Vintage Painting turned Chalkboard with Milk Paint

From Dated to Designer: The Secretary Desk Refresh

This transformation takes a dated, two-tone secretary desk and turns it into a sophisticated, modern statement piece. By trading the aged pink and cream for a uniform, soft neutral, the beautiful French provincial lines of the piece truly get to shine. From Dated to Designer: The Secretary Desk Refresh This project is a perfect example of how a monochromatic color palette can completely change the "vibe" of furniture. The original piece had a charming silhouette, but the mismatched pink and cream finish felt a bit scattered. The Transformation Details: The Palette: We moved away from the high-contrast two-tone look and opted for a cool, soft gray . This single-color approach streamlines the desk's appearance, making it look more expensive and cohesive. The Hardware: We kept the original crystal-style knobs . Against the new gray finish, they sparkle much more effectively, adding a touch of "jewelry" to the finished piece. The Features: The hutch’s intricate ...

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.