Distressed Antique Dresser--Paint & Stain

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HELLO!!

I am so excited to show you all this project.  I have been wanting to post on it for about a week, but could never seem to find the time.  Today, however, my body decided to run a slight fever and hurt all over, so lucky for you today is the day of the long-awaited (by me) post!!

This project was a new process for me, and a great piece to start with so when it was done there was a lot of "Joe, look at my dresser!"  "Don't you love it?!!"  "I am SO excited!" etc...  And yes, Joe played along very well and was excited for me...though not as excited as me, I do believe.

Meet an antique quartersawn dresser that has seen many better days.

The dresser was structurally sound, but the veneer was peeling and wavy (probably water damage) and one of the drawers had split apart (note the wood putty).

SO after I did some gluing and wood putty to fill all the gaps, then sanded down the top and drawers, I was ready to get to painting.  I know that might make some of you cringe, but look at that top!  No way was that veneer coming back to life for a refinish job--paint was its only option.

I had been seeing in the store a combination of Paint + Stain, and was loving the results, so I thought this was a great piece to try it on.  Meet my Arsenal of products:

First, let me tell you that I am not a lover of prep-work.  In fact, if ever possible I skip it (Don't tell anyone, the primer police might come and get me).  In this case, though, the wood was very raw, not glossy, so I simply tinted my primer to my desired base coat.
And did it work well?
Absolutely.
That's a point for me.
(If you want more tips and cheats on painting, check out my post on Paint Mixing Basics.  It might just change your life)

I started with my Zinsser FastPrime2, which is white, and tinted it with the Royal black paint, and some blue craft paint (did I just say craft paint?  Why yes, madame, I did.  I really don't need a quart or gallon of bright blue or bright yellow, so I use cheapo craft paints to fine-tune my colors!  Call me a genius, I'll pretend to be modest).  I tinted it to a bluish medium grey, which is a color that I'm currently in love with.  That is the color in the cottage cheese container.

The other product is a Minwax Dark Walnut oil-based stain, and sandpaper.  I also used Minwax Polycrylic water-based poly, it just didn't want to be in the picture.

Okay, so here are the steps (apology for the missing pictures...I was excited...)

1.  Patch, sand down, glue, etc... the whole piece.
2.  Base coat in your concoction of tinted primer (in my case, grey).
3.  FOR A DISTRESSED PIECE:  Once the base coat is dry, use orbital sander or sanding block to sand away the paint on corners & high-wear areas (remember the drawer fronts, too!).  Sand down to the raw wood--this will become magic in the next step. (for tips on a convincing aged look, check out the post on Aging Furniture)
4.  Wipe on stain with paper towel (wearing solvent-resistant gloves & the ever-popular respirator) all over the piece, in the direction of the wood.

Here is what to notice:  

See the base-coat blue-grey in the drawer slots?  That is before any stain.  The top is after stain is applied.  Magic, right??  I actually had no idea that the stain would turn the piece into a greenish color, but I love it.  Also notice the edges that were sanded down.  Since they were raw wood, the wood accepts the dark stain and makes those distressed areas pop out.  Wood lovers, that part's for you.

5.  After the stain has set for a little while, take a clean paper towel (keep those gloves & respirator on) and wipe off any excess in the direction of the grain.  If you wipe too much off in one area, just reapply some stain evenly and try again.  This part is fairly forgiving.  Make sure to leave the stain in the cracks, since that is where a piece will age naturally.

6.  Let the stain dry 24 hours and sealcoat it with Minwax Polycrylic Water-Based Polyurethane. 

Not too complicated, right??  And it can take a sad dresser like this:

And turn it into THIS!What's missing, you ask?  Can you tell me?  Drawer hardware, of course!!  (As far as I'm concerned, hardware is jewelry for furniture...and I could spend an unjustifiable amount of time and money on it.  I actually splurged a little on this piece and spend $1.77 each on them.  Be still, my heart).Here she is in the store.

 Who Doesn't want a giant ceramic pear?  That's what I would like to know.  And please admire the insanely heavy cast-iron tape dispenser.  I'm kind of happy no one's bought it yet...

Ooh, though I am not obsessed overall with the distressed furniture movement, I am really loving this treatment.  The stain makes it seem so much more natural--and I can still see some of the wood's color underneath.  

Not to mention those knobs  :)

I have since used this technique a few more times, and with a few different options.  Check out some ways to fiddle with this finish in these posts:

 Grey Highboy Dresser (Another example of this same technique)

Driftwood-Look Table & Chairs (Similar finish with only water-based products)

 Wax-Resist Stenciled Planter (To add a stenciled design to a distressed piece)

 White & Grey Distressed Table and Chairs (Similar finish with two tones of paint)

Happy Friday, have a great weekend!!

~The Doodle Bug

I'm usually partyin' at these hangouts:

Friday Feature @ Redoux

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Simply Creations Link Party @ Simple Home. Life

It's a Hodgepodge Friday @ It's a Hodgepodge Life

Spotlight Saturday @ Classy Clutter

Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday @ Kammy's Korner

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Tuesday's Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Be Inspired @ Elizabeth & Co.

Wow Us Wednesdays@Savvy Southern Style

Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

This post has been featured on Better After & Classy Clutter!  Thanks for all your visits & comments!