Vintage Dresser refinished in Java Gel from General Finishes

This little dresser is why I love doing what I do! 

 

I think it has lived an amazing and exciting life!  I can just picture it new, some woman so excited to have a lovely piece of furniture.  Maybe it was her first.  I can picture the beautiful wood grain and the sheen of a freshly lacquered surface.  I can picture her reaction at it receiving its first ding or scratch.  Maybe she lovingly tried to fix it, maybe she thought "Oh well."  I can see the years taking their toll on the finish and it being moved around the house.  I can imagine the first time someone thought to take a paint brush to it thinking, at this point, it could only help. 

 

I found traces of fire engine red, canary yellow, royal blue, and bright green, along with white and black.  I'm not exactly sure what it looked like the first time it was painted, but I can imagine the artist, paint brush in hand, standing back admiring their work. 

 

There are pieces missing off the base, but it's solid with beautiful, dovetail drawers that still slide perfectly, evidence of good craftsmanship.  A lot of it had been sanded down by my client, so the finish was uneven and rough.  I finished sanding the whole thing down to the bare wood and was thrilled to find what was beneath the paint.

 

My client and her husband decided they wanted something classic.  I thought that was perfect for this piece.  It's got such beautiful, clean lines and a pretty bow front.  I also didn't do exactly what we discussed, so I hope it's ok!!

 

 

 

 Before

I posted this on my FB page a few days ago and wondered if anybody didn't read and thought this was an "after".  The thought made me giggle a little. :)

 

 

 

 This is what the top looked like when I received it.  Notice the dark mark on the bottom right hand side.  It look like a sideways heart.  Remember it. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 After

 

You just know I did my secret-in-the-garage-behind-closed-doors happy dance about this one!  How could I not? 

It's so beautiful!  I know some probably think I am a wood hater since I paint everything, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  I love a pretty piece of wood and was so happy the drawer fronts were in such good condition.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The color of the body of the dresser is Light French Gray by Sherwin Williams.  I've used it before and I love how it's subtle and neutral.  It could fit in with almost any décor. I had to do multiple coats of shellac between coats of paint as the bleed through was horrible.  I think part of it was because the pigment from the red paint that was used on it before soaked into the wood and the new paint sucked it out. Just my guess. ;)

 

I sanded the drawers down, being careful not to sand through the veneer as it was thin.  I gave them one coat of Java Gel by General Finishes (just wiped it on with shop towels because I didn't have a chip brush on hand and wiped off immediately, going over it several times to get as much stain off as possible so I could still see the wood grain) followed by 3 coats of Minwax Polycrylic (sanding between each coat).  I love the highlights and the lowlights. The wood just glows-so beautiful!

 

 

 

 

She still had 6 of the original pulls so I opted to use them on the lower drawers and used these ceramic rosettes on the uppers.  I always love the contrast of different textures.  I like the dark pulls (I used Oil Rubbed Bronze) on the dark drawers and the white of the rosettes against the gray paint.

 

 

 

 

 Remember this top?  The grain is incredible.  It's actually two pieces of veneer laid side by side.  When the pieces mirror each other it is called book match veneer.  You'll notice these two pieces "mirror" each other in the way they are placed, but they aren't identical (notice the rings on the top of the picture are smaller than the rings on the bottom).  I've never seen this before and I loved it. 

Remember the mark I pointed out?  When I stained the wood it wasn't there.  But, when I did the first coat of poly I noticed the wood resisted the poly.  So, there must be something soaked in the wood on that particular spot. I couldn't sand the wood anymore because it's already thin and I didn't want to sand through the veneer so I left it.  At first I was freaking out a little, but then decided I liked the idea of a heart in the top of this particular piece.  It's been loved (almost to death, lol) and now it has a beauty mark to show for it!

 

 

 

 *sigh*

 

A new life for a lovely little dresser!

 

 

 

Vintage Highboy Makeover

When my client dropped a few of her other pieces off  she pulled this one off the trailer and said, "We were just going to junk this one.  I'm not sure you can do anything with it."  A lot of the veneer was chipped and peeling, but it was still very solid and the drawers were clean and worked perfectly.  I told her it had potential and I'm sure we could do something with it. :)

 

 

 

 

 Before

 

I'm not really crazy about this style, but I've done them before so I knew it could look like a million bucks.  I was a little sad to paint over those beautiful herringbone veneers, but they were a little rough--and it wasn't my call anyway. ;)

 

 

 

 After

 

Updated in black with antique brass pulls, you wouldn't even know this was the same piece! 

 

 Fortunately, I was able to save the top of this piece. It's a pretty piece of mahogany, not perfect, but still looks amazing.

 

 

 

I started using Minwax Polycrylic a few months ago and although I think I like Varathane better, I do like the nice matte finish the Satin gives.

 

 

 

The sun wasn't actually out when I took these pics but it was very reflective anyway (which I always think makes the black pieces look blotchy, but they aren't).

 

I did all the prep work on this piece yesterday and when I went to put the second coat of paint on the drawers I noticed there were scratches all over them.  When I scuff sanded I used 150 (normally I use 220) and it left scratches all over in the finish, which paint does not "cover up".  So, I had to go back and sand off all the drawers and start over.  I knew better and should have sanded them down to the bare wood in the first place.  Lesson learned.  Again.

 

 

 

 

 

Good landfill save??  I think so!

 

 

paint = All Surface Enamel from Sherwin Williams in stock black (low sheen)

poly = Minwax Polycrylic in Satin

Vintage Buffet in Interesting Aqua

It's been a busy week and I'm tired!

 

 I love this style of buffet.  This one was interesting because some of the drawer bottoms were made out of oak and some of them were made out mahogany.  Not sure what's up with that, unless someone completely rebuilt two of the drawers at some point.

