Coral Dresser With DIY Chalk Paint

Abi Zimmerman
by Abi Zimmerman
I brought this 1950's dresser back to life using coral DIY chalk paint and gel stain. But it wasn't an easy job. I stripped, stained, and sealed the drawers four times before I got them right. And that hardware . . . don't even get me started about that.
I’m not gonna lie friends. This one was a struggle.


If you follow me on Instagram you’ve seen each painful step, starting with the wood stain.


The first attempt was streaky. I didn’t know why but thought it must be because I didn’t strip the old finish thoroughly.


So I started over.


The second attempt was spotty because after stripping the old finish I didn’t clean off the stripper residue completely. (Read more about that HERE.)


So I started over.
The third attempt was streaky because I didn’t know I was dealing with a soft wood and needed to use a pre-stain wood conditioner. (Looking back I realized this was really the problem with my first attempt.)


So I started over.
Finally, on the fourth attempt, the planets aligned, the clouds parted and the wood-staining gods smiled down upon me. Success at long last.
Next was paint. I used this DIY chalk paint recipe with Valspar’s Amber Rose color. I’m happy to report that the paint went on with no problems! The color was perfect and the chalk paint was as amazing as everyone claims. I finished it off with a couple coats of SC Johnson Paste wax – stinky but effective. (If you’re trying to compare expensive Annie Sloan Chalk Paint with the more economical DIY versions I highly recommend you read this post from Diane at In My Own Style. So much valuable information!)


All that was left was to pick out some shiny gold hardware and she would be done! Easy squeezy, right?


Wrong.


You guys I couldn't find anything to fit the holes. I tried everywhere I could think of. Internet, retail, antique shops, referrals from friends – nothing. There were a couple that were the right size but completely wrong for the age and style of the piece. And a couple of others that might have worked but they were around $30 each. Not for this thrifty chick.


Find out more about my hardware search on the blog and why I almost painted the drawers after all that work to get the stain right.
Abi Zimmerman
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Comments
Join the conversation
 2 comments
  • Hannah V Hannah V on Apr 15, 2015
    Oh my goodness- love! Coral is one of my fav colors in decor/makeup/life!
    • Abi Zimmerman Abi Zimmerman on May 08, 2015
      @Hannah V Thank you Hannah! I can't wait to try this color on some other pieces.
Next