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Painted Vintage Ethan Allen Furniture Makeovers

ByJennifer
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This is one of those vintage Ethan Allen smaller dressers that were very popular in the ’70’s and 80’s and considered good quality, but affordable.  I had two that were the same that I finished in two totally different ways for my booth, just to give you an idea of how versatile they are. The green piece I added wood appliques and trim and the other just painted it. I think both of them I paid about $10-$15 a piece. I think  a lot of people pass them by because they are so dated looking, but they have so much potential and are such great blank canvases. I gave both pieces of  Ethan Allen Furniture Makeovers.
Ethan Allen Furniture Makeovers: Wooden dresser with four large drawers and four small drawers on top, each with metal handles, standing on a hardwood floor.

 

Changing the Knob Placement Can Make a Big Change

This first piece was really plain and needed to be fancied up a little bit. I added a wood applique with glue and filled the extra holes in on the top drawers with wood putty. Sometimes moving furniture knobs can make a huge difference not only in appearance but functionality like this gray-washed cabinet.

Wooden dresser with multiple drawers, featuring visible scuff marks, scratches, and spots of missing finish—ideal for Ethan Allen Furniture Makeovers.

 

After Wood Patching Paint Makes a Huge Difference

Paint really can transform an old piece of furniture! I painted  one of them with a sage green paint as a base layer. Then I added some flowers and birds to make it feel like it was a fancy painted vintage or antique dresser. I think it really elevated it! I also sanded it a little after painting to give it some distressing and make it look aged. Did you know you can age furniture with this masking tape technique?

A light green wooden dresser with seven drawers, featuring Ethan Allen Furniture Makeovers touches—hand-painted floral designs and birds—stands on a hardwood floor against a tan wall.

 

A painted dresser with floral designs, inspired by Ethan Allen Furniture Makeovers, sits on a wooden floor in a room with brown walls and a large window with white blinds.

 Update on the green painted piece! It went to it’s new home happily, and then a few years later was found at an estate sale! I wonder where it is now?
On the second dresser , the holes were also moved for the knobs, but in a slightly different way. If you’re curious about what I seal my furniture with once it’s painted, check out this post about paste wax vs. polyacrylic sealers.

Small painted dresser makeover

 I’m thrilled with how they turned out, and I hope they sell right away. The Ethan Allen furniture makeovers  are always good sellers because they are such good quality furniture and are made to last!!
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4 Comments

  2. We have 3 lower storage units with louvre doors and drawer at the top. All I did was replace the tiny knobs on the drawer with 1″ flat black knobs and it looks great! That Ethan Allen “custom room plan furniture will last for generations!!

  3. What did you do with those old drawer pulls? I’ve been trying to match ones we have but haven’t been able to find them. Looks like the bail pulls you have there. You didn’t throw them away did you?

    1. HI Tim.
      Since,the project was over 5 years ago, I probably have them in a box somewhere…. if you are looking for ones to match, I often see similar ones on Etsy.

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