So this little cutie came my way as a custom order. It is a vintage vanity, and from what I could find, it dates to the 1930’s-1950’s. Originally it had a fabric skirt as evidenced by the staples around the top. I thought the piece was really cool but in pretty rough shape. First things first when it comes to painted pieces dating back this far…I tested for lead paint. Thankfully it came back negative, so I got to work removing all those staples. Once they were out, I filled the holes and any additional scratches with wood filler. The bottom of the legs were chipped pretty extensively, so I used a wire brush to remove all the loose paint. 60 grit sandpaper removed the rest and I smoothed everything out with 120 grit.
The client wanted a satin black finish. With pieces this old, I have learned the hard way that latex paint doesn’t always adhere if the previous paint was oil based. With this in mind, I decided to go with black chalk paint (Waverly in Ink). Chalk paint has better adhesion in these situations but does have a matte finish. I was able to achieve the satin finish that the client was looking for with a top coat of Minwax Polycrylic in Satin.
I have to admit, this vanity came out even better than I expected. To all of you who are screaming “Why did you paint it?? It’s vintage!!” My answer is simple. The client wanted it painted. Much of what I do is to take pieces from the past and give them new life to fit into today’s world. It allows pieces like this to be used and enjoyed, rather than stuffed in the attic because the color or finish doesn’t work in someone’s home.
I think these pieces should be celebrated for both their past service and their future lives in our modern homes.
Hold my wine, I’ve got this…
Amy
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