Cabinet Makeover

Not too long ago I shared with you the history behind my daughter’s bedroom furniture and why I will never paint it. I said that I believe there are times to paint furniture and times not to paint furniture and you were all so supportive of the fact that I had chosen to leave it in it’s original state.

Welp…I thought maybe since I had shared a time when I didn’t paint something I would balance things out by sharing with you a time that I did.

For awhile now I’ve been wrestling with a flower issue. I really, really love them. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted them all over this cabinet in our family room anymore. But where a lot of people wouldn’t hesitate to slap some paint on it, I felt conflicted. Because I remember when I found it and thought it was so perfect and meant to be and it fit the room like a glove. Of course, I felt that way in 1985 when I bought my first pair of acid washed jeans too.

I guess sometimes you just have to know when to let go.

I decided not to do anything dramatic. Just a soft, subtle change.

All it took was simply painting the paneled areas in a darker tone (DecoArt Americana Decor Chalky Finish in ‘Primitive’) to get the look I was going for. I’ll admit, I might have started panicking a bit when I started painting over the flowers.

But, I pressed on. And after a couple coats of paint, a bit of distressing and an antique wash (Americana Decor ‘deep brown’) over the top, I knew that I had made the right choice.

I know that there is great debate out there regarding painting furniture. Some people land on the “paint everything!” side while others think it’s practically a sin to ever take a paint brush to something.

But, like most things in life, I think it’s all about finding a balance.

And if you were to walk through my home you would see evidence of that balance all throughout.

There’s my daughter’s bedroom furniture, my grandmother’s china cabinet and several other pieces that will always remain unpainted mixed in with less sentimental pieces that I have no problem giving new life with a coat of paint.

But, at the end of the day, no matter which side you land on in the great paint debate you won’t find any judgement here.

Because everyone’s welcome at the picket fence!