Monday, August 19, 2013

Dresser remade...

Hi Everyone!  I finally completed this dresser remake that started two weekends ago.  I picked up this bow front dresser at my first auction, here's what it looked like when I got it.
 I had a vision for it as soon as I saw it at the auction but it had a really bad paint job.
 So I used CitriStrip to remove five layers of paint and varnish.  In fact, it took me two days, half of a large jug to strip the top and three drawer faces and then 7 sanding discs to clean up the wood.
 As you can see in this picture, I painted the insides and the sides of the drawers before I stripped the top and then touched up the Wildflower blue paint before I stained the drawer fronts.  I also had to do a little repair on the drawers.
 This is what I ended up with and how I got there.
 I painted the body of the dresser in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Grey and stained the top and three drawer fronts in a custom mix stain.  I wanted the wood stained really dark.
 Then I waxed the body and the top in both clear and dark wax and buffed it.
 I could have just added the pulls and this point and I would have been happy with it, but I had a vision for it before I started so I moved the whole thing into the Studio for the next step.  I really love the contrast between the Paris Grey and the dark wood.
 But I like it even more once I hand painted this floral and vine graphic onto the drawer fronts using white craft paint. 
 I put all three drawers together and drew the graphic on with chalk and then painted it on using white paint.  I also put a coat of antique medium on the sides of the drawers to tone down the Wildflower blue on the sides. 
 I picked up some new pulls that were brass and wood so I primed them in grey primer spray paint and then hand painted them in ASCP in Paris Grey to match the body of the dresser.  Then I lightly sanded them and sprayed them with a sealer.
 These drawer pulls look better than the 70's style pulls that were on it.
I really like the way this turned out.  But shortly after I took the pictures I added a little more vine and swirls to the drawer fronts to finish it off.  And I like it even better.  I still have to wax the drawer fronts but the paint needs to set a little more.  I like the contrast between the masculine look of the wood and the grey and the feminine of the white floral graphic.  What would you have done with the dresser?  Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/08/show-me-what-ya-got-134.html 
http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/2013/08/rock-n-share-55.html 
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/08/181st-power-of-paint-party-popp-2.html 
http://startathome.blogspot.com/2013/08/furniture-paint-party.html 
http://staceyembracingchange.com/2013/08/22/creative-inspirations-linky-party-50/ 
http://madeinaday.com/2013/08/22/made-u-look-linky-81 
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/2013/08/link-party-119-and-a-paint-brush-giveaway 
http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2013/08/catch-as-catch-can-134.html 
http://www.504main.com/2013/08/tickled-pink-times-two-no-2.html 
http://missmustardseed.com/2013/08/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-favorites-8/ 
http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/08/fridays-five-features-no-5.html 
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/08/diy-rustic-shelving-ideas.html 
http://www.alderberryhill.com/make-the-scene-monday-89 
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/2013/08/knick-of-time-tuesday-101.html 
http://www.livelaughrowe.com/fabulous-furniture-makeovers-live-laugh-linky-76 
http://www.craftionary.net/2013/08/friday-link-party-79.html 

32 comments :

  1. Wow! That was a lot of work, but SO worth it in the end. Great job.

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  2. My goodness, you are definitely not afraid of some hard work, are you? This turned out beautiful. Your painting skills certainly are impressive.

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  3. This is a gorgeous piece! You did a great job with the flowers and vines. Such talent!

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  4. Your vines are gorgeous! I have a dresser I finished in a similar way, with the wood top and drawer fronts, but a white body. It didn't sell at the Barn Market last weekend, so now you have me wondering if it needs further embellishment?? Hmm....

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  5. Holly--it's beautiful! You did a perfect job with the vines... amazing talent you have for painting! LOVE this look. It will go out the door very quickly!

    gail

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  6. Oh wow! You did a wonderful job transforming that dresser. Love it.

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  7. Great makeover! I love the way you did the vines over the stain. It's fabulous! ;)

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  8. Bless your heart for taking on that job! Paris Gray and dark wood is one of my favorite combos and your little cutie is a great example of why! :) Love the embellishment on the drawer fronts, too. Beautiful job!
    Lisa

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  9. Wow, that was a lot of work but oh so worth it in the end - how beautiful just love the contrast of the hand painted vines on the dark wood... found you through Creative Inspirations link party....

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  10. You did a great job. I love the painting but I know it takes so much work just to get to those final details. Thanks for sharing. Stop by my Friday's Five Features tomorrow and link up this post (and others)! diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com

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    1. Link party is now open if you want to link up your dresser. Looks great! http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/08/fridays-five-features-no-5.html

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  11. This piece is AMAZING. I love the hand painting! I will be featuring this piece at next weeks party for sure!! Thank you for linking up!

    Brooke
    startathome.blogspot.com

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  12. This is such a unique piece I love it! Job well done!
    -Haley

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  13. Wow, it's so beautiful! I love everything about it!

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  14. This is great Holly, lovely hand-painted design and combination of colours. I didn't notice the key holes when you posted the original piece, did it come with a key ?

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  15. I wish I can free hand paint like that. The graphic front is beautiful.

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  16. That looks absolutely amazing. I love it! And I love that you hand painted the design!!

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  17. I would love to feature your dresser redo, I love what you did with it!

    Please let me know if this would be ok,
    lauren

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  18. Your dresser is BEAUTIFUL !!!! I also love the wood top and drawers with the painted body. You said that you hand painted the swirls and flowers which look really great. How did you get them so perfect? Did you use any kind of stencil pattern or anything, they are all so perfect. I love it.
    Debbie

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  19. wow! you worked very hard at this and 2 days of sanding! you did a great job!
    the dresser looks beautiful, I love the mix of wood and grey very much too and great idea to add the floral and vine graphic :-)
    visiting from Craftionary today!
    Ingrid

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  20. WOW - this is simply amazing - what a gorgeous makeover!!!
    XOX

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  21. that is so pretty - love the mix of the wood and grey - great job!
    Pinning

    Sue
    bebeandj.com

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  22. that is super sweet and I love the design!

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  23. I love this redo! That was a lot of work to get all that junk off but the payoff is big. I have a small dresser I've been wanting to do this with as well...now I'm inspired.

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  24. BEAUTIFUL....I love everything about it.. Great job.

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  25. This is such an inspiration for the piece I am working on currently...thank you! Where did you get that lovely vine pattern?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sheila. I drew the vine pattern on by hand with chalk and then painted it in white paint.

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