Allison didn't have to look very far to find these project pieces- her parents have owned them for over 36 years! Part of the bedroom set her parents got for their wedding, these nightstands lived in Allison's childhood home before making a move to her parents' cabin 10 years ago. When the cabin sold, these pieces came to Allison to work some makeover magic.
Solidly built pieces by Lane, these nightstands are dark and heavy; Allison herself calls them "ominous". In order to lighten and brighten these pieces, she painted them white, then used a glaze to bring out all the details of the intricate carving. Though the final product might not be to everyone's taste, this update does give these vintage pieces a new lease on life. Since my own mother has very similar furniture that dates back the early days of her marriage, I find myself inspired by this makeover detailed at Fab Rehab Creations: Ominous No More- now if only I can get Mom on board!
Image: Photos by Allison at Fab Rehab Creations.
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beautiful!
nothing is to everyone's taste. I, however, think these look great.
::rushes in before the wood purists::
i like this.
@Girl & Lamp - Clearly you don't get it...yet another childish "wood purists" comment from you. Please stop knocking so called "wood purists." Like it, dislike it, but please refrain from that behavior. These are the kind of pieces that should be painted. Well done Allison.
looks MUCH better!
Yes, definitely less ominous now that they look like tombstones.
I saw some similarly swirly furniture on Fab recently painted in silvers and jewel tones. I personally LOVE the solid colors instead of the dated wood.
Also, we all have different tastes. Lets celebrate those differences!
The pieces look better, though I wouldn't have done the glaze myself. I'd have let the details/carving speak for itself, that seems more modern to me.
Very pretty. I think they look nice both ways.
I found a similar table (through round) at a thrift store that I painted a creamy white. I never thought of using glaze to make the details stand out more.
I meant that I painted the table creamy white, of course--not the thrift store!
I had to giggle at the tombstone observation :D
well..hissss! I think they look much better. Meow!
They definitely look better, but I think I would have painted them a bright color instead of the white--they do look a little headstone for me.
usually like keeping wood as wood, but these were bad design from the get-go & treatment actually does them good. glaze allows it to hide in a schabby schic room. good save.
I play a little game before I hit a before and after - what would I do with them? I was picturing them painted black. Or maybe highlighting the carving with bright paint, New Mexico style.
The white/glaze will work well for some rooms. Would like to see them in their new habitat and how they work with the style of that room.
Not really liking them either way, but the white could work with some different knobs.
LOL @ai
Not generally a wood purist, and Im not saying I prefer them before, but I do think they had a certain charm. Dare I call them shabby chic now? Whatever they are now it works very well for them. Lol for the tombstones ;3
There's a good chance that the embellished fronts weren't even real wood. A lot of these things are a heavy, molded plastic.
The paint job is definitely an improvement, but I find it difficult to imagine a room for them. I'd have passed.
I play the what would I have done game, too. I came up blank on these.
Great reno on these. I would like to see crystal knobs on them to bump them up to more of a Hollywood Regency tone, maybe even small feet on the bottom or something like that. But I didn't think you'd be able to leave the original cabinet doors and have it look so good. Well done.
don't like. I think they'd look better with a dark grey flat or a black flat