I love finding pieces that tell a story and reflect their history!
Several years ago, I got a phone call from a friend, telling me that they had been given a sweet little french bombe chest, and he thought that I might want it. He told me that it wasn’t worth anything, and was pretty damaged and “unsalvageable”, but that it was a storied piece. My friend knew that I had a soft spot for pieces that are timeworn, imperfect, and storied.
This little bombe chest definitely fit the bill, because it had an interesting history that tugged at my heartstrings.
This sweet petite French chest was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, and had once graced the rooms of a beautiful grand home in New Orleans.
Unfortunately, it had sat in flood waters for weeks during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina before it was finally salvaged.
My friend told me that the veneer had bubbled, cracked, and peeled, and that it wasn’t in great shape, but he felt like it was exactly the piece that I would be drawn to.
He was right. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it, even with all of it’s blemishes. Those blemishes told it’s story.
You’ve seen the before….now, here is the after.
Because I love painted furniture, particularly the old French and Gustavian painted pieces, I always try to imitate the finishes of those century old pieces.
There’s something about the patina, depth, layers, and color of beautiful, old painted European furniture that is so hard to duplicate in today’s painted furniture.
Pure & Original Classico paint is the closest I’ve found to replicating those gorgeous European finishes.
When I received my shipment of Pure & Original Classico paint, I excitedly opened it, and grabbed one of the cans. I shook it, as I always do to mix the paint, before I opened it.
Something I immediately noticed is that the paint didn’t really “move”. There wasn’t any of the typical “liquid moving around” sound that you normally hear when you shake a can of paint. Which, I have to admit, concerned me.
Was it ruined in some way? Had the weather frozen it in transit to my home? I shook it again, and no, it definitely wasn’t “moving around”.
I carefully opened the lid, not sure what to expect, and was totally amazed that this paint didn’t need any shaking or mixing. It was like pudding…….silky pudding.
It was creamy, with such a wonderful body to it. And the colors…..oh my, so European!
I had chosen two colors to try, Evening Shadow, and Lagoon Water in the Classico line. However, they have more than 100 colors to choose from….yes, you read that right. Over 100 rich, highly pigmented, colors! And they are all gorgeous!
I started painting my little french chest, and at first, I wasn’t sure my choice of furniture was going to work. You see, I decided that I wasn’t going to try to remove the old veneer.
I’ve read about how time consuming it is to repair or remove veneer, and this little chest had sat in water for days, so the wood underneath the veneer wasn’t great either.
Luckily, I love natural imperfections in a piece, so I decided that I was going to paint the piece as it was and embrace those blemishes.
And this paint….oh my………this Pure & Original paint is just perfection, it went on so beautifully!
There were even some very rough places that I used a palette knife to apply the paint.
This paint has so much body and is so creamy, that I could work it with a brush and a knife, and there was literally no dripping.
I gave the chest two layers of Evening Shadow in the Pure & Original Classico.
Once dry, I added highlights using Lagoon Water, just brushing around the edges and highlighting the fronts of the drawers.
I wanted to add more depth and shadowing to the chest and bring out some of those storied imperfections, so I used a homemade glaze that I regularly use instead of dark wax, which I find a little difficult to work with.
My homemade glaze is simply artist’s acrylic paint in color Burnt Umber, thinned just a bit with water. I worked the glaze down into the crevices, nooks, and crannies, and then wiped back any excess with a damp cloth. This gives it depth and definition.
Pure & Original Classico paint dries to a gorgeous matte, velvety finish, and doesn’t require waxing of any kind, however I love the soft sheen that waxing gives a piece of furniture.
So I chose to wax with Pure & Original Italian liquid wax. This wax is ah-mazing!
I let the layers of wax dry, which doesn’t take long, and then buffed with a soft cloth.
I am so in love with the way my petite Louis XV chest turned out.
My little Hurricane Katrina chest has a new look, but she still shows the scars of her “story”…..perfect.
Pure & Original Paints are non toxic and eco friendly.
Pure & Original paint is made in the Netherlands for over 40 years, and for the first time, is now available in the U.S.
There is only one word that comes to my mind with this paint…marvelous. Absolutely marvelous!
Cheers,
Cindy
Paint Sources: (affiliate links)
Pure & Original Classico Paint
Hi Cindy! I’ve been lurking on your blog for a long time and finally decided to bite the bullet and paint an old french armoire I’ve had for years. I followed your tutorial on the bombe chest, ordering the paints you picked out. My question is, did you paint over the hardware or what? I can’t find any way to take off the ornate handles/hinges and wonder if you buffed the paint back off or did figure out how to remove it ll. I welcome any ideas/suggestions. Thanks, Sandra
Hi Sandra! I’ve done a couple of techniques when I can’t remove the hardware. One way is to use a small artist’s brush to paint around the hardware to avoid getting paint on it. The other is to just paint over it and then take a damp cloth and wipe the paint off of the raised portions of the hardware. I’ve also painted the hardware and then come back with a gilding paste, such as Rub-n-Buff in color Gold Leaf, and highlighted it. I hope this helps!
