A Risk Worth Taking

Byljanning@dukemanorfarm.com
The house was calm and quiet. Kids and husband were outside. 
If I was going to make my move, this was the time. 
                                    This was the moment.
My heart was racing, sweat was dripping from my brow and my hands were shaking….terribly
With my favorite paint brush by my side and a class of crystal light fruit punch to calm my nerves, I stared directly at it.      
What should I do?
What will my husband say? 
What will my friends think?
I was about to make a decision to do something that I had never done before.
I didn’t have this problem with the thrift store find (here), or my dumpster rescue (here), or even my painted floors (here). But this was different. This was committing myself to the success or failure of the outcome and living with it everyday and never hearing the end of it from your husband if it didn’t turn out.
It only took one look to know that I had not made a mistake. That the risk was worth taken. That a piece of furniture that I paid a really good sum of money for, had been transformed. That hubby would be proud and that my friends would say good job, but still chuckle that I had painted that piece.
I would only have to remind them though, of what the piece use to look like, before they realized that it was the right thing to do.


 And then they may just stop laughing.

What risks have you taken lately?


 Grateful for~
Risking Taking
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Just a gal that loves to share my family, home decor, design and life around here in the country.... on my real life funny farm at Duke Manor

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56 Comments

  6. WOW!!! What a gorgeous facelift. Although, I do know what you mean about being OK with painting "finds" and the struggle as to whether we should paint our "good" stuff!

  10. Lately not so much…

    I "rescued" a piece during Summer (posted about it) and I'm dreaming (and dreading) of transforming a piece of furniture into my "good as new" bathroom renewal.

    Now that I've seen what you did I'm not even sure I'm to the work.

    Your piece turned out absolutely wonderful. The right wear in the right spots… oh my, I'll never be able to pull this 🙁

    Humbled,
    Teresa

  11. I'm so glad you showed this today. I have a pricey chest of drawers upstairs that is mahogany. You've given me the bravery I need. Honestly, when you don't like the look of something anymore…what's the harm?

  13. Hilarious narative! You have given me the inspiration to take on a chest of drawers that has been in my painting bullseye. Yours turned out fabulous.

  16. Excellent job! I have same struggles with painting "good" furniture. Glad you took the leap. It's lovely both ways, but I like the fresh new look.

  17. It looks beautiful! I worry about what my husband will say when I paint what he considers "good furniture". We have a HUGE entertainment center that I would love to paint. He would die. I will be content. 🙂 Good move on your piece.

  24. Luckily you didn't spill that fruit punch all over that dresser – now that would elicit peels of laughter from friends & family!

    I have a similar bombe chest that I avert my eyes from every time I walk by – it's nice but I'm just over it! Come on over with that paintbrush and help a girl out – I'll provide the Crystal Lite!
    Kelly

  27. This risk was well worth taking. The bombay chest turned out beautifully. Also I was just thinking about painting a piece that I have that's similar to yours. I painted it gray but I'm wanting white.

    hugs
    Sissie

  31. It looks beautiful, Laura! Great choice… soft and fresh. I painted a piece last weekend that made me nervous… and I ended up painting FOUR coats before I got it to look right! Ugh! 🙂

  34. Oh Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhh!. Definitely a risk worth taking Laura. You nailed it. I struggled with the same problem last year when I decided to paint my formal dining room set. I never looked back. So glad you went for it!
    xoxo,
    Kim

  36. The chest turned out wonderful, I had one similar and I had the same feeling about painting it, I just gave it to my daughter, I was not brave enough to go ahead with it…Maybe I will tell her to paint it.,.

  37. Gorgeous re-do! I'm not enough of a risk-taker when it comes to redoing furniture…all I've been brave enough to do with furniture is spray paint!

  39. Looks fabulous! I have been hemming and hawing over several antique oak pieces in my own home. I still too scared to pull the trigger. But your post is helping!

  45. Just breath taking! I ADORE that console! I agree, it was a risk worth taking! So classy and chic looking! Thank you so much for inspiring me!
    Jaime from Crafty Scrappy Happy
    ps I am pinning this on our Inspiration Gallery Pin Board!

  47. gorgeous, laura!

    visiting via miss mustard seed and would love to have you stop by when you have a moment.

    happy weekend to you.

    michele

  48. You definitely made the right choice. I am wondering if I should do the same with a vintage piece I have. I posted about it on my bloc. Stop by and let me know what you think. I need all the advice and encouragement that I can get.
    Ruth

  49. Laura, this is absolutely stunning! So glad you took the risk. It was fabulous before but it's unbelievably gorgeous now and so beautifully staged! Love it!! Thanks for sharing at MMS ~ Shelly

  50. Laura, It's lovely. What colors did you use to get that look? And the "wear areas" are really natural looking. I'd love to know how you achieved this look. I am just about ready to begin transforming furniture again after a 25 year hiatus and all the products have changed (for the better, I might add). Oh, and what color was the chest before you began?

  53. Perfect! I have a bombay chest I purchased new and would like to paint it as well. Seeing your transformation gives me the "green light". Will you share your "how to" for this transformation?

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