tips on how they painted this vintage Drexel Dresser Here

Look At Additonal French Provincial Drexel Furniture here , and more about Drexel Touraine here

A Commode By Carlo Di Carli

Pink Campaign Dresser Makeover By For Chic Sake

This is a pretty darn cool post!  Make Your Own Campaign Dressers From Ikeas Dresser Line!

Find Your Own Perfect Campaign Dresser Here

Jakob Solgren. Interior stylist

Bright Yellow Baroque Side Table From Horchow

Change Table Yellow Painted Dresser- See the entire tranformation at

Honey And Fitz BlogYellow Herringbone Dresser- Design Sponge

Yellow Painted Furniture Ideas homemu.comUse Pink!  Be Bold, and Use Pink On Your Doors And Door Frame

A Spectacular Shade Is Used on A Bathroom Cabinet

Pair of Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs in Pompeiian Form Italy Circa 1900 Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs with Rare Pompeiian Backs En Grisaille. Motif from the Frieze in Pompeii's House of the Vettii

Italian styled furniture are some of the most favored styled furniture of the past. While the contemporary Italian [...]]]>

Pair of Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs in Pompeiian Form Italy Circa 1900 Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs with Rare Pompeiian Backs En Grisaille. Motif from the Frieze in Pompeii's House of the Vettii

Italian styled furniture are some of the most favored styled furniture of the past. While the contemporary Italian furniture of today encompasses clean lines, bold glossy finishes, and little adornment, the classical Italian furniture of the past was just the opposite. Antique Italian furniture, especially that of the Baroque period was heavily embellished, and often richly painted. In an effort to disguise the wood at that time, artists began painting elaborate scenes on the furniture in gold leaf and vibrant colours.

The Italian paint selection often resulted from the colors they found around them. Terracotta tiling was heavily used in Italy, with colors of brown and orange shades,undoubtedly made their way into part of the Italian decorations. Different shades colors that were predominant in Italian landscapes inspired home owners and artists alike. The lighter colored blues seen in the Mediterranean sea are often colors chosen for painted furniture. The red tones of terracotta along with granite, blue-green shades of sea are seen quite often in color choices in the Italian decorating schemes. Shades of gold and cream shades were also taken from the vast details seen in the architectural around Italy.

Below are 4 guide lines to think about when decorating within the Italian style.

1.  Detail, Detail, Detail!

Many beautiful Italian interiors have a tremendous amount of hand painted details.  Get this look by hand picking stencils that you find attractive and working them into the interior such as on a painted vase, a chest showcased at the entrance of your home, or on the walls.  Most everyone has jobs these days, so the idea that everything has to be painted in the house is out of the question for most people.  So one really easy of tackling stenciling is to focus on one piece in every room.  Perhaps it is a pair of chairs that sit in the living room, or a chest, or an accessory such as an over-sized vase.  Painting a vase, or urn a bright color, detailed in gold stenciling would be a terrific focal point.

2.  Use Raised Plaster Stencils

If you want a grand look without spending endless hours hand painting your walls, opt for raised stencils.  Victoria Larsen is famous for her terrific stencils that really make a grand statement in a home.  In this post, I detail how to achieve these looks with a couple simple steps.  Her tree stencils are some of the most popular stencils she carries.

Consider this idea for your walls. If you like the look of detail, but also want to keep a clean look, consider using paint over the plastered stencils for detail without excessive color. This Italian Painted Grey Console is an example of exceptional detail, yet it isn't painted with a multitude of colors.  If you don't have all the time in the world for hand painting, consider large scale plaster stencils which you can then paint over.  Hello!  Rich detail that will have your friends amazed at your talent.

- Here is an example of a raised plaster stencil using a bit of a beige metallic paint.

-Here is an example of raised stencils with glaze. You can buy glaze in a wide range of colors.  A light yellow would bring the vibrancy into the room than brown.  Consider a darker tint of orchre yellow than brown.  Glaze is a translucent paint that can be painted on and wiped off.  When doing this, the details of your raised stencils will show up nicely.  Only a small amount needs to be used in this process.

- Here is another excellent example of a DIY raised stencil design on a piece of furniture. They used a raised stencil along with tissue paper texture and glue and gold details.  Very Italian in deed!

Ethereal Beauty’ house featured in ELLE Decoration February 2013. Photograph by Fabrizio Cicconi.

3.  Replace Your Faucets And Lighting To Wrought Iron.

If you are considering decorating with 15th and 16th Renaissance details,  decorate with period elements such as candles, marble surfaces, and wrought-iron fixtures.  Consider upgrading your sink faucets with brushed wrought iron ones that will give you that period feel.  Continue the look for your towel racks, and additional hardware details around the home.

Borrow the look from this Stunning 15th Century Stone Cottage has a hand made wrought iron 4 poster bed in the bedroom. Update this $110 dollar Black Metal Canopy Bed by making a custom headboard and foot-board out of wood, which could be attached to the frame and upholstered.  One could even make slip covers for the headboard and footboard in white with a sewing machine.  One weekend of tracing the lines of the foot-board and headboard on to fabric, you just need to make custom covers that just fit over the frame and could be tied or attached together with Velcro.

 Enhance this Wrought Iron Table, that sells for $106 with a rectagular white marble insert.  There you go!

4. Cheat With Upholstery Tacks and Used Hardware

The Italian style has always been known for their grandness, and extravagance and sheer detail when it came to interiors, art and architectural choices.

- Consider getting this style of detail  by hammering on square nail head upholstery tacks on to a brightly painted chest.  Or consider hammering on the tacks and applying paint over the entire piece for one unified look.

- Ebay has a lot of hardware lots for affordable prices making it very affordable to dress up an antique chest or trunk.  Get this late Gothic look by applying wrought iron hardware to a dated chest or trunk.

Count Raniero Gnoli’s Italian Home -Architectural Digest

Impressive 19th C Credenza from palazzo in Venice.  Delicate Venetian style painting to front panels & faux marble top.  Hinged top door with original key,  2 front doors, 1 interior shelf. Sold through       Maison de Provence

Count Raniero Gnoli’s Italian Home -Architectural Digest

Count Raniero Gnoli’s Italian Home -Architectural Digest

Delightful and feminine hand painted Venetian small chest of drawers (or single nightstand) from the 1940's in green, cream and silver leaf.  Very clean and functional. Sold through BG Galleries

Count Raniero Gnoli’s Italian Home -Architectural Digest

Count Raniero Gnoli’s Italian Home -Architectural Digest

This fine mid eighteenth century Italian rococo scagliola table top is decorated with polychrome curling foliate motifs around a central oval, all on a black ground, with a curving shaped edge. Scagliola is a technique that developed in Tuscany to imitate pietra dura, but soon evolved into a thriving art form in its own right, used for table tops and architectural elements. The top is raised on a rococo style table base, decorated with light blue paint and parcel gilding, dating from the early twentieth century. Sold through James Sansum Inc.

Count Raniero Gnoli’s Italian Home -Architectural Digest

The Beautiful Colors Of Venice Inspire In The Colors Chosen For Furniture Paint

18th-C Italian Architectural Element on One Kings Lane by Eclectic Modern & Antique Italian Imports  KATHLEEN & MAURIZIO ALMANZA- Eccola  is the name of the West Hollywood showroom of Maurizio Almanza and his wife, former Hollywood set decorator Kathleen White-Almanza. Highlighting the best of Italian contemporary design, their exciting, eclectic showroom offers a medley of masters who include Giò Ponti,  Ico Parisi, and Paolo Buffa, with just the right smattering of 19th-century objects, furniture, and lighting.

