One of the questions I get asked the most is what color I used on my blue china cabinet so I've decided to do another post on it since it was way back in 2008 when I painted it. I had originally painted this white but wasn't happy with it so I got brave and decided to try blue. I knew if I didn't like it I could repaint it white again!
For the first step I used Behr Interior House Paint in flat latex and the color was called "French Gray".
Then I just used some acrylic craft paint I had on hand. It was Plaid Folk Art (from Michaels) and the color was "French Blue". I diluted it with a little water and brushed that over (working in small areas) and wiped it off. When that was dry, I diluted brown acrylic craft paint with a touch of black(also acrylic craft paint) with water and brushed that on and wiped it off (again just working in small areas.) I don't remember the exact color of brown I used but it was just an average chocolate brown color. It's amazing to see how it transforms from a flat gray to a color with so much depth.
Below is how the cabinet looked when I purchased at a thrift store for $49.99. The appliques were about $50 and the paint was about $12. I had some extra glass knobs. Total cost was a little more than $100!!! What a deal!
and this is how it looked painted white....
Later I took the heavy grid mesh out of the doors and replaced it with chicken wire and I also added some toile fabric which I just wrapped around some core board and pushed against the back of the cabinet.
The toile fabric made a huge difference!
![[signature.gif]](http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r66/shabbeechick/RHSig.jpg)
so beautiful, the whole room is just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe blue is just right to set off your dishes and tea set! Love the wallpaper in the background also!
ReplyDeleteI love your blue china cabinet...you did an amazing job painting it and you're right it does look better blue...makes the white pieces you have pop! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou have quite the eye, Cindy! Nice job. Everything looks so good together.
ReplyDeleteSo, french!
ReplyDeleteYou did a fabulous job on this Cindy. It's so classy & elegant!
ReplyDeleteCindy I think it looks better blue
ReplyDeletetoo. I liked it white but when you
added color it really pops. Love
your creative technique.":O)
I wish I were so brave! It does look beautiful, good job! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHello Cindy, I love your blue cabinet. I have painted a few pieces of furniture and am happy with the results. Your home looks lovely and very cozy. Thankyou for the photos. Beverley
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy... I have been reading your blog for a long time, and I have seen the progression of your cabinet, every change looked great along the way. But seeing it all put together really showcases the great transforamation! Wow, Gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteBella
Hi Cindy, I just LOVE your blue cabinet!! Beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, remember when you painted it white and I thought it was gorgeous but there's no question that the blue is the winner, hands down! Thanks for taking us through those steps again and for your awesome inspiration! xoxo Beth
ReplyDeleteI like white, but the blue sure looks good ! I think blue is making a comeback ! You have great taste !
ReplyDeleteStephanie
Cindy you did an awesome job on your cabinet. It is beautiful. I would never have thought to use craft paint. It amazes me how creative you are and how creative a lot of bloggers I have met here are.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love it. I am so glad you decided to share something from your home. There are very few (in fact you're the only one I know of) that have your gift for the soft, elegant beauty of romance. It is truly something to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteEverything you touch turns into LoVelY !! Truly talented you are !! I LoVe our peeks into your girly beautiful, warm home !! Always so inspirational to me, you ARE !!
Psst .. you look pretty darn cute girlie in that awesome car !! Was the guy good-looking who drove it ?! hahaha ... Sooo FuN !!
Have a happy rest of your week
HuGs ~tEa~ xo
The blue china cabinet is just beautiful! I love the color blue on it and love how you have decorated the inside with fabric. It is all just beautiful and all for $100. Wow!
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy...what a beautiful paint job...I LOVE the color. What a difference a bit of color and an imagination can make..oh yes and the courage to take the plunge! Im going to read your post on painting furniture...maybe it will get me in the mood to paint something! Have a wonderful Thursday...Maura :)
ReplyDeleteAdore adore adore this cabinet. I have one similar in the yellow finish yours originally came in...thanks for sharing the details of the process. It is lovely!
