A Cute Little Nautical Make-over

Step 1: Prep work

I sanding it with my orbital sander. As I began to clean it I discovered a loose piece and when I pulled it the paint started to peel off! I’m guessing it had been spray painted before. So I used a little scraper knife to try and gently get as much off as possible. A lot came off this way! 

Then one more quick sand to smooth out whatever paint remained and good cleaning with TSP degreaser/cleaner.

Step 2: Painting

I painted the outside shell of the piece, as well as the outlines on the drawer fronts in picket fence white x 4 coats. The cutout shelf at the top and the centers of the drawer fronts I painted with metallic gold x 4 coats.

step 3: Drawer side stripes

I painted the sides of the drawers in white x 2 coats. 

Then I used painters tape to tape off the sides to create stripes. 

I initially did one coat of the white over the entire sides, including the tape. This would prevent ‘bleeding’ of the blue. Then I painted the sides with the navy blue and peeled the tape off. My first time doing stripes and they turned out pretty great!

Step 4: Hardwear

I wanted to re-use the hardware, so I peeled the original orange off. I was surprisingly easily to get off, didn’t use any tools! I assume whomever spray painted them didn’t use primer, which worked to my advantage. 

Then I soaked the hardware in TSP cleaner for about 20 minutes.

Then I spray painted them with a primer and painted them with the blue paint I had from the drawer side stripes.

step 5: Put it all together

I think it turned out pretty cute. My 8 year old says its her favourite of my make-overs so far. :) It reminds me if a little light-house.