French Grain Sack Dresser

So, now that voting is closed, I can let you in on my furniture project!

This final round was the furniture round, and I couldn’t wait to get started on this piece.  I picked up this Craigslist dresser on New Year’s Day… for fifty bucks (score!).  I wish I’d have remembered to take pictures before the stripping and sanding began, but just picture layers and layers of yellow and tan paint, if you need a visual…  Hopefully, the end result will make up for it ;).

I love vintage textiles, and found my inspiration for this dresser in the rustic beauty of striped French grain sacks.  The simplicity of the design is timeless… and that’s what I wanted to bring to this piece.  After sanding and priming, I painted the dresser with two coats of Martha Stewart’s Glass of Milk (color-matched with Glidden Paint).  Once dry, I taped off my lines and dry-brushed the stripe (Martha Stewart Wrought Iron).  I then lightly distressed the surface with sandpaper and added a burnt umber glaze for patina.  New antique brass hardware (98 cents a piece!) added a nice finishing touch.

My plans of staining the wood top were foiled when some hidden leftover paint decided to peek through my walnut stain… I didn’t want to chance sanding the wood too thin so I decided on another plan.  I dry brushed the wood top with the Wrought Iron paint and added a polyurethane finish, buffed to a soft sheen.  The end result was a nice, weathered effect with a smooth as glass finish.

I’m quite excited about this new dresser… and it’s new home in my front entry, a great reminder that it is possible to not only make do with old items, but to make them beautiful as well.

And now that the excitement of OMTWI is nearly over (winner announced tomorrow!)… I can refocus on the many other works in progress around here: namely, finishing up with painting my living area, spreading the love with some Valentine’s décor, and perhaps stenciling a wall or two (or three or four?).

Oh, and let’s not forget devouring the neverending supply of holiday-appropriate Hershey kisses in between aforementioned projects, shall we? 

It’s good to be home.made.

 Linking up with:

Tatertots and Jello
Funky Junk Interiors

Tuesday's Treasures
Wow Us Wednesdays
Power of Paint
Restored It Wednesday

Funky Junk Interiors