Instead of Keeping This Antique Mahogany Vanity Dark Brown, She Painted It Wedgwood Blue
Dark mahogany covered this antique vanity from its carved mirror frame to its slender legs, with five drawers, ornate brass pulls, and a wood top shaped around the center opening. The piece had an arched mirror supported by turned posts, with decorative carvings across the drawer fronts and legs.
Kate from Heir and Space received the vanity from a client who wanted a new finish to complement her Wedgwood collection. The client had used the piece to display her plates and wanted a shade of blue that would work with them.
Instead of painting the entire vanity, Kate mixed a custom Wedgwood blue for the frame and drawers, preserved the mahogany top, and refreshed the original hardware with gold.
Dark Mahogany Covered the Antique Vanity
Before the makeover, dark brown wood covered the five drawers, carved legs, mirror supports, and curved front. Brass bowknot handles decorated the drawers, while an arched mirror rose above the top.
The vanity also had figured mahogany veneer, fluted legs, and small caster wheels beneath its feet. Those features remained part of the design after refinishing.
Wedgwood Blue Replaced the Dark Brown Finish
Custom-mixed Wedgwood blue covered the drawer fronts, carved apron, mirror frame, and legs. The color came from the client’s collection of Wedgwood pieces rather than a standard furniture paint shade.
The new finish brought attention to the raised details around the mirror and the carvings beneath the drawers, with the dark wood no longer covering every surface.
Mahogany Wood Top Stayed Brown
Rich brown wood remained across the vanity top, with its curved front edge and layered molding left visible against the blue frame.
The polished surface shows the figured mahogany grain, creating a contrast between the painted base and the wood that Kate chose to preserve.
Original Bowknot Handles Received Gold Accents
Five original bowknot pulls stayed on the drawers, retaining their curved handles and ribbon-shaped mounts.
Kate used gold Rub ‘n Buff to refresh the metal rather than replace the hardware. The gold finish stands out against the blue paint, while distressed edges reveal traces of brown beneath the new color.
Carved Legs and Mirror Kept Their Original Shape
Tall mirror posts retain their turned details, pointed finials, and small metal rings, with the arched frame painted to match the vanity.
Below the drawers, carved legs taper toward small caster wheels. The blue finish extends across the fluted sections and decorative feet, leaving the original construction intact.
Blue Paint and Brown Mahogany Changed the Vanity’s Look
Viewed from the side, the finished vanity shows its deep drawer compartments, carved apron, and dark wood top against the Wedgwood blue frame.
Red tulips and an antique blue-and-white plate sit on the surface, showing the color combination that inspired the client’s choice. Kate used the plate for staging rather than borrowing a piece from the client’s collection.
Before-and-after images show the same antique vanity with its original mirror, five drawers, carved legs, and bowknot handles. Dark mahogany once covered the entire piece, while Wedgwood blue now frames the brown wood top and gold hardware.
Would you have painted the antique vanity Wedgwood blue, or kept its original dark mahogany finish?
Image credits go to @heirandspace.