What do you think of...

[Suz]

My MIL just gave us her old bedroom suite. She's had it for about 30 years and it's sturdy and in great condition. It's a little 'old-fashioned' for my taste, but hey- it's free furniture. ;)

So anyhoo...I want to paint the furniture b/c it is oak and I'm not a fan of oak b/c of the grain and the color. My 2 options are black or white with an antique, stressed finish. The dilemma is if I paint all the pieces, the same color, it will look monotone. I wasnted to paint it black but my husband didn't like that idea. What about doing both? Do you think that would look too weird or be too much of a contrast? The pieces are 2 bedside tables, a vanity, a dresser and a headboard.

I will post pictures tonight just to give you guys an idea. My colors in the room are kind of blah...very boring. Light tan berber carpet, light off white/tan walls with bright white trim. (we just repainted our bedroom from a bright green to a more subltle, subdued color).

PS. If there are any colors, other than b/w, you think would look nice--let me know :)

Any input from you all would be much appreciated :)

[Gigi]

Oooooo...free furniture and something from family is certainly a treasure! I have lots of oak furniture and wish a paint fairy would come in and paint it all!

A friend of mine has painted furniture with a black undercoating then a white finish-and lightly sand off the edges here and there---and it's beautiful!

Other colors but white or black....ummmm-what's your fav color?

I'm sure what ever you decide---I know the change will bring new life to the furniture of 30 years.

[shabbychick]

I like Gigi's idea of the black undercoat with a white wash and a little distressing. How would a sagey green look, maybe also distressed, for some of the pieces so that everything isn't too matchy-matchy? You might also consider decoupaging or stenciling some colorful designs on the pieces if you do decide to go with black or white?

[Suz]

SO this is an idea of what the furniture looks like. I don't like the color at all, so that's why I'm going to paint them.

I think you guys are right about it being too matchy matchy. I don't want that. Heck, I don't even have a color scheme yet for the bedroom so... ;) It's a blank canvas. Literally.

Gigi I like the idea of the black undertones and then sanding the top coat. That is the look I'm going for. It's funny Shabby, you mentioned sagey green, b/c that was one of the colors I was thinking of as well.

My fave color is deep blue, but somehow I don't think that'll be one of the colors :rolleyes:

I think I am going to paint the headboard black and then antique it. That's the only thing I do know I am going to do.

But the rest...we'll see. I appreciate the input :)

[Gigi]

Suz---OMGoodness this furniture will be beautiful with a little tweaking- I would also change the hardware--perhaps brushed nickel or some glass knobs...soooo many possibilities!

A fresh coat of paint will make it look new & you! ;)

[Suz]

Gigi- I'm glad you think it'll look nice. I wasn't so sure myself. But I think you're right- just needs some tweaking and I agree 100% about getting new hardware. I can't wait to get it started. I think I'll start with the headboard this weekend since I'm pretty sure I want it to be black. I'll keep you posted :)

[ChapterTwo]

Really NICE furniture! I also like the idea of the black undertones, no matter what you choose as the top coat.

One thing...I guess your MIL knows you're going to paint it? I think that's important because sometimes people feel sort of "territorial" about their stuff (even when it's not theirs anymore) and it's better she's braced for the change.

I think it's going to be great! :)

[rubyslippers]

Okay, what if you picked two colors for example. You could paint all of the furniture a hunter green and then paint it white and sand it so there are green portions that look like they have a patina (almost the way aged copper looks). Then, on the bed's spindles, you could paint the entire range of green hues ranging from milk-glass-jade to sage to hunter green fanning out the spindles. If you did something unique with the spindles, then I believe that bed might remind you of like art-deco jewelry or a pretty old hair comb. Anyway, I agree that changing the hardware would go a long way. You could make it black, green, a patina-copper to keep with the paint-job, or you could do pretty little bottle-glass green handle knobs. Also, you could paint the outside of the drawer the true green so that when you pull the drawer out you "see" the true green. You could wallpaper and/or line the inside of your drawers with some art-deco green/BLUE funky patterned wallpaper (they always put emeralds and sapphires together in those rings, but it is easier to decorate with green and blue touches). Then, you could even get a quirky mirror with some details like the hardware (glass - - wrought iron - - whatever you pick) and after painting you could adhere it to the center of the mirror that you have. Did that make any sense?

Another really cute color scheme involves yellow, black, and white with toile (sp?) accents dominantly in the curtains, etc.

- - Just an idea.

By the way, I do have blue painted furniture. So, it just depends on what YOU like.

