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