Collecting Italian Painted Furniture in Architectural Digest

Sometimes, it can be a daunting task to choose the right variety of furniture for your outdoor areas. The right outdoor furniture Miami has to be a rare mix of functionality, comfort, and durability.

Photo courtesy of Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Framing your photos can be a simple endeavor or you can get really creative with it. Photos are [...]]]> By choosing red frames for classic drawings and bright blue paint for an antique style chair, designer Tobi Fairley throws boring right out the window.

Photo courtesy of Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Framing your photos can be a simple endeavor or you can get really creative with it. Photos are really a part of the furnishings in any home and bring a personal touch to your living areas. If you have lots of photos or only a few, these ideas could inspire you to put them up!

1.    Paint Your Frames – One way to brighten up a room and add a splash of color to your photos is by painting your picture frames. Even an old worn out looking frame can be given new life with a fresh coat of paint. Pair black and white photos with a brightly colored frame for a cool effect, or play off the wall color with corresponding frame colors to help your photo blend in. You can also create an eclectic collage of frames when you take different shaped and textured frames and paint them all the same color. This creates a unifying effect and looks awesome when hung together.

2.    Frame a Corkboard – Another idea for hanging lots of smaller photos like snapshots is to frame a corkboard. By adding a frame you give the corkboard prominence. Paint the frame to match your home’s décor and the corkboard will fit right in. Then you can pin and re-pin different photos to suit your fancy.

3.    Frame Metal – Like the corkboard, framing a sheet of metal is a great way to give your photos a modern vibe. Use magnets to hang your photos without damaging them and you can even feature your children’s artwork up there as well.

A better view of Tobi Fairley's Blue Painted Klismos Chairs

4.    Collage Frames –Collage frames can be found almost anywhere now and offer you the opportunity to group together photos in an appealing way. Try to create a constant look by picking one time, like winter or spring, or a particular activity like a day at the beach.

5.    Frameless Hanging –Another idea I found cool was a visual effect. By taking a thin piece of wood the same size as your photos, you can hang two pictures at once. Using equilateral triangular slats of wood; line them up and attach them to the wooden backboard. Then carefully slice your photos and glue them to the sides. One photo goes on the right side and the other goes on the left side of each triangle. Now when you hang it up you see one complete photo from the left and a different complete photo from the right. How cool!

Author Bio:

Roxanne Porter is a freelancer & a regular contributor for  www.nannyjobs.org.  She helps in providing knowledge about nanny services & love writing on nanny related articles. She helps in giving a fair knowledge about nanny Jobs to the community. You can be in touch with her at “r.poter08ATgmail.com” .

Interior Designer Anthony Baratta's designs have graced over 40 magazine covers, and is well known for his talent to integrate the bright colors in spaces with a strong sense of symmetry. This artist is that the interior design is a language that is the balance between patterns, color, history, luxury and modernity.

The November issue of House Beautiful's Next Wave features Matthew Bees and his condo in Georgetown Matthew Bees heads up Niche Interiors.  Look at his stunning home here.

Designer Miles Redd Featured In Home Beautiful Magazine

Designer Miles Redd Featured In Home Beautiful Magazine

Gary Riggs Home's Showroom

Bart Swindall, O at Home

Beautiful Framed Prints - via AD Espana

Interior designer Jimmy Stanton

Painting furniture can be a great alternative to buying new furniture. A fresh coat of paint can change an old boring piece into something new and beautiful. Here are some great ideas for refurbishing old, used or boring furniture into something extraordinary:

1.    Classic Style – Cream or [...]]]> Flessas Design - Painted Benches

Painting furniture can be a great alternative to buying new furniture. A fresh coat of paint can change an old boring piece into something new and beautiful. Here are some great ideas for refurbishing old, used or boring furniture into something extraordinary:

1.    Classic Style – Cream or other shades of white bring a rustic and classic feeling to furniture. To add more style, accent with stripes. For a classic French look, try grey stripes. For a more country feel, add a touch of classic country blue.

2.    Fancy Feel – Mirrors are a great way to open up a room, but a plain mirror can be a bit boring. To take a plain mirror to the next level, paint on some design interest. By using stencils, you can create a beautiful original design without any expensive investments.

3.    Kids Rooms – In a child’s room, painting furniture in primary colors is a great way to bring a fun feel to the room. Paint a small table and chairs in complementary colors and creative, hand painting on top.

4.    On the Patio – Even cast iron furniture can be painted up and revived. Outdoor furniture has a way of getting worn and faded. Spruce it up with a fresh coat of paint. Stick with classic black to preserve the original style or brighten your yard with neon colors.

Michelle Nussbaumer on One Kings Lane

5.    Change it Up–Reimagine that old dresser. By taking out the drawers and painting the inside and outside in bright colors you can create a cute wardrobe for dress up clothes or even a homemade doll house.

6.    Go Crazy –Even the plainest furniture can be turned into a work of art with the addition of a little paint. Consider a high gloss on modern furniture, and brighter egg shell finishes on primitive piece.  You can turn something that fades into the background into something that really stands out.

These are just a few of the ideas of what you can do with a fresh coat of paint. Have fun and get creative with your furniture!

Author Bio:

Paul and his wife Julie both spend quite a bit of time coming up with ideas, blogging, and researching all things related to childcare. They take care of all the necessary information related to “babysittingjobs.com/”. He personally thinks his blog will help finding information on all things related to a babysitter.

Vibrant Blue Painted Dough Box

Blue Painted Bench

Unpretentious Blue Painted Wood Bench

Picture Credit- Lavender Dresser From Junk 2 Funk

Vintage Chinese Red Lacquer Garden Seat From Chelsea Marketeers

French Painted Red Cane Chair

Custom-Painted Secretary

Repainting can enhance the look of your old furniture, but you could make a piece even more unique by painting a mural on it. It doesn’t need to be anything intricate or abstract--a simple forest scene or seascape would change [...]]]>
A Pair of Empire Style Red Tole Peinte Table Lamps - Christies

Repainting can enhance the look of your old furniture, but you could make a piece even more unique by painting a mural on it. It doesn’t need to be anything intricate or abstract--a simple forest scene or seascape would change the appearance of your old furniture and give you a nice looking conversation piece. Following are a few tips for painting murals on furniture.

Uneven Surfaces Make the Job More Difficult

Basically, painting a mural on a piece of furniture isn’t much different than painting one on a wall--except there will more than likely be a bunch of uneven surfaces, which could make the job more difficult. An important part of the scene could fall exactly where a drawer pulls out, or scrollwork starts. That’s part of what makes painting a mural on furniture challenging and exciting.

Prepare the Surface

The first part of the process is to prepare the surface of the furniture for painting. In most cases, that will mean stripping off the old paint. Although it’s possible to paint over old paint, it would probably be best to remove it altogether. If you don’t think it’s necessary, or merely don’t want to, then you could simply sand the furniture in order to make sure the surface is smooth. Paint won’t stick to a clear finish or wax, so the surface should either be stripped or sanded. If the surface is uneven, which it most likely will be when dealing with furniture, then you should make use of a small wire brush to get the old paint out of the cracks and crevices. The entire surface of the furniture should be consistently smooth if you want it to look good.

