I Need Your Vote!
No, I’m not running for office. Not today, anyway. Today I need your vote on what I should do with one of my latest projects. I came upon this vintage chest a couple weeks ago at a small-town antique market, & when I saw that it had been marked down to $25, I could not leave without it. I am in love with everything from the detail on the front down to the wheeled feet.Here’s the before:Because I had already picked the perfect place for this to go in my house & I always gravitate toward a formal french look, I wanted it black. That was the easy part. (Professional furniture re-finishers, skip to the next paragraph now). To do this, I turned to my favorite spray paint, Krylon, & sprayed the whole thing Satin Black. This took 3 cans & approximately 30 minutes. You just can’t beat the smooth finish, either.After painting, I put the original antiqued-brass hardware back on without changing anything about it. And I love it. Here’s how it looks now. If you’re wondering why the lamp still has the tags on it & plastic on the shade, click here.So, anyway, my dilemma now is that every time I walk by it now, it keeps hinting to me that it wants more. I think it has dreams of being a gorgeous eclectic piece with a harlequin pattern incorporated in that beautiful circle on the front. But, I’m just not sure if that’s what’s best for it yet. So, I’m asking for your opinion. For the next few days, I’d like to hear what my readers think about this. I’m asking you to vote by leaving a comment below. Here are 3 options to vote for:1.) Leave the chest solid black-it’s great how it is. 2.) Take a chance & go for the harlequin pattern to accent the circle motif on the front.(Here’s an example where a harlequin pattern has been used for an entire front of a chest. photo credit)3.) Forget both of those options & submit your own idea.I am looking forward to hearing what you all have to say about this. Here’s the fine print: I reserve the right to go with any or all of the options submitted. And I also reserve the right to ignore all of them & paint this thing hot pink if the mood strikes. Now get down there & vote!Tip JunkieBlue Cricket Design
Ski's Lady
February 23, 2010 @ 6:19 pm
I don't really have a vote since I lack in this type of crafty thing, however, I wanted to tell you that I LOVE your new header!!!!!
mommyroo
February 23, 2010 @ 6:38 pm
I'd leave it just as is…
Julie
February 23, 2010 @ 7:11 pm
I would have to see the whole room to see how it would fit but I am really liking the harlequin pattern….if I had a place for that (and you probably) do I would go for it! ….that would make such an interesting piece to have! Its beautiful like it is too…but I am a risk-taker…I say go for it!
Vonda Morga
February 23, 2010 @ 7:58 pm
hmm – such a great deal! i wouldn't have been able to pass it up either. jason cringes each time i say i'm going to an antique store! 🙂
my vote – i would leave it black, but put some funky hardware on it. that way, you can change it up if you don't like it. hop in your car and head over to anthropologie! browse and enjoy it for me, too!
Mandi
February 23, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
leave it…definitely…
Patti
February 24, 2010 @ 12:18 am
Oh YES, go for more….and if you do harlequin design, also add a bit of gold trim around the diamonds (do you get the MacKenzie-Childs catalog? – if not, go to website and sign up, it's great for inspiration) I would also paint the top in stripes…It's a beautiful piece and by adding more to it, it won't just look like a bureau you spray painted black – make it look worthy of its age!!! Good luck!
mollie
February 24, 2010 @ 6:05 am
I would imitate the original pattern (highlight certain areas) and fill in only the 2 inch circle and 2 inch border trim white… then fill in the scroll at the top center white, and the outer border of the two drawers that flank the scrolled area also in white. Can you see it?
Kathy G
February 24, 2010 @ 7:29 pm
You did I wonderful job, I love using black on my furniture as well makes such a bold statement! I think you should go elegant with the finishing touches by using an antique gold rub in the groves of the scroll and the top edge…very light rub making it look distressed. Then seal it with a matte varnish sealer to prevent it from chipping because spray paint has a tendency to chip if it's been sprayed over a varnished surface.
Courtney
February 25, 2010 @ 6:19 am
Totally go for it! Make it bold and beautiful. I mean if it doesn't turn out then you do the professional think and strip the paint off and refinish it. Then you have a whole new project. I think you should take that center circle and take a black that is a slightly off from the one you used and put a subtle pattern. That way you don't notice it right away but it adds some interest.
Wendy
February 25, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
I agree with Mollie – Just some subtle highlighting of it's original details – maybe a rubbed on gold to get into the cracks and highlight them? Obviously not a crafter LOL but it's a gorgeous piece…
Lauren Elise Designs
February 25, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
I vote to make it more!! I mean, if it keeps whispering to you that it wants to be more, might as well listen, eh? ;-D I think a harlequin pattern or something involving the natural pattern of the piece in B&W would look fab!! LOVE reading your blog, we have very similar styles so it's always an inspiration to see what you come up with!!
~Lauren
Anonymous
February 26, 2010 @ 6:45 pm
I agree with Mollie – work with the beautiful detailing that is already there.
Anonymous
February 26, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
I think you should keep it. That piece has so much lovely detail now. Doing a harelquin treatment on it wouldn't do justice to the harlequin and would cause you to loose all that lovely detail. By the way you have inspired me. I have a very similar piece..actually hole set that I have wanted to redo for years.
kelsey rae
March 3, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
Julie! Where has this blog been all my life?? How did I not know you had this adorable blog? I saw you posted a link on facebook this morning, so I have been having so much fun going back and reading through some of your posts! (that sounds kind of stalker-ish) LOL, anyways, I'm not a blogger, and I rarely find time to keep up with blogs, except I am bookmarking this blog right now! 😉
First of all, what store had this adorable piece of furniture for $25!? And, secondly, why didn't I get there first? Well, since it's already in your home, I guess I'll have to live with it. Now about this chest's future…..
I honestly love the idea of a harlequin design. But instead of a stark black and white, have you thought about doing a bronzy gold and maybe a rusty red color? You know, with some slight streaking of the black showing through underneath the colors to make it look worn and straight from a Parisian apartment? 😉
If the harlequin sounds too time consuming maybe just a bit of bronze/gold craft paint lightly filling in the detail work. From what I can tell it would be about a 2" outline tracing all the way around. It might just be the touch of glam that it's asking for. 😉 Something else fun, would be to get a piece of mirror cut to fit the top of it. Then you get the wood protected and a beautiful reflective surface at the same time. Sorry this ended up being such a long comment! Oh, and I LOVED your post about Denise. Reading through it, reminded me so much of Heidi Schatz and I. Isn't a true best friend one of life's greatest treasures?
Absolutely Fabulous
March 18, 2010 @ 1:38 am
When you first said harlequin, I was picturing some gold in it like Patti said. With the hardware, I think gold would be great. Also, if you do the diamonds, use cream instead of white. Just my two cents. Remember, you can always paint over it.