painted furniture Archives

Painting Our Bathroom Vanity With OPI

Aug222016

You know that feeling when you find the perfect manicure color? I love that OPI is making the same feeling possible when it comes to decorating our homes. The new OPI line for Clark+Kensington offers some of your favorite polish colors in the form of interior paints.

Miami_Beet_polish

I was so unexcited about our bathroom that I couldn’t even get motivated to clean off the counter. Maybe some of you can relate. Our bathroom vanity was straight from the ‘80s and in need of a serious facelift. Since we’re still a while out from a complete bathroom remodel, I wanted to make a few quick changes that would give me maximum impact for a minimum investment. My plan: paint the dated vanity, change out the plain mirrors, and add accessories, artwork and new hardware.

Note: I didn’t change the lighting, countertops, faucets or original wall color. Paint is good!!

I could’ve played it safe, but an old vanity that’s already in bad shape just begs for a fun color. I opted for Miami Beet, a deep fuchsia that’s bold without being too bright. I chose a semi-gloss finish (a great, easy-to-wipe-down choice for bathroom cabinets). Since it’s a paint and primer in one, I was able to skip a step, making this weekend transformation even quicker. I cleaned the cabinets with soap and water and started painting. Since the vanity was fairly small, I applied two coats using an angled brush. The paint went on really smoothly, leaving no noticeable brush marks. (For bigger jobs, you may want to use a foam roller made for cabinets.)

Janet_Hill_lady_portrait

brass knobs // lady art // tray (similar) // mirror // towel (similar) // orchid

Paint alone made a huge difference in this space. (Why did I wait so long to do this?) To finish out the look, I swapped the mirrors for some vintage faux bamboo mirrors that I found at a flea market and some fun accessories and art. A pretty tray not only keeps clutter to a minimum, but also helps to disguise countertops that I don’t love so much. I also changed the outdated hardware to pretty brass knobs that pop against the deep color.

What I love most about this project is how a few simple changes made such a big difference. I was able to give our master bathroom a totally new look without a major overhaul—or major costs. And, I may have found my new favorite nail color for Fall. A win-win!

This post was in partnership/sponsored by the OPI Color Palette by Clark+Kensington. All opinions and designs are my own.

A Classic Palette: Blue, Green & White

Jul302015

This little China cabinet is one of my favorite pieces in our house. But, I felt like it never quite got the attention it deserved when it came to paint and styling.

Lowe’s recently started carrying a line of paints called HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams and asked me if I’d like to experiment with one of the colors. I can get very excited going through paint cards and brainstorming projects. (Cheap entertainment!) The line includes some of my already-favorite SW colors.

I must know what I like. I always end up pulling the greens and blues. It’s really the original color palette—and its beauty is all around us.

Whenever I’m working on a project (or room), I always like to pull color swatches for all of the elements—not just what’s going on the walls. It helps me envision the overall color scheme a little better. For my china cabinet update, I pulled Alexandrite (green-SW0060), Jay Blue (SW6797), and Snowbound (SW7004). I ultimately decided to paint the back of the cabinet the vibrant green and keep all of the accessories blue and white.

I like how the peek of green works with the framed botanical art. And, it all just seems to flow better with the blue and white going on in the rest of the room.

It took me a whole ten minutes to paint the back. Another reminder (for myself, too!) to quit putting off those little projects that can make your room look so much better. . .

Thanks to Lowe’s for sponsoring this post.

Craigslist Furniture: Paint It or Leave It?

Jul12015

I received a lot of good feedback from several of you when I wrote this post on what I would do with wood furniture (paint it or leave it alone). So, I thought I’d do “round 2” based on more examples I found on my local Craigslist. These are just my gut reactions of what I envisioned when I first saw the pieces. I’d love to hear if you see something completely different when you look at them:

listing // inspiration

You will rarely hear me say that I think you should paint midcentury modern pieces. This desk is no exception. I think it totally takes away from the look of the piece to slap a color on it. Instead, I love how the example shows it paired with a modern white chair.

listing // inspiration

I’m not usually a fan of painting rattan pieces, either. But. . . the glass top on this one makes it look more 80s beach condo than I like. So, I’d paint it a bright, happy color.

listing // inspiration

The wood on this poster bed has a pretty tone. I’d leave it, letting it warm up the space—and possibly painting some other pieces in the room for nice mix. Besides nightstands seem a lot easier to paint than tackling a big bed. . .

listing // inspiration

At first glance, this console table seems far from my personal style. But, painted in a white lacquer, I think this could be a real showstopper in a little entry. Because it’s so ornate, I’d pair it with a simple mirror or subdued art.

listing // inspiration

The inspiration office immediately popped into my head when I saw this piece. Not every old china cabinet has to be painted—especially when paired with sleeker pieces (like the white table). I think this would be a great addition to a den or office, filled with books.