Designers and brands are looking to hand-painted furnishings to add decorative character to a project

Designers and brands are relying on decorative painted furniture to add a pop of personality to a space. Just as hand-painted family crests, monograms, and even tattoos are all tools for expression, these new pieces can bring energy and personality to an otherwise dull corner. Bespoke pieces are also more in-demand by clients than ever. As interior designer Alexander Doherty notes, “Decorative painted furniture is another way to add a unique or one-of-a-kind fine art piece to your home. The furniture is essentially a canvas for artwork.” Whether antique or contemporary in style, decorative painting can add an intricate layer of character to your next design scheme. Here, senior style and market editor Benjamin Reynaert shares a few painted pieces that have recently caught his eye.

Villa Kerylos Chests by Get the Gusto

Hand-painted designs inspired by Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France—the early-1900s copy of a classical Greek home—adorn these 1950s Swedish chests. Get the Gusto owners Chris Briger and Charles Peed, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, are offering painted furniture with a nod to historical Ottoman and Greek design motifs. gtgustostg.wpengine.com.

Hand-Painted Cabinette by Stephen Alesch

Alesch, one half of AD100 design firm Roman and Williams, drew inspiration from Japanese tansu cabinets and their 18th-century English counterparts. The large cabinet front allows space for custom designs depicting the sea, mountains, or forests, and the burnished brass key included is unique and hand-wrought. Shown in white oak with black ink. rwguild.com

Painted Pine Bench by Melissa White for Kit Kemp

Harking back to early 19th-century blanket chests, this romantic bench features a flip-top compartment, perfect for storing secret treasures. Decorative painter Melissa White brings an Edwardian sensibility to her collaborative work with Kit Kemp, who loves to incorporate folk art into her furniture. kitkemp.com

Piedmont Cabinet by IATESTA Studio

Spotted at the recent D&D Building Spring Market, this two-door cabinet features a working lock and key, and is based on an 18th-century Italian design. The hand-painted motif, however, is much more contemporary, and custom decoration, color palettes, and sizing are available. Each piece is hand-built and painted on Kent Island in Maryland. johnrosselli.com

Painted Credenza by Jeff Martin Joinery

Each of these unique pieces is created by oxidizing acids at varying dilutions and working them rapidly with broad gestural strokes. Applied clear, the particular chemicals react with the tannins in the wood and are revealed over time, creating a one-of-a-kind painting. jeffmartinjoinery.ca