Custom Painted Dressers & Nightstand for a Military Bride

Hello Dear Readers,

It is getting hot out there and in my garage!  Temperatures in my garage are sky rocketing and custom paint orders are having to be worked on early morning or evenings.  I enjoy it so much that I am tempted to bring my work inside!  Nevertheless, it gets done! My customer soon to be Military Bride had come to me with "second hand" furniture (as she called it).  IT was Swooonworthy to say the least.  My Sonoma Ranch girlfriends were just hoping it was up for grabs!  But it wasn't, my customer requested specific colors that  would compliment or even match her bedding.  She brought me a nightstand that was custom made by her grandfather, a horizontal dresser, and a vertical dresser.

 

Horizontal Dresser/Buffet - I had already started the stripping process when I remembered that I needed pics!

Vertical Dresser

Avid woodworkers, I am warning you to close your eyes, please no hate mail!!  The beautiful wood grain on these drawers makes this piece highly sought after.  

I began the stripping process...

Stripping process completed!

I started the stripping process on this one and it was tough!  It took about three different days to finally get this one ready for stain.  After informing my customer about this she mentioned that her grandmother had this piece stained and poly'd not too long ago...so that was what it was!  I must say they did a very good job!

Sanded and ready to go!

It really took some elbow grease!

It was ready for paint...I did a sample of the paint color she requested, Cream!  I could already tell that it was going to be beautiful!  It was a mix between a white and beige paint.

Vertical dresser had been sanded here, but it was not the final sanded product.

One of my secret ways to disguise my primer is to prime with similar prime paint color and paint in the center of each drawer that is to be distressed.  (Only furniture with heavy tannins need to be primed prior to painting) 

Because I primered the center portion of the each drawer, I was able to distress the paint around the edges of each drawer for a Vintage appearance.

TaDa!

The top was stained with Dark Walnut

The drawers were painted an aqua blue that is hard to pick up with a camera and the body was painted cream.  Both using my LE CHALK chalk paint powder

The edges were distressed and the paint comes off like powder as you begin to sand it down.  Using LE CHALK chalk paint powder is easy to use.  Mix with water and add to your favorite cup or quart of paint!

You can paint on and leave on or distress for a vintage look.  After sanding the entire piece, it will leave a smooth finish!

I distressed the ornate portions of the dresser a little more after this photo shoot.  Distress to your liking!

The material that was brought to me to match the colors.

Vertical Dresser All Done!

Perfect for the Bride & Groom!

I think that the makeover embraces both the feminine and masculine qualities of this dresser.

Paint lies flat and smooth all over!

She chose to leave the pulls stained...

Highboy top was stained Dark Walnut

Distressed a lil here and there...(after photo shoot my customer chose for her piece to be distressed just a little more)

In all of her/his Glory!

Feminine Details....

Strong masculine ones too!  Smooth finish after sanding, stain was protected with polyurethane.

She's ready to go...

Wish I had caught a before shot, NO PRIME needed here!! Yeayyy!  I distressed the table to celebrate the wood work of her grandfather!

I just mixed LE CHALK chalk paint powder with water and added it to this beautiful cream colored latex paint....It was painted on smoothly and left a strong plaster like finish.  And when sanded leaves a smooth silky finish! 


XOXOXOX,
Mary Elizabeth