A pink French table is the perfect accent piece for the master bedroom!
It seems that I have a continuous project list, and just when it gets shorter, I will add something else to the list.
However, one project that has finally been finished and marked off of the list, is this pink French table! I never thought I would have a pink table, but I’m completely smitten with it!
(May contain affiliate links0
I’ve been wanting to paint something in Annie Sloan Scandinavian Pink for quite some time but just hadn’t found the right piece.
When I decided to start knocking some of the projects off of my “to do” list, I thought this shabby french style table might make the perfect piece to try out this color.
This is what the table looked like in it’s “before” state.
It was very distressed in a shabby white paint.
I picked it up several years ago at an estate sale, and it’s shabbiness worked for me initially, but lately I’ve had the urge to update it with a new look.
I tried to take pictures along the way so I’ll try and explain what I did with each of the steps.
The first step, for me, is always a base coat, and in many of my paint projects, I use a dark gray.
I always feel like it gives the top layers a deeper tone.
In this case, I used ASCP French Linen.
My second coat was ASCP Scandinavian Pink, and I gave it two coats, letting it dry in between.
As you can see, this is the “ugly stage”.
Using a dry brush technique, I dry brushed Mia Colore Old Rose on the raised detail areas, as well as some of the edges.
I did this anywhere I wanted to see a highlight.
Dry brushing is simply dipping your brush into the paint and then wiping most of it off, leaving only paint residue on the brush.
This color is a very pale pink, but you could also use an off white color to achieve the same effect. Mia Colore paint is no longer made, but you could very easily substitute any pale pink such as ASCP Antoinette.
After dry brushing some highlights, I used a sanding sponge and sanded some of the areas for very light distressing. This will bring out some of the undercoat through the layers of paint.
And last (this is where the magic happens) I glazed the entire piece using my homemade glaze.
I have painted with oils and acrylics on canvas since I was a child and whenever I wanted to give a painting an aged or antiqued look, I always used Burnt Umber acrylic paint, diluted, brushed over the painting and then wiped back with a slightly damp cloth.
This will give the colors of the painting more depth.
When painting furniture, I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with dark wax.
I love the aged look that dark wax can give a piece of furniture, but I’ve always found it difficult to use.
I realized that I could use my old glaze recipe on furniture to achieve the same result, and since it’s water based, it’s so much easier to use than the dark wax.
Acrylic artist’s paint from the craft store in color Burnt Umber is my “go to” for homemade glaze.
I just dilute it with water to the consistency of milk.
I brush it on, and then just wipe it back with a soft, slightly damp, cloth (like an old t-shirt).
If you feel like it’s too dark, wipe more off with a damp cloth.
Because it’s water based, it’s very easy to work with.
I always leave the glaze heavier in the nooks and crannies, as well as on the edges for added shadowing.
This is all personal preference.
The glaze deepened the pink, which is exactly what I wanted.
It also adds instant patina and age.
Once the glaze dries, which usually isn’t very long, I give the piece a coat of clear wax, in this case, ASCP clear wax.
After letting the wax cure for 24 hours, I buffed it to a soft sheen with a soft cloth.
The last step was the gilding on all the details.
In this case, I used {aff. link} Rub N Buff in Gold Leaf, which is my favorite way to add gilt to a piece of furniture.
I love the way this little frenchy table turned out, and it looks perfect in the master bedroom.
It’s added the perfect bit of color with all of the gray tones.
Now I can mark one more piece off of the never ending project list!
Cheers, Cindy
Projects keep you busy and out of trouble. At least for me it does… sometimes! Love the pink Frenchy table. I’m not a real fan of pink either, but this one I do love!
You do work magic.
Beautiful results. Thaksfro sharing your methods!
Awesome!!
Oh my goodness!! That is beautiful!!
One word…….SCRUMPTIOUS
I love how it turned out! Thank you for sharing all the details!
What a gorgeous piece of furniture! I am drooling! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
this table is absolutely breath taking!love love love
I bought a great antique occasional table that I’ll try this color on. Thanks so much for the detailed tutorial. I love how yours turned out!
