Old Fashioned Milk Paint to The Rescue for This Serpentine Dresser

by Cynthia - Clockworkinteriors

I like to think I'm a savvy shopper, but I made a bad purchase on this Serpentine Dresser. I was drawn in by the serpentine front and slatted sides and didn't look it over like I should have. It seemed sturdy enough ...

old fashioned milk paint to the rescue for this serpentine dresser, painted furniture, painting

But once I got it home (PUT ON GLOVES) and removed the gross drawer liners, the drawer bottoms and dresser back were in horrible shape. They needed to be replaced and put back together.

After cutting, gluing and clamping, I spent some time with my hand sander sanding down the top and drawer fronts. Even though I over paid, you can now see the former beauty this dresser must have been.

Old Fashioned Milk Paint would complement the style and age of this dresser perfectly. But more importantly, it's a 100% green and toxin free product!

OFMP comes in powder form and you mix it up with equal parts water and paint. I like to mix it with a garage sale immersion hand held blender. I let the paint sit for about 20 minutes and gave it two coats of paint.

Then the dresser got a coat of my favorite finishing product: Hope's 100% Pure Tung Oil. The package says to let it soak in for an hour, but I left it over night and then rubbed off any excess oil.

The top of the dresser and the drawer fronts were stained a lovely walnut color. I also kept the original hardware because it seemed to suit the piece.

You would never know what a sad neglected wreck of a dresser this was.

It was a lot of work, but I'm so glad I rescued this piece. I'm also glad it wasn't land filled or put on the burn pile.

We did keep the original bottom drawer though. Look what was hiding under the paper! So cool.

Learn from my mistake and check out this post to read my tips for buying second hand ... the right way!

http://www.clockworkinteriors.com/old_fashioned_milk_paint_serpentine_dresser/

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3 of 4 questions

Gladys Benitez on Nov 08, 2016
It's gorgeous!! Was the top and it's drawers already sanded? Did the application of the 100% PTO give the top and drawers the brown finished look? I've never done any refinishing of any kind...don't know how to start. I do have several antique pieces that I want to give color and life back into them and this seems like a rather simple way to begin.... Thank You.

2
Gladys Benitez on Nov 08, 2016
Sorry, missed reading the "walnut finish...." part....daaahhh.

1
Jpe6057049 on Nov 08, 2016
what is the name or shade of ofmp did you use for this. ? I love the color .gorgeous piece Thanks

1