Keep us posted.

[Suz]

Chapter2-actually, my MIL does know about me repainting it. And thankfully, she's fine with it :) Actually, when she gave it to us she said I could paint it, sell it or give it to Goodwill. So I thought it was very nice of her to be so understanding. I was really nervous about hurting her feelings.

Rubyslippers- I do want to add some green in it somehow, just so it will flow with the green in the sunroom that my bedroom opens up in to. It's alot to think about though. I'm very excited...although my husband ---not so much:rolleyes: ... He's not a big fan of painting. lol Thanks so much for the ideas and I'll definitely keep you all posted...slowly but surely!

[annielinz]

Suz, the furniture is really nice and will look great with whatever color you choose.
I painted my oak kitchen hutch black and I love the change. I'll post a before and after pic. These was taken when the walls in the kitchen were still green, then have since gone a light beige/tan.

In my MB I painted my dresser and side table white and then distressed it. I kept the bed frame in the oak as with my DH highboy dresser. I only have a picture of the dresser

My DH freaked when I painted the furniture also.

[ChapterTwo]

Suz, I think that was very nice that you were respectful of your MIL and didn't want her feelings to be hurt. And it's great that she doesn't mind that you're painting it...it's a win/win situation!

You have a fun project ahead...:)

[Suz]

Annie, wow I really like how the hutch turned out--it looks really nice and it's amazing what a coat or two of paint can do isn't it?. I also like the dresser..that is the look I'm going for. :)

Chapter2 -ah yes---fun times ahead indeed with the project! This will be my first time repainting /antiquing nice furniture. The only other thing I have repainted were my kitchen and bathroom cabinets, but that was kind of a no brainer ;)

[cheapdiva]

wonderful bedroom set . . . I am sure whatever you decide to do, it will be spectacular! AnnieL - what a difference paint makes! Great job!

[chyna]

Is that marble on the bureau? I think that alone would guide you on what to do with that piece alone.They all look far older than 30yrs. Beautiful furniture (not a huge oak fan either). have you considered restaining them instead? There are some stains that will go right over existing finishes so would about the same amount of work if not less. Maybe a dark stain? I really can't see any of them painted and for me that is a new thing. :D

[Suz]

Chyna,

That is marble on there. eek! i still don't have a clue what direction that should take me! :confused:

I definitely want to paint it though...unless there is a really really dark espresso/black stain that would hide the grain of the wood...

[chyna]

There is, take a trip to Lowes/Home Depot and check out the choices out there. With the marble I would lean more towards a flat black with the edges sanded off to reveal another color like antique white or maybe a brown. Or just the wood itself. Nothing too shiny or it will take away from the style and the marble.

[airsides]

Hi Suz, I have JUST finished painting my oak dining room set and it's beautiful! I used that Zinsser primer (awesome stuff - I didn't even sand it!) then BM Linen White for the chairs and BM Mink (a deep, deep chocolate brown) for the table then polyurethane. Trouble is now I have 2 more oak pieces that gotta get done.....

Have fun with your project!

[cheapdiva]

Air - beautiful!! Can we see more photos of your home? What color is on the walls - it looks like something I might want to use when we re-do our kitchen.

[annielinz]

Airsides, bee-u-ti-ful! Love that chocolate brown with the white. Yes more pics please :)

[airsides]

Hi - the paint on the walls is Pittsburgh Paints 510-4 Balsam.
Thank you. Oh, and the curtains are going...

[Gigi]

Annie & Airsides~ OMGooodness your furniture looks like you bought it all at a high end store- sooooo talented with the painting effects....

Annie- That black cabinet is just unbelievable! I love it.

Airsides~ Ms. Memmey on the boards uses the Zinner primer too! Just lovely all your furniture.

[annielinz]

Gigi thank you, I didn't even prime that, I may of sanded it just a bit, tacked off the dust and just slapped black paint on it.I wanted the wood to come thru if and when I distressed it or it gets chipped.

[Breezy]

Annie ~ love the pics you posted. My goodness but you are one creative gal ~ well done!:)

airsides ~ love what you did with the table and chairs. The whole room is just lovely!:)

[Suz]

Wow- that looks really nice airsides. :) And you didn't have to sand it? That would make it sooo much easier! I'll look for that primer you mentioned at the store this weekend--thanks for the info!!

[Suz]

OK so I primed the headboard with the primer which took me about 2 hours to do. Is it supposed to look really nice and smooth? It looks a little streaky in some places, but it dries very quickly so I had to work fast. The spindles took me the longest to do.

