January 19 2024

Curved Front Dresser Makeover Using Elegant Neutrals

Check out this true peasant to princess transformation. I nearly passed on this cute dresser, borderline rickety. Making drawers slide well and easy is not my favorite thing to do. Some of the very old and cheaply made pieces will never function like modern ones, but I do my best. I sanded down the drawers, the opening and, used flat metal pushpins to act as a slider surface. That is about the best one can do without completely re-engineering. No, I didn’t remove the veneer. It was re-glued at the bottom and the missing bits filled with wood filler. But talk about great bones! Look at the front curve and I’m loving the mirror.

Again, What’s With the Cherry Wood?!

What I wanted to do with the top is not what is going to happen. Foiled again by red wood. I should have paid attention to the obvious red tone when I purchased, but frankly it wouldn’t have stopped me she’s so cute. So, this means that sanding the top down to raw wood, bleaching it or re-staining it for today’s wood trend won’t work. Had it been summer and warmer temperatures, the bleach might have worked, so I learned something:

Bleaching wood is best with temperatures in at least the 60’s and when it can be done in direct sunlight.

Instead of real wood top, it got a faux wood top using the same color paint as the body and chocolate brown glaze. The glaze is half paint and half Flo-Trol, (my favorite paint additive). A quick UNEVEN coat of glaze then a few swipes with a course brush. On hand is a wallpaper brush, so I use it. Perfectly straight swipes are unnecessary and unnatural so some sway up or down and some curve slightly.

I’m loving the organic feel of the Elegant Neutrals transfers from ReDesign with Prima, made even more neutral on this light beige paint color. It’s Rustic Oak by Joanna Gaines. You all know I make my own chalk paint. The freedom to select from a world of colors is especially fun. I’ve used this color often!