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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Refined and Elegant Vintage



NP logoAs Seen in the National Post
This beautiful dresser came to me through my cousin, who had it for years and now no longer had room for it.  Unlike so many discarded items I work with, this one was clean as a whistle inside.  The outside wasn’t actually in terrible shape, but it was in need of a little refreshing.
Old Dresser Makeover 002a
The dresser is solid wood and weighs just under a metric ton (ok, not that much, but it’s pretty darn heavy).
As with all pieces of this era, that shiny laminate type finish had to be sanded down to allow for new paint. 
Old Dresser Makeover 004a
I must admit that the top wasn’t in this kind of condition when I got it, but it’s been kicking around in the garage so long that well…. it acquired some battle scars.  Not to worry, I knew what I was going to do with it.
I sanded the top.  Make sure you’re geared up in a proper mask when sanding anything.  Don’t breathe that stuff in.  I started out with a good coarse grit sand paper to remove as much of the finish as I could.  Then I sanded with a medium grit and then finally a fine sandpaper to smooth out the surface in preparation for staining. 
The rest of the dresser was sanded with medium grit sand paper to take any shiny surfaces off.
Old Dresser Makeover 027a
Cover the raw wood with plastic and make sure it’s sealed good with painters tape, you don’t want any paint getting on it.  With all the drawers removed I sprayed body of the dresser in Krylon Caramel Latte paint,  (two coats.)  Drawers were painted separately.
Old Dresser Makeover 013a
Old Dresser Makeover 020a
As for the 4 large drawer fronts, I wanted either a different colour or a textured finish and with a paintable wallpaper I was able to achieve one or both of those things.
wallpapered drawers 024a
I tried 3 different looks.  White, charcoal and the same caramel latte colour as the rest of the dresser was painted.  One stood out as the clear choice.
wallpapered drawers 018a
On to hardware…
Read the comics first, then spray paint knobs and handles in Pewter.
Old Dresser Makeover 031a
At this point I stained the top, but forgot to take pictures.  I wanted a bold contrast between the stained top and the Caramel paint, so I opted to use Minwax Black stain, (which, by the way, is completely awesome, I’d use it again.)  I finished off with two coats of Minwax Satin Polyurethane.
Old Dresser Makeover 072a
Old Dresser Makeover 052
Old Dresser Makeover 2 034a
Old Dresser Makeover 057a
Old Dresser Makeover 2 020a
Old Dresser Makeover 2 032a
Old Dresser Makeover 2 035a
Old Dresser Makeover 2 012
This project can be seen in the National Post.  Thanks to Karen and The National Post for the awesome write up.
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40 comments:

  1. Gorgeous piece, Lisa! I love the stained top with the lighter base. Great color.

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  2. Lisa, like the commenter before me, Wow. Another great transformation by you. Just beautiful.

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  3. Looks fabulous. I love the idea of using the wallpaper in the drawers.. Great Job!

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  4. Wow - Looks beautiful! I'll keep your textured wallpaper drawers in mind!

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  5. Family feud time - I bet your cousin wants this back. It is a totally different piece of furniture. Those drawer fronts are perfect and I love the contrasting dark finished top. It would actually fit into any room - so versatile.

    Distressed Donna Down Home

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  6. That's what I'm talking about! I am getting tired of seeing everything shabby and chalked. This piece is beautiful!

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  7. What a fabulous makeover, you have inspired me to re look at my mums furniture. Sadly my mother passed away a few months ago and I am now unfortunately in the process of sorting out her house to sell. There are so many nice things that are not quite my look but seeing your post today, I think I have some ideas for upcycling some of her furniture. She has a nest of tables in mahogany, I plan to sand them down, paint them black then paint a gold over the top and sand back in areas so the black shows. I saw some very expensive tables similar and think I might be able to reproduce them and use them when styling mums house for sale. It's so hard to part with her things, I have brought so much back to my house now my cupboards are over flowing and I have an excess of furniture, it takes time to part with things :(

    You have done a fabulous job of this sideboard, did you use a spray paint from a can or do you have the proper equipment? Do you think using a brush is just as efficient, well on a smaller item?

    I came from a link party and now forget which one as I have been hopping around :(

    Lee

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  8. Now THAT is a beautiful piece, thanks to your brilliance. I love, love, love paint.

