Anyone who has known me for any time at all, understands my affinity for trash. Not literal garbage, but those little gems that people put at the curb that have so much life in them that I just can't leave them. Rescuing these treasures isn't a new occupation. I have a beautiful set of copper bowls that I retrieved out of a neighbors trash nearly 40 years ago that are still hanging in my kitchen
That's why people call me with questions like "Hello? Would you like this?" Rarely do I say no! And that's how I happened to come into possession of this beautiful little dresser. My friend said that it had belonged to her uncle, and had been sitting in the garage for a LONG time being used for storing garage stuff. She had had enough of it and it was going to be disposed of if I didn't want it. Well, HELLO!! Of COURSE I wanted it!! Luckily my daughter was here with her minivan and volunteered to go up and get it. Yay!!
It was so sturdy, and I always find it amazing how roomy these old dressers are. Not as big as new ones on the outside, but huge on the inside. I loved the "original" green color, which wasn't the original color, but a coat someone had put on in the 60's I would guess from the shade. The house I grew up in was actually this same mint green for several years. (That one was for free. You're welcome!) I had intended to just strip the top and stain it, but the paint was a mess and there was some water damage on the side, so the more I looked at it, the clearer it became that the whole thing needed to be made over.
First step, strip the top.
Sometimes I'm really happy that previous owners didn't go to the trouble of properly preparing the wood before finishing. It doesn't always work out well, but this time it put a smile on my face!! Didn't take any time at all for the old paint to peel off and what was underneath was pristine! The one part of the piece you'd expect to be all beaten up, and there wasn't a mark on it!!
Didn't get so lucky with one side and a bit on the front. A little veneer damage could't be re glued, but I found a way around it.
Did a little painting and distressing after the repairs were all done.
Here's a little tip. One of my favorite places in the world is the mis-tint bin at the local hardware store. You can find some truly ugly colors there, but there are also some beautiful shades that people simply didn't want. I came up with a quart can of really high quality paint for $2.50. SCORE!! I've been able to use it on a few projects now, but the top got so crudded up that it would no longer close tightly.
So, out comes the trusty canning jar. I've used this method several times to store left over paint and it works great. Just don't drop it!!
I used the original hardware. Just stripped the old paint off of them as well (Another tip: Drop any paint covered metal "stuff" in boiling water and let it simmer a bit. The paint peels right off!) Gave them a little spray paint and scuffed them up.
Voila!!
This project took me about a week, and much of that was dry time. But now it smells fresh and looks great. Looking forward to seeing it in it's new space!
You have made him for a little while
lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with
glory and honor,
And have appointed him over
the works of Your hands;
Hebrews 2:7