I know I’m very late to the comment party but just ran across this and wanted to say FANTASTIC!!! How absolutely gorgeous your table turned out. The Rub N Buff really gave it the final touch. LOVE.
I’ve been pondering painting my front door pink for a couple of years and think I’ll kind of follow your steps and colors (without the gilding) because I was thinking of a kind of salmon-y pink and yours has that shade. Perfecto!
So glad I found your site and will sub 🙂
OMG, you are good! When you added the pink, true be told, I told myself that you do great work, with many fabulous surprises, so I’ll wait until I see the end results. Boy what end results, because like everything you do, you knocked this out the park, with gorgeousness
Thank you so much Ivory!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the tutorial!!!! I am painting a small secretary and am having a hard time deciding what colors to go with. You have helped me immensely. Especially the tip about the glaze. I have issues with the dark wax also.
That’s wonderful, Kathy!
Wow….this is just awesome Cindy! I have no other words than those! xo
Just stunning!
Oh my goodness, this is just incredible, the transformation is amazing and the step by step details really are perfect. I have two small bedside tables that I am going to try this with, am so excited, now I just need to find the time to get started!
Wow, you did an incredible job on this table! Love what the burnt umber and gold did for the piece.
Thank you Rita!
Cindy ~
The piece turned out just Awesome !! Almost looks reddish, do you think this color would work well with a Red Toile print? Thank you for posting the steps too !!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Our first holiday without my dear sister, but I know we truly have so much to be thankful for.
God Bless,
Paula
Thank you Paula! Holidays are tough after losing a loved one. Share stories of your precious sister on this day and she will still be there with you. {{Hugs dear friend}}.
Thanks so much for the great details of this project. I love the color. I have a cabinet I want to antique and keep putting off using the wax because it just does not give me the effect I want. I’ve used diluted burnt umber like you in the past and had forgotten about it till I read this post. Many thanks for the reminder of how great it is. I can finish my project now.
Have a wonderful Holiday and thanks for all your great idea’s. Love your Blog.
Thank you so much Olive! Happy Thanksgiving!
Gorgeous! Looks like a museum piece!
Thank you Ann!
Reminds me of places I visited in Europe including beautiful hotels and palaces
Thank you so much!
Love all of it! Your table is beautiful. You are a fantastic painter, Cindy. What a wonderful eye you have to get it just right! And thanks for sharing your stepbystep with us. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Thank you so much Kay! Happy Thanksgiving!
Cindy, another beautiful piece! It looks like you brought it back from Paris. I’m so glad you did a step by step. Now I feel I can attempt repainting a piece or two!! Does this mean you are moving the armoire out of your bedroom?
Thank you Linda! Yes, the armoire is moving to another room….there’s never a dull moment around here! 🙂
I can only repeat what all others have said: stunning and gorgeous! Thanks for the tip about using burnt umber as a glaze! Excellent idea!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours – and to all your readers/followers!
Thank you Linda! Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s beautiful. Each layer of color and technique flatters the detail and makes this a stunning table. I love it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Sharon!
You are an Artist!!! Everything you do is Beautiful!! Wished you lived close to me!!! Happy Thanksgiving
Thank you Nancy! Happy Thanksgiving!
Cindy — you are truly a furniture magician! The depth of color on this pieces is absolutely fabulous; I especially appreciate your sharing how you used burnt umber to add this depth.
Thanks Sharon!
Absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Janie!
Wow, I love every step, even the white stage is amazing.
Maria
Wow! That table is stunning! I love the antiquing and the gold rub. You are a magician! Can’t wait to see the mirror too! Happy Thanksgiving!
like all your other work,just beautiful!
Have a joyous Thanksgiving!
Hi Cindy, it looks absolutely gorgeous. You always do such beautiful work. I am totally with you with the dark wax. I love using Annie Sloan paint but I have a hard time working with the dark wax. I do use burnt umber, but I use it mixed in my clear wax. I love how you diluted it and gave it that beautiful finish. Thank you so much for sharing. I can’t wait to see more.
