The quintessential guide to classic interior design, elegant entertaining & a genteel lifestyle.
(formerly Mummy's Monday Manners)
A secret to transforming mundane, brown furniture!
Wait until you see the “before” photo of this bed!
Do you have any “brown furniture” that you consider to be rather mundane? Or, have you inherited a piece of furniture that has sentimental meaning to you but is humdrum? What about furniture that is not pretty enough to be in your house, but instead, remains quietly sequestered in the garage or basement? The above is what I refer to as the “Cinderella” pieces, or those that await a magic wand to transform their beauty into showstopper caliber. Want a wand? Well, do I have THE magic wand for you: lacquer paint! Lacquer paint can immediately revamp any piece of wood furniture, even kitchen cabinets, by instantly enhancing their outer beauty… and no glass slippers are required!
One has to envision the outer beauty on this homely stepsister! It is the same bed shown above in a lacquer color of “Dove White,” which is my go-to white for just about everything. It has a semi-gloss finish.
Lacquer is thin but stronger than paint. It is tricky to apply because it dries very quickly, much faster than paint (hence it needs to be sprayed on), and if not applied correctly, can bubble and crack. Lacquer is very durable and because it dries so fast, it has a nice and smooth finish. Lacquer cures within 24 hours, whereas oil enamel paint can take weeks to cure. There are many versions of lacquer paint, and each artist uses his own formula. It is complicated to explain, so leave it to the experts, as they know what combination works best for their specific application.
The first step is to find a source that specializes in spraying lacquer paint, which is an art unto itself. Ask your local paint company, especially a Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams store, or a designer for their recommendations for a seasoned expert. My secret source is Javier Tovar. He studied at Faux Effects International School.
discovered this Asian-inspired curio cabinet at a W. Palm Beach consignment shop. I will repurpose it as a bar cabinet with glasses and spirits assembled on the glass shelving. Presently, it has a dated “manila folder” color. And soon, it will be transformed with a stunning black gloss finish, while keeping the original gold accents as they are. Once it is done, I will share the finished version on my Instagram!
I met with Javier to discuss using a high-gloss black lacquer to replace the old worn color, while also keeping the existing gold accents on the cabinet and the pagoda top. I think it will be a showstopper once Javier works his lacquer magic! Interested in contacting Javier? Email him here!
The two lacquer finishes that I specify are semi-gloss and high gloss, depending on the piece and its placement in a house. Lacquer can be dead-flat to a high gloss. Start your lacquer trial with a small piece of furniture to see how you like it, and then work up to larger, more significant pieces.
A tired, old piece of furniture that is professionally lacquered can instantly metamorphose and have a newer, younger-looking appearance, tantamount to a brilliantly executed facelift! It is such a delight to witness this radiant transformation. Watch out… you’ll get hooked, especially lacquering pieces in white for tropical locales, such as Palm Beach!
XX Holly
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