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OK.  I need to explain something, so you don’t feel like I’m just going, “Neener-neener-neener.  I know a cool paint and you don’t!”  I am going to share everything about the paint I used on my desk as soon as I get the green light.  My source asked if I would hold off for a few days until they are ready to handle lots of orders.  You know, when I posted my glitter letter tutorial my source, Meyer Imports, sold out of my glitter and I had to wait to get more!

So, I sent my source an e-mail today, letting them know my readers are dying and can I please share.  I’m still waiting to get the “OK”.  Since I have not gotten the thumbs up, yet, I was going to post my next installment of the slipcover series.  Well, the video didn’t upload and it’s going to take another 2 1/2 hours.  Ah!  The only thing I have to share is another before and after with the mystery paint.

Hopefully this will just whet your appetite and not make you totally hate me.

Just keep in mind…I love all of you and I’m going to share the paint, techniques and answer all of your questions.  OK?  

 (After)
 My parents bought this antique French buffet when they were newly weds.  They gave it to me when I was a newly wed.  It’s always been one of my favorite pieces, but it’s pretty beat up.  I’ve always viewed it as off limits for painting, though, and I was saving it for a day when I was ready to tackle a full refinishing job.  Last week, I was talking to my mom and she said, “Oh, I think the buffet would look great painted!”  
“You’d be OK with that?” 
“Oh yeah.” 
Seriously.  Ten minutes didn’t go by before I had a brush in a can of paint and on the buffet.  I’m sick.  I know.
(Before)
 I stripped and refinished the top, painted the entire dresser in a French blue, followed by white in strategic places. 
Distressing and wax finished off the piece.  

I’ve always loved this piece, but I feel like it’s “me” now. 

A few people have left comments, concerned that my furniture will be matchy-matchy if everything is painted, but you would be surprised to know I have more pieces unpainted then painted.  The pieces I am painting in blues, grays and white are all painted in different tones with different finishes and different techniques, so they look…well…different.  No matchy-matchy in my home.

Tomorrow I will post the next installment of the slipcover series and I will share the paint as soon as I can!  Sit tight…and don’t hate me.

…and the winner of the Eclectic Whatnot $20 shop credit is…
Congrats Carol Ann!  I need you to send me your e-mail address, so you can claim your prize. 

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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88 Responses

  1. OK, I'm gonna' do it — I have an oak buffet that's been screeming "paint me, paint me". Tomorrow I'm taking the brush to it. Love the blue & white combo. Jan

  2. What a magnifique transformation! I have a large french double dresser in my house in VT that I love but it could some freshening up, It's beautiful but so big and brown. We have a lot of brown, wood floors, wood ceiling, wood walls, wood armoire, you get it, the bedroom was an old hayloft so it is nothing but wood, gorgeous old barn wood that I would never paint but lightening that piece up might just do the trick. I am waiting to contact your paint guy……….waiting………winning…… great post.

  3. Well isn't she a beauty!!
    Can I tell you I had a tall chest of drawers, similar design when I was little. Apparently I had a desire to offset the drawers, I crayoned the detail between the drawers purple. I'm told it didn't look as fab to my mother as it did to me!

  4. First off your Mom is, like, so cool and so supportive of you. Second, so what if everything is matchy, matchy as long as you like it. Anyway, you make each piece so unique that I don't see how they could be matchy, matchy. And lastly, your french buffet is so beautiful! Great job!

  5. Girl… so much cuter painted!

    Now… I've a few questions for you. I've painted my new vintage bedroom set white (eggshell finish)I'd like to distress it a smidge, that I have no problem with. This wax your talking about? does it go on like paint, or do you apply it with a cloth? what would it do to the white paint, give it an aged look? do you put it on before sanding? or after? If you'd blogged about this previously, I'd love to read about it– if not, add this to your super long list of things you NEED to blog about!
    Chaste hugs & air kisses,
    Cheryl

  6. who hates because of paint? really?

    I love this buffet; so pretty. As I told you before..the AFTER calms the pre paint jitters for me. This piece is so pretty.
    I recently posted two Heirloom pieces on your FFF party…but I am not going to paint them. I get the jitters…
    your furniture doesn't look to matchy to me. I love it.

    ~ blessings Pat

  7. Before it was nice. Now it is FAB-U-LOUS! Matchy matchy? Are you kidding me? How could anything in your house be matchy matchy? It is all so totally different.

    Love it,
    Judy

  8. Oh! I so love the dresser!! The blue is fabulous!!
    Okay…I won't hate you! I will wait…sort of patiently!! Ha!'
    Hugs
    SueAnn

  9. There is just something about adding paint to a piece like that, that makes the curves and the shape POP! I think the buffet is really exquisite now! Just wondering if you have ever used Chalk paint?

  10. I'd just like to say that, before I started following your blog, I would never paint ANYTHING.
    I love this. Looks amazing!

    Pssst: I'll be out your way this weekend! Whoop Whoop!

  11. Well, I am loving it, even if it were matchy matchy, 1) like YOU are going to keep every piece(hahahaha!) 2)I am loving all of this blue, you are giving me ideas(as you always do, thanks!) and I have some blue paint on hand that I think I can use. Point is, I agree with your mom, I LOVE seeing what you come up with in the MMS stylings, you always amaze me Marian:)

  12. I love love love this buffet and can’t wait to use this technique on my traditional cherry dresser (part of a set). I plan to show this post to my husband when he starts to hyperventilate at the thought of changing our oh so traditional~but tired bedroom furniture. Nate Berkus will be so proud. When it comes to decorating I'm more concerned with Nate's approval than my hubby. That's not right, but true.

