Easy Way To Breathe New Life Into An Old Piece

About a year ago, my grandma downsized her house and gave me a boat load of furniture. This piece sure didn't scream "gorgeous" to me, but I just don't say no to my Nana.

I brought this guy home, where it sat for over a year, waiting for inspiration. I entered a contest in January, the purpose of which was to give an existing piece of furniture a "Fresh Start" using General Finishes Chalk Paint.

The first step was to remove all the hardware and prime with my favorite bullet proof primer. I know painted furniture isn't for everyone, and I respect that. Just as wood furniture isn't for me - especially when it's a cheapie veneer like this one. Thank goodness we're all different!

After priming, I used General Finishes Chalk Style paint to brighten up these detail spots. This was a labor of love - paint the blue. Smear blue on the white. Touch up the white, smear white on the blue. Wash, rinse, repeat.

The old hardware is on the left. I really love gilding everything I can get my hands on, and this hardware was no exception. Plus the bright shiny gold with that midnight blue - yum!

Added a bit more gold to tie everything together.

All done! I'm absolutely in LOVE with this little cabinet now. And the best part? I showed my Nana the final photos and she gave her stamp of approval, saying she loved what I did - that's the best result I could have asked for.

Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/13325553/easy-way-to-breathe-new-life-into-an-old-piece site