THE TILED PEDESTAL REIMAGINED
The same pedestal. An entirely new energy.
Three years ago, I shared one of my favorite DIY projects to date: The Tiled Pedestal. What started as a simple white laminate pedestal became a completely custom piece wrapped in handmade sage green tile. It quickly became a favorite, not only because of how approachable the project was, but because it proved that a little creativity could transform something inexpensive into a piece that felt completely custom.
Since then, that pedestal has lived in Just Jully’s home, been photographed countless times, and quietly become one of those pieces people always ask about. So when it was time to design her new Manhattan apartment, there was never a question of whether the pedestal would come with us. The only question was: How should it evolve?
When A Home Changes, Its Objects Can Too
Three years ago, this pedestal was designed for a home that celebrated an entirely different setting. It wasn’t meant to be the focal point. It was another thoughtful layer that completed the room.
Fast forward three years, and we’re designing a Manhattan high rise that calls for a different design language.
The values haven’t changed. The context has.
To help guide the process, I created the AI rendering above to visualize how the pedestal could evolve for the new space. This gave me a chance to explore the idea before bringing it to life, and I immediately knew it was the direction I wanted to take. With sweeping skyline views and the energy of the city just beyond the windows, it felt natural to move toward something a little more artistic. I wanted to create unexpected moments that quietly catch your eye as you move through the space. This pedestal became one of those moments. Instead of replacing a piece that already held so much history, we gave it a new expression. To me, that’s what thoughtful design is all about. Our homes evolve, and the pieces we love can evolve right alongside them.
The Reimagining
I wanted the pedestal to have the look of aged chrome like something that still felt distinctly silver but with enough warmth to give it depth and character.
To achieve that look, I mixed Silver + Champagne Gold Metallic Paint in roughly equal parts. The champagne gold subtly softens the silver, creating a finish that shifts beautifully throughout the day and gives the pedestal much more depth than just silver metallic paint alone.
One of my favorite parts about this makeover is just how approachable it is. I first started applying the finish with bristle brush, which is what you'll see in the image above. It worked well getting the first coat down, but I quickly realized it was leaving subtle brush strokes that weren't giving me the smooth end look I was after. For the second and third coats, I switched to a 2-Inch Foam Sponge Brush, which made all the difference. Three coats were all it took to achieve the layered metallic look, and one bottle each of the Silver and Champagne Gold metallic paints was more than enough to complete the entire pedestal.
The styling evolved just as much as the finish. Instead of the oversized vessel and dramatic branches from its previous home, I chose a Handmade Ceramic Brown Vase with Fringe with two Real Touch Tulips. The arrangement feels lighter, more intentional, and almost gallery like, allowing the pedestal to become one of those museum like moments that instantly catches your eye as you walk into the space.
Everything I Used
✧ Original White Laminate Pedestal
✧ Original Sage Green Tile (from the original project)
✧ Silver + Champagne Gold Metallic Paint (1 bottle of each colorway)
✧ Handmade Ceramic Brown Vase with Fringe
If you’re interested in recreating either version, I’ve linked every product throughout this article as well as the original DIY tutorial below:
Read: The Tiled Pedestal (original DIY tutorial)
Sometimes all it takes is a fresh finish to completely shift the energy of a space.
Some pieces don't need replacing. They just need to be reimagined.
If you create your own version or give an old piece a second life using this chrome finish, I’d love to see it. Be sure to tag me so I can follow along!!
