Recently I inherited a dresser from my grandmother. It was in good condition but really did look pretty old and stuffy, and did not go with my house. I brought it home with the intention of giving it new life, and turning it into something I would love and treasure for many many years, and eventually pass along to either one of my children or my niece so that it would stay in the family. It is probably not worth much money, but having something that belonged to my grandma is pretty priceless. The re-do really was so simple and I would like to share a step-by-step of the process so that you, too, can give new life to something old and tired.
Before Pic:
Step 1: Wipe it down to remove dust and who knows what else may be lurking on your old furniture. Also, remove the hardware and drawers.
Step 2: Prime. I did not sand this piece and jumped right to priming. It was not a “slick” finish, and I was on the clock since Sullivan was banging on the door wanting to get into the room, so sanding got the boot. I honestly think that is okay though, because the primer was a good quality and seemed to really “stick” to the wood well. I used this Sherwin Williams “Multi-Purpose Latex Primer.” As far as application method, I used a brush and a roller and just sort of switched back and forth to get as smooth of a finish as I could. On the big flat surfaces such as the top and sides, I rolled it out and then went back and brushed out the texture left by the roller while it was still wet. None of this really matters as long as you get good coverage and don’t have any bit streaks.
Step 3: Paint. I used Sherwin Williams “ProClassic Interior Acrylic Latex Enamel.” It is great for trim and doors, and so that translates well to the durability and finish I wanted for this piece. The color was SW6484 “Meander Blue.” I was going for “the perfect robin’s egg blue,” and I really do love this one. It is not too green, not too gray, and not too baby boy (although I do love baby boys!). A quart was far more than enough for this piece. In fact, I have almost half a quart left and may use it on my kitchen table. I used a brush for drawer faces and all of the trim, and rolled the paint out on the larger flat surfaces – top and sides. After rolling, I brushed out the roll texture while it was still wet. I really was in a huge rush, so I used a breeze box fan to dry it real quick so that I could do the second coat.
Step 4: Replace Hardware. I bought some contemporary hardware from Ikea in brushed nickel. After painting the dresser, I opted to replace what was originally there. For some reason, the new hardware seemed phony. The old sort of tarnished brass hardware seemed to be just enough to tie it back to being an heirloom. Another big plus is that I did not have to drill new holes!
After Pic:
The dresser is in our master bedroom, and is styled simply with a lamp, mirror, and a few accessories.
Sources:
Lamp – From Red Door Interiors in Baton Rouge
Ceramic Bowl – From LSU Ceramics Arts Sale
Mirror – Hand-me-down
Little White Ceramic Box – Garage Sale
White Picture Frame – Wedding Gift
Candle – Niven Morgan “St. Tropez” (a splurge but I LOVE it).
Chair – From Honeymoon Bungalow in Baton Rouge
Pillows in Chair – The gold one is so old I have no idea where I got it. The black and white fish is from West Elm.
Drapes – Ikea Kajsa Panels
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