Beautiful Antique Dresser Gets a Facelift!

by Michaela Turiace

Yes it's has beautiful bones and looks pretty but this dresser needed some serious help. I started with clean up which was a lot of work. After 3 bucket fulls of very dirty water I started removing hardware. I decided right away that no matter what, I'm re-using original hardware. I may paint it, but I'm using it. I also decided on using a bright color, and because I wasn't sure I was selling it, I wanted it to mesh with my house and colors I already have. I decided on bliss! A beautiful happy blue chalk paint color.

idea for painting beautiful antique dresser, painted furniture

This is a very old piece and the drawers needed a bit of help. The bottom one is a bit sticky and I just couldn't help it much. Some of the corners were chipped, but I normally leave that alone, unless it's really bad because I feel it adds character to the piece. Those marks prove its age and lik we wrinkles it just proves to me all the long life it's had. The top needed a bit of work. It had marks and stains and someone even nailed 2 nails through the top, i left them because I wanted a bit of rustic for this piece. I decided to stencil, because I love doing it and it adds a bit to seach piece.

Here is the results and I have to say, I don't mind if it stays at my house for the rest of its life!!!

Oh yeah, I did keep the original hardware but painted it in a brushed nickel color. I also decided to distress it quite a bit because I love the rustic look, remember it was intended as possibly having a life in my house for some time. 😀

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4 of 14 comments

Kerry on Dec 31, 2014
Very nice. I am thinking of doing a dresser that style. If a dresser is not in too bad of shape, do you recommend keeping it true to its natural self, or painting it?

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- Michaela Turiace on Dec 31, 2014
  Yes and no. I guess it depends on the value of the piece to you. I have a 100 yr old buffet and dining set handed down to me through generations that i would never paint. I also have a pine hutch that I just love natural. And it is not a costly piece. So it just depends. Also, my business is refurbishing old neglected pieces that i find. But I refinish and sell them. Sometimes I refinish back to natural but most people flock to the painted pieces. So if I want to make any money, I go with what is poular.
  
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Kerry on Dec 31, 2014
Thanks. Good to know. I am thinking of starting to refinish and sell old pieces of furniture. What site do you advertise your pieces on?

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- Michaela Turiace on Dec 31, 2014
  EBay Etsy Facebook pinterest instagram and locally. Every way I can
  
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