how can i paint a white mantel a cherrywood color?

home designer

hi i just bought this fake faux fireplace it was painted white but i do not like it that color. i wanted it like a cherry wood color or a mahogany is there any way i can paint it over the white ? i would sand it down but the lady i bought it from told me she didn't know if the wood was good or how many coats of white it had. can someone help me . if any help colors in livingroom burgandy,brown,beidge and cherry wood tables and coffee tables .

sdsester

You can paint it whatever color you want. If you want to give it a faux wood look you will have to play around with glazes, wood graining tools and so forth.

If the overall surface is in good shape and does not look like it is too built up with paint layers, you do not have to sand or strip it all the way down to the wood. Just degloss the existing surface.

If it has an oil-based finish on it you can put a new oil finish on it. If it is latex, use latex. If you are going to use latex over oil you will want to prime with an alkyd primer first.