I don't often post DIY projects on my blog, but I had so much fun re-doing this dresser that I just had to share it.
 |
| Although sideways, this is a dresser we found
in the alley last summer. It's been living in the basement for a whole
year. And this summer I decided to paint it! |
 |
| I forgot to take a proper "before" picture, but here everything is sanded down and ready to be painted. |
 |
| I got some grey paint from my friend Laura. The
drawers were first. I am very fortunate to live in a building with a
drive way-ish space and almost-always empty garage for storing the drying
dresser. |
 |
| Making a stencil for the drawers. I used a folder/sheet protector. I wanted to use both curved and straight lines, to match the wood work of the frame. |
 |
| Stencil all cut out and ready to use. |
 |
| Things were going pretty well at this point.
And then I ran into a dilemma. When I took off the old hardware, I had
every intention of buying new pulls. The screw holes were two inches
apart. I thought this was normal. But then I went to both Home Depot and
Devon Hardware, and every single pull was 3 inches. Realizing that I
was dealing with antique hardware and or something custom made, I
decided to fill in one of the holes with Wood Filler and then buy knobs
instead. |
 |
| Holes filled in. Ready to be sanded down and painted over. |
 |
| Drying in the sun. |
 |
| Applying the stencil. It was pretty hard. Even
with my gentle paint stokes using a sponge brush, I had to go over again with grey to sharpen
the edges. |
 |
| The next step was applying this lovely
polycrylic finish. I looked up a few different finishes, and this
seemed to be the best. But then when I got to Home Depot, the guy in the
paint department didn't think it would work. I trusted my gut and
bought it anyway. |
 |
| Turns out the guy in the paint department was a
little right. I must not have sanded the wood enough before I began
painting the grey, because the Polycrylic brought out a little brown
from the original varnish. Interesting how it does that. Fortunately, it
gives the dresser an antique look. I like it. |
 |
| I applied one coat, using a bristle brush, making wide even strokes. After two hours I lightly sanded the larger surfaces and then applied a second coat. |
 |
| I let all the pieces sit for another 12 or so hours, then sanded down the bottom edges of each drawer so they wouldn't stick. |
 |
| The long-awaited knobs. It took two tries going to the hardware store, but I finally found ones I liked and could afford. |
 |
Even after sanding the edges, the top drawer was sticking a bit. With a little finagling, I discovered the culprit-- a loose beam. So, with much stress and a sore thumb, I nailed the top aligning beam back into place (a big thanks to my roommate Becky for helping!), and then it was ready!
|
 |
| Ta-da! The finished dresser! |
It will be living in our TV room and be the home of all our blankets and such, much needed in the wintertime.
The whole project cost less than $40!
Dresser: Free from the alley
Grey interior paint: donated by my friends the Grants
Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish: $16.00 from Home Depot
Elmer's Wood Filler: $3.00 from Devon Hardware
Six Brass Knobs: $10.00 from Devon Hardware
Sponge brush: $0.50 from Home Depot
Mini roller and tray: $4.00 from Home Depot
White interior paint, sand paper, wood glue, nails, and bristle brush: left over from previous projects.
