Would you paint this?

ViolaMum · 08-04-2016, 03:34 PM

My living room is small, and bland. I've been looking for ways to make it look nicer and since we need a new TV cabinet I was looking for something that would make a statement and liven things up. I ran a few ideas by dh, just thinking out loud.

DH was talking to a friend at church who is downsizing and offered him their bedroom tv cabinet. They showed up that next Saturday with it in their truck.
It's a beautiful Ethan Allen armoire in absolutely perfect condition, not a scratch, only a few years old. It's the perfect size and scale for our living room.

The only problem is that the finish just looks awful in our living room. My tastes run to the modern, maybe mid-century look. We have black leather, light woods, and white bookcases. This bookcase is a rich, dark brown. It's fairly clean-lined transitional (I think?) style, though so I think it is easily transformed. I would like to do something along these lines - paint the outside white, create a diagonal or chevron design on the doors and paint them either dark, or distressed.

But I'm scared to do it! I've only refinished thrift store finds that I paid under $100 for. This is really nice furniture. Someone else I'm sure would love it just as is! Dh doesn't care. He said to do what makes me happy. He's fine with re-staining, painting, or passing it on to somebody else if I don't want it.

Help! I need advice!

2sunshines · 08-04-2016, 03:39 PM

Are you confident enough in your ability to end up with a good result? If so I'd go for it.

ViolaMum · 08-04-2016, 03:44 PM

I think if I take my time and don't rush things, I can do a nice job.

marbles · 08-04-2016, 06:59 PM

I say paint it! But start simple, try it out the simplest way first and see if you still want to do the pattern. But I've never painted furniture before, so take that with a large grain of salt.

ViolaMum · 08-04-2016, 07:17 PM

So, the fact that it's a really nice, perfectly good piece of furniture doesn't really matter? That's the part that makes me nervous. I'm pretty sure I couldn't afford this armoire new. It's only a few years old. Do you REALLY paint something like that? Or am I hung up on the wrong things?

twoplustwo · 08-04-2016, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViolaMum

So, the fact that it's a really nice, perfectly good piece of furniture doesn't really matter? That's the part that makes me nervous. I'm pretty sure I couldn't afford this armoire new. It's only a few years old. Do you REALLY paint something like that? Or am I hung up on the wrong things?

I think I need to see it as it is before I give my official opinion.

But my initial reaction is I think as long as no one has an emotional attachment to it (like the originals owners aren't going to be sad AND it's an expensive piece) - I think you can go ahead and paint it if that is what you want.

Even if its pricey - it will still wear and tear over time. So why not get what you want now rather than suffer with what you don't like only to have it show wear and get painted in 10 years anyway. Or not, but it's still yours and you can always have it restored someday if you want to hand it down and your kids want it original.

marbles · 08-04-2016, 08:30 PM

Ok yes it's expensive but you don't love it. What's the point of the niceness of it if you don't like it? Just because something costs a lot of money doesn't mean everyone should like it as is. If you had bought it for cheap at a thrift store, wouldn't you high five yourself for such a good find and paint it? So high five yourself and paint it!

2sunshines · 08-05-2016, 02:29 AM

I agree. Now mind you, *I* wouldn't paint it only because I'm not confident in my ability that the end result would look good.

BUT if I have better abilities, I would have no qualms about painting it to make it a better fit for my home.

That said, I do think that we need a picture of it to make a final determination.

knitlove · 08-05-2016, 03:42 AM

I agree paint it. If you found it cheap at good will or free on the side of the road you would paint it. But yes I want pictures.

The only thing I see as maybe an issue is that being so new is that you will have to spend longer on preparing the service to get the factory finish off so the wood will take the paint.

ViolaMum · 08-05-2016, 06:06 AM

ugggh. I was afraid you guys were going to ask for pictures . . . . . .

I'll try to figure it out

Soliloquy · 08-05-2016, 02:25 PM

Yes, paint it! I wouldn't want to do all the prep work and I wouldn't want to do the chevron detail, but I'd paint it white! We have similar decorating colors. White, black, grey. Minimal wood.

bananacake · 08-05-2016, 03:20 PM

Text the pics to me and I'll post them!

