At a loss on how to paint this piece, suggestions please?

Cowan Cottage
by Cowan Cottage
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This beautiful old vanity is ,I believe, oak stained cherry. My problem is that it is soooo smooth. with rounded corners. i was thinking maybe a cream with an antiquing gel. But with the smoothness of it .... that would be too boring. How can I make this a "WOW".
at a loss on how to paint this piece suggestions please, home decor, painted furniture
  60 answers
  • Ivana Carmon Ivana Carmon on Nov 27, 2013
    black with burnished gold highlights on the edge of the mirror and maybe drawer pulls
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Nov 27, 2013
    Paint, if you do the gold or silver leafing I would do it on the curves, the curve of the mirror and the s shape. Then I would seal it and paint over it with your favorite color. Then sand so the leafing could show through. I think this is a beautiful piece and whatever you do it will stand out.
  • Margaret Demaria-Gatti Margaret Demaria-Gatti on Nov 27, 2013
    stressed with white and gold.
  • John John on Nov 27, 2013
    Don't paint it. It's pretty beautiful as-is. Maybe freshen up the finish.
  • Z Z on Nov 27, 2013
    I'm with @John. The Wow is already there.
  • Carolyn Smith Carolyn Smith on Nov 28, 2013
    Paint the drawers a different color and change the knobs...
  • Sharon B Sharon B on Nov 28, 2013
    John also gets my vote ! If you want to give it some bling. put a table scarf on it. How a bought a color bowl or cut glass, old time brush and comb. Any thing but paint . Happy Thanksgiving one and all
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Nov 28, 2013
    I think it's a really nice piece, too. Maybe re do the top if you really want to refinish/paint part of it. If your heart is really set on paint, you might think of leaving the top unpainted, as painted pieces with real wood finish tops look amazing.
  • JoAnn JoAnn on Nov 28, 2013
    Too pretty to paint!
  • Cowan Cottage Cowan Cottage on Nov 28, 2013
    Thanks guys. Love the idea of only painting the bottom. I'll post pics when the damage is done lol
  • Happygirl Bailey Happygirl Bailey on Nov 28, 2013
    Annie's Sloans chalk paint is amazing.. I agree leave the top alone and see how you like it. :)
  • Cowan Cottage Cowan Cottage on Nov 28, 2013
    I agree Annie Sloan is the best
  • Frankie Laney Frankie Laney on Nov 28, 2013
    I would paint it with AS old white, paint the drawer fronts and the curving mirror holders Country gray. Wax and add a little antiquing on the appropriate areas, some beautiful knobs and presto. OBTW, let me know when I can pick it up :-)
  • Edna Poe Edna Poe on Nov 28, 2013
    Newest trend is a metallic paint with glass drawer pulls.
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Nov 28, 2013
    chalk paint...and go visit The Graphics Fairy. This could be a very interesting piece.
  • Sally Roesner Fuhr Sally Roesner Fuhr on Nov 28, 2013
    I knew it! You have a beautiful, smooth, solid oak piece here, and everybody wants to slop chalk paint on it. Annie Sloan is so trendy, but let's get over it and move on. If it's too dark, strip it and then seal with urethane.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Nov 29, 2013
    While I agree that some furniture is so ugly that it just has to be painted (I'm thinking about some of that mid century and 80s big chunky ugly stuff) but if I had this stunning, delicate piece, I would just find some dark Old English furniture oil and give it a good coating. Painting this will make it cute for a while, but painted furniture trends change so quickly...remember all that crackled stuff and shabby junk lying around now? A good coat of a product with bees wax would be good too!
  • Cobbles Cobbles on Nov 29, 2013
    too beautiful to paint
  • Regina Regina on Nov 29, 2013
    This looks to be in perfect condition. It would be a shame to paint it or even refinish it. The MOST I would do is change the knobs to black. Liquid Gold furniture cleaner/polish will shine it up beautifully. I can't really tell from the photo, but I don't see any large wood grain to indicate it's oak. It may be walnut or cherry which is expensive wood.
