Friday, May 23, 2014

Chest of Drawers Refurb

Today's project is a chest of drawers I picked up at a yard sale. I loved it's details and especially it's handles. I don't know why but I'm a sucker for this type of drawer pull. It's a vintage piece with dove tailed drawers. Alas, it had seen better days. I had to do some extensive wood putty work along the bottom right side. Unfortunately, I got a little excited and started working on it without taking good before pictures so the only one I have was actually taken at the yard sale itself.


I painted it a grayish-blue (Britannia Blue by Benjamin Moore) and used the Martha Stewart black coffee glaze to bring out the details.


You might recognize this picture from my red bed post, but I love this stuff. It's so easy to work with and very forgiving. Not enough? Put more on. Too much? Wipe more off. Started to dry? Put on a fresh coat and resume wiping. I also like the small hint of metallic in the glaze. It gives it a little shimmer.

I tried to stain the top, per my standard MO but the wood took the stain too differently. Way too differently. Frankly, it looked awful. Have no fear fellow furniture refinishers! Should something not turn out the way you had planned or envisioned there is another way. Here I decided to paint the top black and put a coat of polyurethane on for protection. Do I like it as much as the stained tops? No. Do I still like it? Yes.

Without further ado, here is the finished product!



Friday, May 2, 2014

The Power of Spray Paint Part II

I have a couple of large projects I am looking forward to sharing with you over the next few weeks. For now, a fast, simple little project. I want to showcase the power of a can of spray paint! I found this cutie at Goodwill for $6.

Here it is before. Not bad looking of course, but I wasn't a fan of the natural wood frame.


And here it is after.


A reminder to keep your eyes open at Goodwill for pieces with great "bones"!