What can make a $3 flea market chair look like a $300 boutique piece? Just a little paint and the most basic techniques. In these beautiful pages, crafters will discover the key to transforming old and cast-off furniture into fantastic and fanciful works of art. A range of designs are on display, from rustic to refined, simple to sophisticated. Select from decorative painting, decoupage, crackling, distressing, sponging, staining, stamping, and stenciling, and follow the detailed instructions, photos, and patterns to success. Decorate a cabinet in charming country chic with a rooster and a trompe l’oeil napkin peeking over the drawer. Go retro with ’50s-style kitchen chairs. Or make a Rose Armoire, Baby Memories Photo Screen, and many other one-of-a-kind showpieces.

Perk up tired, dull, and worn furniture! Fill your home with individually decorated chairs, tables, and dressers, and revel in the opportunity for showing off your creativity. Every one of these projects uses innovative techniques and offers wide scope for self-expression. Take that faded old chair, for example: paint the wood a springlike shade, with the softest patterns and textures, and give it a bright new cushion. Any cabinet could benefit from a coat of rich blue paint and styling that emphasizes the wood's grain. And, don't let your current pieces hold you back from indulging in a favorite hue or design that you thought might not fit in; this imaginative volume reveals the many ways that either subtle or full-blown changes to existing furniture can alter the whole look and result in a whole new living environment.