This wardrobe painting project was for some good clients who lived near Thirsk. They had previously commissioned me to paint their ‘pippy or pipped’ oak kitchen and had been extremely happy with the results. These fitted wardrobes were in the master bedroom, and although very nicely made, the central panels were cracking and they were so dark they completely dominated the room.

Upcycling furniture with a hand painted finish is often a great solution, and these fitted wardrobes were no exception. Painting them would create the minimum of disruption, be far more cost effective and would also avoid any knock on effects like a new carpet and re-painting/papering the wall.

Before any painting work could be done the central panels were covered with 3mm mdf, because the original laminate was completely cracked and irreparable. As with all my projects, the preparation was meticulous; all the carpets protected with Packexe, all the curtains wrapped up and every inch thoroughly cleaned and sanded. The paint colour chosen was Little Greene’s ‘French Grey Dark’, which I had accurately tinted to the equivalent shade by Holmans Paints. I used an entirely oil based paint system for this project, as I had with the kitchen. This allowed me to achieve a perfectly smooth eggshell finish with around a 20% sheen level. I also re-conditioned the handles by cleaning, sanding and spraying them silver to match the curtains.

The upcyling transformation completely changed the feel of the room, making it feel so much lighter and bigger. It also offered more options for accessorizing the room, with a new chaise lounge, bedding, lamp shades and cushions ordered to match. 

Lee works throughout Yorkshire on furniture painting projects and is within easy reach of Harrogate, Ripon, Thirsk, Northallerton, Wetherby, Leeds, Wakefield, Halifax and all the surrounding areas.