Grandpa’s Dresser Gets a Facelift

My grandparents left behind some wonderful pieces of furniture.  Although I don’t remember these pieces in their home, when I open the drawers, it still smells like Grandpa.  We had a cheap dresser in our bedroom from a big-box furniture store which clearly wasn’t very appealing, nor did it hold any special meaning.

I knew I wanted to keep Grandpa’s dresser, but it just needed a facelift.  Before painting, I used wood glue and clamps to attach a piece of the veneer that was separating from one of the drawer fronts.  I sanded her down, and then gave it a coat of clear shellac-based primer.  I honestly don’t know what type of wood it was faced with, but I could tell from the reddish hue that it would bleed through the paint.

I used two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Grey for the base.  Then, I created a wash (2 parts water to 1 part powder) of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Ironstone.  I dry brushed this one to give the dresser a lighter, beachy sort of feel.  (We live nowhere near the beach, but I need something to get me through these Chicago winters!)

The hardware is the same, but I cleaned them up.  I was quite surprised at how different the original color was.  I suppose that’s what happens when something has been used everyday for the past 60 years.  Check out my favorite way to clean hardware!

I lightly sanded the edges and some of the details, and then used MMS furniture wax to finish her off.

I love this dresser far better than my cheap-o one, and I think the paint has refreshed her in just the perfect way.