  • Jim L Jim L on Nov 29, 2013
    I have one like this in mahogany. Please, do not paint this nice piece. If you do, down the road you will wish that you had not "messed" with it. As a designer, I have several clients who painted beautiful old family pieces and they are so sorry that they did. Add a colorful cloth to the top and add a mirrored tray with combs, brushes, perfume bottles and such. How about a pair of lamps...
  • Hisstorybuff Hisstorybuff on Nov 29, 2013
    Leave it as it is....it is to pretty for paint.
  • Cowan Cottage Cowan Cottage on Nov 29, 2013
    Thanks so much for all your opinions. I have a lot to think about when it comes to this piece.
  • Sandy Sandy on Nov 29, 2013
    This is a perfect piece for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. No prep just start painting and then distress especially around the mirror. And if you don't like the color just repaint. Coco and white might work really nice. Might replace the knobs on drawers with the glass look which can be found at Home Depot. Chalk Paint can be shipped from Royaldesignstudio.com
  • Sarah Jackson Sarah Jackson on Nov 29, 2013
    I completely understand how many feel about the beauty of wood on old pieces, especially family pieces, and for the most part I agree. But, judging from the background in the photo, it apprears you purchased this from a thrift or antique store so there is no sentimental/family attachment to it and you are the one who has to live with it and work it into your decor. I'd suggest you check out "Alchemy fine living" on Youtube as they have some excellent tutorials on refinishing furniture that help you choose the right look for your lovely dresser. http://www.youtube.com/user/alchemyfineliving/videos
  • Centrd Centrd on Nov 29, 2013
    Check out my pinterest board for lots of painted furniture ideas: http://www.pinterest.com/centrd/diy-painted-furniture/
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Nov 29, 2013
    @Cowan Cottage I really like the update on the piece on the left. Sooo pretty! I appreciate folks saying, don't paint the wood, to me tho,it is like someone who has had the same old hairdo up in a bun for decades. Move on! we can all be prettier.Even wood furniture! Enhance the pretty features.i do love the one on the left. Very classy! Thanks for showing @centrd ! hmmm editing...I guess i like the white one too with the natural top. Very classy!
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Nov 29, 2013
    @SheilaG, Plum Doodles did you see this piece? What would you do?
  • Charlotte Kent Charlotte Kent on Nov 29, 2013
    anxiously awaiting pictures of how you decide to proceed. It is beautiful as simple wood; however, sometimes you just want a different look and if not a family piece, then why not?
  • Jes238534 Jes238534 on Nov 29, 2013
    Don't paint it. Re-finish it. I had an old side-by-side desk and saw another one almost like it painted matte black. I had my piece refinished quick!!
  • Cowan Cottage Cowan Cottage on Nov 29, 2013
    this is not a family piece ... Got it at a road side chair store of all places. saw it in the back
  • Kim Dagenais Kim Dagenais on Nov 29, 2013
    Nice vanity. First I would make sure if it is of great valve and if so sell it. If it is worth under $100 then paint it. I can see it would look beautiful painted. Check out the Anne Sloan site, and centrd's link to pinterest for painted furniture is a good site too. Can't wait to see the finished product if you end of painting it.
  • Susan Caduff Susan Caduff on Nov 29, 2013
    One of the stores in my town keeps talking about Chalk Painting. I would look into that. Their pieces turn out fabulous!
  • Cowan Cottage Cowan Cottage on Nov 29, 2013
    I have a coffee table with matching end tables i'm finishing up right now but the vanity is definitely my next project .. I'll post the pics of it here when I finish it ... or not lol
  • Sandra Battaglia Sandra Battaglia on Nov 30, 2013
    Shabby chic the vanity and replace the knobs with pretty antique looking glass knobs...
