Vintage Painting turned Chalkboard with Milk Paint

From Gilded to Grounded: A Standing Jewelry Armoire's Dark Moody Transformation

Sometimes, a "bright and airy" makeover just doesn’t fit the vibe. I found this standing jewelry armoire after it had already been given a white and gold facelift by someone else, but it felt a bit too "glam" for many people. I knew it had the potential to be something much more sophisticated, mysterious, and—of course— moody . In this tutorial, I’m taking you through the process of retaining some of the previous DIY and layering on a deep, velvety dark green finish. We’ll be leaning into those shadows, highlighting the unique curved silhouette. Whether you're looking to tone down a piece that's "too bright" or you're ready to embrace the dark academia aesthetic, here is how I turned a high-contrast piece into a seamless, moody masterpiece.

I purchased this huge print painting for the size and the ornate solid wood frame with the intent to repurpose it into a chalkboard. I had not decided on the color to paint the frame yet but knew it would be a neutral to go in more homes when complete.

First step was to tape off the frame with painters tape and apply 3 coats of Rustoleum's black chalkboard paint.

Seeing I was painting a dining table in a dark grey I decided this frame would be done in the same color. It is Homestead House Milk Paint in Confederate grey. Two coats using my new angled sash Zibra brush, which cut easily into the original gold inner trim perfectly, gave the frame new life.