Furniture Project: Painting a Family Antique

This beautiful antique quarter-sawn oak dresser was a gift from my parents on my 18th birthday.

It has been in my home for almost 40 years, and all of my kids have used it at one time or another. Lately it has been in my grandkids' room, so now this dresser has served 3 generations. 

I grew up in an era when you didn't paint good quality antiques and my parents spent quite a bit of change for this dresser. But, from time to time, I thought how cute it would look painted white.

But I wouldn't do it. I couldn't. It just wouldn't be right.

In fact, when Husband asked me if I had any problem painting this dresser, I told him I had been thinking about painting it for 20 years, so what did he think?

What finally made it okay for me? I realized that styles come and go and, even though I won't ever sell this particular dresser, if I were to sell it, it would probably sell faster and for more money at this particular time, if it were painted.

And if I'm not ever going to sell it, what difference does it make if I lower the value or raise it, as long as I like the result?

The white paint and some grey brushed on the edges really highlight the details of this pretty piece.

This dresser has such beautiful lines, and they stand out so much more now.

 
 Since some of the original knobs were broken, and they didn't fit as well after painting,

 I decided to order new ones from Hobby Lobby.
Small fleur-de-lis for the two little jewelry drawers,

 and larger ones that say "Paris" for the bigger drawers.
Love them!

This will look great in my new guest room, can't wait to get that room finished!