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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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August 21, 2013

Spray painting furniture…fresh look for an old piece

refreshing furniture with spray paint

 I didn’t think much about it.

I would pass it every time I walked in the front door.  It sat nestled in the corner of her foyer.  Fairly unobtrusive in it’s light beige-y green color (that my father had painted  for her long ago.)  It wasn’t some glorious antique or primitive piece.  Just a simple bookcase. Full of old books and knick knacks and adorned with simple hardware that had long ago forgotten what it was.

refreshing furniture with spray paint (before)
I didn’t think much about it. 

Until she was gone.  Then every bit and piece  in her house became a treasure.  A way to possess a part of her.  We all wanted something to remember her by.  To keep her close. It might have been a plate, or photographs.  Some took letters full of precious memories.  I’m not sure if anyone took the gloves she slept in every night to keep her hands soft. 🙂

I was blessed enough to live close by, and so I was given the piece that had sat nestled in the foyer. I loved it just like it was.  Peeling veneer, tarnished hardware. A few spots that appeared to be rust and the glass slipping ever so slightly away from the doors.

I kept it like it was for a long time.  Full of the same books and I would remember her home and her.  But, then we moved.  and it just wasn’t quite working anymore.  The old girl needed a facelift.  I didn’t want to shove her in the basement or in some forgotten corner upstairs.  She needed to shine again! It was time to showoff how beautiful she really was under the peeling paint, and tarnish and rust.

refreshing furniture with spray paint

So she was transformed into a piece that sits proudly in my own foyer.  Not nestled in a corner but with a place of honor right at the front door.

It was super easy…..

tips for refreshing furniture with spray paint

Gluing down broken pieces, a good cleaning and light sanding.  A can or two or three of Indigo Streamer Primer and Paint In One using several light coats, because sometimes spray painting furniture is okay! grin!

Some Brasso, okay a lot of Brasso, to uncover gorgeous brass hardware and new adhesive to keep in place perpetually falling out glass doors.

refreshing furniture with spray paint

Mirror tiles from Lowe’s Home Improvement were placed along the back of the shelves, because after all this dolled up gal needed a little more glitz and glamor.

and here’s the deal…..I know my Nana would love it! See, she was all about  beauty, she was the most beautiful woman I’ve known, and she would be so thrilled to see her bookcase with it’s fresh coat of paint and shiny brass pulls and knobs.  I know she would LOVE the color, because she was also spunky!

And this old gal is most definitely spunky now!

Refreshing furniture with spray paint (before and after)

Yep she would have liked it…a lot! 

accessorizing a bookcase on a budget
In fact, if she were still here I think she would try and take it back! I cherish everything that was given to me from her home. More importantly I cherish everything she gave me that you can’t see….because really, those are the best gifts she could have left us!

Love you Nana…

refreshing old furniture with spray paintsignature

PS…HERE ARE THE THREE WINNERS OF THE MIKASA PLACE SETTING OF CHOICE GIVEAWAY!!

Screen Shot 2013-08-22 at 8.14.09 AM
Randi Dukes
Anna Mosley
Katie Kimsey

I will contact you directly so you can claim your win!

41 Comments Filed Under: DIY, Family, Good Ideas Tagged With: DIY, painting furniture, spray paint, spray paint projects

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Comments

  1. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    August 22, 2013 at 5:34 AM

    Beautiful, Heather! It does sound like your Nana would have loved what you did to it. The hardware came out great, too. I will have to remember Brasso.

    Reply
  2. Vicki Shead says

    August 22, 2013 at 6:28 AM

    Love your transformation! And your devotion to you Nana! I miss and think of my Nana often too. She was quite spunky too! Love the blue, love the mirror, love the owls! Love YOU!

    Reply
  3. Beth@Unskinny Boppy says

    August 22, 2013 at 6:40 AM

    Wow! I have never spraypainted furniture before, but I’m thinking it’s time to give it a whirl. Love that story of your grandma’s treasures. I have a few of those as well, and they mean the world to me.

