Antique Oak Dresser

While shopping around at a consignment shop I spotted this dresser and passed it right by.  After picking up my other things and going out the door I stopped again.  I. Just. Could. Not. Leave. It. There.  It was pitiful and crying out to me, "Please. Please take me home and rescue me!" :)

Ok, seriously.  It was hideously ugly with the worst paint job I have ever seen.  It was full of rat poop and spider webs.  The top was rotten through on the front corner and it was putrescently (yes, I made that word up.  I like doing that. ;) ) dirty.

Craig told me straight out it was a piece of crap, but I knew she had potential to be great again.  I figured with a little (ha!!) TLC I could resuscitate it.  Umm...yah.

After my sweet hubby sanded the top down with the belt sander I ended up just taking all the veneer off because of the rotten spot.  Someone had painted the original top, then stripped it, and then (without removing all the stripper gunk) put another piece of veneer over it.  Gah!  I had wanted a wood top but that was NOT happening!  

Then I sanded the whole thing down to the bare wood to get rid of two horrible layers of paint.  Funny story, the first color it was painted happened to be the color I wanted! :)

Then I went to paint it with MMS Apricot Strings and realized after doing the drawers (they sucked up the paint like a sponge) that I wouldn't have enough to do the entire thing without ordering more paint (which I was not going to do).  So, change of plans. 

 Anyhoo...the whole thing was a nightmare, but it's done now and I love it!!

 Before

After sanding it down I primed the body with Kilz to prevent bleed through and to give a smoother coat because the grain was so heavy. Then three coats of latex, sanding in between coats.

Milk paint (MMS Apron Strings) is meant to go over bare wood, so I didn't prime them, just painted it on.  It took about 4 coats until it wasn't transparent, but my paint was pretty thin.  Then I used hemp oil to seal it.  

After

I'm glad it turned out the way it did.  I think it looks fresh and ready for spring!

I love knobs!  I knew I wanted to use these on the bottom, but I wasn't sure what to use on the top.  I love the creamy white against this vibrant color. 

 The drawers needed H.E.L.P.!!

I painted them inside and out and then lined them with this pretty gray and white fabric. 

 I've used this poem on a couple of other pieces (it's a Royal Design stencil) and when I was trying to decide what I wanted to do for the drawer fronts (cuz they just needed something) it popped into my head.  Paired with these knobs, I love the french chic feel it gives. 

SO MUCH BETTER!  She's like a breath of fresh air! 

Welcome Spring!

 (which is actually kind of a joke here in WI)

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Miss Mustard Seed