Nothing transforms a dated piece of furniture quite like a fresh coat of paint, and today we’re thrilled to welcome Denise from Salvaged Inspirations, who is sharing a beautiful table makeover using French Villa Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint. This soft greige shade brings elegance, warmth, and timeless charm to any piece, and Denise walks us through how she achieved this stunning refresh with ease. If you love soft neutrals, smooth finishes, and simple steps that make a big impact, you’re going to adore this transformation!
(The following is an excerpt from Salvaged Inspirations. Read the full article here)
Can you believe this adorable desk/table was headed for the curb? When I spotted this gem, I knew it still had so much life left in it. I tried out a brand new paint color called French Villa and added a little something extra to create a French-inspired makeover.I’m so excited to share this makeover with you—and I can’t wait to hear what you think of the finish!
This French provincial table was in great shape. As soon as I saw it, it was my favorite piece of the bunch.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
French Provincial Table – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Sanding Sponge
WoodUbend Appliqué (25% OFF as of writing!)
Heat Gun
French Villa Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint
Antique Gold Gilding Wax
FRENCH VILLA TABLE
Here’s how it all came together…
CLEAN & PREP
The first step in this makeover was to remove the hardware and the drawer, then clean it thoroughly with a heavy-duty furniture cleaner. When using TSP or a TSP substitute, I like to wipe off the residue with a clean damp sponge before letting the piece dry.
SCUFF SAND
To give this table a light scuff sanding, I used a 180-grit sanding sponge. Sanding sponges are awesome for curvy furniture because they contour so nicely, but on the YouTube video at the end of this post, I’ll demo how a plain ol’ piece of sandpaper works just as well!
APPLYING WOODUBEND
To fancy up this French provincial table, I used a classic Woodubend design. The designs glue on with regular wood glue and are very easy to apply. You can bend it. Cut it. Paint it. Gild it. Gold leaf it. And DRILL it! I used a piece of a design to fancy up the front drawer. I drilled a small hole in the center of the design to attach some hardware.
Here’s how I applied it..
- Pick your Woodubend Design and decide where you’d like to place it.
- Heat the Woodubend with a heat gun or hair dryer.
- Add wood glue and press in place (or use clamps).
- Heat the Woodubend with a heat gun once again to adhere.
PAINTING FRENCH VILLA
Have you ever looked right at a label and just read what you wanted to read? When I first saw this paint color, I thought it was named French Vanilla. Only while painting my SECOND coat, I saw it was French VILLA! Either way, it’s a beautiful, sophisticated neutral. The primer and topcoat are included in this all-in-one formula, so it’s a win-win and a huge time saver.
This table took two coats of paint for full coverage with a super light sanding inbetween coats. I also like flipping my pieces (when small enough and I’m able) to paint the underside.
ANTIQUE GOLD GILDING WAX
Here’s where the chic French finish happens. Once the two coats of French Villa were dry, I brought out a stenciling brush + artist’s brush and applied gilding wax to detail this table. Very little wax is needed. I dabbed my brush to get the tiniest amount on the ends of the bristles and then painted it on. If I’m using the correct size brush, I don’t feel the need to mask anything off. I hit the edges at an angle and use the rim to guide my brush in a straight line. I’m sharing this technique in the Youtube video below. It saves so much time rather than using painter’s tape to mask everything off.
HARDWARE
To finish this table, I found an old antiqued knob that I had saved off an old piece years ago. This knob blended perfectly with the Woodubend Design and the gilding wax. The pairing was perfect and its so easy to drill a hole through Woodubend designs. Also, you may notice I started applying dark wax to give the wood applique some more depth. In the end I decided to wipe it all back because I preferred the look without.
THE BIG REVEAL
Here’s the finished look…
Such a beautiful, smooth finish, and it saves me so much time having the topcoat included.
A huge thank-you to Denise at Salvaged Inspirations for sharing this lovely French Villa makeover! The soft, serene finish proves just how versatile and sophisticated a neutral can be. Whether you’re updating a family piece or giving a thrifted find new life, Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint makes it easy to create a durable, elegant finish you’ll love for years to come.
Feeling inspired? Grab your favorite Dixie Belle products and start your own makeover — and be sure to tag us so we can see your transformation!
For another beautiful and easy makeover using Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint by Salvaged Inspirations, check out our blog, How to Renew a Thrift Store Dresser Using Dixie Belle Products.
