Vintage Dresser

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Well it seems I must continue with my projects, like it or not. When you live in a place long enough there is always something or other that needs to be fixed, painted, repaired or replaced. During my present empty nester years the prospect of increasing my income to buy beautiful new stuff is non existent. Not significantly anyway. Soooo I get creative and when I need something (or want, which is a better word), I go a few blocks away to my favorite........you said it, thrift store. I find oodles of stuff there. Of course half the time or more, I can't take home what I want. I have no room!

Well it turns out I needed a dresser since I used the one I had as a media center (see my post here Re-purposing a Vintage Dresser Re-Do). Just as I suspected I found a vintage piece at the T.Store. The poor lovely was pretty neglected but I had a vision! I already had leftover chalk paint and paste wax, so the next step was just to paint it. Once I start painting it's ok, it's getting to even start to do it that's a problem. This blog works as a catalyst to help me hurry up and finish the "durned" thing!  I'll then have something to write about and pictures to post on the link sites. So here goes! The thrill of it all!

Vintage dresser. You can see it's missing a wheel or two, also a handle.

When buying a used piece it's important to clean it thoroughly after bringing it home. I removed all the drawers first. Then I washed it down with Murphy soap and a soft bristle brush. I then placed  small containers with baking soda in each drawer  and inside the dresser to remove musty odors. Antique furniture should be aired out and allowed to dry thoroughly after cleaning. I cleaned and disinfected with water and vinegar solution inside and out. I use 1 cup of vinegar, to 1 gallon of water. I don't want to keep spreading the dirt so I use a lot of rags. It had what appeared to be nail polish stuck to the top, but it came off when stripped.  I then wiped it down again with a tack cloth and applied wood conditioner. The top was stained in Minwax Wood Finish in red mahogony.  I then applied  Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White to the body of the dresser and drawers. After it dried I used AS Paste Wax with a tad of burnishing stain mixed into it and applied for distressed look. I didn't sand over it this time, but if I want a more chipped look, I can. Lining the drawers with a vintage style paper gave it that old style look. Sorry I don't have pictures of it all, I believe my camera was broken then.

I love its lines, even if it's not the french look I like. BTW, space under the stairs renovation seen here. 

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Vintage look drawer liner. I found an old picture of a lady in one of the drawers. The clothes she wore and car in the background dated it to around the early 1940's, she probably had it from before that

Top after stripping and cleaning. It's discolored where nail polish stain was.

Red Mahogony stain

Minwax Color Express Wiping and Finishing Stain gives the white a burnished look. I kept the chippines, no wood filler applied.

The newest old lovely!

She's a beauty!

Stained wood top glows!

Unfortunately one of the handles was missing. I found a replica of the original online. I ordered two and used them on the top drawers. Whew! That was some search! Sure I could have changed the handles, but I liked the original and wanted to maintain the integrity of the piece. I even ordered old wheels online for it. The new ones just didn't look right. I was undecided whether to use the original mirror or the vintage, chippy, old one I had bought moons ago. Right now I kept my old one. which I bought 10 years ago. I didn't have to do anything to it. It was already a shabby, chippy old lovely!  When I finish painting the one that came with the dresser, I'll change it up.......ummm, maybe.

The rest of the bedroom is another project as stated in my sneak preview photos on sidebar. Stay connected!

Well the dresser is done and thank goodness I have a place for my "stuff"! Now to move on to the rest of the place. Where do I get the strength......moan.