    Reply
  4. Soiledrotten says

    August 22, 2013 at 7:21 AM

    That blue is pure bliss. Have to try it : )Great job!

    Reply
  5. Sandy says

    August 22, 2013 at 7:32 AM

    I love the blue and you have given me the courage to spray paint a small end table, a treasure from my grandmother. Thank you!

    Reply
  6. Kathryn smith says

    August 22, 2013 at 8:01 AM

    This piece had me from the very first pic. I love the blue. You did a fantastic job. I may have to do something in that glorious color. Thank you for sharing, and keeping this great piece alive.

    Reply
  7. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    August 22, 2013 at 8:12 AM

    Wow…gorgeous…I love the color and how wonderful it must be to enter your home and see that beauty!!…
    and congrats to the winners!

    Reply
  8. Lori@VintageCharmRestored says

    August 22, 2013 at 8:30 AM

    It is absolutely a beautiful color!! So rich and elegant!!

    Reply
  9. Sharon says

    August 22, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    I LOVE that color. It is so striking. Adding the mirror backing was a great touch. Beautiful bookcase, beautiful story.

    Reply
  10. Angelina-JoJo and Eloise says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:02 AM

    This is Absolutely precious. I LOVE the sentiment and value that this piece holds. More importantly hearing the LOVE in your heart for your precious Nana. A priceless treasure. I {{Giggled}} on the part about the gloves. My Grandma was just like that 😉 LOVE the color, LOVE the piece and LOVE the Story 🙂
    xoxo

    Reply
  11. Lisa says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:10 AM

    I completely understand where you are coming from in this post. I have a couple of pieces from my grandmothers home and I have spruced them up a little. I can also see my Gma wanting them back. On another note, it never occurred to me to use spray paint and Brasso to clean up the hardware. Brilliant!

    Reply
  12. Ellen says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:10 AM

    That looks amazing & any Nana would be proud! I can never get my spray paint to turn out that well. I may be using too heavy of a trigger finger. Fantastic burst of color & I might have to steal the mirror idea.

    Reply
  13. Sharon B. says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:12 AM

    Beautiful, that’s all I have to say about this! All of it, the story, the bookshelf, the accessories.

    Reply
  14. Anna says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    I love it! I love the bright blue, I wouldn’t be brave enough to pick that color but it looks fabulous!

    Anna

    Reply
  15. Colleen says

    August 22, 2013 at 10:22 AM

    What an amazing transformation and I love how you have accessorized it! I want to go paint something bold now too!

    Reply
  16. Angela says

    August 22, 2013 at 11:48 AM

    Beautiful color! Love the mirrors!! I’m sure your Nana is smiling!!~~Angela

    Reply
  17. Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says

    August 22, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    Great transformation! I have my Nana’s gossip bench in my entry, in its original condition, I think you have given me the courage to spruce it up and renew its glory – I think my Nana would like that too…I had the greatest Nana and I miss her too! Someday I hope I get to be a Nana and be as good at it as she was!

    Reply
  18. Shannon @Fox Hollow Cottage says

    August 22, 2013 at 1:54 PM

    What a fun, electric blue! Really great impact piece and that brass looks amazing! Really amazing 🙂

    Reply
  19. MDR says

    August 22, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    You’re right Heather. Nana would have loved the “new” bookshelf! And, she probably would have asked for it back!!! She really loved you and your sister! What a lady! Mom (and Dad)

    Reply
  20. Jenny@thelavendermagnolia says

    August 22, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    Heather,

    I am always for a pop of color in a room. It looks great! Lately I am really into deep blue combined with gold, so I LOVE the color you chose, especially with the shiny brass hardware. Your Nana would only care that you treasure the piece, not what color it is or how you use it.

