My in-laws passed on this beautiful dresser to us not long ago, and I was inspired to do something unique with it.
It has these lovely old wooden pulls.
And of course I love anything with keyholes!
I am still in the process of making over our master bedroom which I hope will have a soft, vintage beach cottage vibe when I’m through. I was inspired by these pics to do something to this dresser in a chippy blue.
(Image from Donna@Vintage Chic Furniture Store)
(Image from Cindy@Sweet Bead Studio)
(Image from Life is Beautiful)
First I primed everything with Kilz.
Then, I used painter’s calk to fill in all the gaps.
Here is a big old gap.
Here I am with my much used, grungy used calking gun. Just apply a bead of the stuff down the edge and then run your finger along the crease to smooth it out.
Magic! No more gap.
At this point some voyeuristic pigeons came by to scoff at me and tell me to quit while I was ahead. Really, I intuited what they were saying…and it wasn’t nice. They did after all see my chair debacle earlier this week, so they consider me a bit of a DIY freak show at the moment. Take that pigeons! This dresser is going to be off the proverbial hook when I’m done! Or is it? I have to admit I was doubting myself here.
Pigeon razzing unheeded, I plunged ahead with my plan and busted out my $.49 craft paint.
What? Wasn’t your dresser that color already? Couldn’t you have skipped two steps and just sanded it down? Whatever pigeons. Shut it.
I painted a thick coat of the brown on each drawer. Then I added my crackle medium and painted a thick coat of blue $.49 craft paint on top.
Yes, the blue was a bit bright for my taste, but it was only $.49! Certainly I could tone it down with some glaze later on, or somehow it would magically tone itself down.
I used some Dark Walnut stain as my ad hoc glaze to try and tone down the too bright blue. The pigeons were audibly snickering at this point. Ugh. What have I done? Again? Twice in the same week???
So, moral of this story. Even if the paint is only $.49, if it is not the right color pass it up. It won’t magically turn into the right color just because you want it too. Anyone want a dresser?
Click on to be continued….
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Heidi@TheCraftMonkey says
too funny! I love that the pigeons come by to mock you!
Shel at Dreamy Nest says
Ahh – I remember this. What'd you wind up doing with it anyway? LOL
Thank you sooooo much for linking up with the Show Me Your Fail party!! 🙂 I appreciate it!!
I think it really encourages a lot of women out there who want to try some of this stuff, and hey, we all love a good laugh, too. LOL
Bless you my sweet friend! xoxoxxo
Cindy says
Wow…I'm so happy to see that my old desk was an inspiration for your project! It is where I do my jewlery designing…and will be the inspiration for a future studio (sigh, one day!). I am amazed at your project…I've never distressed anything myself but found your process really interesting. Looks great!
Miss Mustard Seed says
Ha! I am right there with you. I've had so many pieces I worked on and then wanted to throw in the trash. Pluses – it's a great dresser and you're off to a fine start. I say, paint it the color you want and then sand the heck out of it. Then, rub on the dark walnut stain as a glaze.
Missy in Texas says
Oh boy…. :}
Stephanie Lynn says
I like the turquoise but I love the white for this dresser. I think it makes a bigger statement! Great save {how much paint did you use} my goodness you're a painting fool! I think I would have given up! Glad you didn't – the end result looks fabulous!
pleated poppy says
hey beth! in my opinion (i used to refinish furniture professionally) you are totally on the right track! the brown under was a great choice, but then you need to do a solid coat of turquoise on top, i would tone down the turquoise with some of that same brown so its not quite so bright. when it is totally dry (like a day or 2)go at it with some sand paper and sand down in the naturally wearing edges until you get to the brown. then take some of your brown paint and add in some black, really water it down, and rub it over the turquoise, with a wet rag in hand to rub some of it off. ok, that was too much info! sorry!
Creative Decor by Brooke says
First of all, that dresser is a treasure. I want it, bad! You have to try again. It is just a little bright but love the idea of the blue distressed look.
Can't wait to see the finished product.
Brooke
Beansieleigh says
Hi Beth! I've heard it said "perseverance overcomes just about anything"!! Good luck… I know it'll be gorgeous when you're done! ~tina
My name is PJ. says
I'm always inspired when someone creative like you is willing to share their missteps. Thank you!!!!!
Linda@Coastal Charm says
Keep going…you will happy that you did! Hope you have a FUN weekend Beth:)
Blessings,
Linda
I’m having a GIVEAWAY…come by and check it out…I think you will like it!
BabinBlogger says
i love that you share even your mistakes! don't give up. i liked the white look. sand it back down to the primer, you might be surprised by the result!
Catherine peacelovesweater@blogspot.com says
It's a beautiful dresser and worth the fuss. I think it looks like it is getting very close to your inspirational photos. Keep adding layers of paint until you like the result – that is what gives a piece it's soul is all the layers of paint.
Carmen says
LOL! The process was interesting, and the dresser is so unique! I love the pulls on it!!
Kacey says
I'm with everyone else – don't give up on it! It's a lovely piece with great lines. Have fun experimenting!