  • Kim Dagenais Kim Dagenais on Nov 30, 2013
    I looked at your pics again and noticed price tags. Do you have a store? If so you must know if there is value to this vanity. If this vanity belonged to me I would sand, repair if needed, and paint it with two coats of Anne Sloan OLD WHITE CHALK PAINT. Then I would add some FRENCH STENCILS from the Graphic Fairy. She has some really nice French perfume labels. http://thegraphicsfairy.com/category/french There some really nice Graphics on her site, not just the French ones. Then after the stencils of your choice are done I would apply a clear wax with a rag or brush, and wipe off excess. When dry I would take a 120 grit sand paper and sand some of the edges here and there. After that apply a dark wax to the whole piece to bring out the details, and then wipe off excess and leave to dry. I would do the same treatment for the chair that goes to your vanity. I am going to be doing a vanity myself in the near future, but it is missing the mirror, so I will just use a large antique wall mirror I have with lots of detail to it. I can't wait to see your finished vanity.
    • See 1 previous
    • Cowan Cottage Cowan Cottage on Nov 30, 2013
      Oh sorry ... i have a blog too cowancottage.com lol
  • Kim Dagenais Kim Dagenais on Nov 30, 2013
    Glad you like the Graphic Fairy. Can't wait to see your finished piece. Have a great one.
  • Deb Powell Deb Powell on Dec 01, 2013
    my question is why paint it why not redo it by sanding it, re stain it , and varnish it . if you paint it its almost always there for life .. by varnishing it its a best way to go but if I were you I leave it alone. its worth more then if you redo it in anyway..
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Dec 02, 2013
    @Cowan Cottage what a beautiful piece. While I usually prefer keeping the wood, I also like some of the painted pieces. Why not do a little of both?? You could keep the top flat pieces in a wood grain - refinished with a stain you like, and then finishe the vertical surfaces in a paint surface. I really like the left pic that @centrd posted and think it could also be done with a combination of the two visions. I would really like to see your finished product. Thanks for posting. :)
  • Ann Brownlee Ann Brownlee on Dec 02, 2013
    I would never paint a piece of good old wood furniture. Paint is pretty much there to stay, leave it natural.
  • Margie Margie on Dec 02, 2013
    its beautiful just the way it is! NATURAL
  • Kelly Dietz Kelly Dietz on Dec 03, 2013
    Maybe sand it and give it a white wash, rather than paint. You could also paint the knobs for a bit of color.
  • Wilma Hurley Wilma Hurley on Dec 03, 2013
    Sell It to me .
  • Emma Dorsey Emma Dorsey on Dec 04, 2013
    I have one very similar to it I used crackle cream and black with gold trim.
  • Melissa M Geralds Melissa M Geralds on Dec 05, 2013
    For sale?
  • Judy Judy on Dec 05, 2013
    I'm in agreement with some of the others, as beautiful as it looks, just preserve and leave it natural, if it were beaten up then I would paint. Of all my pieces, I have only painted one piece, it looks great, but I think leaving it natural, maybe give it some good ole oiling down.
  • Sandra Hellewell Sandra Hellewell on Dec 05, 2013
    I'm with Kim Degenais on this one! And there are instructions online to paint a vanity with ASCP & it's beautiful! Hope this helps!
    • Kim Dagenais Kim Dagenais on Dec 06, 2013
      @Sandra Hellewell Thanks Sandra for your support. I think if the vanity is at all scratched up etc, and doesn't have alot of value, to go ahead and give it the paint treatment I mentioned. Believe me in many stores here in Canada there are alot of pieces that go for alot more after special paint/stencil treatments, or pieces that were modern and made to look antique. I have many different pieces of furniture myself from a vanity, to dressers, to an antique armoire etc. that I started stripping sanding etc. and intended to stain, or give them a natural finish. After seeing many pieces of furniture on this site, Pinterest, and online I am sold on painting them. If I decide in the future that I don't like the paint finish anymore, then it would be no problem to strip and go natural again.
  • Lyla Budgett-Platow Lyla Budgett-Platow on Dec 05, 2013
    DO NOT PAINT.... <3
  • Dragonfly Dragonfly on Dec 05, 2013
    OR....some great wax and some vintage doilies.....
