Hi Friends! Today I’ve got a really satisfying project for you.
My sister-in-law was getting rid of this 3-drawer dresser, and asked me to come pick it up. It was in really great structural shape, just a bit worn out.
Age and patina are good in my book, but this was not in a good way. I was anxious to get started on it, especially after I posted my new acquisition on Facebook, and everyone had comments and suggestions of how to refinish it.
The Plan
I am not one to pick white as my default color. I pick bolder colors or layered finishes more than half the time. But this little piece just seemed to scream white to me. I may have painted the whole thing white, if not for the Facebook suggestions to stain the top dark.
How to Strip the Top
I started by stripping the top with Citristrip. I like to brush on a thick layer with a chip brush and cover it with plastic wrap. I let it sit for a few hours, and then come back with a plastic paint scraper and scrape the top clean. I keep a little cardboard box nearby to unload the scraper into. Then I just toss the whole mess in the garbage.
If there are any little stubborn areas, I rub them off with #0000 steel wool. I give it all a wipe down with a shop towel, and then sand with 220 grit sand paper.
Fresh Finishes
For the stain, I used Dixie Belle No Pain Gel Stain in the color Espresso. This color has recently become my top favorite over Walnut because of how dark and rich it is. I also sealed it with two coats of Gator Hide.
For the paint, I chose Dixie Belle’s whitest white, called Cotton. I really wanted bright and fresh. But not too clean, so of course I distressed a bit around the details and edges.
I was able to keep the original hardware too. I staged it using some kitchen canisters and plates because I could see it as a coffee station or small buffet, or of course as a dresser. With its smaller size, it’s such a versatile piece that it could be used in any room of the house. Or all of them, if you’re someone who likes to rearrange a lot!
Here’s another look at how this dresser transformed from dark and dated to light and bright, but still kept its old character.
Resource List:
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- Antique dresser (gifted)
- Cotton
- Citristrip
- Gel stain in Espresso
- Gator Hide