The Perfect Color for a Craig’s List Dresser
I am in love with those adorable french provincial dressers. The flourishy handles are what really get my heart pounding.When I saw this dresser on Craig’s List for $35 dollars, I pounced!
Oooo baby, don’t you just love that faux gold outlined accents and off white laminate top. Yes, I said laminate. But I wasn’t afraid of it. For $35 who cares if it gets messed up. If you never take the risk, you’ll never learn anything new, right?!
The drawers were still in good shape, but a little loose around the joints, so I squirted my new favorite Gorilla Glue into the joints and clamped lassoed them up!
Then I used newspaper to protect any of the areas I didn’t want sprayed.
After sanding all the surfaces to rough them up, I put a coat of primer on everything. Loving that crisp clean white, but the dresser told me to “Keep Calm and Carry On.” So, I cooperated and continued on to another color.
Next, I sprayed Rustoleum Heirloom White and distressed the surface with a wood stain.
The drawer pulls got their own treatment of automotive primer followed by Oil Rubbed Bronze paint. Thank goodness they were happy with their new color because – I’m telling you – that dresser was certainly acting like a diva! She was still demanding a new color.
I have seen many Nantucket Fog makeovers and decided to make a run to Ace Hardware to pick up a small sample of that blue gray color. And I grabbed a can of artistic glaze.
After two coats of the Nantucket Fog glaze, that little dresser still wanted something else. Sheesh! So I pulled out some leftover blue paint from my dormer window shutters.
Finally, she shut up! It’s a good thing too, because I LOVE this color. I love it so much that I hauled my tired hiney back over to Ace to match the color just for you.
The closest match is Buxom Blue from Benjamin Moore. Not too far off from Nantucket Fog, but you know those divas they want what they want!
Now, all important divas need something to wear that gets them noticed. Thus, I decoupaged some wrapping paper on the side (tutorial is here.)
And then because I liked the pattern so much, I blew it up and added it to two corners of the dresser top (tutorial for adding a sharpie stencil.)
I added some beachy blue glaze over the wrapping paper and the top graphic.
And I have to tell you that – halleluiah – I finally figured out the proper technique when using the valspar glazes (the tutorial is here.)
I finished up with three coats of a semi-gloss polyurethane.
And here is that stunningly beautiful diva of a dresser. Transformed from Cinderella to the Belle of the ball!
Now, I have to convince Pretty Handsome Guy that our master bedroom furniture doesn’t have to be all matchy matchy!
Any helpful hints on using Jedi mind tricks on unsuspecting Pretty Handsome Guy?
great job….can't wait for the tutorial on your glaze technique.
Thank you for this tutorial. I am getting ready (at some point) to refinish a bed for my daughter so these tips will come in handy. And what's wrong with that tall matching dresser…it looks pretty nice to me 🙂
WOW! That was a lot of work but boy it's beautiful. I am speechless. I cannot wait to see your tutorials!! Please send me a link when you get them done.
Great job. You are so talented.
Bravo. I love the new dresser. I can't wait for the tutorials. Thanks for sharing.
When you find out the secret to changing hubby's mind let me know. I have a hubby who is totally traditionalist. I like a good natural oak too, but I'm not averse to painting pine or laminate. I have been showing him pics of things I like online, and maybe, just maybe he's seeing the light! There are so many wonderful projects out there that people have already done, that it takes the worry out of "Will it look good or not". Yours, BTW is one of those great projects.
I love the dresser! I actually had one exactly like that, the whole bedroom set, growing up. My mom still has it and my room is now a guest bedroom! 🙂 I love yours better, you did an amazing job with the colors!!
I LOVE this! I see the french provincial furniture at yard sales, love it, but always pass it up because I don't know what to do with it. I would love to use one for a tv stand, but not sure if I could remove the top drawers for electronic equipment- what do you think?
very good color for a craig's list dresser. love the wrapping paper idea. great job!
I am drooling over here. You did such an amazing job on this. Can't wait for the tutorials.
Very nice, we just refinished a dresser and I know it's hard work. You did great!
Very nice!! Hope to see the tutorials soon!!!
♥'s
Sherry
You put that Wrapping paper on and I thought you were crazy but it looks so good!
WOW. Awesome job. The dresser is just beautiful. Can't wait to read more!! Our bedroom furniture was my hubby's before we got married so I have my work cut out for me too. He does not want my paintbrush or sander anywhere near it. SIGH. I've changed the drawer pulls more times than I can count. It is good stuff too so there is no hope in changing it out anytime soon either. 🙂
Loving your blog. I need some tricks for convincing my husband too. If I buy something on the cheap, I can make it into a masterpiece, but our "nice furniture" ends up being shabby in comparison. Very ironic!
Your dresser turned out so beautiful. That wallpaper idea is genious! Can't wait for the tutorials.