Ah Paris, the food, the wine, the flea markets! I must say I can’t quite believe the day is finally here, alas we leave tomorrow for the city of lights! I will be exploring the Marché aux puces st Ouen, walking the streets of Montmartre and scouring the Parisian bazaars for new inspirations and one of a kind pieces. Don’t fret, I’ll be back soon and I’ll have all the photos and hopefully a few new finds! Au revoir mes amis!

 

 

Today’s Before & After is a gorgeous marble top dresser/buffet currently being used in a small but very chic studio in Adams Morgan. It has many “jobs”; dresser, television stand, media storage. Since it will be living in such a small space I wanted this piece to seem as light as possible to keep the space from feeling cramped.

The Before shots don’t do it justice- this was one ugly lady! Enjoy!

 

Before...

 

After...

 

(special thanks to Julie for the beautiful after photos)

 

Before...

 

 

After...

 

 

 

 

 

 

As difficult as this process looks, it really isn’t. The real secret to painting furniture is patience.

 

 

First, you’ll have to find an old dresser in need of major TLC. Don’t be scared to uncover that old armoire, dresser or changing table in your basement and transform those dusty drawers!

 

 

Next, you’ll need to gather some tools. Paint of course is the most difficult decision. You’ll need two colors, a lighter base color and a second accent color. With so many choices you might spend the entire day in the paint section if you don’t study up before you leave the house. Try design blogs and decor magazines for ideas. Word of advice, don’t go crazy. I love fuchsia as much as the next girl but it simply isn’t practical. I chose a subtle light gray and a snowy white. My need for a punch of color is fulfilled in my choice of hardware: bright mustard yellow knobs. Easy to change and cheap to replace makes this choice risk-free.

Gather sand paper, sanders, paint brushes, a paint can opener, scissors, an exacto knife, a pencil, a tape measure, 1-inch painter’s tape and of course your favorite knobs to complement your new piece of furniture. Try Anthropologie or your local antique store for really pretty hardware. There’s a little place called the Home Depot where you can find everything else you’ll need.

 

Now you’re ready to sand. Start with something tough and then smooth it out with a more fine sand paper. I like to start out with an 80 grit sand paper because it isn’t too rough and then go back over with a gentler 220 grit sand paper.

 

Ok, so you’re all sanded down and ready to paint. Start with two coats of your base color.  After the paint has dried you can start to tape. Line up the 1-inch painter’s tape, 1 inch apart in a diagonal pattern and then in the opposite direction. Use an exacto knife to cut the painters tape into a V where the two pieces meet.

                      

 

After you tape the entire dresser paint over with your second color. I recommend two coats to make sure you don’t have to re-tape later. Let the paint dry overnight (even if you’re tempted to sneak a peak). When the paint is finally dry, start to peel the tape away to reveal your masterpiece. Touch up any paint bleeds with a small brush if necessary. Finally, add hardware and drawer liners to personalize your new piece of furniture. Ta Da!

 

 

 

“Vintage furniture goes modern.”

 

 

 

 

While everyone was hunting eggs and eating chocolate bunnies this weekend, I was working on sanding and refinishing a funky dresser, a midcentury “mad men” desk and a set of vintage dining chairs. Scroll down to see one set of before and after photos ...

 

Chevron Striped Dresser After

 

 

...more “Before and After’s” coming soon!

 

 

I have a big three day weekend ahead, I’m starting some new projects and finishing some already started. Here are some “before” pictures... stay tuned for the after shots!  

 

Everyone’s seen these brass chandeliers. Brass is barely chic and far from modern but before you chuck one of these into the dumpster take a look at these gorgeous painted transformations...

 

 

 

This weekend I picked up a set of dining chairs and a yellow occasional chair. They are pretty shabby and need a lot of work. I have a few ideas for these chairs so stay tuned to see what I turn them into!

 

As I get ready for Lucketts Spring Antique Market in May I’m picking up some great pieces to start working on. Here is a table that I just picked up that needs a lot of work (photo courtesy of craigslist), followed by a few ideas I have for its revival...

 

Lately I can’t get enough yellow! Whether in a throw, a lamp or a headboard, a pop of mustard in a room is so refreshing (unless its on your favorite shirt!)

 

 

As we ring in the new year, we start fresh. Many of us make resolutions and for some of us this means hitting the gym or kicking a bad habit. Whatever your resolution, cheers to a fantastic 2011!  

Here are a few upcoming events for VintAge Before Beauty...

 

 

Art on the Avenue October 1st

 

 

There’s nothing worse than removing ugly, outdated wallpaper... but there’s nothing better than these creative and elegant wall coverings!