Anonymous says
Love the details and shape of your dresser. If I were you I would paint over the blue with an antique white paint and then distress the edges to show a bit of the blue and original wood colors. Good luck, can't wait to see how it turns out.
Kelli @ RTSM says
What a neat dresser! I love the two small drawers on top…makes it look very unique. I love the inspiration pics too. It is actually pretty close:)
Fawnda says
Don't give up! We all believe in you! Don't let the pigons get in your head… that is just where they want to be! 🙂
I actually like the blue color, it is bright and beachy! But it is just paint and can always be sanded and paninted over.
Never give up! 🙂
Jenny says
I think it's looking good! I give you credit for even attempting something like that. I have no patience!
kelly says
it is a very cool dresser, i wouldn't give it away. try distressing it and see what happens otherwise you can start over:)
Dianna says
Try using a poly-stain combo over the blue instead of a glaze. It will tone done the blue, darken it somewhat. You can highlight areas with sand paper to bring the under tones of the dresser out.
Good luck!
Shel at Dreamy Nest says
Wooo – I'm sooo glad I'm not the only one with color-blinditis when it comes to using paint you already have on hand.
You should go and see my laundry room countertop and how I mutiliated it with color.
Keep at it. I'm excited to see what you do with this.
One Cheap B*tch says
I like the way it's looking so far but I feel your pain. It's so frustrating when your vision and the outcome are not quite the same. Hang in there!
Jeanine
Leah says
Do not give up, that piece of furniture has great potential.
Jessica says
Maybe you could sand it down a bit, and go lighter blue, or go white and chip/sand off some to the brighter blue underneath? I have a chippy blue dresser in my nursery and looooooove it: http://narniamum.blogspot.com/2010/02/wordless-wednesday-narnia-nursery.html
handbags*n*pigtails says
Even if you have to set it aside for a bit and then get back into it, dont give up! Its a great piece. I can soooooo feel your pain though.
Sarah
Head Neatherer says
I totally admire your gusto to just do it! If nothing else, you can always sand it down and start over again! 🙂 Keep at it!
Ashley O says
Don't give up!! I would just sand it down a bit (don't worry about taking everything off!) and do a solid turquoise and then distress it. ?????
Good luck!! Hang in there!! 🙂
chair up says
"intuited"..haha, love it!
If at first you don't succeed…you can't let those birds get the upper hand!(tell them to go and suck seed;o))
Angex
Craftify It! says
Haha. I'm laughing at this post…you are so funny! But really it isn't bad. I like the look of it, so if the color is the only thing that is wrong… Go and buy an oil glaze and have them tint it to a brown. Glaze that puppy & not only will it seal your furniture, but it will give you the color you want(hopefully!)
designdazzle.blogspot.com says
I'm impressed with your effort : ) One trick I do when I paint furniture is I use old kitchen cabinet doors and make it a science experiment with colors. I paint small areas of colors on the door and always document which paints and stains, etc were used. This way I come up with what I was hoping for.
Hugs,
Toni
janet says
I agree with Jennifer J..love the dresser, but please start over. I say go for the soft look of the first inspiration photo….or give it to me…;-)
Blondie's Journal says
I would keep at it, Beth. At least we will get another hysterical post!! (Love those pigeons).
xoxo
Jane
Jennifer says
I would say to work with the blue that you have. You can change the tone of it easily with white or a touch of black. Just use a little bit and mix the colors to experiment and see what you like before changing all of it. I have faith in you… you can DO IT!! Can't wait to hear the 'to be continued'. 🙂
Jennifer Juniper says
It's hard to ignore the call of the turquoise blue paints when you see all the fantastic DIY projects out there!
I can't lie, you need to start over! Still love you though 🙂
Tammy@InStitches says
I like Kathy's idea of mixing your own color.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
Giving up is not allowed! I like the Oops paint idea at Home Depot. Try there first. Also, what if you mix that blue with some white {or grey if you have} ~ make your own blue.
Carmen says
To heck with the pigeons! This is what I think (not that I've ever painted a chippy blue dresser before)…you should find a different blue you like and repaint it then distress it.
Wendy says
Love Love Love where you are going with this! The dresser in the 1st pic is so cool! I know you can do it ☺! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!
Micah-Noel says
I hate it when something I try to make doesn't turn out, so I know how you feel. Thanks for sharing your story anyway. Even though I'm sure you would rather it had turned out, it still made me laugh. 😉
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
If you're not loving the blue, maybe white?? I do think a nice blue would make it a statement piece. Don't give up…those drawer pulls alone are worth it! 😉
Sjn says
I agree.. don't give up! It's too unique a dresser. Sand it down or use paint stripper and start over. C'mon… don't you hear your Momma saying "anything worth doing is worth doing right?"!
jenjen says
I think it's going to look great Beth! Keep going. It will be beautiful!
XOXO
Jen
Heather@PixieDust says
don't give up!! check out the Oops sections at the home improvements stores – walmart even has one – and see if you can find some latex paint to redeem the dresser.
I really like the look of it painted 🙂