☺ Luvly table Cindy. Luv the peeks pf grey coming through the pink. I did get a giggle, as a fellow artist , I do the same thing. Burnt umber over my pieces to add depth. Last weekend, I was redoing a clients kitchen and dining room when I broke out the burnt umber on her ‘beach’ redo. You should have heard her gasp!!!! after seeing what it did to her china cabinet, she was amazed.
My go to glaze medium!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Hugs, Gee
That’s awesome Gee! Happy Thanksgiving!
Love what you did here Cindy. It looks like it has aged like fine wine. All the nooks and crannies are full of aged patina. Beautiful job and the color is stunning.
Thanks Mary!
Wow! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing how you did it and all the tips and what you used. Your home is absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you so much Maryann! Happy Thanksgiving!
Super fabulous table,can’t wait for the mirror to be finished.
Cindy you are very talented! I love that table and I bet when you see that every day it’s going to make you so happy! Good job my friend. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Gay! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Cindy, I really didn’t think I would like a pink table but this is scrummy! Thanks for the burnt umber tip. Of course, I’m going to have to go thrifting to see if I can find a guinea pig. Happy Thanksgiving.
Ha, love it! Good luck on finding your guinea pig! Happy Thanksgiving!
Cindy, i have to say this really turned out stunning! Love the pink…it’s so soft and pretty…I think pink and gray compliment each other’s so well……you really did an amazing job…..now you can relax and enjoy your pretty work…that is till you tackle your next project………I always mix my own antiquing glaze very similar to yours….thanks for sharing with us all…..
Wishing a great Thanksgiving~~
Mari
Thanks Mari! Happy Thanksgiving to you!
You are really an artist when it comes to finishes……I’m learning so much from you! THANK YOU! The table is BEAUTIFUL!
Aw, thank you Toni!
Such a great example how one can completely change the look of piece of furniture with paint. The before was nice but had a casual look about it. The after is definitely more rich and formal. Love it!
This table is beautiful—I think you are truly talented!! Makes me want to go home right now and paint a table.
I love it and it isn’t that pink after you completed the process. You must have to be brave to apply that burnt umber mix!
The Burnt Umber always “tones down” the color, thank goodness!
You have mastered the paining technique. Look forward to seeing the entire room now that you’ve added this piece.
Thanks Jonelle!
Beautiful, love all of your work and especially the tip on the glaze. I recently used dark wax and it was not what I expected. I was also curious that you let it cure so long. I thought it only took ten minutes or so? Lastly curious that you did the rub and buff on top of the wax. I thought the wax had to be last. I never feel like I’m completely covering everything when I apply the wax. Can it be applied more than once? Would love your advice. Really worry about getting the wax part right.
Your home is spectacular and I love how you share the progress of each room. Truly a labor of love!
Kim Mawhiney
Overland Park, KS
Hi Kim! I always let my wax cure for 24 hours, then it’s easy to buff to soft sheen. I don’t think you would get the same result in only letting the wax sit for ten minutes or so. It needs to cure into the wood for a good protective finish. Yes, wax is usually, always last. I’ve just had better results in doing any gilding over the top of the waxed finish (after its buffed). Sometimes the wax coating will dull the gilding a bit, and I didn’t want that to happen on this piece. Hope that helps! Happy Thanksgiving!
Well done you!! I love it and wondered what you would do. Great tutorial btw, the pictures really tell the story. Very informational and lovely new table.
Thanks Suzanne!
Cindy! Your vision is amazing…I often get stuck in that first critical step! I’m not sure I would have had the confidence to pull off the pink. I’m SO impressed! Everything you touch turns to gold.
Have a lovely Thanksgiving.
Cheers,
Shelley
Aw, Shelley, thank you! Not everything turns out this well. I’ve done plenty of pieces where I started with a certain vision and I’ve had to change directions and repaint it, because it wasn’t working! I’ve had plenty of failures! Happy Thanksgiving!
