Chinese Red Dresser (Buffet)

So today I am sharing an exploration in salvaging a MESS!  This was a freebie that Husband got when he purchased another dresser and bedside table that we wanted.  This one was in bad shape! The missing drawer was actually made upside down by the manufacturer.  It was beyond saving.  We couldn't even give this away at a garage sale.

With nothing to lose we decided to try out a really Chinese inspired paint job.

The top was in bad shape.

We started by removing the drawers and picking the best four.  Husband then measured and cut two pieces of plywood to make platforms to later place baskets on.

The first two coats of paint were red.  Unfortunately it came out looking hot pink!  Since we planned to add more color to that we persevered instead of worrying too much

It took two solid coats to cover the faux wood grain.

After the red we brushed on a coat of black using a dry brush.  I kept going over and over it until I achieved the amount of black that seemed appropriate.

Then I took a Krylon gold leafing pen and drew around between the grooves in each drawer and the door.  It was really easy. Better than I expected.  We replaced the original handles back on it with nothing more than a quick cleaning.  I didn't want to lose the "patina" of the handles and make them too shiny.

Finally we found a pair of black baskets at Target to place on the shelves.

There we have a lovely Chinese red styled dresser or buffet.  

It was work but a rewarding result.  This little beauty is for sale. Let me know in the comments if you are interested. 

I hope you enjoyed this little journey of the Chinese styled dresser.  It almost went in the dumpster but for $20 of paint we figured "Why not?"

Blessings, 

Jeannine

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.  Check out the other fabulous transformations there.

I have also linked with Piece of Work Wednesday at Primitive & Proper.  See what else is going on by going here.

Don't forget my giveaway of a French Inspired apron. 

Painted Bench

I started back to work as a long term substitute.  I'm teaching high school home economics again.  Therefore, I'm a little more tired in the afternoons and decided to only do a simple furniture makeover this week.

We bought this piano stool last summer for about $15. I used leftover paint from my daughter's room.  It is Behr's Embellished Blue.

I wanted the top to be a little more of a cushion to sit on.  This piece of high density foam is left from one of the twin mattresses we bought in the ME for our kids. I wrapped it in a layer of batting to soften the edges. The original fabric was firmly attached with nails so I decided to just attach my foam and fabric over the top.  The original fabric was dusty but did not smell.

Here is the finished bench.

I hid the staples and cut edges of the canvas with twill tape hot glued down.

If I was ambitious I would paper the inside with French script paper or something.  Maybe later!

Thanks for taking a look.

Jeannine

I will be linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.  Please stop by and see what other people are up to with transformations. I've also linked to Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage.

Pirate Flag Dresser

I'm linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.  Check out the other Metamorphosis people have posted.  And thank you Susan for hosting.

And I linked to Piece of Work Wednesday at Primitive and Proper.  Thanks Cassie for hosting.

Any one who truly knows me, knows that I love pirates.  Not just the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Disneyland or the movies, but actual pirates.  I have read and own several books on the subject. One is an actual account of life on board ships and the way they treated victims, etc. 

So after a while I decided I needed to paint a dresser with a pirate flag, since the Union Jack that has become popular. I wanted to copy without copying. Therefore I did Captain Jack Rackhams flag.

I didn't want it to be strictly black so I bought Glidden in a blue grey slate.

I had to enlarge the flag on the computer then I traced on the back with chalk.  Then I centered the flag on the dresser and rubbed over it lightly.  

Next step was to  paint carefully with the heirloom lace paint.  (I forgot the nose and my Daughter noticed and filled it in. After laughing hysterically.)

Then I sanded heavily to give it that wind-worn effect.

I liked these knobs with a little rope detail.

I found an old National Geograpic Magazine map of the Caribbean and burned the edges (and the spot that had the name of the magazine.) Then I decoupaged it to the top with Mod Podge.

I was going to sell it but my son liked it so much that I'm saving it for him.  I'll redo his dresser and sell it instead.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jeannine

Table Refinished-Finally!

I've linked to All Things Furniture over at Perfectly Imperfect. Be sure to check out the great furniture redos over there.


I love joining in with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.  There are some amazing things linked there-check them out.



I love My Romantic Home by Cindy.  In fact her table is kinda my inspiration for this table! She is having a Painted Furniture Party today!


And one more party: Cassie at Primitive and Proper hosts Piece of Work Wednesday.  Look at what she did with mint green paint!

So here's the deal: 

We bought this dining set for $50 about two years ago and it has been hanging around in our garage all this time waiting to be refinished.  Part of the table top had been sanded so there was no way to restain the top; some of the fabulous grain design had been sanded away.

Our daughter was working on moving into a one bedroom unfurnished apartment.  I got motivated to get to work.  I did strip the top but realized I couldn't save the look.  

First, I used deglosser to clean and prepare the rest of the surfaces on the table. Then, I got out my bucket of Elegant Lace by Glidden and my brush, ugh, and got to work.

I loved the shell detail on the legs.  I had planned to use some gold Rub n' Buff to highlight the shells.  

Then Daughter found a cheaper furnished apartment with roommates.  She no longer needs the table. (I will be listing it on Craigslist later today.) Since I would have to order the gold online and I didn't want to wait for it to arrive, I decided to just distress and wax.

This is a shot before the distressing, below.

Husband helped me move all the pieces out under the tree in the front yard.  Backyard would have been better, but I'm not hauling that thing  around to the back!

It had five chairs, one with the side arms.

Shell detail.

On each on the long ends there is a little red lined drawer.  I replaced the handles with Husbands major help.

I recovered all the chairs with a creme colored home dec canvas.

Hope you enjoyed the refurbish.  I'm glad it is done!

And I know what I want for Christmas:  a paint sprayer!

I hate painting chairs with a brush!

Jeannine

Renewed Little Dresser

This little dresser was in Husband's Grandmother's apartment that we helped clean out last December. She went home to be with the Lord on New Year's Day. This weekend while Husband was out of the state, I took the opportunity to refinish the dresser. This is the finished look.

I'm linking with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.





I thought I'd join Cassie at Primitive and Proper for Piece of Work Wednesday.  Check out some of the great furniture makeovers
.

Here is the before picture.  It was very dirty and someone had painted right over the handles and everything at one time.

I took the handles off and scrubbed them with a cleaning brush and most of the paint came right off.  The dresser itself got a scrub with spray cleaner and a damp cloth.

Here are the revamped handles back on the dresser.

I spray painted them so the color would be even all over.  I would have liked a darker color, but this works.

And for once, I went a little crazy!  I painted the inside of the drawers a buttery yellow.   This is the main paint that was on my daughters walls for many years.  It's very bold.

I like the way it turned out.  I'm thinking of putting it im my bedroom.  I ready to replace the black furniture with white.

Thanks for stopping by.