08-04-2016, 03:34 PM	#1
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Would you paint this? My living room is small, and bland. I've been looking for ways to make it look nicer and since we need a new TV cabinet I was looking for something that would make a statement and liven things up. I ran a few ideas by dh, just thinking out loud. DH was talking to a friend at church who is downsizing and offered him their bedroom tv cabinet. They showed up that next Saturday with it in their truck. It's a beautiful Ethan Allen armoire in absolutely perfect condition, not a scratch, only a few years old. It's the perfect size and scale for our living room. The only problem is that the finish just looks awful in our living room. My tastes run to the modern, maybe mid-century look. We have black leather, light woods, and white bookcases. This bookcase is a rich, dark brown. It's fairly clean-lined transitional (I think?) style, though so I think it is easily transformed. I would like to do something along these lines - paint the outside white, create a diagonal or chevron design on the doors and paint them either dark, or distressed. But I'm scared to do it! I've only refinished thrift store finds that I paid under $100 for. This is really nice furniture. Someone else I'm sure would love it just as is! Dh doesn't care. He said to do what makes me happy. He's fine with re-staining, painting, or passing it on to somebody else if I don't want it. Help! I need advice! __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

08-04-2016, 03:39 PM	#2
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,024	Re: Would you paint this? Are you confident enough in your ability to end up with a good result? If so I'd go for it. __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

08-04-2016, 03:44 PM	#3
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: Would you paint this? I think if I take my time and don't rush things, I can do a nice job. __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

08-04-2016, 06:59 PM	#4
marbles Rose Garden Our Family Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,047	Re: Would you paint this? I say paint it! But start simple, try it out the simplest way first and see if you still want to do the pattern. But I've never painted furniture before, so take that with a large grain of salt. __________________ Mary K wife to Daniel for 16 years mom to 13 year old the Girl and 11 year old the Boy and 8 year old Tiny Almost always posting from my phone.

08-04-2016, 07:17 PM	#5
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: Would you paint this? So, the fact that it's a really nice, perfectly good piece of furniture doesn't really matter? That's the part that makes me nervous. I'm pretty sure I couldn't afford this armoire new. It's only a few years old. Do you REALLY paint something like that? Or am I hung up on the wrong things? __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

08-04-2016, 08:30 PM	#7
marbles Rose Garden Our Family Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,047	Re: Would you paint this? Ok yes it's expensive but you don't love it. What's the point of the niceness of it if you don't like it? Just because something costs a lot of money doesn't mean everyone should like it as is. If you had bought it for cheap at a thrift store, wouldn't you high five yourself for such a good find and paint it? So high five yourself and paint it! __________________ Mary K wife to Daniel for 16 years mom to 13 year old the Girl and 11 year old the Boy and 8 year old Tiny Almost always posting from my phone.

08-05-2016, 02:29 AM	#8
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,024	Re: Would you paint this? I agree. Now mind you, I wouldn't paint it only because I'm not confident in my ability that the end result would look good. BUT if I have better abilities, I would have no qualms about painting it to make it a better fit for my home. That said, I do think that we need a picture of it to make a final determination. __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

08-05-2016, 03:42 AM	#9
knitlove Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle area Posts: 21,260	Re: Would you paint this? I agree paint it. If you found it cheap at good will or free on the side of the road you would paint it. But yes I want pictures. The only thing I see as maybe an issue is that being so new is that you will have to spend longer on preparing the service to get the factory finish off so the wood will take the paint. __________________ Wife to a wonderful DH for 19 years. Momma to my 29 weeker Early Bird who is thirteen and my little Wiggle Worm born 33 weeks who is nine. How do I have a teenager?! I don't feel ready for this.

08-05-2016, 06:06 AM	#10
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: Would you paint this? ugggh. I was afraid you guys were going to ask for pictures . . . . . . I'll try to figure it out __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

08-05-2016, 02:25 PM	#11
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Would you paint this? Yes, paint it! I wouldn't want to do all the prep work and I wouldn't want to do the chevron detail, but I'd paint it white! We have similar decorating colors. White, black, grey. Minimal wood.

08-05-2016, 03:20 PM	#12
bananacake Rose Garden I Am A BananaCake Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast US Posts: 25,124	Re: Would you paint this? Text the pics to me and I'll post them! __________________ Brenna 3 kiddos (16 1/2, 14 & 9) Praying for semi-son, age 35 I live by the motto: seek first to understand. "Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Proverbs 18:2

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