  • The Robin's Nest The Robin's Nest on Dec 05, 2013
    For resale purposes (assuming that this piece is also for sale in your shop) I would not paint it either. My experience has been in my store that there are just as many people who prefer unpainted furniture as there are those who like stuff painted. And you can almost always get more money for a nice, old/vintage, good condition, UNPAINTED piece than the painted pieces. If you can't sell it as it is after a good effort, then consider painting or staining it..
  • Kim Fisher Kim Fisher on Feb 14, 2014
    If this beautiful piece is for sale then I would re position it to a different spot in your shop., somewhere that there is more light since the piece is Darker. I would place a Toile seat cushion in the chair also lighter colors and use other small pieces to sit on one side of the vanity....The right person will love it just the way it is!
  • Linda Linda on Feb 14, 2014
    Two beautiful let it be
  • Chris Sabol Chris Sabol on Feb 14, 2014
    Although I would normally agree with keeping it natural, the dresser, although very nice is boring. I would paint it.
  • Coral King Coral King on Feb 14, 2014
    give it a good sanding and use tung oil
  • Barbara R Barbara R on Feb 14, 2014
    Lemon oil the dresser and paint the chair a bright color, then add colored doilies that match the chair to the dresser. Even a bright colored cushion or pillow on the chair. Let the buyer paint this if they want to, I would not paint it.
  • Deb Powell Deb Powell on Feb 15, 2014
    No please DO NOT paint this lovely old piece, it ruins the wood and decreased the value . i know I saw some painted pieces at a resale store and i ask myself why???? .. I'd rather it be refinish to its natural state , like sanding and maybe re staining it some . If you feel the need to paint it, it's up to you either way ..WE did paint a desk once because of the wood had several different wood pieces in the desk the stain didn't take very well which it was a good reason, we thought to paint it. I hated it. it broke my heart because i wished we had just left it alone ..
  • Sally Roesner Fuhr Sally Roesner Fuhr on Feb 15, 2014
    Let a buyer paint if they so prfefer, but I wouldn't touch it.
  • MJ MJ on Jul 14, 2014
    Im not sure this is old enough to worry about. Do you have provenance or documentation? The base looks like a standard desk style from the mid-20th century. Can't recall ever seeing a mirror and glovebox setup like this one on such a base. Can't tell for sure from the photo, but I think the mirror glass is modern. And the finish looks perfect, but the photo is not closeup so only you would know. Are there wear signs and where are they? What do the drawer joints look like? If there are dovetails (which I doubt) are they mechanically even in shape and location or uneven and handcut? If it were mine, I'd paint it. (And I don't often say that, unless the piece has been refinished and/or already painted. If the wood is the right kind and especially if there is inlay, I'll always vote for stripping, oiling, and polishing).
  • Pauliegirl1 Pauliegirl1 on Jul 15, 2014
    I have been trying ALL the different paints out there....ASCP, SHABBY PAINT, MMS, AMERICAN DECOR, AND FINALLY FARMHOUSE PAINT....I have found that FARMHOUSE PAINT is WOW!!! There is no prepping, and best of all NO WAXING!! I love ASCP, and have used it a lot!! Then I tried others, and when I tried FARMHOUSE PAINTS I had a winner!! Beautiful colors!!! They have a brown/grey color, I think its called Weathered Stone or Grey Taupe and another "ACCENT" paint, either White Ash, or Linen ???...the two are sooo beautiful together and the paint is WONDERFUL!! I like the NO WAXING part!!! Thats what I would do!! Maybe the drawer fronts and top in the lighter color and the rest in the grey/brown color...it is really pretty and would go with any other colors in the room!! What ever you do, I hope you post the results!! Good Luck!! I LOVE the piece!!
  • Janice Janice on Oct 06, 2023

    Hi! have you considered painting the vanity a rose gold metallic? I think that would "glam" it up and be very gorgeous.

  • Dee Dee on Oct 08, 2023

    It is a beautiful piece. I would clean it up and re-stain it a darker cherry. I would use Rub and Buff to accent. IMHO I would never paint a piece like that.
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