Here’s a How-To for anyone interested in giving new life to an old piece of furniture. Once you get these basics down, you can get crazy! Shown here are some ideas of what you can accomplish if you have an artistic hand. Thanks to Patina for the bookcase above. You can use wallpaper or simply a different paint color to achieve this affect. Below is a crazy and beautiful dresser from La Parliere. This artist offers truly unique objects - something for all of us who like to paint to aspire to.

So here we go with the directions. This method brings the best results. To begin with, make sure you have the right tools for the job. When using oil paint, use a brush meant for oil-based paints, etc. I find that sponge brushes don’t give a good result, so try to stay away from them.

Prime all painting surfaces to prevent stains from bleeding through the new paint. Primer must match the type of paint you’ve chosen and can be tinted to match the paint color. For furniture it’s best to use a satin or semi gloss finish in either latex or oil-based paint. I find that oil-based paints work best because they dry more slowly and you get fewer brush strokes. But there is a strong odor. Don’t freak over clean-up with oil-based paint. Fill an old coffee can with some paint thinner and swirl the brush in it until it’s clean. Simple.

Start at the top and work down. Check back to make sure you have no drips. If there are drawers or doors, remove them and paint separately. Don’t paint the hinges. Instead, remove them but be sure to label everything so that you put the hinges back on the same door.

To achieve that aged look paint the piece in a base color, such as red, then paint the top coat, like black. When the top coat is dry, take a fine sand paper and sand off the black layer where it would naturally wear (the bottom, the edges, etc). You can get fancy by applying photos or cut-outs and painting a watered down paint over the top or using a clear lacquer. Good luck and feel free to add your own tips and techniques.