I know I'll catch some flack for this art deco armoire makeover.
Just know that it was custom made by request WHILE also being used as the technique demonstration piece for my 2024 Paint Retreat!
And hear me out.....the long forgotten armoire was listed on a thrifting site as trash......and since its makeover.....will now live in a 10K sq. ft. water-front beach house.
I'd say that's an upward move in the furniture world!
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Planning the Art Deco Makeover
The art deco style and design is usually sleek with a focus on geometric patterns.
This armoire is actually the second of this style that I've painted.
You may remember this Sunburst Art Deco Armoire that I did a few years ago and its overall style is very similar to this one.
There is just something about that center circular pattern that makes me drawn to the sunburst pattern.
So once again....this is the direction I went.
Before
But FIRST...the before!
Supplies Used: Art Deco Armoire
Because I also painted this for teaching purposes.....I used the exact color palette and embellishments that were provided for the paint retreat attendees.
I REALLY love this color palette and I can't wait to hear what you think of it!
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Step-by-Step Art Deco Armoire Makeover
So what did I do first? I will list the order of my process for you here:
Cleaned the armoire using White Lightning and rinsed with water. I repeated this process due to heavy wood tannin bleed-through.
Primed heavily in Bonding Boss Gray (2 coats)
Painted the entire armoire in The Gulf. (2 coats)
Painted all three rectangular areas in Fluff.
Applied flowers from the Buds & Branches Transfer to the rectangular areas.
Shaded the upper/center rectangular area with Plum Crazy.
Drew out my checks in the right/left rectangular areas.
Painted the checks using a blend of the entire color palette.
Drew out the sunburst pattern on the armoire front.
Painted every other sunburst beam in Antebellum Blue.
Applied gold leaf adhesive to the rectangular area trim, the handle, the center circle and two front feet.
Applied gold leaf sheets to those areas. (because gold leaf is life)
Applied Easy Peasy Spray wax over the floral transfers. Leaving the paint to self-cure for 30 days before use. Did you know it does that?
PRO TIP: This armoire was a very strong "bleeder"....and oftentimes the top coat will draw the wood tannins through the paint.....even though it was primed. So, since there was enough time to allow it to self-cure....why not? No worry about bleed-through this way!
If you want more detailed direction for some of these steps, be sure to visit my other blogs:
The Finished Look
The finished result is a lot......and it matches my clients personality perfectly!
If you've never painted a large piece of furniture before, I highly recommend this style!
This type of furniture is usually very light-weight. I can actually lift this piece by myself....which makes it really easy to work with.
It also offers a lot of smooth blank space to try out new techniques!
Now its your turn!!
More Inspiration: Painted Art Decor Pieces
I grabbed a few pieces from the archives that came to mind when working on this piece! I hope you can use them to draw inspiration for your upcoming projects. Here are some additional designs for your inspiration:
Sunburst Glam Armoire - black and white art decor with a pop of gold
Whimsical Pop Art Vanity - pop art sunburst in a burst of color
Whimsical Pop Art Bed - not to be missed! Marilyn Monroe cameo!
Painted Horse Headboard - a blast from the past. Check out one of my earlier designs.
Click on any photo below for more up-close photos and all the design details
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