My Bamboo is Peacock Blue
July 13, 2011
I have to say thank you to all of you for your suggestions on what color to paint the faux bamboo chest I scored last weekend while out thrifting. Quite frankly, it’s one of those pieces that would look really good in any color, but there were a few comments that coaxed me toward peacock blue.
Ooh, rich bluey-turquoise . . .
Make the gold hardware pop, yes that’s a must!
Yes, me likey colors of the ocean, thanks for reading my mind Andrea.
Amen sister, peacock is da bomb.
So I busted out of my ‘just paint my furniture white’ box I fit so nicely into, and pulled off a bold shade of glossy peacock blue. You saw the faux bamboo chest a few days ago that I dragged home from a thrift store. 
Check out this hottie now:
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
I love it, don’t you?
From the start, this find required some minor repairs. First, there was the chipping veneer around the top that I peeled off, then patched with some wood filler.
Next came the broken leg, with a piece of bamboo falling off. Some wood glue and something heavy on top (two cans of primer) while the glue dried saved the day. 
Now it looks like something you’d pay top dollar for on 1st Dibs (double fist bump to the chest, followed up by peace sign to the crowd):
Paisley print panels in vivid shades of teal, lime green and soft yellow found on sale at Pier One.
The genie lamp was also a Pier One find, on sale and very pretty in brushed nickel, but given a coat of gold leaf spray paint, it plays off those awesome campaign pulls.
Bowl from Marshalls ($3 dolla, holla!), the vintage framed partridge bird patches also found thrifting last weekend, funny how they fit right in, I LOVE them. That vase was on a clearance rack at Michaels for $5 bucks and since I collect white ceramics in all shapes that are priced under $10 I just had to have it. Collecting simple white modern ceramics in all sizes is an addiction of mine because they’re just so darn versatile and look good anywhere from tabletop to bookcase to mantel. Those fat jungle leaf clippings are from my royal empress tree in my backyard, yo.
After all these years of teaching myself how to refinish furniture and working with all sorts of paints and products, I still believe if you choose to spray paint a piece of furniture, you can achieve a really nice look if you follow certain steps.
Here are the ones I followed for this faux bamboo chest:
Remove all hardware and/or hinges. 1) Clean off any debris, fill holes and make repairs (mentioned above, and here); then coat your furniture with a bonding primer; 2) when dry, lightly sand with a fine grit sanding wedge to remove any drips or residue; 3) wipe down any dust with a cloth; 4) freshen the hardware with metallic spray paint (I used ‘Gold Leaf’ by Krylon); 5) apply two light coats of paint with two cans of Rust-Oleum spray paint in ‘Night Tide’ gloss allowing to dry in between coats 6) when dry, wipe down any residue with cloth; 7) apply protective coat to seal and protect.
Tip #1: when spray painting furniture, especially drawer or door fronts, it is best to apply the spray paint when the surface of the door or drawer is facing up, meaning don’t paint where it naturally sits in place. Remove the drawer or door and and lay it down on a painter’s tarp so that the surface you’re about to paint is facing the sky. I find that makes for more even application and reduces the potential for drips.
Tip #2: often with spray paint, along long surfaces especially on furniture you will see a splotchy finish, which I mentioned in this article about spray paint FAQs. This is frustrating because in any light, the color is even, but the finish is not. I’ve grown increasingly bothered by this, which is why I often turn to a safe bet: painting a piece with a roller/brush combo and latex paint. However, there is an appeal to knocking out a quick paint job on a small piece of furniture with a few cans of spray paint, so I’ve been experimenting to get rid of the potential for a splotchy finish. I think I found the solution.
The best way to get rid of a splotchy surface that results along long flat surfaces from spray paint is to coat it with one of these protective brush-on formulas with a cheapo sponge brush. Either one works great (Varathane or Minwax Polycrylic). They are both water based, and they can both be applied to fully cured oil based completely dry spray painted surfaces.
Don’t worry that they look milky in the can, they always dry clear. Choose satin or gloss depending on your preference, and be sure to work with them when the temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees because they dry fast, and even faster in really warm weather.
To appease both myself and my friend JJ, I chose a gloss finish:
And that, my friends, is how this funky faux bamboo chest . . .
. . . turned into this fabulous accent piece.
K8 I hope I’ve convinced you:
I spent $25 on this chest, and $8 bucks on spray paint. By the way, Rust-Oleum’s Night Tide is the perfect shade of peacock blue, I’ve used it here and here in the past and I find it at Lowe’s and Orchard Supply Hardware, but all stores vary their selection.
The rest of the supplies I had on hand, so this is a $33 dollar investment for me and I couldn’t be more thrilled! What I mostly love is the statement in now makes in the guest room. Lesson learned: as tempting and lovely as it is, don’t always play it safe with white, black or gray. Every room needs a pop of color so why not make it a piece of furniture? We should all push ourselves to embrace bold colors to bring personality to our spaces.