Painted Drop Front

Italian Painted Cabinet Seller John Yaconetti Antiques

Italian Painted Cabinet Seller Talisman

Painted Cabinet Deaker Regalo Antiques

Venetian Rococo hand painted commode,turn of Century Ebay Seller Noemanyc

Italian Painted Chest Seller Hollyhock

Final Preparations

Before you begin painting the mural, you should make sure all the dust from the stripping or sanding process is removed from the surface of the furniture. Wipe it off with a clean cloth. It can be either wet or dry, but make sure you get into all the cracks and crevices to get the dust out. If you’re using a wet wipe, give the surface ample time to dry before you continue. A coat of primer may be used, but if you do, make sure the surface is absolutely dry before you begin painting.

Envision the Finished Project

Mural painters work in a variety of ways. Some simply begin painting, and let their imagination run wild. Others plan every step before proceeding to the next one. However, most people who paint murals begin with an idea of what they want the finished project to look like before they start. Unless you’re doing an abstract painting, you’ll more than likely have a specific concept in mind, such as a patriotic collage, a forest scene, or a seascape. Whatever your choice is, it would probably be best if you were to envision the finished project before applying any paint to your furniture. The more detailed your plans are before starting, the easier it will be to finish the project.

Make an Outline

In order to avoid mistakes, it would be best to make an outline of your proposed mural before you start. That way you won’t end up with any part of the project out of proportion--you don’t want to end up not having enough space to complete the scene you’re working on. For instance, if you envision a seascape, with waves, palm trees in the foreground, and a boat in the background, you don’t want the palm trees to end up taking the majority of the room you have to work with, and not leave enough space for the beach, waves, and boat. Knowing ahead of time exactly where the important parts of the scene are supposed to fall will allow you to plan how to use the cracks and crevices that most furniture have.

Begin Painting

Once your furniture’s surface is prepared, and you have a general idea of what your mural is going to look like, it’s time to start painting. This is what you’ve been waiting for--a chance to express yourself through your creativity. Have fun.

Guest post from Payton Price. Payton writes for TermLifeInsurance.org.

18th century Hand Painted Commode

Painted Italian Table and Chairs Heather Bullard

Chinoiserie Red Lacquer Bureau Secretary Desk Cabinet

Chinoiserie Nesting Tables, One Kings Lane

If you have a room full of old furniture, and you’re thinking about changing things up, there’s no need to rush out and buy a bunch of new stuff. All you need to do is paint what you have. Once you do that, you have a [...]]]>

Chinoiserie Nesting Tables, One Kings Lane

If you have a room full of old furniture, and you’re thinking about changing things up, there’s no need to rush out and buy a bunch of new stuff. All you need to do is paint what you have. Once you do that, you have a brand-new-looking room without a lot of expense. However, you need to make sure you don’t mess up the furniture in the process. It will not only take longer to complete the project, but you could end up spending a lot of money to fix your blunders. Following are a few furniture painting mistakes you need to avoid.

Sand Smoothly

Before you begin painting a piece of furniture, you need to prepare the surface. It won’t do much good to paint the furniture if the paint that’s on it is chipped or peeling. Painting an uneven surface will be a waste of paint, because the furniture will end up looking worse than it already does. Instead, you should sand the entire surface that is going to be painted. Make sure you sand it smoothly, without leaving gouges or flat spots.

Wipe the Dust Off Before Painting

After sanding, you’re ready to begin painting, but not before you make sure the sanded area is entirely smooth. You should do that by wiping the dust off the sanded area. If you paint over the specks of dust, you’ll end up with little bumps all over the furniture. The dust that resulted from sanding the furniture will not only make the surface uneven, but the specks of dust will end up on your paintbrush and in the paint can, as well.

Clean the Furniture First

After sanding the furniture, and wiping the dust off, there is one more thing you should do before painting; make sure it is clean. Use a cleaning solution of soap and water to wash off each piece of furniture before applying any paint--make sure you allow time for the surface to dry before starting to paint. This will ensure the painted surface will be smooth once you’ve completed the project.

Louis XV-Style End Tables, One Kings Lane

Priming Is Important

Some paints advertise that you needn’t apply a primer before painting. Some salespeople agree, while others insist that priming the surface will ensure a smooth paintjob. Applying a primer will prepare the furniture for the coats of paint that will follow. The primer will allow the paint to go on smoothly, and adhere to the surface of the furniture.

Allow Enough Time for the Project

Before beginning the painting project, make sure you allow enough time to complete it. Instead of starting a project and then not being able to get it done, you should set aside enough time to ensure you’ll be able to complete all facets, one after the other. Otherwise the furniture could end up looking like one side is darker than the other, because you only painted half of it before stopping for the day--unevenly applied paint will also dry erratically. It takes a certain amount of time for primer to dry, and each coat of paint requires enough time to dry before moving on to the next coat.

Watch the Weather

Different weather conditions cause paint to dry at varying speeds. Before beginning your painting project, you should watch the weather forecast to be sure you’ll be able to finish in the time you have set aside--this is true especially if you intend to do the work outside. You also want to make sure it’s not too windy--because blustery conditions will most likely cause dust and dirt to fly through the air, and some of it will undoubtedly land on the wet paint.

Gather Material Before You Start

In order to make the project go smoothly, you should gather all the material you’ll need to complete your furniture painting job before you actually begin. It will slow the process considerably if you have to quit what you’re doing in order to run to the store for another can of paint. It could also cause the furniture to dry unevenly if you stop while only part of it is painted. Having everything on hand will help make the project go as smoothly as possible.

Clean Up Immediately

Another important aspect of completing your project in a timely manner is to clean up as soon as you finish. If you don’t, the paint could dry on your brushes, and they would be useless for any future projects. You should make sure the paint cans are closed tightly, and stored correctly, as well. If you don’t, the paint will dry out, or the cans could inadvertently be kicked over and the paint will be spilled.

Guest post from Nicky Shaw. Nicky writes for HomeSecurity.org.

Rattan Fretwork Side Tables One Kings Lane

Blue & Coral Secretary On One Kings Lane

Painted Aqua Nightstands From One Kings Lane

The Country Cottage on One Kings Lane

One Kings Lane - Steven Shell - Parker Console Table

One Kings Lane - Randall Barbera

Restored medium-sized antique box trunk. One Kings Lane

In recent years, there has been a return to painted furniture in interior magazines and furniture stores. And there is a lovely elegance to having painted pieces in the home. It can look great, whether it’s kitchen, dining, bedroom or living room furniture.

There is [...]]]> Yellow Painted Console Cabinet by Juneeason on Etsy

In recent years, there has been a return to painted furniture in interior magazines and furniture stores. And there is a lovely elegance to having painted pieces in the home. It can look great, whether it’s kitchen, dining, bedroom or living room furniture.

There is plenty of painted furniture available on sale on the internet and in the high street. However, it’s also something that you can try for yourself with pieces of furniture you already have. Here’s how:

Preparation

Take off any handles or knobs. If the furniture hasn’t been painted before, then check the surface for any knots. You’ll need to apply a knotting solution and let this dry before doing anything else. Next put a water-based primer on the wood to prepare it for painting.

