Friday, September 21, 2012

French Gray Curves, Brass Hardware and a Few Smelly Drawers

This pretty two-toned gray dresser is one of Megan's projects from the summer. Yes I'm a little behind on posting. You might still be seeing summer projects over the winter, just so you know!


Here's the before. The upside down hardware just made me smile!
 
 
After a overall light sanding with just a sanding sponge and a good cleaning, she was ready for paint. Megan used  Behr's paint and primer in one mixed with the homemade chalk paint recipe and it adhered beautifully. The darker gray is Dark Pewter and the lighter gray is French Silver. These are the same two colors Megan used on her Glazed and Distressed Side Table, but here she was going for a completely different look.
 
 
Only the edges were distressed with a very light hand.



And a coat of SCJohnson wax gave her a nice sheen.
Don't you love her curves?



The brass hardware just just too cool to change, but it needed a little refreshing. Compare the before...


look closer...


and now the after.

 
A past of lemon juice and salt (great for smoothing your hands) usually works wonders on brass, but it just wasn't enough this time. We turned to Rub'nBuff in Antique Gold, but toned it down with just a bit of Patina. Centsational Girl has a great post on brass hardware. You should check it out. Brass is back you know.


Now, about those smelly drawers. Usually after you clean a piece, have the drawers out for a few days while painting, wipe them out one last time and soap the drawer glides, she ends up smelling pretty sweet. But again, not this time. These drawers just had a weird funky smell. And after the nice job Megan did on this piece, that just bugged me to no end. Living with Lindsay did a post a while back about cleaning smelly thrift store furniture. Lindsay has some great suggestions and I read all 90-plus comments. I decided to try vinegar because I just happened to have a big bottle on hand. I put the drawers out in the sun and wiped them out with the vinegar. I left them slightly wet and let the sun dry them out. I did this for three straight sunny afternoons. And sure enough, the funk is gone and they are now smelling sweet!
 
 
I also wiped out the inside of the dresser with vinegar and put a fan in front of it to dry.
 
 
Maybe Heinz should consider a label that says Furniture Perfect!
 
 
So there you have it, one really pretty French gray dresser with great curves, brass hardware and sweet smelling drawers! Nicely done Megan!
 
 
To say it's been busy around here is an understatement!
We have a tag sale coming up in less than a week (yes there will be preview photos) and we're putting the finishing touches on our two rooms for the Decorator Show House. Details about both events are on the sidebar.
 
And don't forget that our Goose Creek Candle Company Giveaway and 25% off coupon code runs through September 30th!
 
I'm linking to...
Primitive and Proper Sumo's Sweet Stuff The Girl Creative Somewhat Simple Mod Vintage Life DIY Show Off
Photobucket It's Overflowing
C.R.A.F.T.

Making The World Cuter Monday
 
 

28 comments:

A Daughter of the King said...

Thanks for the tip on the vinegar drawers! I needed that. I have tried everything to sweeten the drawer of a little nightstand I did.

It is in the post entitled: She Called and Said This.

I also have a set of bedroom furniture from my grandmother that looks just like your dresser. I like how yours turned out.

Cyndi ✪ Blue Star said...

Love the two-tone Very nice!

Danielle said...

So pretty! I love it in gray.

Anonymous said...

That's a cute sized chest.. Love the grey on grey! I use Orange Glow wood cleaner to clean out my drawers and it smells wonderful.. I'll try vinegar next I've if the OG doesn't work.. Thanks for passing on the tip! - Susan

Cassie Bustamante said...

beautiful curves! love it and love the hardware!

Pat said...

The finished piece is lovely. I love the two tones of grey. Great color choice. Thanks for the tip about the vinegar...
Pat

Anne said...

Beautiful piece! Love the color and hardware too! I use vinegar for many things around here.I could not go without it! Great tip!
xx
Anne

Chrissy said...

Wow, I just love it! I am glad I found your blog, it really is giving me inspiration for my kitchen.
I am your latest follower,
Chrissy

Hetty said...

Very pretty drawers! You think vinegar will also work on old-tobacco smells? I was working on a piece that smelled terrible..

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

Just lovely, and I appreciate the tip about the vinegar!

Sarah AKA The Thriftress said...

Great makeover! Thank you for the tip about vinegar! I just got my tag sale notice in the mail today. I'm going to try to make it.

Bliss said...

That is beautiful and I've currently got a stinky little desk in the driveway that tomorrow is gonna get a sponge bath with vinegar. Timely for me to read that tip.

~Bliss~

Donna Wilkes said...

What would we do without white vinegar!?! I just came in from washing down a stinky piece. I had to come over - the stinky drawers just called to me. It is a beautiful piece!

Our Pinteresting Family said...

Great tips, Sharon! That piece is a looker indeed! Gorgeous. :) Megan

{northern cottage} said...

Ha! That post title drew me right in! Great tip to keep in mind - thank you for sharing your hard work & findings!

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

It's beautiful! I love that you left the original hardware.... And I'll have to remember the vinegar trick!

~Chris

Kim@todayismysome-day said...

Beautiful piece, and glad it's back to smelling sweet again :) Those upside down handles made me smile too :)

Emily @ The Diligent One said...

Another gorgeous dresser! Thanks for the vinegar tip. I have an old dresser that could use this. Can't wait to see a tag sale preview, btw. See you on Saturday with my mom, sister, and the girls! :)

Ali Richardson said...

This is sooo beautiful!! Happy to hear it is smelling as sweet as it looks, too :)

Kim said...

This is such a lovely color. I so appreciate the smell tip. I just finished a project, brought it up to the living room, and noticed a funky smell. I am going to try out the vinegar, thanks!

smart momma said...

i love the two tones but i love the curves more :) beautifully done! :)

huggies***
smartmomma

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

Wow! What a beautiful piece! Love the two colors. Just perfect. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Homemaker on a Dime. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House which goes live at 8am CST on Monday. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

Liz @ Quirky Vistas said...

Those curvy drawers and legs are gorgeous! Love all the tips on the stinky drawers. I just went through this and the vinegar worked on mine as well, and it really reeked of stale cigarette odor when I started. Looking forward to the finishing touches on the rooms!
Liz

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Looks beautiful, and thanks for the de~smelling tips!

My Dream Canvas said...

So beautiful. I would love to see you drop by My Dream Canvas. Have a great day.

Athena at Minervas Garden said...

You sound happy-busy, Sharon--that's great! Best of luck with your upcoming sale and showcase. I love the curvy swervy dresser--beautiful new colors and the hardware is lovely now as well. Great tip about vinegar --I will have to file that away for future thrift furniture use! I wonder if it would work with old suitcases--have one with a musty smell. I know that plain vinegar will also kill weeds--I spray weeds on the sidewalk and gravel pathways and in warm weather it cooks them! It leaches nitrogen out of the soil, so if you use it in a flower bed you have to add back some nitrogen fertilizer, so I usually just hand weed those areas instead.

Joselyn said...

Love the color and two toned finish. I have two little sisters (nightstands) to this piece waiting to be painted.Thanks for the inspiration.

NeeCee said...

Great Post....the dresser is beautiful! JUST JOINED YOUR SITE AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU VISIT ME AT PINECREEKSTYLE.BLOGSPOT.COM