Another question is, I used mineral spirits to clean the brush, but I know I can't pour that stuff down the drain. Do I just let it evaporate? What do I do with it?

When can I paint the top coat of my black paint? It says the primer dries after 30 min but to give it at least and hour. ( I bought black satin paint -- should it be flat or eggshell?? The paint guy at the store said to go with satin so that's what I went with)

I know I won't be able to finish it tonight so should I just start and finish it later or try to paint it all in one shot?

I'm very excited though to see how it turns out :)

PS-- Oh And I went with the Zinner primer despite the guy telling me the more expensive brand was better ;)

[Gigi]

Gosh it looks terrific even with the primer on! Great job---oh those spindles I bet were HARD to do!

When we have to clean brush with mineral spirits we usually have a jar (with a lid)---and use it several times- then it can be disregarded like paint-- either when it dries up- OR take it to a dump that takes this. (Big help-huh)

You must be tickled pink---I can't wait to see all the pieces done- it will be darling!

[rubyslippers]

Okay, I like it white so obviously painting is going to put you in the right direction. I'm a bit of a furniture painting nut. As for chemical disposal, a container to deposit all of the "gunk" in is the place to start; then, it is easy enough to check your local dumps to find the places that accept chemicals. Remember, cities want us to throw this stuff away properly, so usually a quick search (and or asking an industrious neighbor) on the Internet will do the trick. (Art teachers always seem to magically know this stuff as do art store people as well.)

As for the primer, it may be a bit gunky or streaky in spots if you didn't get it on evenly. It was drying so quickly that you may have some slightly thicker areas. Anyway, if you do not like a streaky area, then you can prime a second time and/or expect that two coats of paint will take care of it ultimately. Also, at a super store, I like to hit the make-up aisle and pick up foundation application sponges, nail files (the rectangular cube kind), and anything else that looks handy. These items (along with a SMALL paint brush) will help you with the spindles as you go along.

If I were tackling this project, I would probably paint one side at a time so-to-speak. If you want to tackle the spindles separately, then that will work as well. Just remember, there is no right or wrong to this - - you can always sand out any areas of concern and reapply. Think of the layers like you are painting your fingernails. If you are not patient with the bottom layers, then the top layers will appear dry, but be prone to denting when moved.

It looks beautiful right now - - really and truly beautiful. I'm sure it will pop when it is all finished. Good luck and keep us posted.

- - rubyslippers

[annielinz]

Oh its going to look great. I can't remember what color you are going with, black right.
Anyway spindles can be a PITA. What I did with my chairs is take the brush with not alot of paint on it so there is no drops and just wack it on. Not a very technical term:rolleyes: but with a very lose wrist go back and forth. I have found using a spray paint actually works well when you are dealing with spindles. Of course I figured that out too late.Good luck its going to look incredible.

[Lynzee]

It looks beautiful already, Suz! I can't wait to see pictures when it is finished.

I don't care what the guy at the store said, Zinsser is the absolute best! I would never use anything else.

[mac78]

All the pics in this thread are amazing. I would have to say though, my mom what have a canniption (fit)! She actually does stripping and refinishing of furniture and always complains when people bring her "painted" pieces and after they are stripped they are beautiful.

I have so many pieces of oak that my step dad has made me over the years, and honestly, sometimes I think painting them would change them up so much, but I would probably get shot if I did that to the pieces.

I just love looking at all of the pictures though.

[Suz]

This is the first coat of the black paint I have put on. Sorry the picture is so blurry-I took it with my cell phone since my husband has my camera with him. The first coat looks OK but I think it will look nicer with the second coat.

Oh, and if you scratch the paint, the white and the oak show through! The headboard accidentally fell over while I was painting it and it was chipped and scratched in several places. I could see the different layers though, so that was neat. :rolleyes:

I can't wait to finish it--we'll see how it goes...

[ChapterTwo]

Oh, and if you scratch the paint, the white and the oak show through!


Looks great from here! Are you planning on distressing it?

[Suz]

Yes I am planing on distressing it--especially since I got a little 'preview' of how it might look! :)

[Gigi]

Suz- Lookin' good! This is very cool seeing your furniture transform into a very classy look.

[ChapterTwo]

Yes I am planing on distressing it--especially since I got a little 'preview' of how it might look! :)

Oh, good...that's what I figured, from what you said. Otherwise, you would have been upset that some of it got scratched off! :eek:

[airsides]

Remember the polyurethane (if you're going to use it) is going to harden it and protect it.