Asked on Aug 31, 2018

How can I finish redoing this piece of furniture?

Heather Grasby
by Heather Grasby

years back I finished it to the natural wood as seen, recently I decided to chalk paint it to make it look more nautical, and finished it with paste wax, Im not happy with it!!! Need to do something else and not sure what?? in the 2 doors there use to be mirrors (old). I have put 1/4" plywood in and textured wall paper and painted them. I had considered putting Aluminum in the doors and putting a design in the aluminum?? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks Heather

  14 answers
  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 31, 2018

    For a farmhouse feel: put an "X" on the small door, divide the taller door in half and put an "X" in the top and bottom half. Personally, my taste would be to stain it a darker color on the doors and drawers and change out the hardware.

    • See 1 previous
    • Heather Grasby Heather Grasby on Sep 06, 2018

      Love this idea!!! and I agree about the handles, I had actually looked at the jute handles before but wanted to wait to see what the piece looked like!! Stay tuned for the transformation...by the way, do you think that tin panel wallpaper could work??

  • Susan Susan on Aug 31, 2018

    This is a beautiful piece. Is it the color you are not happy with?? A few ideas, is...Change out the hardware for sure. If you are going for a "beachy" look, then, find a shell look...I love the tin look too!! or Aluminum tooled. You could also use chicken wire. There are different styles of chicken wire you can choose from. I too would go with a darker color on the wood...Here is a link to replacing the wood on doors with chicken wire

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=18&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiy3feWyZfdAhWld98KHSJsA8YQFjARegQICBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thespruce.com%2Fcabinet-door-makeover-1313933&usg=AOvVaw08_NK_NWKvzfzhnL8J_MsW

  • KB KB on Sep 01, 2018

    Use beadboard for door inserts. Putty existing hardware holes. Paint the whole thing white. Add marine cleats for door and drawer pulls.

  • Bijous Bijous on Sep 01, 2018

    Hi. Darken the stain on the wood. There's too little contrast. Happy DIY'ing!

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 01, 2018

    Hello Heather,

    You could change at least the drawer handles You could add a Nautical Picture or wallpaper on the doors. Possibly use Rope or Knots .........Have fun!

  • Jami Colich Jami Colich on Sep 01, 2018

    I like the idea of staining darker, also. I also think chicken wire in the smaller portions and maybe a muted old fashioned French kinda paper in the large portion? Good luck! I’m sure you’ll come up with something you love!

  • Jodie Woods Jodie Woods on Sep 01, 2018

    What a lovely piece! I had one very similar to yours long ago. I miss having it.

    My answer is going to be quite a bit different. If it were mine I’d finish painting it white. I’d put an antiqued mirror in the small door. I’d put a big “Z” across the large door instead of two small “x’s“. I think your hardware is the right color but may need to be a little more substantial to give better contrast to the white.

    I love your wood wall behind it! I’m sure whatever you chose it’ll look just beautiful!

  • CAV CAV on Sep 01, 2018

    Simple fix: Pick up some nautical charts of the coast line and modpoge (NOAA has charts you can print out) and add some small anchors for handles.

  • Deborah Deborah on Sep 02, 2018

    Good suggestions above. To me it looks unbalanced right now. The fastest and easiest balance would to be paint it all the same color, but if you like the wood against the paint you could make false drawer fronts for the larger door to match the drawers on the left, and then finish the open space above with any of the suggestions above that tickled your fancy. I would change the hardware. The first thing I thought of when I saw it was to strip all the wood, finish it the same and use old fashioned ice box dog legs for handles. so it would look like an antique ice box, but if you plan on using where ut is against the wood wall it would stand out better with a treatment that created some contrast.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Sep 02, 2018

    Your dresser looks neat and clean and fresh. It is fine the way it is now in that you now have a good base to start to embellish. You are aiming for a nautical theme? Start by changing out the hardware. Rope or jute adds needed texture which will instantly give the piece some personality.



  • Helen Bleazard Helen Bleazard on Sep 02, 2018

    Hi there. This piece of furniture fits in with the rest of your room furnishings with the wood. I would change the handles on the drawers and doors as suggested by Flipturn - for the nautical effect. But then I would do decoupage on the two doors - perhaps of beach scenes - to liven the piece up with color.

    Good luck

  • Marcia Serrenho Marcia Serrenho on Sep 02, 2018

    I would choose some of the above ideas, like this:

    1- Sand the inside white paint of the doors until it's wood-coloured

    2- Place an 'X' of wood inside each of the doors

    3- Stain the doors the same colour of the drawers. It would look even 😉

    4- Keep the same handlers, they fit perfectly the country style of the piece.

  • Pamela Pamela on Sep 02, 2018

    I very much like Marcia's advice. A suggestion though from my own experience...step back at look at the piece with a fresh point of view. I have found that sometimes I like a piece much better!

    I really like the ceiling tiles. Farmhouse decor is okay, but bring it up a notch with the tiles. I like silver; what will work best in your space?