Easiest way to prep wood which has (water based) varnish ready for painting (white)

[sedgiebaby]

I have some dark wood furniture (mirror frames, sconces) that are wood and I want to paint white....

some is waxed (I've got that figured out) the other is varnished with a dark stained water based varnish (IIRC) please advise on the most pain free way of preparing it so the paint will stick, one of the pieces is knotty, I could do without stripping the varnish, partly because I'm pregnant (the fumes) and partly because I'm an impatient soul! Thanks

Sedgie, can you find a supplier of this paint?

I've just discovered it (her shop is local to me) and it is BRILLIANT for painting furniture! Really easy to apply, to any surface, and such beautiful colours. You don't need to prep the wood at all (so great for impatient types): you just put on the chalk paint and then when it is dry add a coat of wax polish (she sells the polish in her shop, I guess other stockists would sell it too). Her website and book have all sorts of clever suggestions for distressing techniques e.g. one layer of one colour, a thinner layer of another, then wax, then sand a bit to distress and let the underneath colour show through, then wax again. I've done some nasty pine chairs and they look GREAT.

Sorry for long ramble - I am just very excited by this at the moment (sad I know). The only downside is that it becomes compulsive and you start looking around and seeing that you can paint pretty much anything in the house...

Thanks aquavit, sounds great, I'll check it out.

I've since done other research online and finding out lots of suggestions:

• ESP (which I have) then primer then under coat will do it,

• light sanding then primer 2 coats then eggshell,

• nothing for it but to strip back all varnish every trace :S (don't want to do this)

• no sanding, melamine primer then paint.

The varnish stripping of option I want to avoid (a pain, and nasty strong chemical stuff) and buying too many pots of stuff or it is going to make it a bit costly

If anyone else is able to confirm a way that works (no flaking/crackling/staining) that would be brilliant.

I'll check this chalk paint though....

I think that given what you're painting you don't need to worry too much about durability, because they won't get much wear and tear will they? (not like chairs or similar I mean) So as long as it's sanded smooth enough to take primer in the first place I reckon you'd be OK without taking off all the varnish.

But get the chalk paint if you can it is amazing!