Tired TV cabinet revamped

Before

After

Instructions

The cabinet was stripped and sanded, given two coats of primer, two coats of satin paint and then lightly distressed on corners and edges by sanding lightly to give it an aged look before being given a coat of satin varnish to protect the finish.

Difficulty:

Category: Other

Type of item: Functional

For: Home

Style: Retro / Vintage, Traditional, Classic

Materials

All surface primer & undercoat, satin paint in 'aged white', polyurethane satin varnish

What was your inspiration?

I love French shabby chic and have created a number of pieces before, including a whole boudoir. A friend wanted a TV cabinet for her newly decorated, French-themed sitting room but couldn't find what she wanted so approached me and asked whether I could help. I found a number of cabinets on an online auction site and she chose this one because she liked the shaped glass doors.

What are you most proud of?

I'm delighted with the end result; the doors give it a French feel which is enhanced by the new paint finish. My friend is over the moon with her bargain bespoke piece!

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

Be patient; it's worth spending a few days to get a quality finish. Preparation is also key; sand the item well and give it a couple of coats of undercoat as this will save you time and paint in the long run, especially when working with a dark-coloured item you want lighter.