ReplyDeleteforgot to say how much i adore the toile in purple no less! I love it!
ReplyDeleteWonderful transformation. You had such an eye to sight this piece and turn it into something magnificent. I'm so inspired.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
That is unbelievable if you look at the BEFORE picture and read the price you paid for it! GREAT job, you can be very proud of your skills.
ReplyDeleteSunny greetings from Georgia/USA
MariettesBacktoBasics
It looks so Elegant, In fact your home looks very beautiful and Lovely.. Specially, I like your blue china cabinet.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy, your china cabinet looks so beautiful! You did such a great job painting it. I love all your pretty things you put inside of it.Just gorgeous....Kathy
ReplyDeleteI think that the color 'brown' you used was 'raw umber'. raw umber -paint is really more than a paint. it's a transformer! it makes brand new things look antique, attractively vintage.
ReplyDeleteparticularly when used as a glaze, which is effectively what you did: put it on in diluted form and then take it off with a cloth.
the paint itself looks a bit more like a paste than other colors paint.
Anyhow, you did a marvelous job with it, and if you want to replicated yourself, look for some 'raw umber'-colored paint on the shells in Michaels or wherever...
have a good one.
What a great color, Cindy! I love the grey blue. Great lines on this hutch, too.
ReplyDeleteIt looked beautiful white but is sensational blue
ReplyDeleteAlison
It is sooooo beautiful...the colors you chose are absolute perfection!! I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented....I truly appreciate getting a peek at your world! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMachelle
Cindy,
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love that cabinet! Painting it blue was a really great choice, and the toile...well, that's pure genius.
Marilyn (in Dallas)
How pretty it is to see it again. Love the second to the last picture-really pretty! I also love the toile fabric in the background. You are so talented!
ReplyDeleteNext to the cabinet that your father made you, this has always been my favorite piece! You did an outstanding job refinishing it and I have always loved the shape of it. The wood applique and the finish you chose put it over the top!
ReplyDeleteDebbie V.
I'm green with envy! The blue is perfect Cindy. Just love your home,it's so classy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing it with us :o)
The painted cabinet isn't the only thing that makes me want the exact same piece in my home - the contents and how you've got them all placed add to the beautiful "frenchy" romantic look! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering - did you wax this all over? When it was white was there a coat of wax on it that you were able to paint over with the blue or did you have to remove the wax first?
Ohhh la la! I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteHow do you keep out doing yourself?? You are so amazing!! keep it coming!
ReplyDeleteLove the blue!
ReplyDeleteI can see we share a love for anything white with cupids. : )
ReplyDeleteWOW! you did an amazing job on these!! They are full of beautiful items and are so super french! I just love 'em!!
ReplyDelete~Terrell @ FFD~
Your cabinet is gorgeous...I love how you painted it...the blue is lovely...very clever.
ReplyDeleteLove your other decor in the room too...fabulous!!
Debbie :)
There are so many things I like about this post and the one I will probably try first is the core board covered in fabric---just love that affect.
ReplyDeleteCindy - just fell into your blog and am loving it! The shells are just beautiful, as is your awesome blue cabinet. Great job! Thanks for sharing your paint techniques with us! I'm happily following you now!
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie@heavenswalk
I feel so inspired each time I read about your furniture painting, and one day I am going to try this out!
ReplyDeleteWHO WON YOUR GIVEAWAY
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome piece of furniture that includes everything .
ReplyDeleteThat cabinet is a beauty! I have to say I think how you painted it, is lovely.
ReplyDeleteHello. I think the final look is a million times better. I really love your china cabinet. :)Jo
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteI have always admired the picture on the far left of your blog header but this Hutch is the picture of 'cottage chic' as I see it in my mind. I edited my blog to include your picture, subscribed, liked you, etc. {I'm your newest fan}. Adding you to my blogroll. Love your style!