This lovely cabinet was originally displayed as the beauty she is, below. Recently, I updated her with some transfers. You can see more updated photos below.
Isn’t this beauty huge!?!
She was found at Restore, Habitat For Humanity. I needed a statement piece for my new decor change in my family room. This fit the need for sure! Listed at $250, I thought it was a bargain considering anything new this size would cost 4-5 times as much and may not be made as well. Little did I know, this piece had a sale sticker, 75% off! Now that’s a true bargain, right?
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This pine beauty has a lot going on inside. She has a pull out counter, a storage drawer, a place to hang wine glasses, lights, a wine rack and storage below. As well as with a mirror on the back wall. I was so excited to get it home and clean it up.
I worked on it day and night, I was so excited to finish this piece. I cleaned it up and put on a coat of B.O.S.S. for better coverage and any possible bleed through. Believe me, it saves any additional steps later. You can read more about bleed through here.
After The Primer
After the primer, I used a drop cloth chalk mineral paint by Dixie Belle, then a grunge gray glaze on top. With some light distressing, the hardware finished with rub-n-buff patina, I’m loving the results. Elegance achieved!
The original hardware was gold. Then I put silver run-n-buff on it, which then made me think of the patina. I love the patina hardware better.
Some products used for this project:
- White Lightning for cleaning your surface
- B.O.S.S. to help with bleed or mold and odors
- Rub-n-Buff wax metallic for finishing accents
- Shop Rags for easy cleaning
Bring On The Transfer
UPDATE: So I wanted to fancy this lady up a little and thought some transfers would do the trick. After the first one was on, I thought ‘wow, this will be nice’ then as I went along I did the “OMG!!, what did I do?” Ha! Then I started to like it again. With the final transfer rubbed on, I was hooked! This needs to happen more often. It’s easy and fun. You can find similar transfers here.
APPLICATION: Transfers come on a clear sheet of film. The sheets normally come with a wooden applicator, like a tongue depressor. As you can see in the photo below, you simply place the transfer in the area you’d like it and use the applicator to rub it on. You can tell it’s applying when the clear film starts to pull away from the transfer art.
This, is Antionette. Which means ‘invaluable’, in latin. She is very useful. What do you think of her?
Do it with purpose!
beautiful things, even if nobody cares!”
-Saul Bass
No sanding?
Hi Kathy!
No, I did not sand this piece. Only because I used a primer to help with better coverage and any bleeding. I cleaned the piece really well before applying the primer, let that dry and paint!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I thought when you were applying the transfer you were going to put the whole transfer in that spot. To me it looks a little sparce, I think some leaves and more branches would have filled it more, being that it is such a big piece, but then again to each his own, thank you for sharing your work I hope you continue to revive the furniture, I to have work to do.
Hi Patricia, thank you for your opinion. I do value everyone’s ideas and comments. I guess I’m more of the ‘less is more’ type, haha. But I can see how more branches and leaves would look nice as well. Since reading your comment I keep looking at this piece in my living room thinking, “maybe I should add more”. Now it will bug me. Haha.
I’m still reviving the furniture. Thank you so much for visiting my website!
Outstanding. Love it as is. More transfers would make it look to cheap and busy. As you say to each her own.
Hi Helen!
Thank you so much for visiting my blog, I appreciate your kind words. Isn’t she grand?! It’s a huge statement piece in my home and I get many compliments on it.
Have a wonderful day!
Las transferencias me fascinan!!!
Te permite combinaciones creando..
Thanks for visiting, Helen! Have you tried using transfers yourself? I love them as well, they give a nice look to furniture and home decor. Have a great day!
Love it. I just spray painted a metal file cabinet and now am gun shy re adding my transfers. I used a Krylon paint and primer combo spray. My transfers say to use a water based sealer but I have read in some places to seal before and after transfers. Any opinion about the before and after question and what water base sealer would you recommend? Also my transfers did not come with a rubbing tool. Is there something I can easily pick up that might do. Wooden spatula?
Hi Teresa, thank you! Personally, I like to put my transfers on the painted piece. Sealing first would help in adhering the transfer quicker, in my experience, but I do not believe its totally necessary. I would definitely seal after, of course. I’ve used wax, but I mainly use the Dixie Belle Clear Coat Satin (you could use flat or gloss, your preference). You can use any top coat. A wooden spatula would do the trick for the transfer! Thanks for coming to my blog. Happy to help or answer any questions. Feel free to email me as well.
I love your piece! Where did you get the birds transfer? I’m a huge bird lover too!
Hi Marilyn, thank you so much for visiting my blog post. Isn’t this piece grand!?! I found the bird transfers at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. I love birds, I use them a lot on home decor.
Lovely piece! What color paints did you use on this piece? I have a bedroom suite I need to paint & and want something neutral with definition.
Hello Rebecca!
Thank you so much, I appreciate that. I used the Dixie Belle Fluff and the Grunge Glaze over top to the entire piece. I used Rub-n-buff on the hardware. I just painted right over them with the primer, then used the metallic. I started with the silver, but didn’t like it much. Then used the patina. Feel free to email me with any other questions. Thanks for visiting my blog! xo
Beautiful decorative painting on your armoire! It is an inspiration piece for me. Would you please explain your process for the antique shade over the base coat as well as the blue trim.
Hello Yvonne!
Thank you so much, I appreciate your kind words.
I apologize for the lack of information on this post. I’m having a technical issue that is being worked on.
For this piece I used an off-white base color, then applied a gray glaze. I applied it in sections, wiping off and moving to the next section. You can wipe back with a wet cloth if you apply too much. For the time I used a product Rub-n-Buff in the patina color. The birds are a transfer that I rubbed on. Please feel free to email me with any other questions I can help with. wendyweckerly @ gmail.com
Thank you, again.