  13. Oh, that is one of my favorite pieces that you have done. The paint really made those lovely pulls pop too. I don't think you have to worry about matchy-matchy with painted pieces. If you look at a lot of Swedish interiors, almost all the pieces are painted, and it doesn't "match" at all. Paint has so many variances and hues.

  14. Good Morning Marian,
    I have this poor sister who is married to the nicest guy in the world…….except he has this thing about painting over wood. He won't allow it. Imagine! My sis swoons over every painted piece I have and just dreams 😉

    Love the new piece and I think you absolutely improved it's look.

    Looking forward to hearing about the new paint product and the next installment of your slip series.

    your friend,
    Janet xox

    http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/

    Come visit…I think you need one of the Janet Hill Studio prints I'm giving away this week !!

  15. Hey Marian…I have to confess that French style furniture is not my fave (now you'll hate me!) but I do love the look of that buffet! Everthing you re-do looks great.
    I have a teensy side table that I am about to paint. (After some deep breaths). You're an inspiration!

  16. I third the comments about the chalk board. That was what caught my eye first. Love the frame! ..Oh, and I like the buffet, too. 😉

  17. That's beautiful! I love how you did two colors.
    Your site is gorgeous- I really like the design, and I will be back! : )

  18. I too have a GORGEOUS family piece that I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to paint….but my mom would flip if I did! It sat in my parents garage rafters for 50 years (a humungous bed frame)until I finally talked them into finally giving it to me. Married 25 years before I finally got a headboard! Whenever I bring up the subject of painting it…my mom says: "Not Aunt Mamies bed!"….so guess it's on hold for now….til I talk her into it. I'm going to show her some of your pieces and maybe she'll change her mind!

    sharon

  19. That is an absolutely gorgeous finish! Wow! I picked up a dresser from an auction house that has similar curves and pulls. It is the typical chestnut stain. I would love to paint it the exact colors that you used on that piece. I haven't heard of wax finish etc… and I am really looking forward to all the details so I can duplicate. Thanks so much for sharing.

  20. Seriously, you just inspired my french cottage cabinet finish that I was trying to figure out at this very moment….I added blue to my cream and I am in love with how it turned out! THANKS Marion and also you must just love you mom!!

  21. It looks fantastic! It sounds like we are just alike when it comes to projects like this! My husband calls it impulsive, I call it passionate.

  22. You had me at "neener, neener, neener" 🙂 That dresser is SwEEt!!! Looking forward to the paint reveal. Keep the before and after's comin'.

  23. Now you've gone and done it!!!! You're going to have to make sure that piece is always dust free now…cause you have certainly turned it into a piece that is a head turner for sure!! Beautiful before…STUNNING now!

  24. Absolutely stunning! I wish I had your vision ~ I have a buffet sitting here that I want to paint soooooo bad. Just have the jitters about doing so.

    Great job ~
    Pat

  25. Well, I guess you have arrived if everything you mention on your blog is sold out at the source. Maybe you can have your own line of drop cloths. I still haven't found the right color or right one at Home Depot. I have to admit you are turning me around (a little) on painted furniture. Your buffet is positively stunning, but I think a lot has to do with your technique and interpretation. I was just thinking….I have a few factory painted small bureaus, maybe I should rough them up on the corners. Waiting with bated breath for the wonder paint. Ann

  26. Okay…I love it! You're not sick…you're creative and one should not corral that kind of spirit 🙂
    besides where would we be without your passion to paint?

    Having a blast with your wording in this post…
    "neener-neener-neener" and "matchy-matchy"
    too stink'n cute!

  27. Oh my! be still heart. So would you feel really bad if I just showed up on your doorstep one day & booted you & your family out so I can just move in? It would be so much easier for me than have pics of your house all over mine lol. Oh when you share the paint you gotta hook a sista up & send me just a teensy weensy bit pretty pretty please? lol

  28. How BEAUTIFUL! I love this before and after, would be great to hear the techniques and I am not too bothered about the paint since I probably won't be able to get it here in the UK anyway 🙂

  29. Ahhhh- another piece of yours for me to be so jealous of. It turned out gorgeous. And I cannot believe anyone would be worried about your stuff being too matchy matchy! Each piece you do is so unique and I love all of the different tones and finishes you do! I keep going back and staring at the guest room dresser – I love it so much!

  30. Marian-
    Absolutely stunning! I just love how you refinished the top of the buffet with stain, and painted the bottom part with two-tone, to boot! I've been waiting for inspiration for the six antique chairs I've planned to paint with this look you've just shared. Thank you!

  31. Awesome! Come check out my hutch I did today! I still want to wax it and put some handles on but WOW! What a difference!

  32. I have been wanting to ask you , if you have used Chalk Paint…(not chalkboard paint) I have been really wanting to try it, but no one around here knows what Iam babbling about!! Have you tried it???

  33. Another beautiful piece of furniture! Marian you are some talented painter/designer or is it designer/painter? I can paint but your vision is what makes your projects turn out to be so gorgeous.
    And it was nanny, nanny boo boo…….that I had in mind!!
    Love the look!

  34. I too have some pieces that I view as "off limits" for painting or altering but after seeing this hutch – I a thinking that maybe I need to reconsider. 🙂 If I had pictures of a few of my pieces would you have time to take a look and tell me if you think they would take a face lift like this one?

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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