This dresser belongs to my client, Theresa. I have to admit, I don’t really get the hype around MCM (mid-century modern) furniture. This incorporates furniture manufactured between 1945 and the mid-1970’s. Maybe it reminds me of my childhood, not in a good way, like avocado-colored appliances and linoleum floors. But I know a lot of people are crazy for it. I haven’t painted any MCM furniture before, so this was a great project to introduce me to it.
I started by stripping the top. I used my usual process for this; you can find it here. I stained it with two coats of Dixie Belle No Pain Gel Stain in Walnut. This color is a favorite of mine, so I use it often. I am, however, branching out on an upcoming project and trying the Espresso color. I can’t wait to see how that one turns out, and if it becomes more frequent in the rotation as well. I sealed the top in two coats of Dixie Belle Gator Hide. This product is smooth, water-repellent and so easy to use.
There were no repairs to this piece; Theresa really kept it in great shape. So I painted the base and drawers with B.O.S.S. which is like a primer to ensure good coverage for the white paint, and to prevent bleed-through. Theresa chose the color Drop Cloth, which is a warm white. I hadn’t used this color before, but now that I have, I am a fan. Who doesn’t like a warm creamy white? I sure do! She even let me scratch my farmhouse itch by distressing it a little around the edges. That really highlighted that curvy detail on the drawers, a contrast to the straight lines on the rest of the piece. We also kept the original hardware, and I think it stands out so much more against the white background.
I don’t have any MCM accessories to use for staging. Over time I will try to pick some up. For now, I just used a basket of textured spheres and a globe. When I posted the before and after picture to my Facebook page, people were really into it. I was surprised by how much!
Most importantly, my client loved it! I am also working on a couple little end tables for this client; they will be done to match the dresser colors. I have some vintage MCM drawer pulls on order from Etsy for those. I’ll be sharing that project as soon as it’s complete.
What do you think of MCM furniture? Are you a fan or not?