If the piece has been painted, sand it down with fine sandpaper to remove any flaky or old paint. Wash the surface and then apply water-based primer for wood before painting.

Brightly Painted Pink French Chest Featured On The Paris Apartment Blog

Paint

Apply water-based acrylic paint with a brush, following the grain of the wood. Apply a thin amount – thick paint doesn’t dry very well. Leave it to dry and then smooth any marks away with fine sandpaper. Apply a second coat.

Finishing

You may like the matt painted look or you may want to apply a different finish using wax or a glaze. You can create a distressed look by lightly sanding patches on the edges after the paint has dried. This should be done before you apply the final wax or glaze.

As you can appreciate, this is a labour of love to a certain extent, and it’s easier to do this with pieces of furniture that is made up of large surface areas. Other items are a little fiddly to paint yourself. One such example would be a wine rack. You can always opt to buy the more complicated items though – for example, there are a number of painted wine racks from Furnishing Homes.

Check out my favorite painted pieces on esty

The Woodress on Esty - Vibrant Bright Coral Nightstands

Painted Empire Chest- The Weathered Door Blog

Furniture is one of the most important aspects of your home no matter what the purpose was when you bought it- utility, décor or plain and simple luxury. While there are many types of furniture that are found in and around many houses, you [...]]]> A Swedish Rococo Chair Back Bench with Caned Seat

Furniture is one of the most important aspects of your home no matter what the purpose was when you bought it- utility, décor or plain and simple luxury. While there are many types of furniture that are found in and around many houses, you must know the worth of every piece of furniture and how extremely valuable they are. This is why it is necessary that you know how to keep the furniture in their prime state and ensure that there is no stain and other form of dirt on it. Here are 2 tips to help you get rid of stains and dirt from your home furniture:

1. Blotting Of Stain

The first thing that you shouldn’t do when you notice any form of stain on your precious furniture is that you shouldn’t try and remove it by rubbing it with a cleaner or any other form of cleaning agent. This will worsen the problem and ensure that the stain spreads over other adjacent parts of the furniture. This is why almost all experts of furniture cleaning and handling recommend that you must blot the stain with a piece of cloth or blotting agent before you start removing the stain.

A good blotting agent can be the regular tissue paper that is found in your house. You can use it to soak the extra semi liquid part of the stain and ensure that there is no other viscous part of the stain left when you get down to cleaning it. Keep repeating the blotting process over the stain constantly till you find that there is no stain that is being transferred to the blotting agent from the stain on the furniture. This is particularly recommended for greasy stains and other forms of stains caused by liquids.

2. Determine The Stain Type

As with solving any problem in any field of your life, you must remember to identify the extent and nature of the problem when you are trying to get rid of stain and dirt from your cheap furniture Los Angeles pieces. This is why it is recommended by household furniture experts that you must spend considerable time and energy in identifying the type and extent of the stain on your furniture. This way you can zero in on the exact problem at hand and then take adequate measures to resolve it.

In case you fail to adhere to this simple yet extremely helpful tip, you might end up taking some wrong cleaning method for the stain on your furniture which might worsen the problem at hand and render the furniture as an eye sore. Clearly you would like to avoid such a situation and thus you mustn’t take this tip lightly and should follow it.

As is evident, stains on furniture are quite a common accident in every household and you will need to use the proper tips in order to get rid of it without much hassle. If you have small kids in the house and are somehow tired of your expensive furniture pieces being spoilt every time by the stains left by the carelessness your little monsters, you may want to consider buying discount furniture in Los Angeles at least for their room.

Venetian Painted Bombe Seller The Gray Door

Nicholson's Antiques

Have you ever watched the show Renovation Realities on the DIY network? If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, I would encourage you to watch a few episodes. The show films do-it-yourself couples who are planning and executing a renovation themselves without the help of professionals. When the couples run into [...]]]>

Have you ever watched the show Renovation Realities on the DIY network? If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, I would encourage you to watch a few episodes. The show films do-it-yourself couples who are planning and executing a renovation themselves without the help of professionals. When the couples run into problems, the show simply films on the disaster unfolding in progress.  You certainly get to learn from other peoples mistakes. Some jobs never get competed, others are a hit, and some are just disasters.

My husband and I lived in a rental when we were first married, and were offered a management position taking care of the various rentals.  The owner was extremely good to us, and allowed us to remodel the kitchen (without any experience!) He was willing to foot the bill for new low cost cabinetry from Ikea.  After my husband assembled the cabinets (which was not a good experience ) and installed them (with lots of trouble) we learned through the process that a professional built kitchen is worth every penny.  Not everyone has upwards of 30 K to spend on a new kitchen. Often times, solid wood cabinetry just needs a face-lift that a few coats of paint can do.  Painting cabinets is time consuming but a heck of a lot less expensive than replacing your cabinets entirely.

Rustoleum produced a kit called Cabinet Transformations and the reviews are amazing! The end result looks great.  The process is time consuming, but has a wonderful end result.

Painting cabinets can be a big job.  Cabinets need to be sanded down, primed, painted and sealed.  Often times the finish looks unmistakably like paint, unlike the usual finish of store-bought cabinets.  Cabinets that are professionally painted are usually sprayed with an oil based paint, along with professional glazes that are often sprayed, or hand rubbed.

The Rustoleum kits claim that there is NO STRIPPING, NO SANDING, and NO PRIMING!

The kit process unfolds like this.....  First you “de-gloss” your cabinets which allows the product to grip the cabinet surfaces more easily.  Then you paint two coats of the primer/base color. After it has dried, you glaze the cabinets by brushing on the product and wiping it off.  Finally, a sealer is applied.

The kit is available in 24 dark colors and 11 light colors. Kits are affordable: The cabinet kits are $79.99 (small) and $149 (large) and the counter top kit is $249. The kit also includes an Instructional DVD and Pamphlet.

-She Saves Money Blog- New Cabinets For Under $150? Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations

-The Domestic Diva's Cabinet Makeover Using Cabinet Transformations

Honest Reviews:

By ener629

 I bought this kit to update my outdated engineered oak cabinets. After reading several reviews and watching the video I felt like I knew what I was getting into. While it does require a lot of work, it's not back breaking work and the results are 100% worth the effort. The kit completely transformed my kitchen but be prepared to spend some time and patience on this project (I practice on old bathroom cabinets to make sure I liked the color and knew what I was doing first). Having a large kitchen, I only needed one kit but I broke the project up into 3 sections to avoid painting until midnight. I did this with little help from my husband and even spray painted my hardware to match. Since completing the project, I have had several people ask what I used and have even completed another set of cabinets for my family. As a previous poster stated, there is not enough glaze but Rustoleum shipped another can out free of charge and with no hassle. For what it's worth, I've heard they will be adding a second can to future boxes. I finished my project with the counter top transformations and am in love!

By AWG

This kit is a great way to easily do a nice-looking DIY job on your old worn out cabinets. The result looks wonderful, but this is not a one-weekend project!