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  9. STUNNING!!! A tired piece that would have ended up in either a charity thrift shop for $10 or worse yet, in the dump, has been gorgeously reborn into something suitable for the most glamorous Beverly Hills home!!!

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  10. Stunning piece! really amazing..

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  11. I love it! I have the same question, did you use Krylon spray paint from the can? I was also wondering if you sanded or primed it before you painted it? Lori

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    1. Yes for this project I used Krylon spray paint in Caramel Latte. The piece absolutely had to be sanded as it was quite shiny. I sanded it just enough to take the shine off it and because I took all the shine off, then wiped it down really well (to remove dust) I didn't need to prime it. I used 2 coats of paint. The top of course was sanded all the way down to bare wood. Thanks

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    2. Did you put a glaze or stain over the spray painted piece? It looks like the recesses are a darker color which I LOVE! I have a piece that I want to do like this and wanted to know if there was another step I missed.

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    3. Hi Stephanie
      No there is no stain or glaze on this particular piece. The Caramel Latte paint was subtle enough so I left it as is.
      Thanks
      Lisa

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  12. A beautiful job on an original piece most would pass by. I want you to be my neighbour ~ send me the real estate listings!

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  13. Gorgeous! I think the addition of the textured wallpaper gave it that extra punch to make it really unique. You did a beautiful job.

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  14. Love it!!

    Hmmm... hope the original owner won't want it back now **grin*

    Have a great day!!

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  15. Very nice, it has been completely transformed. I love it all, the paint, the stain and the wallpaper. di @ musings
    http://subjectschosenatrandom.blogspot.com/2012/10/make-this-pinterest-inspired-craft.html

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  16. Great job, it doesn't look like the same piece. Very nice color choice.

    Peggy @ southscapedesigns.com

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  17. Great transfmation. it doesn't look like the same piece. It's G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. and love the idea of using wall paper for the drawers. so chic!
    rita

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  18. That is one of the most beautiful furniture re-do's that I've ever seen! It doesn't even look like the same piece. Just gorgeous.

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  19. Good Lord Woman!!! You never cease to amaze me! This is gorgeous! Love the Colorado...love the anaglypta paper...soooooooooo pretty! I'm gonna go read the write up...

    Beautiful....

    Lou Cinda

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  20. I'm sure they'd look good on properties for sale in east london; they suit the atmosphere right down.

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  21. Just wondering about the stain used on the top...Minwax Black? The pics look very brown. Did it truly come out black?

    Caroline
    (carolinepancotti@yahoo.com)

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    1. Hi Caroline
      Yep the stain was called black but it didn't turn out as black as it could have. Another coat or two and it would have been completely black, but I was satisfied with the dark brown. It's actually what I wanted for the piece. I didn't want a brown stain that had any red in it, so I chose the black and wiped it really well to get the very dark brown.
      Thanks
      Lisa

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  22. This is beautiful. You have inspired me to try my first piece. I want to remake my mother's heavy Thomasville bedroom furniture for her. How did you adhere the wallpaper to the wood and how do you disguise the cut edge? Also, if I have 2 night stands, a headboard, huge dresser like this one and a chest of drawers, any ideas so that they blend but are not too matchy matchy?
    Lizeth

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    1. Liz
      The wallpaper was trial and error. The best way to adhere it to the drawer fronts is to make sure there is NO shine on the drawer fronts at all. Scuff it up with sandpaper and prime it if possible with primer not paint. Use Modge Podge to stick it to the drawer after that. The cut edge is best made by waiting to the paper is dry and run a utility knife edge along the paper at the edge of the drawer. Better to wait until it is dry so that you're not pulling the wet paper. As far as all the pieces you have, choose select pieces to put the paper touches on and keep the rest just painted. Night Stands would be good for papering and the dresser perhaps. I wouldn't do much more than that. Good luck with your project!

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  23. Lisa, how many spray cans did you use to finish this piece with 2 coats?
    Liz

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    1. Hi Liz
      I honestly can't remember, but I'd get three cans to be on the safe side.

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  25. Beautiful! I'd love to know the name/brand of the wallpaper you used.

    sachawhalen (at) sasktel.net

    Thanks!

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  26. You are soooo talented! I am green, red, purple,....you name it, with envy! Oops, I just sinned!!

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  27. Very pretty I think I have to steal this idea

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