Painted French Provincial Lingerie Chest Makeover

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Welcome to this latest furniture makeover – the transformation of an ordinary French Provincial Lingerie chest with the magic of chalk paint, furniture transfers and gold accents. Whether you’re a seasoned or beginner furniture artist, this blog post walks you through every step of this project, ensuring you can replicate this makeover on your own. So, get ready to roll up your sleeves and let your creativity flow as we dive into this Painted French Provincial Lingerie Chest Makeover.

And if you are new to my blog or new to painting furniture, you can find some helpful information to get started on your furniture painting journey at: Chalk Mineral Paint Basics.

The Original French Provincial Lingerie Chest

Here is a look at this lovely French Provincial Lingerie Chest in it’s original state. It is an off white color with a dull goldish decorative engravings and a floral motif on the top drawer. The drawer pulls are lovely and I’ll be keeping those as the fit with the style perfectly.

You may be wondering “what is French Provincial furniture?” Well, French Provincial furniture is a unique style that originated in the 17th and 18th centuries in the provincial towns of France like Normandy and Provence. This style often includes features such as carved detailing, rounded legs, and a muted color palette that draws inspiration from the French countryside.

Prep For The Painted French Provincial Lingerie Chest

First off, I gave this lingerie chest a good vacuum with my shop vacuum to remove all the cobwebs, dust and such. I vacuum inside drawers, underneath and the back of the furniture also.

Next, to prepare the French Provincial Lingerie Chest for painting, start by thoroughly cleaning it using Krud Kutter spray cleaner. This top-notch cleaner is excellent for removing grime, dirt, and any old wax or oils that might interfere with paint adherence. Spray the cleaner generously over the furniture and wipe it clean with a lint-free rag, ensuring every nook and cranny is spotless.

And finally, I like to give the project piece a good rinse by wiping it down with a lint-free cloth in clear, clean warm water.

Primer Before Painting The French Provincial Chest

Once the chest is clean and completely dry, apply a layer of Wise Owl Stain Eliminating Primer. This primer is particularly effective in preventing any stains or wood tannins from seeping through the paint. It is excellent also as a bonding primer. I also love that this primer comes in gray, white, dark gray and clear.

This old French Provincial lingerie chest has a slick finish so a bonding primer is really a good idea. The chalk paint brand I used says that no prep is necessary but I chose to prime this piece first. Plus I wanted to cover the floral motif on the top drawer. So, after two coats of primer, with appropriate dry time between coats, this lingerie chest is ready for paint.

Painting The French Provincial Lingerie Chest

This delightful Painted French Provincial Lingerie Chest makeover showcases the transformative power of Amy Howard One Step Paint. For this project I chose Amy Howard One Step Paint in the color Majesty. This is beautiful deep rose plum color.

To apply the paint, I used mainly two brushes, both my go-to brushes for many projects, the Dixie Belle Flat Medium Synthetic Brush and the Cling On S30. I applied three coats total to get the coverage and opaqueness that I desired.

Amy Howard paint is a great chalk finish paint with excellent coverage and the most delightful smell! Yes, that’s right I did say smell! This paint smells so good! Amy Howard One-Step Paint also has a very quick dry time.

Applying Furniture Transfers To The Painted French Provincial Lingerie Chest

The next steps involved the application of the Dixie Belle Belles and Whistles Floral Romance Transfer and the Redesign With Prima Sweet Notes Transfer. The delicate Floral Romance Transfer, added an element of whimsical femininity to the piece. While the Sweet Notes Transfer, complemented the floral design, adding a regal gold touch to the piece.

Transfers are not hard to add. They just require some patience. I added the Floral Romance Transfer to the drawers. I did have to cut the transfer to fit the drawer front sizes. To get nice clean straight cuts I used a scrapbooking paper cutter by Fiskars. You can also use scissors or a craft knife.

To apply transfers first decide where you want to place the transfer. Then peel away the white backing. You will be left with the clear sheet containing the transfer images. Place the sheet sticky side down onto your project and smooth out wrinkles.

Next use the burnishing tool to “transfer” the image to your project. Sometimes I use the wood stick that comes with the transfers and sometimes I use the Redesign With Prima Transfer Application Tool.

Adding Gold Accents To The Painted French Provincial Lingerie Chest

The final touch was given by adding gold accents. For this I used Posh Chalk Pigments in Lemon Gold.

This added a delicate gilded effect to the ornate details of the chest, making them truly pop against the deep ‘Majesty’ color. The result was a piece of furniture that perfectly combined classic elegance with a vibrant modern touch.

To learn more about gold accents check out: Painted Furniture With Gold Accents

I love Posh Chalk Pigments for adding beautiful gold accenting. These powdered pigments are combined with the Posh Chalk Pigment Infuser or a clear coat to make a deeply pigmented paint.

Then you can paint the gold pigments anywhere you want on your piece using artist brushes. The result is truly so elegant!

Apply A Topcoat To Seal In The Transfers

The next crucial step in this process is to apply a protective topcoat or sealant to the transfers. This ensures the longevity of the design, safeguarding the intricate details against wear and tear.

By using a quality sealant, you can shield the transfers from potential damage caused by moisture, dust, or scratches. This step can significantly enhance the durability and life of your transformed furniture piece.

For this piece I applied Wise Owl Varnish in Satin. This is an excellent clear topcoat and I applied it to the drawer fronts and edges over the transfer design. Two coats total were applied using the Flat Medium Synthetic Brush mentioned above.

Updating The Hardware With Spray Paint

I love the drawer pulls on this French Provincial Lingerie Chest. These are the classic pulls you will see on this type of furniture. However they were an off white with some goldish tan accents.

So to give these a refresh I used Rust-Oleum Bright Coat Metallic Finish Spray Paint in Gold. This is my favorite gold spray paint for hardware. Not only is it durable but it is such a gorgeous, shiny gold. It matches perfectly with the Lemon Gold Posh Chalk and the gold transfer I used.

To update this hardware I wiped it down to clean it and then sprayed two coats of this spray paint. Of course letting each coat dry fully before applying the next. Then, simply put the hardware on using a screwdriver and voila, this makeover is complete.

Summary – Painted French Provincial Lingerie Chest

And there you have it – your revamped French Provincial Lingerie Chest! This project is a wonderful example of how a bit of creativity and effort can breathe new life into a piece of furniture. By simply updating the finish and hardware, we’ve transformed this lingerie chest into a stunning, contemporary piece that still maintains its classic charm.

In conclusion, this project highlights the potential that lies in every piece of furniture, waiting to be unleashed with a dash of creativity and a touch of effort. The revitalized French Provincial Lingerie Chest stands as a testament to the transformative power of a fresh finish. White it also serves as a reminder of the beauty of blending the vintage and the contemporary. Every restoration journey is a story of transformation, and we hope this one inspires you to embark on your own.