  Anyway...

It was in pretty rough shape.  Lots of dents and dings.  At one point my client had painted the top black and wasn't happy with it.  She decided she wanted it refinished dark and I thought that was a great choice. ;)

 

She chose Interesting Aqua from Sherwin Williams.  You know how I feel about these soft blue/greens.  LoVe them!  It always amazes me how paint colors can look so different depending on what light they're in.  I had to hold up the color card to the piece when I was finished with it to see if it really was the same color (and it was)!  It looks blue, soft turquoise, or a little gray depending on the light. 

Before

 

I know you can't tell from the pic, but there were lots of "marks" on this buffet. 

After

 

It looks a little brighter in the pic than it really is. 

 

 

 

 The top was full of deep scratches.  Thankfully most of them sanded out.  When it was bare it looked pretty rough.  But, I love how the Java Gel (General Finishes) made the beautiful grain come back to life and deepened the color of the marks I couldn't get out.  It really is a pretty piece of wood still.

 

 

 

 Same as the last set, I used ProClassic modified latex.  You can see what a gorgeous finish it gives.  Would highly suggest for any first time paint DIY'ers as well!  It levels out nicely minimizing brush strokes.

 

 

 

 These are the only  mums I bought this year!  Can you believe that?!  What is wrong with me??

 

 

 I just love the contrast between a lighter color paint and a dark top.  The dark wood from the top and peeking through the paint really does something for the color.  Paint color can look flat if there's nothing contrasting it.  That's why I love leaving the top (or drawer fronts) natural if I can, or using white on the details.  

 

 

We kept the original hardware and I used my trusty Oil Rubbed Bronze on it.

 

 

 

 

Custom: Not For Sale

Drexel Dresser in Creme

I've painted all kinds of stuff over the last 3 years.  From the lowliest of pieces (particle board and doggie steps) to the best the furniture industry has to offer.  This dresser happens to be in the second category.  I don't see Drexel come through my garage doors very often, but I was salivating (that's actually a pretty gross image, huh) when I saw what was on the trailer that pulled into my driveway.  I couldn't wait to get started on this beautiful piece!  My client wanted it cream with dark hardware and a wood top.  One of my favorite combos!  And, it is so suited to this classic beauty!

 

 

 

 

 Before

I don't get very many pieces where everything works the way it should, so I was absolutely thrilled when I opened all the drawers and they slid so beautifully!  Thank you, oh thank you, Drexel!!

 

  I almost always sand the top down on a piece regardless if I'm painting or staining.  I am a sucker for a wood top and even if I'm painting I just have to know what's under there! In this case it's a beautiful piece of mahogany veneer.  So pretty!  I have been burned by doing this--once I sanded down the top and it was a solid piece of cherry.  It was so beautiful, but my client didn't want the top wood so I had to paint over it!   I think I cried a little. ;) 

 

 It really was a privilege to work on this piece!

 

 

 

 After

 

I just want to lick touch it.  It is seriously so pretty.

 

 

 

 I mentioned in my last post that I used a modified latex from Sherwin Williams (ProClassic) for this set.  Even though it levels out so nicely (I love watching it melt) I still sand between every coat.  It just feels wrong not to.  I know, I'm strange.

 

 

 

 Again, the hardware received two coats of Oil Rubbed Bronze from Rustoleum.  I always prime my hardware before spraying it as well.

 

 

 

 Here's that gorgeous top.  When I sand a top down I use 150-180 grit.  I used to use a more aggressive grit, but it left marks in the top and it was just more sanding to get them out.  150/180 is tough enough for most finishes (although it may take a few more sheets) and fine enough where I can buff out any swirlies with it.  I always look at the top at an angle in the sun to see the fine scratches so I can sand them out.  Then 1 coat of Java Gel from General Finishes and 4 coats of Minwax Polycrylic in Satin.

 

 

 

 Hyndrangeas from my garden.  I normally don't like to cut my flowers, but I couldn't stand the thought of these turning brown on the bush!

 

 

 

Look at those curves!!

 I love this warm white for fall too!

 

 

 

 

Custom: Not for Sale

 

 

 

 

Drexel Side Table in Creme

Yesterday, while waiting to get football pics done with our boys, someone who follows my page said she hadn't seen me posting much lately.  Now that school has started again I will be posting more, but sometimes "stuff" happens.  Last week I finished 3 custom pieces, but because of circumstances I didn't get pictures taken.  So, I have been painting, just not posting! :)  This next few weeks I have some fun projects coming up though and this little Drexel side table is part of a small set I will be working on. 

 

It's so classic in cream with a dark top and dark hardware. I never get tired of this combo. 

 

It was a little rough.  The finish was so worn and I was worried about bleed through because it's mahogany and I was doing white.  I decided to sand it all down to the bare wood and start from scratch for the best finish possible and to minimize any problems.

 

After sanding it down I followed with three coats of shellac (just to be safe!) and then used  a modified latex (which means it's latex but levels out like oil, so nice) from Sherwin Williams in Crème. I also did one coat of Java Gel from General Finishes for the top and then followed with 3 coats of poly. 

Before

I could just hear it saying, "Help me!" :)

 

 

 

After

 

 

 

I distressed lightly (it always scares me when it's mahogany or cherry and I'm doing white) and had no problems with bleeding around the edges.  Phew!

 

 

 

I have a soft spot for this kind of hardware.  I just  gave it a coat of Oil Rubbed Bronze. 

 

 

 

I love the modified latex (ProClassic).  It levels out beautifully and minimizes the need for sanding (although I still do).  It's silky smooth.  Gorgeous!

 

 

 

She's come a long way!