I FOUND THIS TRASHED FRENCH PROVINCIAL DRESSER AND TURNED IT INTO A NAUTICAL BEAUTY | YOUTUBE VIDEO COMING THIS SATURDAY!
Hello creative friends and thanks for joining Trashy Treasures Tuesday! We’ve given our creative group a NEW name and fresh NEW look, but you’ll still find inspiring before and after makeovers on the second Tuesday of every month! I can’t wait to see what my TTT crew has been up to and I’ll be sharing links to their before and afters at the bottom of today’s post. I hope you join in too!
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Now for my trashy treasures makeover – real trash! I found this French Provincial Dresser roadside and put on the brakes to pull over. I had to pick it up because I have a soft spot for FP furniture, even though it looked like a hot mess. I posted this before video on Facebook of how I found it on the street.
Even though it looked junky – structurally it was in excellent condition.
And it’s a solid wood piece!
WHAT IS THE BEST COLOR FOR FRENCH PROVINCIAL FURNITURE?
The best color for French Provincial furniture depends on your personal style, existing decor, and whether you like a more traditional or contemporary look. Because this piece is solid wood, I debated whether to paint it or strip it down. Because of timing, I opted to paint it in a classic blue. However, some other classic and popular color choices for French Provincial furniture include:
- White or Cream: Light and neutral tones like white or cream are traditional choices for French Provincial furniture. They create a timeless and elegant look, allowing the intricate details of the furniture to stand out.
- Soft Pastels: Soft pastel colors such as light blue, pale pink, or soft green or yellows can add a touch of subtle color while maintaining a feminine vibe commonly associated with the French Provincial style.
- Black and Gray: Classic black and shades of gray can provide a more modern and sophisticated look to French Provincial furniture. They work well as neutrals and blend in with various color palettes.
- Natural Wood: Natural wood tones with a light wash are also popular for French Provincial furniture. It gives a natural and upscale appearance, enhancing the vintage charm of the pieces.
Ultimately, the best color for your French Provincial furniture will be a color YOU LOVE!
HOW TO MAKE FRENCH PROVINCIAL FURNITURE LOOK MODERN?
Transforming French Provincial furniture to give it a modern look is easy. Here are some ideas to make French Provincial furniture look modern:
- Paint or Refinish: Update the color of the furniture with a modern and sleek finish. Consider using bold or neutral colors, or even experimenting with a two-tone approach. High-gloss finishes can also add a contemporary touch.
- Mix with Modern Pieces: Combine French Provincial furniture with modern, minimalist pieces. For example, pair a classic French Provincial dresser with sleek, modern hardware or incorporate contemporary art and accessories in the same space.
- Update Upholstery: If your French Provincial furniture has upholstered elements, consider re-upholstering with modern fabrics or patterns. Opt for solid colors or subtle prints that align with contemporary design aesthetics.
- Simplify Details: French Provincial Furniture is known for its intricate detailing. To modernize the look, consider simplifying some of the ornate elements. For instance, streamline the hardware, remove excessive carvings, or choose cleaner lines.
- Metallic Accents: Introduce metallic elements to add a touch of modernity. Consider incorporating chrome, brushed nickel, or brass accents in hardware, legs, or decorative elements. This can create a nice contrast with the classic French Provincial style.
- Neutral Color Palette: Stick to a neutral color palette with a focus on whites, grays, blacks, and natural tones. This creates a clean and timeless look.
- Monochromatic: Create a monochromatic look by painting the classic French Provincial hardware the same color as the piece. This creates a more contemporary design element.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ideas until you find a look that suits your taste.
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WHAT YOU’LL NEED
French Provincial Dresser – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Shop Towels
Bosch Sander
Water Misting Bottle
Paint Brushes
Nautical Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint
Embroidered Lotus Transfer
HOW TO PAINT A FRENCH PROVINCIAL DRESSER
Here’s how this French Provincial dresser all came together…
CLEANING
I started by giving this dresser a super good cleaning. I sprayed it with White Lightning Cleaner and used a Dollar Store brush and sponge to get into all the crevices. I used another spray bottle and sponge with clean water to wipe off all the cleaner residue. Then I left it in my paint room to dry.
