I just found this gorgeous old, old, old vanity at at yard sale for $5. Yeeah! It doesn't have a rectangular top, it has a weird curvy assymetrical one. But it still looks so plain! I'm thinking of either painting the top black or mod-podging (or whatever it's called) the top with pictures I like, like pages from zines or something. But how do I do this? Ok, here's what I'm trying to ask a little bit more simplified:

1. How can I paint wood black, not plain old black, but shiny, luscious, beautiful black? Like lacquered or something?

and

2. How do I mod podge stuff onto wood?

I'd appreciate any help or additional ideas. Thanks!

Victoria

Whatever you do, first you clean it thoroughly, then sand it lightly, then clean it again. Make sure it is smooth everywhere, no holes or pits or dings that will detract.

Black enamel paints, high gloss, will be easy but kinda expensive if you are going to spray it on. Light coats always. Doesn't matter if you didn't get quite enough on one teensy area, you are going to do it again and again. If you go the lacquered look, you'll have to sand after you paint each layer, because those final clear coats will show every imperfection. Once you've got a good deep cover of black paint, you can clear coat it with high gloss enamel or my trusty polyurethane. Read the labels to be sure they are compatible. Glazing can also give the depth of lacquer, but sometimes can be sorta milky like modge podge. Do not let cats anywhere near it for a couple of weeks. Let it cure, if you have to poke at it somewhere do it someplace inconspicuous. From what you described, it probably has turned legs, that is shapely curves and peaks and planes. Those may not look good "lacquered" but if you are ambitious, you can strip them down to the wood and poly them with several coats.

For modge podge, do the same cleaning and filling and sanding and cleaning. This one would look good with Victorian pictures, romantic flowers and hearts and cupids and ivy. You could also decoupage some real lace or some paper doily lace onto it in places. Then use a gold wiping stain to fill in some of the lacy texture, and the routed edges of the top and spindles.

Personally, I'd check to see what kind of wood it is, and if it is solid and a good wood, I'd just strip it and maybe stain it, but cover with several coats of polyurethane. I've had so many damaged finishes over the years that I labored so hard to achieve that polyurethane is my fetish. Practically indestructible.

Beth

hmm, Martha Stewart (of course) had a segment about laquering furniture on her show a while back... i think they used shellac and some black soot-powder-stuff. it looked complicated. i know little of woodwork, but they might even make black wood stain. you could put a few layers of black spray enamel on it, then a layer of a red-tinted (like cherry or rosewood) polyurethane finish over that to make it look warm and glossy.

definitely sand and clean it well before you do anything.

stella

Can I suggest a modge-podge alternative or two?

What about finding a really great fabric (I'm thinking kimono or sari silk...something embroidered and lush...), cutting it to fit the top, then getting a piece of glass cut to the exact shape, then sandwiching the fabric in between so it's really funky/pretty/whatever you're going for, and you have a great protective surface? (glass is pretty cheap, and since you got such a good deal to begin with, hey, you could splurge ;)

Or...buying some cheap pottery/dishes/tiles and breaking them so you can
make a mosaic out of the top with mismatched colorful pieces, with colored grout in between (black, maybe, since that's what you wanted to paint it?)

Or, if you're modpodging, how about buying some old catalogues/magazines from the 40's/50's and covering the top with images of 'beautiful women' in their pretty clothes, applying make-up, modeling underwear...how fitting for a vanity! and still pretty cheap!

Anyways, I'm sure it's going to rock no matter what you do with it...I'm jealous! ;)

*Beth*

Thanks for all the help! The vanity looks more like a girly, art-deco desk than a vanity. It's not very big, but it has decent-sized drawers and three shelves (two of them being slanted - for shoes? I have no clue. Any ideas on how to make em useful??).
Isn't is expensive to have glass cut, though? Just wondering. I think I'm still going to stick to painting it shiny black or decoupaging (sp?).
Oh yeah - whoever said not to let cats around my desk for two weeks - why? Is it just really toxic, and especially harmful to kities? Because I have a cat, and I love him soooo much, I wouldn't want him to fall over and die. And I wouldn't want to kick him out of my room for two weeks either.

Victoria

Victoria, kitties like to leave their personality imprinted on anything. Some of the stuff you could use would be harmful if she got it on her, but mostly that's not a problem. The chemical stink will keep her away.

I just have cat fur hidden in every darn piece of furniture I've ever refinished. Got kitty foot prints on a window sill and impressions of a sleeping kitty on an uncured polyurethane floor.

Nah, they didn't get hurt doing any of that, but it's amazing what kitties will get into.

I think the modge podge is totally safe anyway.

Beth

Slanted shelves would be a GREAT place for cool storage boxes!

they could have lids and stack, or you could leave them open as a place to put things: makeup, craft supplies,CDs, love letters :)

*Beth*

yr post made me remember a vanity that sounds similar to one i found at a yard sale years ago...its still in the garage awaiting refinishing :( i have a dream tho, of a beautiful black lacquer vanity with 1940's style red roses decupaged on it....

keep us posted on yr progress!!!