I shared this dresser on both my facebook page and a post here on the blog a little while ago. My original plan was to paint it (I had been thinking a darker blue) and highlight all of the trim and details in white.
The venner on the top was chipped off in large spots, so my mom took it off. I pretty much just stood there, but she is the ‘expert’ in removing veneer since she has done it before! 🙂 Removing veneer takes a soaking wet towel (preferably hot water), and iron and a scraper to get underneath the veneer. Basically just heating up the glue enough to get the veneer to peel or scrape off. Under the veneer it was just some oak wood that had a lot of bug holes in it. I patched them all with wood filler and let it dry before taking the orbital sander to it. I stated with an 80 grit sandpaper to get off any glue and really help start to smooth out the roughness of the wood and then finished off with a 220 grit to really smooth it out.
The dresser was ready to start painting, but I really had not clue what color. I was thinking blue, but I also thought maybe turquoise, grey, black… I really didn’t know. Usually I know right away or a while before I start a piece what color it will be and how I want it to look, but with this dresser I drew a blank. Right before I was about to start, my dad was starting at it and just told me he could not let me paint it. Even though it was not in perfect condition and had some missing veneer along with some scrapes here and there, it was not missing much. My problem was I had to paint the top and did not want it to look funny with the rest the dresser in natural wood. So, I decided to go with white!
I started by taping off and covering the frame of the dresser with frog tape so I could paint the top. I used 2 coats of Zinsser cover stain primer, sanded and then two coats of white paint. For some reason just one of the boards bled through even after the primer. It looked like one stripe of yellowed paint (I think it may have been some of the glue), so I did 2 more thin coats of primer and then finished with 2 coats of white paint. Once it cured I lightly sanded with 320 grit sandpaper and then finished the top with clear wax.
For the wood, I used a custom mix dark stain. I lightly sanded, then everything got one coat to give the wood a richer look and cover up any spots where the finish had been scraped off. Once it dried I finish it with a satin, water based poly and I made sure to sand in between coats for a super smooth finish. The hardware on the larger drawers got sprayed white and distressed, and the top drawers got new, smaller white knobs from hobby lobby. I have not done a stained piece in a while, so it was good to not paint something for once.
What a beauty! Well done – I like the natural look.
Thanks! I like the natural wood too, especially now that it is so much more rich.
I love it! Great call on the finish!
For starters, I was so surprised to hear you didn't have a vision for this project. Everything you do is so magical! The final result here is an interesting interpretation and it turned out beautifully!
Robin
Well thank you! It was probably a good thing I didn't have a vision since it just needed to be freshened up with some stain. 🙂
The white really makes it pop!
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Leslie
http://www.violetimperfection.com
Very, very pretty!
tooo gorgeous. i love the traditional dresser with the mid century coloring! i totally want this dresser for my daughter's room!
I love that you did the knobs white … they really pop!
Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. 🙂
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Raising-Reagan.com
So pretty. I love the way the white knobs pop.
It is stunning! I especially love the white knobs to accent the top. Great job! Thanks for linking up to Give Me the Goods!
Rachel @ Maison de Pax
So, so pretty! Love all your creativity!!
Really beautiful job! And love the stain color you mixed 🙂
One word…..Stunning!!!!
WOW, this is so beautiful. Love the richness of the dark wood with the white top and knobs. It's just gorgeous.
It's just beautiful! So glad you dad "wouldn't let you" paint it. LOL! The white is a perfect touch to bring it all together.
Great post! I have a small table I stripped and refinished years ago. It now has a damaged top, but I didn't want to paint the base. It's a beautiful color similar to your dresser. Now I know just what to do!
Great post! I have a small table I stripped and refinished years ago. It now has a damaged top, but I didn't want to paint the base. It's a beautiful color similar to your dresser. Now I know just what to do!
You are inspired (even by accident or parental forbidding). I can see this style being copied and copied Reeves as it is just stunning. I really love your work. cheers Fiona
Beautiful! Fabulous job!
it's a great article, i love the pictures. Thanks for sharing this bookmarking your website as we speak lol xx
from: CUT IT OUT wall decals
like your dresser,It's just beautiful! we have some quotes great for it quotes stickers