Mid-Century Modern

This week’s project is a perfect example of how very specific period pieces can be updated to look fresh and modern while staying true to their style. I was contacted by a client who had inherited this fantastic mid-century modern dresser and nightstand.

They loved the look but recognized that it needed to be refreshed. The pieces would be used in a guest room and they decided that they wanted to use a gray and neutral palette accented with darker stained wood.

We settled on Benjamin Moore’s Deep Space and General Finishes Java Gel. I started by sanding the existing finish from the drawer faces and the nightstand shelf. I wiped the Java Gel on and immediately wiped over it with a dry cloth to keep the color from becoming too dark. Next, I painted the body of both pieces “Deep Space”. To create balance, I painted the interior of all of the handles as well. This helped distribute the gray throughout the dresser and prevent it from looking too color blocked. A couple of coats of Minwax Polycrylic in Matte sealed the finish.

The client also wanted me to build a new frame for a mirror to hang over the dresser. We decided to stain the frame to give visual balance and went with a 4″ wide frame with a beveled edge. I bought prime lumber free of knots to coordinate with the clean, modern lines of the dresser.

The finished pieces maintain their obvious mid-century vibe, while the paint and stain combination and the modern palette bring the pieces up to date!