    Reply
  21. Debbie says

    August 23, 2013 at 3:43 AM

    I love treasured old pieces. I loved that piece in its chippy phase and think it makes a great, contemporary statement all painted up. Great job on the handles, by the way. I had to paint some of mine for a piece because I couldn’t get them to polish up. Should have tried the brasso.

    Reply
  22. Laura@live-love-scrap says

    August 23, 2013 at 8:06 PM

    This turned out so beautiful! I absolutely love the color!! Such a beautiful tribute to your Nana. I think it’s cute that you said she’d try to take it back if she was still here. . . sounds like my Nana:)

    Reply
  23. Jennifer @ Celebrating Everyday Life says

    August 24, 2013 at 7:08 AM

    SWOON! I totally love the color and I’m delighted with how you share all the details of how you accessorized the bookcase too!! LOVE, LOVE this post!!!!

    Reply
  24. Miss Charming says

    August 24, 2013 at 8:35 AM

    Aside from the color change, you gave the cabinet a totally new look. So stylish and pretty! (I love the idea of using the mirrored tiles, too!)

    Reply
  25. k says

    August 24, 2013 at 9:38 PM

    I love the bold color!
    Karee

    Reply
  26. Helen says

    August 25, 2013 at 8:29 AM

    Heather, what lovely memories you shared with us of your grandmother. I used to be concerned with whether my grands might want to paint furniture that I would never consider painting. Well, all you ladies who paint have taught me that it’s a wonderful honor to have a piece that your loved ones can enjoy in their home after you’re gone. For example the cherry bedroom furniture that my parents bought new for me at age 10! In the past couple of months, I’ve decided it will be a great honor that they want it and that they enjoy it regardless of the color. Thanks, Helen

    Reply
  27. Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline says

    August 25, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    What a lovely story and what a beautiful restoration/redo. My Grandmothers both passed away when I was younger. I don’t have anything from my Dad’s Mom but I have my Mom’s Mother’s Handwritten/newspaper clipped cookbook, a few linens and her wedding picture. I treasure them all.

    Reply
  28. Loribeth says

    September 3, 2013 at 8:34 PM

    It’s lovely that you took the time to make your Nana’s cabinet beautiful again. Given how the bottom of it looked, I’m sure there are some people who wouldn’t have bothered to give it a second life. I think some people are intimidated when repairs are needed, which is a shame, because look at what you did. You took a lovely, quaint little piece and turned it into a show-stopper! I’m sure your Nana would approve!

    Reply
  29. Judy says

    September 6, 2013 at 6:20 PM

    Heather you really did a beautiful job with this piece. Bravo!

    Reply
  30. P.B. says

    March 11, 2014 at 11:35 AM

    Nice that you speak of your Nana so nicely. Your dresser is beautiful!

    Reply
  31. WEST FURNITURE REVIVAL says

    May 14, 2014 at 11:38 AM

    LOVE YOUR CABINET THE COLOR IS GORGEOUS, I WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE IT, IF THAT WOULD BE OK PLEASE LET ME KNOW
    LAUREN

    Reply
  32. Ambassador Painting Home Painters Denver says

    July 1, 2014 at 12:42 PM

    Ahaa, its good conversation about this paragraph here at this webpage,
    I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting at this place.

    Reply
  33. Joanna says

    August 12, 2014 at 8:03 PM

    Hi! What brand and color is the spray paint did you use on this? I need to buy it!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      August 13, 2014 at 4:51 PM

      Hi Joana, it’s Valspar Indigo Streamer Primer and Paint Combo. Let me know if you have any other questions! 🙂 Heather

      Reply
  34. Andrea says

    August 27, 2014 at 4:27 PM

    Girl, you got me over here crying. The piece is beautiful. I am obsessed with owls and green is my favorite color…

    Reply
  35. Jamie Rice says

    June 15, 2016 at 8:27 PM

    Okay, that’s it! I am officially chalk painting some ugly old wood furniture in my house! Thanks!

    Reply

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