Divine Intervention (With a Bit of Sanding)

Let me tell you the story of how I accidentally decoupaged God.

It started, as these things often do, with an old sideboard. Solid bones, dodgy varnish, and that unmistakable “someone stored potatoes in me once” aura. In short: perfect.

I stripped it back, gave it a good sand all over (several cups of coffee and a small existential crisis later), then started playing around with ideas. I’d been staring at The Creation of Adam for a while - not in a religious way, just in that this would look amazing on a sideboard sort of way.

And so it began. I scaled the design so it was perfect for the shape and size of the unit. It’s a tricky process because you have to take every little gap, corner or handles into consideration. You’re trying to turn a flat, 2D painting into a moving, breathing 3D beauty. I was considering following the colour of the background of the pattern but decided to go with my trusted black for a modern look instead.

After two coats of paint, I laid out the pattern and started applying it bit by bit. This unit was relatively straightforward; the more panels a pice of furniture has, the more complicated the decoupage process becomes. This one was one of the easier ones; still, there was glue in places glue should never be. At one point, Adam’s arm was on backwards. 😫

But slowly, miraculously, it came together. That famous spark between God and man, stretched across a mid-century frame with brass feet and new hardware. A bit reverent, a bit ridiculous - exactly the kind of thing Studio Twentyseven is all about.

The unit got my trademark "8 coats of varnish", some dark red fabric inside the drawers, and the most amazing orange oil so the unit smelled fresh and brand new.

This one’s for the bold. For people who want a bit of art in their everyday chaos. And for anyone who’s ever looked at a sideboard and thought, what if this was just a little bit biblical?

You can see (and buy) the finished piece here - though I can’t promise it won’t start whispering “let there be light” every time you open a door. 🤩

Love the pattern but not keen on the unit? Commission me to create a special piece for you here.