French Country Chic Dresser

by Lauri Black / Shabby 2 Uniquely Chic

This Dresser was a laminate faux wood so to me personally it didn't have much redeeming value as is, so it needed an updo! It did have great lines and detail so I felt there was real promise there, I just had to work for it and work I did. You can see more at https://www.facebook.com/Shabby2UniquelyChic
or http://shabby2uniquelychic.blogspot.com/2013/06/french-country-chic-dresser.html
This is also the dresser that goes with these nightstands
http://www.hometalk.com/diy/bedroom/furniture/chic-grey-linen-nightstands-3287579

french country chic dresser, painted furniture

french country chic dresser, painted furniture, If you think this dresser has an orange hue to it you are right It was actually worse in person but that is what you get when you have fake laminate wood that has faded over time

If you think this dresser has an orange hue to it you are right! It was actually worse in person, but that is what you get when you have fake laminate wood that has faded over time.

french country chic dresser, painted furniture, I used Annie Sloan French Linen and Old white and I am thinking the ratio is 2 parts old white to 1 part French Linen

I used Annie Sloan French Linen and Old white. and I am thinking the ratio is 2 parts old white to 1 part French Linen.

I used this same ratio for the drawer panels

french country chic dresser, painted furniture, I used Old white for the grooves and stencils but used French Linen on the outside edges of the drawers

I used Old white for the grooves and stencils, but used French Linen on the outside edges of the drawers

And of course Annie Sloan clear wax to finish it off. Isn't she cute!

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4 of 7 comments

Mary strong on Apr 03, 2014
Truly a beautiful piece! How long did it take? And do you ever make your own chalk paint?

1 Reply
- Lauri Black / Shabby 2 Uniquely Chic on Apr 04, 2014
  @Mary strong I can't remember now how long it took me, but it was tedious. I learned from this one and figured out a way to make it more simple. I used a small artist brush to paint the trim and the white detail and tried to keep it all separate. I should have painted the whole drawer white and then gone over the larger parts with the darker color, leaving the carved detail white. I did the night stands that went with this the easier way and sure wish I had thought of it sooner. Live and learn. I think the dresser took me 2 or 3 days, but they were long days, once I get going on a project I hate putting down the paint brush. I have never made my own chalk paint, but the thought has crossed my mind. I am just unsure how well it holds up in the long run. If I was painting it just for me I would do it, but I paint and sell my furniture. I would hate for a customer to have problems later down the road. I am interested in knowing how good homemade chalk paint is.
  
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Beth on May 02, 2014
GASPING!!!!if I had a dollar for every one of these I passed up because of the laminate finish!!! Did you paint over it? Remove it? Speechless!

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- Lauri Black / Shabby 2 Uniquely Chic on May 02, 2014
  @Beth I used chalk paint, which makes it so easy, because it sticks to anything. Also you do not have to sand before hand which is difficult with the kind of (non) wood. If you use latex paint you have to sand, use extra strong primer, and then there is still no guarantee it will not scrap off. Chalk paint or milk paint is the way to go, with a nice wax finish in the end.
  
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