She Brought Her Grandmother’s Dark Wood Vanity to a Painter, Who Spent 18 Hours Transforming It With Blue Paint
An old wooden vanity with an ornate mirror, seven drawers, and a matching bench had belonged to a woman’s grandmother. Its dark finish showed scratches across the tabletop, and the bench still had its faded floral upholstery. Her granddaughter wanted to keep the set and commissioned a painter to give it a new finish.
Reddit user u/TlyTlymama spent nearly 18 hours refinishing the inherited set. Instead of covering every surface with paint, she chose Behr Deep Breath blue for the base and a dark wood stain for the tabletop, mirror frame, and bench.
The client’s daughter contributed to the makeover by selecting a peacock-patterned fabric for the seat. The finished vanity kept its ornate mirror, original drawer arrangement, and curved wooden details, while the new colors and upholstery changed its appearance.
Dark Wood and Ornate Details Defined the Original Vanity
The vanity featured three drawers on each side and a wide center drawer beneath the mirror. Its upper frame had a curved crest with a decorative finial, while turned wooden posts stood on either side of the glass.
A reddish-brown finish covered the furniture, including the tabletop, drawer fronts, and bench. The metal handles, curved legs, and decorative woodwork remained intact, giving the painter a complete set to refinish without changing its construction.
Behr Deep Breath Blue Covered the Drawers and Frame
The painter used Behr Deep Breath chalk paint on the drawer fronts, side panels, legs, and lower frame. She applied dark wax over the paint to deepen the blue shade.
Several readers asked about the color, and the painter confirmed that the finish came from the combination of chalk paint and dark wax.
The original brass-colored drawer pulls remained in place, with their curved shapes and decorative plates standing out against the painted fronts.
Dark Wood Stain Preserved the Mirror and Tabletop
The painter used Varathane Java Gel Stain on the tabletop, mirror frame, and bench rather than covering those sections with blue paint.
The stained surfaces contrast with the painted cabinet and preserve the appearance of the mirror’s curved crest, turned posts, and decorative supports.
This combination became one of the most discussed details of the makeover. Some readers preferred retaining part of the wood, while others questioned whether the furniture should have been painted at all.
Her Daughter Picked Peacock Fabric for the Bench
New upholstery gave the bench a peacock pattern with flowers and leaves against a dark blue background. Cream, gold, and pale blue accents appear throughout the fabric.
Stained wooden legs match the vanity’s tabletop and mirror frame, while the blue upholstery complements the painted drawers.
After readers praised the fabric, the painter revealed that the client’s daughter had chosen it.
A Patterned Liner Added Another Detail Inside the Drawer
The center drawer received a pale liner printed with branches, leaves, and small berries. The pattern covers the bottom, while the wooden sides remain exposed.
Unlike the painted exterior and upholstered bench, this detail stays hidden when the drawer is closed.
From Dark Wood to Blue Paint After 18 Hours of Work
The comparison photographs show the vanity in a workshop before refinishing and in a furnished room after the makeover. The furniture’s silhouette remains the same, from the tall mirror and turned supports to the curved legs beneath the drawers.
The project also prompted a disagreement over painting older wood furniture. One commenter said they would have preferred a coat of wax rather than paint. The painter explained that the owner had requested the new finish and selected the colors.
Another reader who did not expect to like a painted version changed their mind after seeing the result. The responses showed how the same piece could appeal to people who favor painted furniture and those who prefer exposed wood.
For another furniture makeover shaped by a family request, see how a mother painted an ornate dresser pink and blue after her 19-year-old daughter asked for a Sleeping Beauty theme.
Would you have kept the original dark wood finish or chosen the blue paint and stained wood combination?
Image credits go to u/TlyTlymama