Re-purposed Dresser: From Trash to Cash!
Can you believe I found this perfectly good dresser on the side of the road waiting for trash pickup!? I couldn’t believe my eyes. So, of course, I couldn’t just leave it there!
(I used it for a work station for months- it was perfect!)
During the next couple of months, I kept walking by this dresser trying to decide what color(s) to use. And then it happened! I realized I didn’t have matching end tables or a headboard,
I felt the two top side-by-side drawers needed to stay for utensils or whatever; and, the center door needed to stay for aesthetics and functionality; so goodbye lower four drawers (not really, they are in my basement waiting their repurpose purpose) and tracks.
I noticed some splitting in the veneer on the top of the piece so I filled in the splits with thinned out wood putty. Once the putty was dry, I lightly sanded and wiped it down. It was now time to clean the piece. I sprayed it down with 50/50 water/denatured alcohol to remove any oils, dirt, dust, etc. This is very important! Oils, dirt, and dust can ruin your paint job and it doesn’t matter what type of paint you use. Clean, clean, clean!
Once the cleaning was complete, it was time for the magic to happen – the transformation!
The next step was deciding if I should use a transfer design, stencil design, or decoupage the drawers. After months of changing my mind (daily), I finally decided to apply IOD
I choose Heirloom Traditions Finish-All Paint – Cinder for the base coat. The entire piece was base coated with Cinder except for the two openings. It is a rich dark brown (almost black) color that I knew gold would pop from. I decided to go with a dark brown, gray, and gold color theme.
The next step was putting in the base for the shelving using plywood. I wanted two levels in each opening so the top shelves are half the size as the bottom shelves. Once the shelves were glued in, I caulked around the edges to seal the gaps.
Here you can see the shelves have been installed and
Once the base coat is dry, I usually lightly sand my base coat to minimize brush lines and anything else that may not feel smooth to the touch. Typically, I use anywhere from 600 to 1000 grit sandpaper at this point.
The top of the buffet was painted gray using DIY’s Weathered Wood. I love this color and use it A LOT! I bought the stencil shown from Cutting Edge Stencils (search for French Poem) The stencil was placed in the middle and applied with DIY’s Liquid Patina – Golden Ticket.
I decided to use the same IOD’s Decor Stamp – Carrara Marble over the entire top of the buffet using DIY Golden Ticket. The final step for the top of this furniture was to apply the top-coat using a paint pad. My favorite brand is General Finishes
I am so happy with how the top of this buffet/vanity turned out!
The two shelf areas were painted with DIY’s Weathered Wood and top coated with General Finishes
The IOD Carara Marble stamp was used on the sides of the two large drawers over Weathered Wood chalk paint as one of the many special touches this piece has.
Here are some close-ups of the finished
The top coat was applied to the entire piece. I used my Shur-Line paint pad on any flat surface and a nylon brush everywhere else. Between coats, I sand with 1000 grit sandpaper and 2000 grit for the final coat.
And now for the final step! If you are going to age any part of your project with tinted wax, you must put your topcoat on before applying the wax. The topcoat will not adhere if wax is applied first. The wax will dry and be a permanent part of the project. I used DIY’s Black Wax over the mould designs and gold. I like how it toned down the gold from a bright gold to an antiqued gold.
I know this buffet will be a beautiful statement piece in someone’s dining room! BUT, it can also be a stunning one or two sink vanity!
I hope this was helpful! Feel free to ask questions and I will respond as quickly as possible.
Thank you for stopping by!
Patty
Xoxoxo
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