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.
I'm linking to...
C.R.A.F.T.
Making The World Cuter Monday