PROS:
-Easy; if you can paint, you can do this
-Finished result looks very nice. People will think you had them redone professionally or replaced.
-Good price for the convenience of having all the products in one kit. Obviously MUCH cheaper than professional refinishing or replacement
-No sanding required

CONS:
-It doesn't actually come with everything you need, and you will need some extra things that the box doesn't tell you about.
-Takes FOREVER. Obviously this is primarily affected by how many cabinets you have, and how much workspace is available.
-Colors are not accurate on the box, and there are no sample chips available

I tested out a small kit in pure white on a small bathroom vanity. That project only took one weekend, but it was a very small cabinet. I was satisfied with the results, and went to purchase a large dark it for the kitchen. Although my cabinet frames are fairly compact in my little galley style kitchen, I do have 20 doors and 4 drawers, so it was a lot of surface to cover.

I initially chose Paprika, based on the photograph on the box. This was a mistake. Fortunately, I tested it on a scrap of wood before putting it on the cabinets. I would highly recommend doing this for any color you choose. The actual color without glaze was like the redwood stain you use on decks; add the glaze, and they looked almost purple. Not what I was going for! Unfortunately, once you have added the pigment, you can't take the thing back. It ended up not being a total loss, though, because I used some of the items in the first box when I ran out of them. The second time around, I chose Chocolate with Glaze. I liked the Espresso color, but it is too dark for the glaze to show up, and I wanted the two-tone effect. I am very happy with my final color choice.

PREP: I was so excited to get started that I forgot to number the doors. It probably would have been easier to put them back together if I had done so. Take your time masking and covering your appliances. Fill any holes that will no longer be used if you are changing out your hardware. Fill damaged areas with wood putty and sand flush. Make the largest work space you possibly can. Drive screws through 2x4's and put them on sawhorses, work benches, or tables. Placing the doors on the screws makes it easier to paint the sides. I only had space to do 2 - 3 doors at a time, so my project took a very long time.

DEGLOSSING: Purchase more scrub pads. LOTS of them. My husband and I used probably 15 beyond what was included in the kit. This is the most difficult step from an elbow grease standpoint, but you must be very thorough, or the base coat will not adhere. If you think you've scrubbed enough, scrub it again. We only used half of the deglosser provided, so don't be stingy with it. After it's clean and deglossed, be sure to wipe it down with a damp cloth, then wipe again with a dry cloth, and allow to dry completely before starting the bond coat.

BOND COAT: Nothing fancy here, it's just painting. Use long strokes, and the best brushes you can buy. I used Shur Line Teflon 2" angled. If you are going from light cabinets to dark, 2 coats will be fine. If going dark to light, you may need 3 coats. I only used about 1/2 of the bond coat provided in 2 coats. Watch for drips and clean them up as you go. This stuff dries pretty fast. After they dried to the touch, I would go ahead and flip them over on the screws and do the other side. Do be careful not to bump into them or move them while on the screws; I had to touch up some scratches with a furniture stain pen before doing the top coat. After they are dry to the touch, you can put them on plastic cups to cure completely if you need to make room for the next set of doors.

GLAZE: If you have an early production kit, you will not have enough. Rustoleum has great customer service, though, and will hook you up with another can. Do not start this step until your bond coat is completely dry (I let mine dry overnight first). Otherwise, the glaze will wet the bond coat and remove it when you wipe, and create a muddy mess. This stuff takes a really long time to dry. To speed the process, I set up a fan and ran it on low to dry the doors. I also needed a few more wiping cloths (good thing I had that extra kit). You may want to pick up an extra pack of cheese cloth when you buy your brushes. If you chose anything darker than chocolate, don't waste your time glazing; you won't be able to see it. I used the standard brush on, wipe off in long strokes technique, and it gives a nice wood grain appearance. Just stay with the grain. If you screw up, just wipe it all off with firm pressure and start over. You have about 5 minutes of workability before it starts to set up. After waiting at least 8 hours (I would go overnight to be safe), if it still feels tacky at all, do not proceed to top coating yet.

TOP COAT: You can do this 2 different ways. On the white bathroom vanity, I used a foam brush to get a very thin and even coat, then coated it a second time for extra protection. This prevented bubbling and drips. On the kitchen, I was ready to get it over with, so I used a brush per the instructions. The application with a brush is thicker, so you have to be more careful not to leave weird lap marks or excess project on the edges, which will dry white instead of clear. If this happens to your corners, you can cut the bubbles off with a razor. You cannot do spot touchups with this product, so make sure you covered everything by going over it with a worklight or flashlight. Do NOT overbrush areas you have already covered; wait until it cures and do a whole new coat on that area. This stuff dries FAST. If you want/have to 2nd coat it, make sure the first coat is completely dry first. Do not use a fan to dry the final coat, as you may stir up dust and debris that will get stuck in your beautiful clearcoat, preserved forever in your cabinet surface like a fly in amber.

Don't use the protective coat!, By Mellissa (Montrose, Colombia) 

Many people have said it works people but many, like me, have BUBBLES. It is a lot of work and looked beautiful until I went to coat the front of the cabinets and saw the BUBBLES and am heartbroken! The loads of work was worth it until I ruined it with the top coat. Several reviewers, here and at homedepot.com have said they've been advised to use a MINWAX polycrylic protective finish so I will wait until tomorrow (SO ready to be done and putting my kitchen back together!) to head to HD to grab some.

By A. Guilmain "the mama in red"

My husband and I purchased this kit for our cabinets. Our house is only 5 years old, but we didn't get to choose any of the finishes. It came with very nice Merillat oak cabinets, but they are the same cabinet style that was put into EVERY house in the 80s-early 90s. I've hated them, but it's not worth it for us to put a new kitchen in. So we purchased the dark kit and took our cabinets to black.

The first degreaser step was fine. Lots of elbow grease, but it worked. Bond coats went on beautifully--except apparently on one of our drawers, there must have been something on our drop cloth that got painted on. It came off after two bond coats and we had to touch up. However, the finish was amazing on our cabinets, it looked great. It comes out very matte.

We skipped the glaze step since we did the cabinets in black and figured it wouldn't be worth the work.

My husband and I both didn't really want to put on the top coat because we loved the finish so well, but you can tell it will scratch easily. So he put on the protective coating on one drawer front, one cabinet door, and one set of cabinet faces. This? LOOKS AWFUL. The top coat bubbled really badly, and there was nothing on any of the surfaces to cause this. We used a clean brush and everything. So now we must sand them down and redo them. We'll likely purchase a matte or satin polyurethane to go on top instead. I just hope we can salvage our cabinets and not ruin them

Everything in one Box, By jhwongso

I bought it for $73 after tax at Lowes (price match plus 10% discount since Homedepot was selling it cheaper). On the side note, Walmart is selling it for about $72. Take the price to Lowes and Homedepot and you'll get a much better deal as they match and beat it by 10%.

The process of transformation is simple but tedious. You really need to de-gloss the cabinets and panels thoroughly so the paint will stick better to the cabinets. I spend about 10-15 minutes de-glossing every cabinet door. I tried to conserve paint as I have 20 cabinets that needs to be painted including the island. This box provides you with 2 quarts on paint but I managed to get everything painted just with those 2 quarts.

To be on the safe side, I took the paint to Homedepot to try to get a match for BEHR paint. Amazingly, one of the associate at the paint department got me a perfect match.

