Ok, all of you crackle lovers out there can relax. I actually like and have used crackle. But, I hope we can all agree that crackle in the wrong hands, on the wrong piece of furniture, with the wrong colors can be terrible. 
I sanded the piece, primed and painted it one of my new favorite colors – Creme from Sherwin Williams. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, the texture from the crackle still shows through. As a happy coincidence, I think the texture looks really cool and, more importantly, my clients are happy with it.
34 Responses
This looks 1000% better. You are right about crackle paint. Sometimes it looks fabulous, other times, not so much. I just wanted to stop over to say thanks for visiting my blog & becoming a follower. It means a alot to me. I have returned the favor.
I really laughed over that title. The one and only time I tried it. It was a semi-disaster. It ended up OK, but I was pretty worried during the process. Love how the vanity turned out, and the knobs…perfect!
Debra
WOW this piece turned out beautiful! great job 🙂
great piece, great price! Lucky you!
You did a great job, it looks beautiful.
I too, laughed out loud over the title… had to click out of my reader to come leave you a comment!
gail
Great title! You should do a PSA. It looks good in the pictures and I was wondering how you deal with painting over something that's been crackled without going through a whole big deal.
What an improvement! This desk is a real beauty. So fresh looking!
Simply beautiful!!!
this turned out great!
Much improved! I've enjoyed perusing your blog and looking at your beautiful makeovers.
That's so funny, my handyman was just saying that he loves crackle. He just built a "Secret Garden" style gate for my breezeway and said he thought that we should crackle it. : ) I'm not sure about that…but I do love the natural crackle of the windows on my front porch and those of the house we moved.
: )
Julie M.
ps The vanity is very sweet!
YOU did and AMAZING JOB!! (You always do.)
I confess, I did a HORRIBLE and UGLY re-do of a dresser years ago – red base with black crackle. Sigh… I was so embarrassed… BUT it was the first thing that sold at a yard sale and the folks loved it. I'm still embarrassed by it!
Oh my gosh I LOVE YOU. For hating crackle 🙂 I've been surfing around blogs of people who comment on blogs I comment on today 🙂 Happy to find yours! Come visit any time– no crackle on my blog 🙂
My husband who is a building construction and woodworking teacher crackled the armoire he built for us and it turned out gorgeous! It was featured on the DIY blog the other day and he also did a door for us. He did say it was a very difficult process to get right and he has a ton of experience. You can see the armoire on my blog it's listed under the labels. Thanks for sharing your beautiful piece! Cindy
I have to agree on the whole crackle thing. I love this desk! Such great little details that make it so cute. Definitely looks better with it's new paint job. Great makeover!
pk @ room remix
Yeah, just say no to the crackle! However I do like the look under your paint job… And of course the knobs are the bling this piece needed! Great post.
Have Fun~Happy Fall…
~Really Rainey
I never tried to do a crackle finish, and it is probably a good thing. I tried an antique finish one time and was never happy with the results. Of course it would have helped if I knew what I was doing. Great deal on the desk.
Wow! That's just beautiful!
I have a linky party going on, come on over and link up! http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/10/room-month-great-pumpkin.html
Nice work. Looks like you are quite and artist. Pretty furniture.
So much better! I am not a huge crackle fan either, although I do think it can be done tastefully! You did a great job with the makeover and what a great deal! ~ Ashley
Adorable vanity. I like the texture too. Please remember to link back to REINVENTED in your posts. 🙂
Quite charming; I love the transformation and the glass nobs!
Love your post title! And great job on the vanity…you are so talented with the paint brush :o)
peace,cindy
crackle is usually one of those "less is more" things – and meant for small spaces only!
Your version is much prettier. Great job!
This is lovely! I just bought a desk on Craigslist for $10 and I am looking for crystal knobs like that! Where did you find them?
Crackling finishes done correctly can be quite appealing. This one, however, was not: so your new paint job was a big improvement. Glad your clients liked it, even with the residual crackle showing through. Saved you the extra effort of re-doing it!
I went back into your blog archives and liked so much of what I saw. You're a talented crafter and furniture painter! I'll be back to visit often.
🙂 Sue
Better and now Beautiful! I love it.
Too funny! You did a great job on it, it looks so fresh and clean. I do love me some crackled, though..so I liked it both ways.
That's beautiful. It's amazing it doesn't even looks like the same piece of furniture. Great job!
Oh now, these pictures are lovely, and this is such a wonderful piece! Great, great, great! Thanks for sharing – tons of inspiration on your blog! I love it!
Looks SO much better! Love the hardware!
So so much better, great job! I can agree with the bad crackle thing, I have a sofa table I want to redo next that has horrible crackle on it, also a thrift store find.
Love the glass knobs too. I did that with our bedroom furniture painted white and they do make a difference on a piece.
Linda Q
Oh, crackle finish – yup, been there, done that! Your desk is fantiastic and it doesn't even look like the same piece of furniture. The magic of paint.
You lucky duck! I have been looking for a piece like that but all I can find is wibble wobbles that cost an arm and a leg! You did a great job and I have to agree…love the texture.
~Tab
I agree–this looks incredibly better! Way to go!