Thanks, Cindy, I’ll try the 2nd option as I’ve painted over all of them now. Then, if that doesn’t look right, I’ll use the gilding paste. It’s looking pretty good so far!
Hi Cindy! What a shame this poor bombe chest sat in flood waters, but you’ve made it rise to its former glory ~ a “new you” ~ as it were. Beautiful! Just reading this as part of Style Showcase this week {March 8, 2018}.
This is such a sweet little piece, and it was in such sad shape from the flood waters, but it means so much to me with it’s storied past! Thanks for the lovely comment, Barb!
Amazing ! I live in Belgium (20 minutes drive from the Netherlands) and I had never heard of that paint. On my next project I want to give it a try instead of ASCP. It’s fortunate I read Amercan blogs so I know what is happening on my door step … !
Thanks for your lovely blog.
Danièle
That’s wonderful, Danièle! You will love Pure & Original paint!!
Cindy, I am so happy I hoped over to the blog to read about the transformation of this little beauty. First off, I love that you embraced the imperfections from the Hurricane which is a huge part of the story. I found a new paint. 100 colors, oh my. I use the same glaze technique . Another no priming paint and environmentally friendly is great. Plus no odor, great.
Wonderful treasure that has history and a new life
Cindy
Oh, that’s wonderful, Cindy! Thank you so much for commenting!
FABULOUS!!!!
Thank you, Lillian!
I love the things you paint, and am wanting to repaint a french dresser that has decorative hardware down the center. I am wondering did you remove the hardware details on this chest or paint around them? I am not sure how to remove the pieces in the center of the dresser without damaging the hardware or the dresser. Would love your advice, and am going to check out that paint line!
Karen
Hi Karen! Sometimes I’m afraid to remove the hardware or decorative elements if I feel like I will damage them in the process. In these cases, I usually use a small tapered artist’s brush and use it to paint in and around those details. I hope this helps! You will love the Pure & Original paint, it’s like silky pudding! Good luck!
Just love what you did with this chest. She looks superb, just like she should look. After all, she’s been through a lot and deserved some pampering.
I’m a little late seeing this post but glad I did! The finish looks amazing & how you saved her.. that’s the stuff daydreams are made of ♡ Love your style !
Carolyn – Barefootbutterfly House of Vintage near Vancouver , BC Canada
Thank you so much Carolyn!
I have been swooning over this paint for 2 years now waiting for it to come to the states. Thank you for taking the plunge as it is a pricey paint. I will now have to get some and I have the perfect piece to use it on. I am a huge lover of Annie Sloan as well. A stockists son came into my home and told my daughter after seeing some of my pieces that I needed to see this new paint, it was love at first sight. So happy I saw you on my IG feed today. Hello from a frigid Revere Beach outside of Boston. : )
You will love the P&O paint Sheila! I, too, have always loved the ASCP paint and after trying others on the market, I always went back to ASCP. Until now. I am in love with the P&O paint!
This is so beautiful. I have never heard of this paint. So happy to read your review. The piece looks so original. You are amazing. Thanks so much for linking to Friday’s Furniture Fix. Susie
Good Lord this is Gorgeous!! Amazing makeover!! xo
Your vision is always spot on, it turned out beautiful!
Thank you Amy!
Oh my gosh, it is absolutely stunning. The finish is delicious! Wow!
Cindy
Thank you Cindy!
Absolutely…gorgeous! Love the story behind the chest, too.
Debbie
Thank you Debbie!
Cindy, I have a question. Does the paint go as far as ASCP? Will I be able to paint a couple pieces with 1 quart. It’s a bit more expensive than Annie Sloan but I’m willing to give it a try if it will go far.
Sandy, yes I believe it will go as far. I actually painted the little bombe chest, plus another larger, foyer table at the same time, and I barely used any at all. The coverage is amazing. If you order, be sure and use the discount code for 10% off of your order {non sale items}!
Cindy, I’m going to give it a try. How long is the 10% off going to last?
Sandy, it expires Jan. 31st!
Cindy, All I can say is wow, wow, wow! The chest looks amazing! I’m in love with the colors you chose. Yes, you’re right about so many different chalk paints on the market and nothing I’ve tried has compared to my love of Annie Sloan Chalk paint. Do you think you’ll still use ASCP on some furniture or has this new love affair with this paint swayed you to use this exclusively? I’m heading over to check it out. That little Bombay chest looks like a very expensive and exquisite French antique. I love the top of it. Is that marble?
Thank you Sandy! Yes, it’s marble on top! I love old marble and fortunately the top of this little bombe chest was undamaged through all of the trauma that it went through. I have loved ASCP for so long, and always return to it after trying other brand paints. They just don’t compare…until now. I was totally blown away with Pure & Original. I’m ordering other colors to try on a few more pieces. Unless something changes, my opinion is that I may never use anything else but Pure & Original!!