I think this is simply lovely. Going out of your box a bit with the pink is FABULOUS!
I adore AS paint and although I have tried others…her paints and waxes are above all I have ever used!
Thanks so. I have for sharing this with us all…..LOVE IT,
Thank you so much Jann!
Love what you did with this table! You always inspire me!
Thank you Linda!
Cindy you are an artist! Now I see clearly your not among us average peps!
Love that you shared and may even try this burnt umber glazing. I hate dark wax,wax in general. But I love Annie Sloan paint,so I suffer.
Thank you Gaylin!
Wow this is beautiful! Would love to do something like this maybe one day. It really is gorgeous!
Happy Thanksgiving Blessings to you and your family,
Candy
Thank you Candy! Happy Thanksgiving!
Amazing, beautiful, simply gorgeous. You always do such beautiful work and we all appreciate your tutorial. Happy Thanksgiving to your family.
Thank you Daphne! Happy Thanksgiving!
Absolutely gorgeous!!
Thanks Julie!
Oh my goodness! I absolutely love what you have done with this table. What a beautiful, sophisticated piece that looks as though it came directly from an 18th century French palace. Just beautiful!
Thank you so much Jeannie!
Beautiful job! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Jane!
Wow! That’s beautiful! Thank you for the tip on using Burnt Umber…I too have a love/hate relationship with dark wax. Love how it looks, but it’s difficult to use. Will definately try the acrylic paint!
I think you will love the Burnt Umber paint Valerie! Thanks for commenting!
One word Cindy – WOW!!! Looks so much better than the overly shabby look! A person would guess it was 200 years old – something you found @ Versailles!! I’ve got allot of Annie Sloan paints but have never bought/used the Scandinavian Pink. Maybe if I had the right piece…and yours is perfect!! Do you still have that cute little chair with the pink velvet seat? Wondering how well they would look in the same room.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Celia
Thank you Celia! Yes, I still have that little chair, I will have to pair it with this table! Happy Thanksgiving!
So very, very lovely. I love your style and your willingness to share. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much Rhonda! Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow!!! You worked your magic and transformed that piece into one that looks like it came from an exquisite antique shop in France! It’s a beauty!! Thank you for giving us your glazing secret. I have a similar table and it will be on my project list after seeing the incredible transformation of your table! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!
Thank you Shirley! Happy, Happy Thanksgiving dear friend!
Happy Thanksgiving Cindy!
That’s not a color I would pick either but it turned out beautiful. Must re-think my color choices.
Happy Thanksgiving Debra!
Wow, Cindy! It is gorgeous and looks like a very, very expensive antique. Do you apply the Rub and Buff with your finger or do you use a brush? Thank you for the help!
Holly, I have used both my finger and a small artist’s brush to apply the Rub N Buff. With this piece I used a small brush.
Thank you for the detailed instructions on your glazing technique! It was very helpful!
Wonderful Kelly! Happy Thanksgiving!
I love the patina you created. Great transformation, Cindy.
Thanks so much Mary! Happy Thanksgiving!
Very pretty Cindy! I love both versions of this table but feel the gold gilding is so much more “you” than the chippy look. The salmon color is beautiful and I am so happy to learn about your homemade glaze. I’m going to try that!
Nancy
Thank you Nancy! You will love the glaze!
Cindy this looks devine, I adore it plain and simple, you did a fabulous job…xxx
Thanks so much Janette!
Cindy,
You are so talented. Love the table,the cherub,the candles. I do not have ,nor can I use pink in my home,but I wish I could after seeing what you have done.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family…many continued blessings.
Thank you Diane! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
In a word…..Fabulous! You do such a beautiful job. Looking forward to seeing your Christmas decor and Happy Thanksgiving to your family!
Happy Thanksgiving Cheryl!
Oh, Cindy, it’s simply stunning and looks like an authentic French antique. Thanks so much for sharing the watered down umber paint part. I don’t like using dark wax either.
Thank you Kim! Keeping you and your Dad in my prayers!