Two-Toned Furniture Inspiration

You may remember that I have been going back and forth about whether to paint or stain this awesome library cabinet that my Grandma found for me (for free). I think I’ve finally decided to stain it, but I’ve been looking at other possibilities as a “backup plan.” I’m in the process of stripping off all of the old finish, which is going to be quite a lengthy process since there are a bazillion bits and pieces that go together to form the whole piece. In the meantime, I was looking up inspiration in case staining doesn’t go well, and came across a look that I am dying to try. I don’t know if I will use this technique on my library cabinet, but I definitely want to try this on something soon.

Here are some inspiration photos of the look I am talking about. I love how they ended up with the best of both worlds, emphasizing the wood grain but still adding a unique twist with paint. I’ve done the stained top look before, but never just stained the drawers (or left them alone, painting only the base).

I love the modern style of this white and wood chest that Kate from Centsational Girl painted for her husband’s office.

This two-toned dresser makeover from Beth at Home Stories A to Z is amazing too. I absolutely love the hardware.

As far as I’m concerned (and I’m sure I speak for many), Miss Mustard Seed can do no wrong when it comes to refinishing furniture. She used a new color from her milk paint line on this dresser, and hand painted the detail on the drawers. Love it.

This octopus dresser from Brooklyn Limestone is a wild, whimsical example of a two-toned look. Not necessarily something that would go well in my home, but a fun and creative option for a beach house, which is what this particular piece was intended for. This just goes to show you that stepping out of the box can be fun, and hey – it’s just paint. You can always change it later!

And you know my husband would go crazy over this mid-century two-toned piece from Bless{ed} Nest. (Ok, maybe I love it too.)

What do you think about the two-toned furniture look? Would you try it?