How to refinish my French provincial bedroom set.

13 years ago

Hi, I just found this website and I LOVE it. Anyway I just inherited a 60 year or older French provincial bedroom set. I want to change it a bit but still keep the French provincial look with a country flair. Help, how and what do I do? I love the pickling look. Thank you

Featured Answer

PRO

Fabulous Finishes Inc

13 years ago

What a lovely set - I have been finishing for years and work (and teach) with both CeCe Caldwell chalk and clay paints (100% green and created in the USA) and Caromal Colours paints - both are DIY friendly and allow you to start painting your set without sanding, stripping, priming - just clean your pieces and start painting! Check you my blog for ideas and play by play how to 's , I've even done a few you tube videos to help show technique. If I was painting your set i'd use the CeCe paints - their color choices are awesome... fabulousfinishes.wordpress.com

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (27)

Judy M
13 years ago
so many great photos available on this web site. Type "french style dresser" in the search box under "photos" for many ideas.
janishill
13 years ago
French grey
Related Professionals
Little Rock Interior Designers & Decorators · Springfield Interior Designers & Decorators · Elk City Interior Designers & Decorators · Clarksville Interior Designers & Decorators · Fall River Interior Designers & Decorators · New Bedford Interior Designers & Decorators · Portsmouth Interior Designers & Decorators · Helena Interior Designers & Decorators · Middletown Architects & Building Designers · Willmar Architects & Building Designers · Ithaca Architects & Building Designers · Valdosta Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Winona Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Akron Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Seattle Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
Katie Varga
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you, I really like that.
User
13 years ago
look at www.anniesloan.com for different ways to paint the furniture.
Jan May
13 years ago
What a beautiful dresser! Love it. I would keep the white underneath, rub a little wax along some of the edges - and then topcoat in a duck-egg blue, rubbing the edges lightly after where the wax was for a distressed look.
Laura Casey
13 years ago
I had the same dresser, along with night stands and mirror, it was all painted, in a sage/yellow green with a umber over glaze...loved it.....but even the Provincal gold, with umber over glaze in a red room...or visa versa......this is a WONDERFUL dresser!
feeny
13 years ago
Agree with patriciarhall to take a look at Annie Sloan chalk paint, both as a great product to use to paint furniture like this and for inspiration ideas from their photos. And I agree with Jan May that a duck-egg blue would be perfect for the dresser, helping to bring it more toward a shabby-chic, country style.
pupkit
13 years ago
I love the lacey look!
Vickie Price
13 years ago
ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT, clear wax, then dark wax and a little touch of the gold guilding wax. No priming, no sanding with this paint. It is AWESOME.
jwade1085
13 years ago
I purchased a similar set, painted mine slightly off white and replaced the knobs with clear glass, I did paint the tops in oil based paint so they would be more durable, the body is the same color paint in latex semi gloss. I have posted my before and after photos.
trixiemom
13 years ago
CeCe Caldwell paints are awesome, and durable!
Sheila
13 years ago
Hi paint it black, grey. dark bottom lighter top (less dusting) use the soft furnitings for colour. think toile fabric draps, etc.
Sheila
13 years ago
Hi paint it black, grey. dark bottom lighter top (less dusting) use the soft furnitings for colour. think toile fabric draps, etc.
elcieg
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Energy House · More Info

A beautiful color that you love...red, yellow, French blue. I just wouldn't use the mirror. Just a little dated. Try something else, in the feel, but not a match.
Paris Mansion Antiqued Gold Wall Mirror by Two's Company® · More Info
PRO
Stonecoat
13 years ago
Shaby Chic is the big thing in Europe at the moment, this means attacking it with wire wool and rubbing back the paint to the wood or undercoat. Very trendy aging the units gives them an antique look and unrenovated theme. http://www.pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk/2011/design-post/a-guide-to-shabby-chic-furniture-painting/
PRO
Mint Design
13 years ago
Here are some ideas with paint, decoupage , and chalk paint. Hope they help! You can get some great looks because you piece has great lines! Have fun with it and let us see what you do! :)
PRO
Corinne Madias
13 years ago
We have done 3 of these that have turned out great.Distressing is more work. Spray finish with a compressor after a light sanding, search painted furniture for ideas. Gray is awesome. If you paint gray and then sand off some for white to show through then seal the whole thing.
PRO
Corinne Madias
13 years ago
love french dresser!!
decoenthusiaste
13 years ago
Maybe you should just "funk" it up for fun! These repro's aren't the real thing anyway, so play a bit!
Michelle's Master Bedroom. · More Info
dcer
13 years ago
I love the french gray idea, and chalk paint would take it to another level.
Lorraine Aldridge-Ey
13 years ago
First check the construction of the drawer heads. My mother-in-law's chest of drawers looks similar but is from the 1960/70s. The drawer heads on her set are plastic not wood.
scharonhowe
11 years ago
By any chance does anyone know where I can buy stencils to make a chest like the one
promoting a cacao product?
Depo
11 years ago
Try royaldesignstudio.com
PRO
Angeline Tellerman
11 years ago
Dress it up with some funky hardware!
Laura Harris
11 years ago
If it is true wood under the paint. I suggest you strip the paint down then stain it in the color you like. This is one way to keep the french provincial look with a natural wood country look.
apple_pie_order
11 years ago
Post is two years old.