Now it’s your turn, so go on. Paint something blue or pink or green or yellow or red. It will make you feel really really good.
Thanks so much to Apartment Therapy for this feature!
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This is gorgeous! You go, girl! & Thank you so much for posting where you got the curtains from. I was just going to ask, but when back to re-read and see if you’d mentioned. Love those curtains!
I’m hoping to finish my bathroom counter and it’s recommended I use this polyurethane stuff. Do you know if it is ok and will last if I’m putting a curling iron on it? Will it melt/burn/mark?
Jena
Hi Kate! Thanks for your tips on painting with spray paint! I love how it covers small areas but hate the splotchiness! Do you typically use the Polycrylic on the whole piece or just the splotchy top, for example? Thanks!
Love the color! Can you tell me what color the bedroom walls are, what color bedspread you have in the room and is the other furniture (dresser, etc.) in the room painted or stained? Thanks!
Love what you did with this! I am now completely inspired to start painting my daughters furniture. She has a few black and cherry pieces (they were on sale), but I feel it’s way to dark for a young teenagers room. Guess I’ll be making a trip to Lowe’s. :)
Looks so gorgeous, Kate! That entire vignette looks dreamy!
OMG! LOVE this table, the lamp, the curtains… everything! LOVE it! LOVE’d it so much I had to pin it!!!
Can’t even describe how much I love this transformation!!! It’s perfect! I even blogged about it :) Great job!!!
Where did you get those curtains? I love them. This is just the inspiration I needed. I’ve been trying to figure out what to paint an iron bed, and I think I may have just figured it out.
Now that is a statement girlfriend! Wow,it says, look at me! And the price? Beautiful! I am doing the double fist bump to the chest, followed up by peace sign to the crowd right back at ya!
I love the color you used! Thanks for the tips about the polyurethane finish. Great job:)
This is so beautiful.
Amazing transformation! Love it!
Wow….love it!!
WOW!!! Beautiful- I wish I had somewhere to put a peacock blue chest!
This is the perfect example of what makes your blog so addictive! Thanks for all the inspiration!
this is just beautiful. while i can’t seem to find these treasures at my local thrift store, i have decided to tackle my own dining room table b/c it has terrible water marks on it. i’m toying with the idea of also using a stencil…. we shall see. thanks for the constant inspiration!
Absolutely love it!
OK, I can admit when I am wrong. I thought you should have gone with a classic color but wow! This blue is beautiful – bold but not too crazy – and fits the piece perfectly. You may be starting a new color trend!
Wow looks a-w-e-s-o-m-e! Great color choice!
Beautiful! Can you tell me what color the walls are? They are beautiful with the blue and the curtains!
I am completely obsessed with bamboo detailing right now. Love your take on it!
Hey Stephanie, the walls are Ben Moore’s Camouflage, same as my kitchen, family and dining room!
Kate
i was wondering if you can tell me about the curtains, where you got them and how much material do you know to buy
I am searching and searching for this Night Tide, and can’t find it anywhere! is it a color they still carry? any tips on where to find it?
That looks great! I have the opposite problem. I always want to paint everything some bright color, usually a shade of blue, and rarely go for neutrals, so sometimes my rooms just seem kind of child-like.
What a gorgeous piece!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I just found this dresser on CL and am SO tempted to purchase it! http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/fuo/2526141009.html
I was so inspired by this pretty piece that I used the same colors on a vanity that I was working on. Thanks! http://nailpolishandpaint.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/vintage-vanity/
Absolutely stunning :) I featured you on Craft Gossip today http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/peacock-blue-faux-bamboo-chest/
THIS is DOPE!!!! You are such an inspiration! I have the same dresser, its missing one of the pulls, do you have any idea where I can find one?
Thanks!!!!
[...] aqui o que foi feito pra ele ficar lindão assim. Mais um móvel que era de madeira pura e foi pintado [...]
Wow! I know that peacock blue would be the right choice. Glad you stick with it.
Love it! What a great color!
You have a gift! I will need to start looking at things with your eyes…and collect more white ceramics :-)
You are not only incredibly talented but also very inspiring! I am dying to start a DIY project now!!! I was wondering if you could share the paint color on the wall behind the GORGEOUS peacock blue chest? Thank you!!
Amy
Thanks so much Amy! That color is Ben Moore’s Camouflage, a nice grayish green!
Kate
I love the Art Deco feel of this dresser! On the DIY To Do list!
This is Glam
This is Glam’s Shop
Loved your tutorial on this, it does look like something PROFESSIONAL!
Did you make your curtains or buy them? I love the fabric. It is EXACTLY what I am looking for.
Love it, such and eye and talent!!