An old side table can have useful drawers and the right proportions yet still feel out of place beside newer furniture. With French Provincial pieces, the curved legs, shaped edges and ornate pulls can make a makeover seem especially complicated. Add a floral finish to the plan, and a manageable painting project can suddenly look like something that requires an artist’s training.
Denise, the furniture painter behind Salvaged Inspirations, made over a salvaged pair using basic tools. She kept the details that made the tables distinctive, then gave the drawer fronts a different look. The decoration appears intricate, but its application is straightforward.
The flowers come ready-made
The branches and blossoms are rub-on furniture transfers. Denise paired them with Dixie Belle’s Heirloom Chalk Mineral Paint, a blue-green shade that replaces the brown finish while preserving the tables’ shape. The original handles also stayed, refreshed with Copper gilding wax.
Placement makes the decoration work. Each arrangement grows from one side of the drawer fronts, leaving enough plain teal for the flowers to stand out. The scalloped apron and curved legs remain visible beneath them. When planning a similar design, leave space around the handles and consider how the pattern will look with both drawers closed.
Prepare the finish before adding color
The equipment was simple: a screwdriver, sandpaper, a small roller and a brush. Denise scuffed the finish by hand with 220-grit paper. For anyone preparing furniture for paint, the distinction matters: lightly roughening a sound surface is a smaller job than stripping it to bare wood.
Inspect your own piece before following that approach. Loose joints, lifting veneer and flaking finishes need attention before decoration begins. Open every drawer and check the fit, then remove the pulls and keep their screws together. A new finish will not correct a drawer that already catches.
- Clean and rinse. Remove dirt, grease and polish residue with a suitable furniture cleaner. If using White Lightning, wipe away the cleaner with fresh water afterward and allow the surface to dry completely.
- Scuff and remove dust. Work lightly around shaped edges, following the existing contours. Remove sanding dust before priming; it should not become part of the next coat.
- Prime for the surface. Denise used Bonding BOSS, rolling it onto the tabletop. Follow the container’s coat and drying instructions; Dixie Belle specifies 24 hours after the final primer coat before painting.
- Build the color gradually. Brush on thin, even coats, allowing the stated drying time between them. Two coats often provide coverage, but inspect the dried finish before deciding whether another is needed.
Apply the pattern before the protective finish
Choose transfers intended for furniture and check their instructions for compatibility with your paint and topcoat. Allow the paint to dry for the time specified by the transfer manufacturer; the surface must also be clean and wax-free. Cut out individual motifs with their backing still attached, then test the arrangement before exposing the adhesive.
Split any motif crossing a drawer gap into matching sections before applying it to the separate fronts. Rub the design down using the supplied tool, lifting the carrier sheet slowly to check that each section has released. Check the edges before sealing, and use the finish recommended for the transfer you choose.
Denise finished with clear wax. For Dixie Belle’s Best Dang Wax, apply a thin layer to dry paint, wait 15–20 minutes, then buff with a lint-free cloth. Allow for its 21–30-day cure period: handle the tables gently, avoid standing water and resist sliding lamps or trays across the fresh finish.