So here's the bottom line (my opinion to be exact): You can actually buy the de-glosser, scrub pads, stains, cheese cloth, paint and gloss (water-based polyurethane) separately from the hardware store. You may even catch them on sale and get those supplies for a lesser price than this box. Paint gets cheaper as you buy in a bigger volume. There is really nothing special in this box that you can't buy off the shelf. On the plus side, it is all put together in a nice box with an instructional DVD. However, you can get the instructions online too for free. For me, the most valuable item in the box is the cheese cloth as it has tons of it in it. Cheese cloth can be very expensive. I did not glaze my cabinets, so I gave all the cheese cloth to my wife . That made her happy.

The down side of this box is that in order to get more of the same color paint, you need to buy the entire kit. So my suggestion for everyone is if you really want to buy this kit and have chosen the color you want, get the associate at your local hardware store to match the color with another brand of paint. At least now you will feel safer if you run out of paint from this kit. An experienced person who does tons of paint matching will be able to match it perfectly. At least, it happened for me. Also, the paint in this kit is flat (no gloss).

Update: Just talked to an associate in Homedepot who used the Rust Oleum kit too and said that the texture and smell of the paint is very different from other paints. He's been in the painting business for more than 10+ years. However, I did use BEHR flat interior paint on the kick plates and gloss it and it turn out the same as Rust Oleum. So, I'll let the user be the judge.

By Mike Anderson -

I bought the Rustoleum cabinet product in hopes of restoring my older looking cabinets. The product only cost $79 dollars, so I was not sure how it would look. Thus, I tried it on an old cabinet in my garage before proceeding with my kitchen. Although it's a time sink, the product is Amazing!

It's a four step process: Clean, de-gloss, paint, gloss (optional). There is no sanding needed but you should buy some decent paint brushes if you do not have them already. Also, make sure you power drill is fully charged before you begin and setup plenty of work room. The project goes much faster if you have lots of space.

Normally, I do not write product reviews but this stuff was so amazing I was having neighbors stopping by all over and many even gave me high 5's, there were so amazed. Many of my neighbors were not sure if the cabinets were brand new or not. I don't work for the company nor make a profit for those guys but it's a WOW product.

I never got a better "bang for my buck" than this product, hands down a winner!

This vintage mid-century buffet featured on Kaboddle was made in Grand Rapids Michigan by Johnson Furniture. Johnson had lots of top designers back in the day like Paul Frankl, Eliel Saarinen and many others. The finish has been painted in a red lacquer and looks like it has been naturally distressed over [...]]]>

This vintage mid-century buffet featured on Kaboddle was made in Grand Rapids Michigan by Johnson Furniture. Johnson had lots of top designers back in the day like Paul Frankl, Eliel Saarinen and many others. The finish has been painted in a red lacquer and looks like it has been naturally distressed over the years. The buffet is made of flamed maple.

This stunning French Gilded Époque Petite Canapé in Louis XV style, exhibits a turquoise finish and gilded accents. Pierce carving and intricate weave caning on the curvature back and caned seat. Held by cabriole legs ending with scroll feet, so many uses for this versatile piece. This is a very unique piece [...]]]>

This stunning French Gilded Époque Petite Canapé in Louis XV style, exhibits a turquoise finish and gilded accents. Pierce carving and intricate weave caning on the curvature back and caned seat. Held by cabriole legs ending with scroll feet, so many uses for this versatile piece. This is a very unique piece of furniture, such a conversational piece of furniture "ART". Mario Imports is selling this piece for $1,700

This Louis XV is a spectacular chest with exquisite detailing.  This ormolu mounted black and polychrome lacquered commode stamped  'I Dubois' is dated Mid-18th Century.  The lacquer was extensively refreshed.  The olive paint works nicely with the cherry red detailing under the chest.  A mottled red marble top nicely breaks up the painted finish.  This [...]]]>

This Louis XV is a spectacular chest with exquisite detailing.  This ormolu mounted black and polychrome lacquered commode stamped  'I Dubois' is dated Mid-18th Century.  The lacquer was extensively refreshed.  The olive paint works nicely with the cherry red detailing under the chest.  A mottled red marble top nicely breaks up the painted finish.  This chest is painted in the classic chinoiserie style with figures and foliage.(85 cm.) high, 50 in. (127 cm.) wide, 25 in. (64 cm.) deep,  From Christies $22,500

This chinoiserie tray sold by Philip Colleck, also has the bottom of the table legs painted in red. This outstanding chinoiserie papier mache features a scalloped tray with an elaborate polychrome figural scenes. The tray has a gilt border and floral decoration to the outer edge, with impressed mark, "Clay, King St. Covt. Garden". The custom stand of later date. English. c. 1807, and tray stamped by Henry Clay London c.1807

New York-based interior designer/architect Steven Gambrel is a favorite designer amongst bloggers.  From urbane uptown pads to chic country cottages and Hamptons hideaways, his style is classic with a modern twist.

Steven Gambrel established his New York-based design firm, S. R. Gambrel Incorporated, in 1995, only three years after earning an architecture degree at the [...]]]>

New York-based interior designer/architect Steven Gambrel is a favorite designer amongst bloggers.  From urbane uptown pads to chic country cottages and Hamptons hideaways, his style is classic with a modern twist.

Steven Gambrel established his New York-based design firm, S. R. Gambrel Incorporated, in 1995, only three years after earning an architecture degree at the University of Virginia.  He has a passion for timeless, comfortable houses as you can see in all of his work. He has been celebrated in many magazines and newspapers, including House & Garden, Elle Décor, Interior Design, Departures, New York Times, and New York Magazine.

Quotes From Steven Gambrel

An entrance hall is a great place to play with color because you want that element of surprise. This green is striking, and it has enough presence to glue together all three floors of this 1800s Greenwich Village town house as it continues up the stair hall. Colors were bolder back then: they were meant to be seen by candlelight. And look at the beautiful way it reacts to black and white.” —Steven Gambrel

"I only watch TV occasionally, usually something on On Demand. So, since it's not a priority in my life, I don't want it to be the focal point of a room. I had it inset into the wall of my library, and then I hung a picture in front of it. I just take the painting off the hooks when I want to watch TV. But most of the time, no one would ever know it's there." Steven Gambrel House Beautiful

“The color brown is a strong neutralizer,” says New York designer Steven  Gambrel. “It reacts really well with gray, as a way to add contrast and as  a hit that grounds the palette.”- Elle Decor

Some Great Links:

-Style Compass- Steven Gambrel- 1st Dibs

-Steven Gambrel's Manhattan home- Colorful Blue's Deep Paint Colors, Custom-mixed wall colors is from Pantone Paints by Fine Paints of Europe.

