A Sentimental Dressing Table

This commission was extra special because the dressing table already had a story.

It was one of the first pieces of furniture my client ever bought for her first home. So even though it was looking very tired, it still meant something to her. The old white paint was chipping away, the finish had seen better days and the whole piece was ready for some serious attention.

But underneath the wear and tear was a lovely French-style dressing table with beautiful curves, elegant legs and plenty of carved detail to work with. Definitely not something to give up on!

Alongside it was a chest of drawers she had owned for years, and together they were going to become part of a room she had always wanted. Her very own dressing room. How exciting is that?

A Dressing Room Dream

Her new dressing room had been fitted with black wardrobes, finished with gold handles. She wanted the dressing table and chest of drawers to feel like part of the room, rather than looking like older pieces that had simply been moved in.

Her brief was clear: black, gold and elegant.

Both pieces already had the right shape for the space. They had a lovely French-inspired feel, with curves, details and decorative edges. The job was to strip away the tired old finish and give them a more dramatic, grown-up look that would feel at home in the new dressing room.

Old white painted dressing table with chipped paint and worn finish, before being refinished by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold upcycled dressing table painted in Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold upcycled dressing table painted in Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Close up of curved black dressing table leg and drawers with hand-painted gold detailing, transformed by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold dressing table with gold bow handles, decorative edging and stencilled drawer sides, refinished by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold upcycled dressing table painted in Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Old white painted chest of drawers with thick paint covering handles, before being refinished by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold upcycled chest of drawers painted in Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold chest of drawers with gilded gold handles and decorative edging, and stencilled drawer sides, refinished by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Close up of curved black chest of drawers leg and drawers with hand-painted gold detailing, transformed by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold upcycled chest of drawers painted in Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.
Black and gold upcycled chest of drawers painted in Fusion Mineral Paint Coal Black by Upcycled & Reloved by Jodi.

Stripping Back the Old Finish

Both pieces had been painted before and were covered in thick layers of old paint, so this wasn't a quick scuff-and-paint job.

The old finish needed to come off properly, so I used Home Strip to remove the built-up paint and take the pieces back to a better starting point. Preparation is messy, time-consuming work, but it's not only worth it, it's absolutely essential for a quality finish that lasts.

The dressing table also had a large crack that needed repairing before painting. Once that was fixed, both pieces were structurally sound, with only the usual signs of age and wear that come with older furniture.

And honestly, that is often where the charm is hiding.

Coal Black and Gold Details

To match the fitted wardrobes, I chose to paint in Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black.

It was the perfect choice for this dressing table and chest of drawers. The black gave both pieces a bold, elegant look, while the curves and carved details stopped the finish from feeling too heavy.

Once the painting was complete, I used Guild Lane metallics to pick out the decorative details in gold. The gold edging, handles and carved accents helped bring out the shape of each piece and gave them that slightly glamorous dressing room feel.

Not too fussy. Not too shiny. Just enough gold to make the details sing.

The Hidden Drawer Details

One of my favourite parts of this commission was the drawer sides.

On the chest of drawers, I stripped the drawer sides back and used a black paint wash to keep the finish softer and more natural. I then added a gold stencil pattern to the sides of the drawers on both pieces.

It is the kind of detail you do not see straight away, but it makes the piece feel extra special every time a drawer is opened.

Once the stencil work was complete, the drawer sides were finished with hemp oil to nourish and protect the wood.

The Full Dressing Room Set

My client also had a chair for the dressing table, which I outsourced to a fellow upcycler. She created a beautiful dressing table stool to complete the set, so everything could work together in the room.

The final result was a dramatic black and gold furniture set with so much more presence than the original pieces.

The dressing table kept its sentimental value, the chest of drawers gained a whole new personality, and both pieces now feel like they truly belong in the dressing room my client had always dreamed of.

That's the joy of commissioned furniture upcycling. It's not just about changing how a piece looks. It's about helping it fit into the life and home someone has now, without losing the memories attached to it.

Commissioned Furniture Upcycling and Refinishing

Have an old piece of furniture looking for a fresh new look? Or an idea and would like my help to source the right piece to bring it to life? Get in touch and let's make it happen!

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