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pugmomma3

ideas to make this vintage vanity fun?

7 years ago
This vanity is 60 years old. Belonged to my mom and now my daughter. Ideas to make it fun for a 6 year old and ideas for reupholstering myself?

Comments (19)

  • 7 years ago
    Photos!
  • 7 years ago
    I can see the stool upholstered in a fun faux fur, then the vanity can be painted to coordinate. when my daughter was young, she wanted a jungle theme for her room. Her closet doors (2 bifolds) had each panel painted a different animal skin, 1 zebra, 1 giraffe, 1 tiger, and 1 elephant. It is only paint, and she will outgrow whatever you do soon enough. Have fun with whatever you decide to do.
  • 7 years ago

    Find a yard of fabric that she loves and use it for color inspiration.

  • 7 years ago
    following
  • 7 years ago
    Decoupage the draws, you can paint first. You tube it, so easy and effective
  • 7 years ago
    This is one I did for my daughter, I used lovely serviettes, pva glue, she loves it
  • 7 years ago

    That is so pretty, Irene! Great job.

    Upholstering the seat shouldn't be difficult, P. I agree a faux fur would be fun. The vanity looks good as is but could easily be painted. I've yet to try chalk paint but it gets rave reviews from DIYers. Enjoy the process and keep us posted! :)

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Here is a technique I often use on pieces. Paint it with several successive paint colors that will coordinate well with the rooms color scheme - perhaps red, white, pink, yellow and then make the final coat the color that you would like to see the most - maybe white. After the paint has dried and cured (and please let each successive coat also dry and cure) start rubbing the piece down with 220 grit sandpaper paying particular attention to edges and other places the paint would wear naturally. Vary the depth to which you penetrate the successive coats. This will reveal each coat as though the piece had been painted over time and has naturally worn. You can finish it off with a rub-on poly that will protect without producing a plastic look. Whatever you decide - good luck!

  • 7 years ago
    Irene where did you get that print from??
  • 7 years ago

    That sounds interesting, Norwood Architects. Any pics to share? I'd love to see how that looks.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    tartanmeup, I do have one piece at home that I've used this technique with. It's an cabinet from my grandmother's house. The other pieces I've either given away or put in storage. I will take a photo tonight an post for you. Keep in mind this is a rather rustic piece made from old pine and the paint picks up some of the wood grain.

  • 7 years ago

    Looking forward to seeing it, Norwood. Thanks!

  • 7 years ago

    Rather than decoupaging the outside, I would add colorful fun drawer liners instead. Coordinate them with the upholstered seat. That way, as your daughter gets older she will still like the simplicity of the vanity and she can easily change the paint color.

  • 7 years ago
    Check out the whimsical knobs at Anthropology. Cute!
  • 7 years ago
    P. I just picked out a nice serviette from a homeware shop, there are so many to choose from, I take the two layers off and use the top layer, there is a knack but easy and effective, practice first lol, I pva draw first and layer serviette on, (I rip the serviette not cut, so you have uneven edges, you don’t notice it when glued, then when it’s done, I coat the whole draw in pva glue, it dries clear and protects it. Old trunk and hat boxes I did
  • 7 years ago
    Wow Beth those are amazing! Was that a spray paint????
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    P, which? I posted the types of paint I used on each piece. all of them were done by hand. The blue one took 7 coats before I got that top smooth. sanded between each coat.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    tartanmeup, you'll have to forgive me for being tardy. Here is the cabinet I mentioned before. The photo doesn't do justice to the piece (I think) but I also intended for this cabinet to have more wood peaking thru than many of the pieces I've done. You can seethe mixture of paints (mainly blue and white on this one). You can also see how the distressing technique picked up a lot of the wood grain. Once again, sorry about being slow to post this. Good luck with your piece and please post after photos.