-A Conversation With Designer Steven Gambrel - The Style List

Steven Gambrel's Manhattan Home

High gloss slate blue walls in a room decorated by Steven Gambrel

Steven Gambrel: Time and Place $31.50

Steven Gambrel: Time and Place $31.50

The first book from renowned New York–based designer Steven Gambrel showcases his bold and innovative designs. Featuring 10 individual residences photographed by Eric Piasecki, Steven Gambrel illustrates the designer’s fresh approach to color and composition in creating spaces that reflect, support, and enhance the lifestyles of today while at the same time embracing the history of each individual home. From Manhattan townhouses and apartments to beachside retreats in the Hamptons, Gambrel has a passion for timeless and unique interiors that allow him to design a backdrop for individual and changing lives. The photographs and accompanying text, written by Gambrel himself, reveal the
inside stories behind stunning interiors that feature his signature mix of the modern and the traditional, and give the reader a window into his unique inspirations and design point of view

Reviews

ByB. G. in S.F. "B.G. in S.F."Steven Gambrel: Time and Place (Hardcover)

Apparently, you CAN judge a book by its cover. I was intrigued when I saw the front and back covers of the book, which appear to show two different interpretations of the same space. I was especially drawn to the presence of historical details and the modern sensibility. I decided to buy the book on a hunch, and I'm so glad I did. First, you must notice the dimensions listed for this book, as it is much larger than many design books. The paper used for the book is heavy and very high-quality. The designs depicted inside are gorgeous--all are refined yet remain completely approachable and inviting. (The photography, by Eric Piaseki, is absolutely exquisite.) Steven Gambrel uses color in a brave manner, so if you're a fan of bold color in interior design, you will almost certainly love this book. I am especially enjoying the progress photos, and the words that Steven has written to accompany the photography. I've never been more impressed by a design book. I am a new fan of Steven Gambrel's work, and I thank this gorgeous book for the introduction.

ByL. M. Keefer (Steven Gambrel: Time and Place (Hardcover)

Interiors by Steven Gambrel are distinctive and highly original. If you like Gambrel's design vision and enjoy deconstructing the magic behind design, you will enjoy this book. Gambrel writes as articulately as he designs, and shares in his own words what informs his design.

"I think the unexpected remains our greatest tool," says Gambrel. Unexpected--that quality distinguishes Gambrel's rooms: an unexpected mix of materials-color-pattern-silhouette evoking time and place.

As an University of Virginia-trained architect, Gambrel clearly has a reverence for materials which is revealed in his work. His passion
for salvaging materials and using his Sag Harbor homes and West Village Townhome as design laboratories is infectious. You will want to start frequenting salvage sites looking for the odd treasure to incorporate in your home after reading this book. Slabs of marble from the Museum of Modern Art sculpture garden which floor his Sag Harbor kitchen are a sublime foundation for his creamy kitchen. Gold-gray marble from an old bank lobby warm up his master bath floor. In a client's home, a mid-century gun-metal Parisian shower surround provides panache. You can picture Gregory Peck or Jimmy Stewart sticking a wet shampooed head out of the shower and greeting you in that room.

Other innovative uses of material include using what looks like shiny black paten leather (like your childhood Sunday shoes) on a dining banquette, mixing mica dust in ceiling plaster for shimmer, and repurposing a lighthouse lens as a lantern.

"A hit of lucid color" is how Gambrel describes his color choices. High gloss bottle green walls, inspired by the galleries of Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, connect all four floors of his West Village townhome. He combines lacquered deep tortoise-like walls with a glossy amber ceiling in a client's library. What keeps these colors from being lightly lurid, and dashing instead, is a mix of restraint and balance. "I like the contradiction of a super saturated color with an alternating serene one, just like the strength found in pairing timeworn pieces with those that are polished and modern," explains Gambrel. "I view dense color as luxurious, a reaction that hails from an era when merchants used pigments, then precious commodities, as flagrant displays of wealth."

What also gives a pleasant jolt to Gambrel's rooms is a bit of unexpected and exuberant pattern. Pattern like in an argyle sock might cover an
armchair, or Gambrel's partner Connor's favorite Irish cable knit sweater inspired a cable pattern in a rug for their living room (see cover). A brass grate design patterns a daring black and white rug for a client's black and gold living room. A mostly serene room may have a dollop of pattern splashed onto a pillow or emanating from wall art.

Silhouette. You may notice there's not a lot of curve in Gambrel's rooms--mainly lines, angles, squares and rectangles
with an occasional circle or organic shape. Some curve is in the black headboards he designed for his guest beds based on silhouettes of Flemish home facades he sketched from a walk in Brussels. Clean lines, defined angles and crisp tailoring are softened by tufted furniture, textured fabrics and rugs, and the luxurious use of color which embraces and envelops you. I like Gambrel's mid-size and smallish rooms best which are like jewel-boxes, even if they are neutral like his french limestone-colored cellar kitchen in his West Village home. The rooms sparkle and delight.

Gambrel believes we should "keep the good parts of what already exists, while layering our lifestyle and unique time in history onto that place....images of place are the core vital tool for future generations to learn about our time....Design is not just about inventing new
ideas, but also about layering successful ideas inspired by traditions and shared culture." His hope and purpose for this book? "...I hope to share a small window into what I think about the time and place in which I live."

If you like the original and thoughtful room on the cover of this book, you should like the unexpected and welcoming style inside.

Interior Design Steven Gambrel- Decorating Around Shades Of Blue

The World of Interiors Steven Gambrel Street Porter Dec 2008

The Same Picture With A Different Color - Steven Gambrel's Sag Harbor Home

Interior Design Steven Gambrel- Decorating Around Shades OF Purple

Steven Gambrel's Manhattan Home

A French Tole Peinte Lamp of Empire Style Christies $2,420

Tole painting is when paint and lacquer is applied to tin. Lacquered metal was painted as a way to prevent common household objects from rusting. Tole refers to decorated tin and iron wares from 1700-1900; although many people also refer it to painted metal-ware from the late [...]]]>

A French Tole Peinte Lamp of Empire Style Christies $2,420

Tole painting is when paint and lacquer is applied to tin. Lacquered metal was painted as a way to prevent common household objects from rusting. Tole refers to decorated tin and iron wares from 1700-1900; although many people also refer it to
painted metal-ware from the late 19th to mid 20th Century.

-Pattern Transfer Paper for Wood $12

-Printworks T-Shirt Transfers -Printworks White T-Shirt Transfers were designed with a new transfer technology and a cool-peel formula that makes printing and applying them effortless. Just design the transfer using your computer and creative software, print it on any brand of inkjet printer and then iron it to white cotton or white cotton/poly blend fabric. Wait for the transfer to cool and then peel off the backing. It's that easy!

-HP Iron-On Transfers, 8.5 x 11 Inch, 12 Pack $13

-Transfer Magic Ink Jet Transfer Paper, 14-Pack $13

-Ink Jet Transfer Paper For Dark Fabric $11

-Speedball Mona Lisa 9-Inch-by-12-Inch Graphite Paper, This quality graphite paper is ideal for transferring images. Artwork and images can be easily transferred by placing graphite paper (graphite-side down) on project surface, then placing artwork or image to transfer on top of the graphite paper, then tracing over the image with a stylus, pencil or pen. Contains one 9-inch by 12-inch sheet of black graphite paper.

Links From The Graphics Fairy Blog

-How to Transfer Typography onto Furniture : This is a two part Tutorial showing how to blow up your image really big, using a free program, and an easy cheap transfer method, so that you can paint your image on large or small pieces of Furniture, Walls or Signs.

-The Citra Solv Method : This method uses a cleaning product called Citra Solv. This one works well with Fabric projects, like Towels, Pillows, Chair Seats and Lampshades. This method will give you a slightly faded, slightly imperfect, transfer for an old world look.

-The Wax Paper Method: The only supplies you need are your Printer and some Wax Paper and the super simple Tutorial from Angela at Unexpected Elegance!

-The Freezer Paper Method: This one is similar to the one above, only you use Freezer Paper instead of Wax Paper. Lesa at Home Frosting has a fabulous Tutorial that shows you how to use this method on Fabric.

