Sunday, September 16, 2012

diy - high gloss armoire

As promised... here's the full recap of my newly refinished armoire.


I started out by doing a TON of research about different methods... I really wanted a high-gloss, lacquer-like finish, but without an excessive amount of sanding and smelly toxic paint.  (Oil-based lacquer in a small apartment with very little airflow was not exactly an option.  This was not a project I wanted to lose roommates over.)  And so, I settled on a latex high-gloss enamel paint from Benjamin Moore, that is quick drying, low-odor, and can be cleaned up easily with soap and water.  (Not that I had any spills or anything.)  I primed with Benjamin Moore Fresh Start, that I had tinted at the paint store so that it wasn't bright white.  Step by step, here's what I did:

1.  Wipe down the piece with a cloth to remove any dirt/dust.  Remove hardware.
2.  Sand lightly with a medium-grit sanding sponge.
3.  Cover with one coat of primer, let dry (I left it overnight).
4.  Paint! I used  a mini foam roller for the larger portions, and a brush to get the details.
5. Let dry (again, I left it overnight).
6.  Apply a second coat.  I was more generous with my paint on this application than on the first.
7. Let dry!
8.  Put hardware back on.
9. Admire your handiwork!

Things to note- I removed the cabinet doors and painted them separately.  I bought a gallon of paint, but could have gotten away with a quart (lesson learned).  If you've been reading for a while, you'll remember that I found the brass lion-head hardware for cheap on eBay.

For a first-time project, I LOVE how this turned out.  There are certainly some imperfections, but overall it looks really awesome - it's now one of my favorite pieces of furniture!!  And since I have a ton of paint leftover, I don't see this being my last DIY project.

Hope you enjoyed!




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