SANDING
Once the dresser was dry I hand-sanded the drawers, body, and handles with a 120-grit sandpaper. I’ve been asked the difference between brand-name sandpaper and dollar-store sandpaper. Below is a pic that demonstrates the difference. The cheap dollar-store sandpaper tears very easily. And it doesn’t last as long. I had some leftovers in a package hanging around for years and didn’t want to waste it. But I don’t bother buying it anymore.
PAINTING WITH NAUTICAL
NOW onto the FUN PART! I painted this dresser in this gorgeous blue called Nautical. It’s part of the Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint line so no priming was required as it’s included in the formula. It also has the topcoat included so it’s a huge time saver!
I wanted a monochromatic look so I painted right over the handles. Because French Provincial hardware has a lot of details, I pounced the brush-up and down to get full coverage on these handles. A cheap brush may not hold up during this technique so be sure to use a quality paint brush when painting hardware like this. Once the paint is pounced in all the details, then I take the brush and smooth out the hardware paint and the area around the handle. I’ll share more on this Saturday’s Youtube video so you can see this in action.
This dresser was painted two coats of Nautical for full coverage.
DRAWER DETAIL – FLORAL TRANSFER
I took a page from my talented friend Christy from Confessions Of A Serial DIY’er. Christy always has the BEST surprise details on the inside of her drawers, shelves, and box makeovers like she did on this french provincial dresser here.
The drawers on this dresser were immaculate once all cleaned up so I didn’t want to touch the inside, but the sides of the drawers provided a perfect canvas for some gorgeous florals.
I used one of my favorite Belles and Whistles transfers called Embroidered Lotus. They are easy to apply:
- Remove the design from the back sheet.
- Place it onto the side of the drawer.
- Use the stick to rub the transfer design on.
- Pull up the plastic sheet once adhered.
- Burnish the design onto the drawer.
FRENCH PROVINCIAL DRESSER *AFTER*
Here’s the finished look.
I love this Nautical Blue and the monochromatic look. What do you think of this color?
Painting it all in one tone gives a more modern look. But oopsie, I think I missed a few spots under the top lip. This piece was too large to flip so I should have paid extra attention to the underside.
And remember the top…
Check out how smooth and lovely she is now…
SHARE TO PINTEREST FOR LATER 🥰
I have to say this paint self-levels beautifully even when being brushed on.
And for the fun side details, these florals add the finishing touch!
This puts a smile on my face every time I open a drawer.
I’m super happy with how this dresser all came together and I’m also curious as to how it would look in raw wood. The nice thing about these quality pieces is they can be refinished and restyled over and over again. Feel free to chime in if you’d like a one-dresser two-looks on this one!
YOUTUBE TUTORIAL
Here’s the full step-by-step YouTube tutorial. Our #siyoutubefamily is already a community of 44K so don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t done so already! So exciting, thank YOU! 🙂
And now for some Trashy Treasures FUN!
You’re going to LOVE what my creative Trashy Treasures ladies do! 🙂 Below are the BEFORE photos. Visit the links underneath to see the amazing AFTERS and learn how they did it! I’m heading over to take a peek as well! x
1. CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL DIYER
2. ARTSY CHICKS RULE
3. SALVAGED INSPIRATIONS (HAPPY YOU’RE HERE!)
4. PRODIGAL PIECES
Here’s another look at this trashy treasure French Provincial before and after. I hope it’s inspired you and given you some ideas for your painted furniture projects!
Wishing you a fabulous week and I’ll see you back here on Saturday with the full step-by-step video.
Let me know what you think of this French Provincial Dresser makeover or feel free to ask any questions you may have. I always love hearing from you, it makes my day! 🙂
Happy painting my friends!
Denise x
RELATED POSTS::
HOW TO BLEND \ FRENCH PROVINCIAL
APPLIQUES FOR FRENCH PROVINCIAL DRESSER
ROADSIDE RESTYLED CLASSIC FRENCH PROVINCIAL
2 BEST WAYS TO PAINT LAMINATE FP DRESSER
7 TIPS FOR BLENDING PAINT
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I love Nautical! I want to redo our bedroom furniture in it but my husband thinks it’s too dark. I don’t think so, I think it’s perfect!
