Im back on the blog, this time to talk about two of my least favorite items of furniture painting. French Provincial furniture and the color purple. It’s no secret that I prefer primitive and rustic style furniture over ornate pieces and the color purple NEVER makes an appearance in my portfolio. Ok, I won’t say never because just like white, there are many shades of purple, Lavender being the prettiest one. But if I had to say that I’ve bought either for a personal project, I’d be lying. Both French Provincial and Purple has ALWAYS been customs. It’s just not my style. However, in the midst of my creative re-discovery, I thought I’d face it head on and challenge myself to do both with MY vision and see where I get, and the results are STUNNING!
* This post contains affiliate links.
I found this oversized French Provincial Side Table on Craigslist. One of the things that immediately attracted me to it was that it was solid wood and the ornate appliqués up on the front. I knew I’d be pairing this with Country Chic Paint’s New Limited Edition Color “Dreamcatcher,” so I hoped and prayed that it would compliment the color well. I was so surprised at the beauty of this color! Its a muted, dusty lavender color with hints of pink and blush, and honestly, this is a color I definitely want to use again!
I started by giving this piece a light sanding with 220 grit paper. Then after a cleaning with Krud Kutter, I applied a very thin coat of Shellac over the entire piece, just in case there was some mishaps with bleed through. Many people have asked how I spray chalk paint through my sprayer, but it honestly depends on the brand and formula. Thicker chalk paints give me more issues and I have to thin significantly, but Country Chic Paint’s All-in-One Formula has been the easiest and only requires light thinning for the viscosity.
The top was another beautiful detail on this piece that I was adamant about not covering up. Although the detail is a veneer, it was in great condition and it sanded nicely without issue. I used Varthane’s “Dark Walnut” stain to add some warmth and compliment the lavender color. I was also happy to see that wood and lavender go together surprisingly well making it another combination of elements that really changed my perspective. After the stain had dried, I sprayed three coats of General Finishes High Performance Top Coat in Satin for protection.
The hardware was an original detail, but it needed refreshing. I used Rustoleum’s “Oil Rubbed Bronze” spray paint to deepen the color and give it a bit of shine. I’ve used this spray paint several times on hardware to change the look and it has always given me a beautiful finish. It’s an easy way to make an update to furniture without a ton of work.
One of my favorite details on this piece is of course the paper liner. I bought this paper a while back from Spoonflower and knew that I could pair it with something navy or blush, but it looks amazing paired with this color. So hard to believe, even for myself that I have found a new color that I love so much. I can’t wait to use it again, heck I might even try another French Provincial piece.
For more styles and designs on how to pair this color with home decor and furniture, follow Country Chic Paint’s Instagram page! I guarantee all of it is drool worthy inspiration!
Wow, I truly love how this turned out! I never would have chosen purple myself either, but can you just imagine this lavender in a child’s room?! Too cute!
So excited to be a Country Chic Paint guest blogger with you!
Hi Hayden! So excited to see you are also a CCP Blogger! I LOVE this color! Im planning on ordering a few more pints because it really is the prettiest shade of purple! Thanks for stopping by!
I absolutely love this color! It’s so calm, soft and pretty.
Isn’t it though? I can’t wait to use it again! Thanks for stopping by!
I am definitely not a purple fan either but I do love French Provincial furniture. Sadly, I’ve never had the opportunity to do a piece. This is the most beautiful shade of purple – too bad it’s a limited edition! I was just hired to do a custom piece in deep purple to go in a customers purple room. I was dreading it! I’ve never seen the shade of purple in her room and was tasked with finding the color. Luckily, she loved the 1st color I chose – SW Merlot – a deep mauve-y purple with some blue undertones. I still don’t know if it matches her room but she love it & it’s her room! I did become excited when I saw the “plain bedside 2 drawer dresser table” was actually a large bamboo bedside table with 2 large drawers! I’ve always wanted to paint one of those and they look great in bright colors! Phew! Even though the shades of purple she chose is completely different than your gorgeous purple, seeing the your beautiful purple table makes me feel so much better! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Christie! Im so glad you love this shade of purple. Some retailers may still have it so if you are interested in it, you might be able to reach out to Country Chic Paint and see if there is any still available? I would definitely use this color again!