Not every antique dresser should be painted.You have options!

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There are many reason not to paint an antique dresser. However, I feel strongly about saving these old pieces even if it means to paint them. For this project, I have chosen to do a little of both. Restoration and paint. I can’t wait to show you more!

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Antique Dresser Makeover

BEFORE

Preparing For The Makeover

This old gal had definitely seen better days. Her top was pretty beat up and no amount of sanding would repair the beauty of the wood. However, the lower half wasn’t too bad. The wood looked okay.

The drawers were falling apart and if that weren’t bad enough, someone had added wire to the bottom of this antique dresser and to several holes on the back. Wanna know why? Scroll down to see more

Ha! The only reason I know this is because I seen my Grandfather do this to my Grandma’s furniture. Mothballs were placed inside the wire to repel varmints. That’s what he called them! They had a weekend home in the country and lets just say it wasn’t as secure as it needed to be. My nights spent with my Grandparents were sometimes interesting to say the least.

After the usual sanding, cleaning and repairing I decided that I would have to paint. But, rather than paint the whole dresser, I would only paint half. That sounds weird, right? I had a plan.

Replacing The Hardware

The hardware was cleaned up and replaced back in its original spot. Here’s a tip for you. Use a pair of Needle Nose Pliers to hold those tiny nails to avoid smashed fingers. It will seriously change the relationship with your hammer. You’re welcome!

Painting The Antique Dresser

I started with a color called Villa from the Wise Owl Paint Line. Wise Owl Paint is a highly pigmented paint and goes on like a dream. Great coverage with usually 2 coats. When painting over darker woods with light colors, it may take three.

I love their Cling On Paint Brushes too! I painted the upper half with one coat and used my Cling On Brush to make the paint appear to be streak down the wood where it gradually fade into the wood. It gave it an artistic look. Normally I would have used a primer before painting, but I didn’t mind if stains bled through the paint. The finish I wanted was old and weathered and the few stains just added character.

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The secondary color used is called Weathervane. It’s a yummy dark gray and when blended with the Villa, it creates a beautiful aged finish. I used my Cling On Brush, a spray bottle with water and a putty knife to create this look.

After completing the design I wanted, I allowed the paint to fully dry. About 3 hours at room temperature. Wise Owl Paint dries quickly and that helps me complete projects a lot quicker. I like that!

Sealing The Paint And Wood On The Antique Dresser

Wise Owl makes a Furniture Salve that is nothing less that amazing! It can be used for so many things. It’s great to seal wood, paint, clean old hardware and even helps with old sticky wood drawers. I applied it all over the whole piece, inside and out using a soft, white cotton cloth. It conditioned the wood and sealed the paint. It comes in several scents, but the Lemon Verbena is my favorite. You gotta try this stuff! It smells amazing. No more musty stinky wood furniture for me.