Farmhouse Grass Basket

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.

Updating a grass basket is easy with a bit of paint.

I loved the thick "cords" in this large basket and the fun wood handles but it was dirty and blah looking. Time for a good scrub and let dry.

I had a few projects ready to do all in Dixie Belle Paint in drop cloth; a pretty warm white.

An antique solid wood tray, a wood photo serving tray and the basket along with this black tray that is being milk painted grey.

Here is the first coat of drop cloth going on the pieces. I was using this lovely color on a solid wood dining table just the day before.

And the basket inside showing how I just dry brushed the warm white over all sides to brighten it. I then dry brushed a bright white milk paint over the warm white for some highlights and added dimension then sealed the entire basket with a clear wax.