-The Iron On Method: How to do an Iron on Transfer, using my favorite Transfer Paper. This method completely blows away the other stuff out there. If you've tried doing Iron Ons in the past, with crappy results, you will love this stuff!

-Printing on Fabric: Gail at My Repurposed Life, shows you how to
cut out the middle man, and print directly onto fabric, with your home
printer!

-The Mod Podge Method: Tutorial by Katie at Matsuke explains how to
use this technique to Transfer onto Wood.  Popular method and super versatile since you can use it on so many materials!

-The Projector Method: Marian from Miss Mustard Seed shares her Sign
Making secrets, using an Overhead Projector to transfer images onto
wood!

-Using Water Slide Decals:  Carol from The Polka Dot Closet shows how to use  Water Slide Decals to transfer images onto Glass, Soap, Candles and Paper.

-The Blender Pen Method: Rosemary from Villa Barnes demonstrates this fast and easy Method using an inexpensive Blender Pen to transfer onto Fabric.

-The Omni Gel Method: Tutorial of how a liquid substance called Omni Gel is used to transfer images onto Tumbled Marble Tiles for Coasters.

-Transferring onto Canvas: Tracy at Distressed Decor used Mod Podge on her Canvas and Trisha at Whimsy Art Studios used Gesso for hers

MORE Inspirational Ideas:

-Shannon Berrey creates a black and white printed wall paper for her bathroom using paint.

-French Journal Graphic From Graphics Fairy

-How To Transfer Images on to Wood From 4 The Love Of Wood Blog

-Use Adobe Photoshop to print backwards words using the "Rotate Canvas- How To Transfer Images on to Wood- Diddle Dumpling Blog

-Blanket Box Makeover Using Plain Paper - How To Transfer Images Aka Design Blog

-How To Transfer Prints On To Fabric - Mademoiselle Chaos Blog

Painted Furniture Ideas- Italian Tole Painted Tray Table Blog

Italian Tole Painted Tray Table Featured on Getting Home Design Blog

Yellow Tole Table - Source Boxwood Terrace Blog- Source BG Galleries

Yellow Tole Table - Source Boxwood Terrace Blog- Source BG Galleries

Vintage BLUE Tole Metal Paint Decorated Bouillette Desk Lamp $316

French Tole Table Yellow Black 2 Tier 19th Century $1,228

Painted Tole Table From East & Orient Company

Painted Tole Table From East & Orient Company

French Tole Tray From March

Fantastic tray with the right amount of wear, just enough to let you imagine
it's history- France 1850 from March

A Pair of French Tole Style Side Tables

A Pair of French Tole Style side tables in the Pierre Frey style- Bond And Browery

Antique Italian Painted Tole Queen Size Bed

Antique Italian Painted Tole Queen Size Bed- 1860-70's Magnificent cast iron bed with polychrome enameled metal inset panels with neo-classical motifs and mother-of-pearl accents. BJORK ANTIKT & STUDIO

Painted Tole Basket From Polaris Interactive Antiques

Painted Tole Basket From Polaris Interactive Antiques

Napoleonic Bee Vanity Tray, Pink- One Kings Lane

This slender, handled tray, ideal for holding toiletries and other sundries, will bring a sunny chic to a bathroom counter or vanity.With its hand-painted tole accessories made of recycled metal, Jayes imbues even the most functional of items with a distinctive joie de vivre.

Painted With Laurel Leaves One Kings Lane

With its raised sides, this hand-painted tray is ideal for serving nibbles and drinks. And when you place it atop an ottoman, you've got an instant, chic tabletop.

Beautifully hand-painted with a regal motif and adorned with golden ring handles and scallop edges, this magazine bin is ready to hold a place of pride in a living room, bedroom, or office

A chair design often attributed to the legendary interior decorator Frances Elkins,  Dragonette has refurbished this piece in a brilliant orange lacquered finish with a cow hide seat.  Circa 1930’s.   Price; $3,800 Dragonette.

If you love modern furniture, why not dress up your home with glossy walls and lacquered furniture?

It can [...]]]>

A chair design often attributed to the legendary interior decorator Frances Elkins,  Dragonette has refurbished this piece in a brilliant orange lacquered finish with a cow hide seat.  Circa 1930’s.   Price; $3,800 Dragonette.

If you love modern furniture, why not dress up your home with glossy walls and lacquered furniture?

It can give your kitchen a wow factor by painting everything the same color.  Anchor this look with natural wood distressed floors, or consider a highly polished marble.  Red is very dramatic and wonderful for furniture for a high impact statement.

-Rust-Oleum 1906830 Lacquer Spray, Clear, 11-Ounce CLEAR by Rustoleum

-Rust-Oleum 1906830 Lacquer Spray, Chinese RED by Rustoleum

-Rust-Oleum 1906830 Lacquer Spray,WHITE by Rustoleum

-MINWAX COMPANY, Clear Gloss Lacquer

-11 Oz Gloss Black Lacquer Spray Paint  [Set of 6]

-Environmental Technology Kit Lite Pour-On, High Gloss Finish- 1 Thick Coat Equals 50 coats of varnish

-Minwax Clear Brushable Lacquer

Miles Redd - Lacquered Cabinets In High Gloss Green Paint

“In a small space, I like to take one strong color and use it everywhere. There’s something refreshing about emerald green. It puts a modern spin on a tiny Manhattan kitchen and feels cool and sparkling, especially in this glassy finish. Kind of like a gin and tonic…” —Miles Redd

Red Lacquered Sideboard - Mid Century Modern Hollywood Regency Duquette Style From Design Haven on Ebay

Red Lacquered Sideboard -From Design Haven on Ebay

Red Lacquered Ming Dining Table -From Design Haven on Ebay

Red Lacquered Ming Dining Table -From Design Haven on Ebay

Lefflers Antiques is selling a very unique Venetian chinoiserie style painted 8 piece bedroom suite from the 20th century which includes a commode, vanity, mirror, ladies writing desk, a set of nightstands, an arm chair and a side chair. All the pieces in the collection are topped with green marble. The pieces [...]]]>

Lefflers Antiques is selling a very unique Venetian chinoiserie style painted 8 piece bedroom suite from the 20th century which includes a commode, vanity, mirror, ladies writing desk, a set of nightstands, an arm chair and a side chair. All the pieces in the collection are topped with green marble. The pieces are painted in a creamy yellow, with floral features in the colors of orange and scenery painted in shades of blue. Lefflers Antiques is selling this remarkable set for $5,900

Chinoiserie -(From Wiki-pedia) is a French term, signifying "Chinese-esque", and is found in European artistic styles since the seventeenth century, which reflect Chinese influences. Often times, the art is characterized by the use of fanciful imagery of an imaginary found in China.  The hand painted themes often imitate Chinese porcelain and the use of lacquer like materials.

Venetian Chinoiserie Painted Furniture

Venetian Chinoiserie Painted Furniture

Venetian Chinoiserie Painted Furniture

Italian Hand Painted Linguire Chest with Gold and Pink Floral Accents

Lefflers Antiques also sells this beautiful hand painted Italian seven drawer tall chest. The chest is painted a very pale green with decorations in pinks and gold. The chest has serpentine sides and bowed front drawers. Lefflers Antiques is selling this chest for $550