A Risk Worth Taking
The house was calm and quiet. Kids and husband were outside.
If I was going to make my move, this was the time.
This was the moment.
My heart was racing, sweat was dripping from my brow and my hands were shaking….terribly
With my favorite paint brush by my side and a class of crystal light fruit punch to calm my nerves, I stared directly at it.
What should I do?
What will my husband say?
What will my friends think?
I was about to make a decision to do something that I had never done before.
I didn’t have this problem with the thrift store find (here), or my dumpster rescue (here), or even my painted floors (here). But this was different. This was committing myself to the success or failure of the outcome and living with it everyday and never hearing the end of it from your husband if it didn’t turn out.
It only took one look to know that I had not made a mistake. That the risk was worth taken. That a piece of furniture that I paid a really good sum of money for, had been transformed. That hubby would be proud and that my friends would say good job, but still chuckle that I had painted that piece.
I would only have to remind them though, of what the piece use to look like, before they realized that it was the right thing to do.
And then they may just stop laughing.
What risks have you taken lately?
Grateful for~
Risking Taking
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ooh yes! i like it so much more now!! it has a softer feel.
You did a very brave thing! Looks great! Your Home is beautiful!
Very pretty!! Looked great the other way too!!
Wow it looks amazing!!!
I love it both ways. You did a great job and wish I had that chest.
WOW!!! What a gorgeous facelift. Although, I do know what you mean about being OK with painting "finds" and the struggle as to whether we should paint our "good" stuff!
You risk taker you. It looks so much better. I am taking a big risk right now and it will take a few days to complete.
LOVE the new look, sooooo worth that risk!! I love the patina the dark wax adds to a piece, I say add a little:)
Good thing you took that plunge, the chest looks wonderful!
Lately not so much…
I "rescued" a piece during Summer (posted about it) and I'm dreaming (and dreading) of transforming a piece of furniture into my "good as new" bathroom renewal.
Now that I've seen what you did I'm not even sure I'm to the work.
Your piece turned out absolutely wonderful. The right wear in the right spots… oh my, I'll never be able to pull this 🙁
Humbled,
Teresa
I'm so glad you showed this today. I have a pricey chest of drawers upstairs that is mahogany. You've given me the bravery I need. Honestly, when you don't like the look of something anymore…what's the harm?
Gorgeous just Gorgeous! Job well done. I can't believe you doubted yourself.
Hilarious narative! You have given me the inspiration to take on a chest of drawers that has been in my painting bullseye. Yours turned out fabulous.
Oh, it looks lovely, Laura! I'm in the midst of taking a huge risk right now…painting my china cabinet kelly green! Eeeek!
you GO!!
Excellent job! I have same struggles with painting "good" furniture. Glad you took the leap. It's lovely both ways, but I like the fresh new look.
It looks beautiful! I worry about what my husband will say when I paint what he considers "good furniture". We have a HUGE entertainment center that I would love to paint. He would die. I will be content. 🙂 Good move on your piece.
Simply beautiful, Laura! (I don't think it needs anything extra. It works perfectly with the rest of your decor.
A risk well taken….it looks fantastic!!…
Great risk! You did good!! 🙂
Definitely a risk worth taking, but glad you were well fortified sat the onset.
Hugs,
Laura
Wonderful change…..trying to work up the courage to do that on a couple of pieces! Linda
Beautiful! Totally worth it. 🙂
xo Heidi
Luckily you didn't spill that fruit punch all over that dresser – now that would elicit peels of laughter from friends & family!
I have a similar bombe chest that I avert my eyes from every time I walk by – it's nice but I'm just over it! Come on over with that paintbrush and help a girl out – I'll provide the Crystal Lite!
Kelly
The chest looks wonderful. It's great what a little paint can do.
It was definitely worth the risk! Love it!
This risk was well worth taking. The bombay chest turned out beautifully. Also I was just thinking about painting a piece that I have that's similar to yours. I painted it gray but I'm wanting white.
hugs
Sissie
Definitely a risk worth taking – it looks wonderful! I have a small chest made out of cherry that I'm struggling with doing the same thing to.
Now you've given me the confident to paint the drum table that I've been stressing about painting over …
Looks fab!
🙂 Linda
I say that you made a great decision. Well worth the risk!
Suzanne
It looks beautiful, Laura! Great choice… soft and fresh. I painted a piece last weekend that made me nervous… and I ended up painting FOUR coats before I got it to look right! Ugh! 🙂
It is AWESOME … and I think the dark wax with finish it off perfectly. 2 cheers for risk taking!
I am so happy you took the risk! The new look is gorgeous! You just may have inspired me to take a risk, too.
Oh Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhh!. Definitely a risk worth taking Laura. You nailed it. I struggled with the same problem last year when I decided to paint my formal dining room set. I never looked back. So glad you went for it!
xoxo,
Kim
Love it and so worth the risk – such a pretty and welcoming room!!!
The chest turned out wonderful, I had one similar and I had the same feeling about painting it, I just gave it to my daughter, I was not brave enough to go ahead with it…Maybe I will tell her to paint it.,.
Gorgeous re-do! I'm not enough of a risk-taker when it comes to redoing furniture…all I've been brave enough to do with furniture is spray paint!
Wow, that would be a little scary. It was a nice piece to begin with, but I agree it's even better with it's new look. Isn't it great when you're right!
Lynn
Looks fabulous! I have been hemming and hawing over several antique oak pieces in my own home. I still too scared to pull the trigger. But your post is helping!
Definitely worth the risk. Your chest looks beautiful! I'm sure it brightens up your room nicely.
Mary Alice
It looks AMAZING!! I love it. I wouldn't wax it, either, I think it looks great. In fact, I think you just convinced me to paint my very expensive solid oak bed. Woo hoo!!
~Angela~
I love it! So happy I stopped in…going to peek around a bit!
This is gorgeous Laura!! And totally worth the risk! You made the right decision for sure! I LOVE it!!
Beautiful! A well calculated risk with an amazing outcome.
Living on the edge… 🙂
Kelly
Just breath taking! I ADORE that console! I agree, it was a risk worth taking! So classy and chic looking! Thank you so much for inspiring me!
Jaime from Crafty Scrappy Happy
ps I am pinning this on our Inspiration Gallery Pin Board!
Definitely worth the risk- it looks so pretty painted!
gorgeous, laura!
visiting via miss mustard seed and would love to have you stop by when you have a moment.
happy weekend to you.
michele
You definitely made the right choice. I am wondering if I should do the same with a vintage piece I have. I posted about it on my bloc. Stop by and let me know what you think. I need all the advice and encouragement that I can get.
Ruth
Laura, this is absolutely stunning! So glad you took the risk. It was fabulous before but it's unbelievably gorgeous now and so beautifully staged! Love it!! Thanks for sharing at MMS ~ Shelly
Laura, It's lovely. What colors did you use to get that look? And the "wear areas" are really natural looking. I'd love to know how you achieved this look. I am just about ready to begin transforming furniture again after a 25 year hiatus and all the products have changed (for the better, I might add). Oh, and what color was the chest before you began?
The end result is stunning!
If you love this dresser I have the exact same dresser painted the exact same way! Its even more beautiful in person! You can see pictures of it at https://www.facebook.com/TheTatteredNest 🙂
Perfect! I have a bombay chest I purchased new and would like to paint it as well. Seeing your transformation gives me the "green light". Will you share your "how to" for this transformation?
It looks great! It looks like it belongs in the room and just seems to blend in so much more. It just looks soft and makes me kind of sigh when I see it. 🙂
Where did you get the beautiful clocknonb the edge right, I love it!!!
I love it. Good job!