Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Family Heirloom Gets a Fresh Start

This piece is special to me because it was my very first furniture job for a client. It was a challenge to blend her tastes and ideas with my own, but it was a great learning experience and I love the result. I didn’t think this piece was that bad to begin with. It was in great condition, the hardware was nice, the paint color wasn’t bad, but the client hated it and wanted color. We talked about purple and burgundy and finally settled on a rich red. She showed me some flowers out of a gardening book that she liked and wanted me to use those as inspiration for the decorative painting.
This is the sample board I presented to her. (For those who are interested in decorative painting, sample boards are a great way to practice and make sure you love it before you dive in. The boards are only a few dollars for a pack of 4 at Home Depot in the faux painting section. You prime & paint it as you would a piece of furniture.)

And here is the finished result. You can check out some of my earlier posts to get a step-by-step guide to how I paint furniture, so I won’t bore you with the details. I did complete this piece before I had my paint sprayer, so this is done the old fashioned was with a brush & roller.
The paint is Sherwin Williams Duration in Wild Current with a semi-gloss finish. The acrylic paints used were Wicker White (FolkArt987), Burnt Umber (Delta 02025), Antique gold (Americana DA09), and Hauser Green Medium (FolkArt 460.)

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

you may also like

36 Responses

  1. So beautiful… what a talented lady you are… anyone can use a paint brush and roller but doing the detail work is a talent… love your colour combo… excellent job

  2. OH!!! Stunning!!

    I use to tolepaint long ago. Although it wasn't half as charming as what you have created here, you brought back alot of memories. I may have to hunt for my brushes again!

    I'll be following (stalking) you! 🙂

    Donna

  3. Thanks for stopping by and following my blog!! I am following you now as well. I love all of your painted furniture!

    ~ASHLEE
    WORKMAN WITTICISMS

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.

next art sale

August 13th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories

Looking for more encouragement?

what I’ve been up to lately…

If you’ve been a regular here on this blog for a long time, you may have noticed I’m not as consistent in posting this year as I have been for the previous 15 years.  (Something that’s sort of funny is I wrote this post on Monday, got busy with other

Read More

Move Slow & Make Things Giveaway No. 6

The launch of my new book,  Move Slow & Make Things, is one week away!  This is when the nerves start to kick in.  I’ve done everything I can to make a beautiful book, and now it’s in the hands of the readers.  Of course, I have dreams for this

Read More
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This