Painting pine furniture

[withouttea]

We’ve got a pair of really ugly knotty pine chests of drawers. These date from an Ikea haul in 1998 before my first marriage (that makes me feel old) - so they aren’t anything fantastic. But somehow I love what they do - they are solid and hold so much stuff. We are renting at the moment and probably won’t buy again for a couple years yet, so I need to make these do for now - we aren’t in the ‘forever’ house. But they’re so ugly! What was my younger self THINKING?!

Are they paintable, do you think? I like light colours and my ideal, money-no-object house style would be Diane Keaton’s beach house in Something’s Got to Give.

I’m quite handy at DIY so willing to have a go. What do you think? What would look good?

[Martyngibson]

[Popchyk]

Yeah, sorry Martyn.

I accidentally duplicated a post on the other thread where someone was asking if anyone had ideas about painting pine furniture.

I am clearly not with it today.

[Martyngibson]

Popchky, you've linked to this thread!

[Popchyk]

There was this thread recently.

Might be helpful.

[GingerKitCat]

Love these transformations!

[withouttea]

Henrys that looks really good!

I'm going to do the chest of drawers in F&B eggshell - Purbeck Stone. I walked past the F&B shop in the deep snow a couple of days ago and unbelievably they were open, which I took as a sign to go in. They have gorgeous colours. Not bought the paint yet so if anyone knows where I could get a duplicate I'd be grateful.

[Henrysmycat]

I’ve just done that. With Annie Sloan and some elbow grease. It’s not finished yet and needs handles. Looks so much better and fresher. It was a cheap pine from 80’s, not some MCM design piece.

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

Those crackle glaze knobs would look lovely against your blue and grey furniture

[Martyngibson]

Pic!

[Martyngibson]

These were b and q knobs.

[withouttea]

Ketzele, it's matte I think, but who cares? If Shakespeare spelt his name different ways maybe we should all chill out about spelling. It was perfectly clear what you meant.

That's what I told myself yesterday when I noticed my DD (13) had written 'possitive'. She's good at English but her teacher described her spelling as 'hilarious'! Argh, after all those years doing spellings every Thursday morning!

Slight digression... sorry. Back to the painted pine....

[withouttea]

Annie Sloan varnish might be just what I need. Despite having only one hoyden, she makes her presence felt in terms of wear and tear.

I was ages in the AS shop getting free advice and she didn't mention varnish to me. This is why Mumsnet is genius. I learn so much. Thank you.

[Ketzele]

Annie Sloan also does a matte varnish which you can use instead of wax - it's much more hardwearing. (It's not completely matte - it has a slight sheen, but low level.) I used it over chalk paint on some hideously over-varnished restaurant chairs I bought for a fiver, and it has withstood the gentle attentions of my hoydens for a few years now.

Is it matte or matt? I've lost confidence in how to spell it.

[EnidButton]

Easily replaced or changed when you fancy. Good idea.

[withouttea]

Enid, yes, I lined the drawers too. I don't know that the wall paper will be all that hard wearing, but I suppose I can always collect a few more 'samples' from Wilco if it needs replacing. I stuck it down with double sided tape.

Virology, I have already phoned the local glass company for a quote for glass tops. What a great idea. I told the glass shop fella my DH can't be trained to use a coaster.

I have tried.

[EnidButton]

We have glass top coverings on our bedside tables. When we were replacing our old ones I was surprised at how finely scratched they were. They get more use than you think. The glass tops are really easy to clean and don't distract from the tables themselves.

[Popchyk]

That looks really good, OP.

[Vitalogy]

Some great transformations here.
Regarding the tops of these units, I have a local window fitting company that will cut glass to whatever size needed, saves the tops from getting marked/stained.

[loveka]

The Annie Sloan wax is brilliant and makes for a hardwearing finish.

The Rustoleum wax is a bag of old shite.

[EnidButton]

The feet and knobs actually look really good! It's works well with the grey/blue. Love the wallpaper in the back. Did you line the drawer too or are you leaving it?

Well done 👍🏻

[withouttea]

Ta da!!
I put the old knobs on for now - not time to get to Dunelm today. Actually I think the feet and knobs look reasonable, once the rest of it is toned down. I wallpapered the insides, too.

My back is sore but I'm rather proud - and will be doing more!

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

The Bun feet are pretty easy to paint.
The knobs are a bit big for my bedside table but at that price it was a no brainer. I've got a lamp with glass bead trim which looks nice with the knobs

[withouttea]

Breakfast those knobs are pretty! I have glass & chrome side lamps and they'd match nicely. I might just leave the bun feet off all together.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

You can sometimes get lovely ceramic drawer handles in tkmaxx and homesense. I got 6 for about £3, it’s definitely worth checking there if you want something a bit unusual.

[withouttea]

Love the pics you are posting - it's so good to see what's possible.