I’m on your side Jill, it would be STUNNING on bedroom furniture!😃
Hi Denise! I thought Nautical was a lot darker. It’s a very pretty color. I guess the one color pieces are in style now. Thank you for sharing!
To me, it looks darker in the container as well. I’m definitely going to use it again though, it IS a VERY pretty color!
This is a great color blue. Went from trasy to treasure for sure.
Heeyyyy you!!!😃😃😃 Thanks so much!!!💕
Well When I first saw you painting the chess Blue, I though no, no, no. When I saw the results I am flabbergasted. I am in love with it. Bring it to Georgia. It really is a lovely piece.
…”Bring it to Georgia”🤗… such a huge compliment, thanks Donnita! And ya, a few other readers said the exact same thing about this color!
Wow ! At the beginning, I thought this blue would be overpowering. Boy was I wrong.
Nautical blue is a Gorgeous color. I will definitely need to find a piece to use this.
And the transfew is perfect with this blue. Sooo elegant.
You have done it again 🙂
Thank youuuu! When I saw this paint color in the jar I had a similar thought…lol. But I’m so happy I used it. I love this blue as well!
This piece turned out FABULOUS. Do NOT change it up with a re-stain (2-fer). The transfers on the sides look really nice on the raw wood. I follow Christy as well & she always does a great job.
Thanks so much Robin! And I appreciate you chiming in re the 2-fer. 🙂
It has turned out so well and the shape of the drawers produces such interesting shading.
I like interest on the sides of drawers and wonder if the sides could have been painted/stained first to enhance the transfers. I didn’t think the wood colour set them off the best.
Thanks Audrey!
Hi Denise. This nautical blue is so elegant and I love the surprise flowers on the drawers❤️❤️❤️
Aw, so happy you like it Monique and thank you!💙
love the color very pretty.
I’m loving this color too, thanks Veronica!
Beautiful! Love this color.
Thank you Debra, I’m loving this color too!💙
Stunning!
Yay, thanks Deb!!
This dresser is stunning! I didn’t think I would like the handles painted but the finished product is beautiful! And the flowers on the drawers really take it up an notch. I love the surprises on the draweres that Christy always does!
Question…a friend wants me to paint a wine bottle in policeman blue. I’m going to make a badge sticker and paint the rest. Then when I take the sticker off the fairy lights will show through. What would be the perfect “police blue”?
Thank you for always inspiring me!
Omygosh… I LOVE this idea Shari, how creative!! I googled ‘police blue’ before answering this question and it looks like you can use many shades of blue and none would be wrong! Personally, I think the “Nautical” that I used on this piece would be amazing but I would go for a shade YOU love… or that you know your friend would love.💙
The blue you picked for this FP is elegant and the florals tie it together. Great SAVE Denise!
I really love this shade of blue as well, I should use it more often!…lol. Thanks so much Nicki!
I’m just getting into rehabbing furniture, wondering how much paint you went through to complete this project?
Hi Justin and welcome! I used almost half of this 16oz jar. It took two coats to get perfect coverage. Hope this helps.😊
Perfect simplicity with surprise flair on drawers, love it!
Aw, thanks Tracy! Looks waaaay better than it did.😂
Wow! It’s gorgeous. I love the color and finish. I’m so glad you saved it!
I’m so happy she was ‘saved’ as well.:) Thank Lizzy! XOXO
So pretty! Love the blue and the surprise drawers! xo
Thank you Nancy! XOXO
If only the people who trashed it could see it now!! It is stunning! And thank you for the shout out…the fun surprise on the sides is so unexpected and beautiful!! XOXO
I wish they could see it as well, hehe. And I always love how you ‘surprise’ us with the drawer details so thanks for inspiring! XOXO
The dresser is now beautiful! I love the simple all blue, very elegant.
Thank you Amanda!💙
Blue for the win! It’s just gorgeous, Denise.
Aw, thanks my friend! XOXO