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.
Thank you Maureen!
What a beautiful story and chest too. You, as always, did an amazing job transforming it and giving it a new life in your beautiful home! Thanks for sharing with us this paint, I cannot wait to try it!!
Thank you so much Cristina!
Amazing! I would have never believed it. She looks like a little mourning dove wrapped in her new colors. Beautiful transformation.
Thank you Peggy!
It’s gorgeous! …and I’m so glad that you explained how damaged it was before you painted it. You gave that little gem a second life!
Thank you Ellis!
Cindy
What a lovely gift, she truly is beautiful !! I have been wanting to paint a dresser but kind of scared to do so. Did you have to do any preparing to the finish before applying the paint?? Done one can go a long way ??
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Paula
Thank you Paula! You can use the Classico paint on any finish with no prep beforehand, which I love. I painted this little bombe with two coats of the Evening Shadow and used very little paint, there’s probably 95% of the paint still in the can…and I applied some of it pretty thick over the worst of the veneer, so yes, it goes a long way!
The bombe chest is absolutely beautiful. It fits in with your décor perfectly. Love, love the embellishments. I really can’t say that I’ve seen furniture with embellishments before. The color is so soft looking. You did an amazing job! Will have to try this paint. Thank you for sharing. Never heard of this paint before.
Carol P-K
Thank you Carol! I’m obsessed with this paint, you will love the quality of it!
Cindy,
One word, gorgeous. I love the transformation you gave it.
Thank you Christine!
Cindy, you never stop amazing me your little bombe chest turned out gorgeous….
I will have to give this paint a try, it sounds amazing, I value your input and advice…
Wishing you a great weekend….
Smiles~
Mari
Thank you Mari! You will love it, I’m obsessed with it!
Cindy, what an adorable piece, and I love the story that you salvaged it from Katrina. My husband is a fire chief and was sent there for three weeks to help with the devastation. It was quite an experience he will never forget. This piece came out so great that I may have to try the paint as well. I love how worn it looks! Did you work around the metal details or take them off?
Thank you Linda! Normally, I would have taken the ormolu embellishments off before painting. However, the tiny screws and nails that hold them on were rusted, and weren’t budging. So I got a small artist’s brush and used it to paint in and around them. You will love this paint!
You have lovely friends to gift you with such a sweet piece. The NO link makes her especially poignant. She is a beautiful piece now and your instincts are so spot on!!
Wish I had something to paint!
Thank you Debe, “she” is indeed a special piece!
Cindy, this piece is gorgeous because of its lines and because of how you transformed it. I haven’t used Pure and Original but I’ve been reading many positive reviews. Ann Marie @ Iris Abbey
Thank you Ann Marie! I’ve been reading about P&O paint for awhile now, so excited I got to try it! It is amazing, I am a huge fan! And I don’t say that very often!
Wow…what a wonderful story of the beautiful chest and how you have rescued it…I cannot imagine the thousands of great antiques that were lost in the floods of Katrina…you did an most amazing job (as usual) and love the color…will have to check out that paint…If you recommend it, it has to be superior! Have a great weekend Cindy!
Thank you Shirley! I am obsessed with this paint, you will love it!
Love this Cindy! The colors are so soft too.
Thank you Gay! I am in love with this paint, the colors are beautiful!
Hi Cindy! I decided to drop by and say hello:) You and your husband have done such a beautiful job on transforming your home…simply gorgeous!
About this chest: When you showed the first picture of this chest I thought, “OH NO!” By the time I got to the bottom of the blog post, I was like, “WHHHAAATTT?” LOL!!!
IT’S BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I’ve been a painter for over 20 years and I think I would’ve been very hesitant to paint that. A big kudos to you for such an outstanding job:D Have a wonderful day!
Thank you so much!
Love, love this! Where can I find this paint?
Thank you Donna! You will love this paint, it is absolutely the best I’ve ever used! It’s easy to order the paint, here’s the link: http://bit.ly/TpF11
The piece looks lovely! Thank you for sharing about this paint. Did you find the color chart to be true to the paint? When choosing from the chart should we keep in mind that the actual paint dries a little darker/lighter? Thank you.
Thank you Mari! I think the paint dries extremely close to the chart samples. I can’t say enough about how much I love this paint! I hope you try it! I’m trying to figure out what colors to order next!
She looks like she’s smiling ever so gently. It turned out beautifully! I too, adore ASCP so this is high praise indeed. I’m off to check out their website.
Thank you Cecilia! You will be very impressed with this paint!
That is a stunning makeover, Cindy. I have never heard of this paint, but need to check it out.
Thank you Kim! You will love this paint! I can’t wait to paint another piece!
Beautiful! I have seen this paint line some time ago which inspired me to create my own lime based paints for my pieces…so happy to hear this lone is now available in the US!
Thank you Kelly!