I must warn you that if you don’t like painted waterfall dresser furniture, maybe you should click my side bar image titled 250+ Repurposed Projects and skip this post.
This waterfall dresser (chest of drawers) was headed to the dumpster when I saved it. Not only headed FOR the dumpster, but the owner was about to beat it up and break it apart so it would take up less room in said dumpster.
You can see that it was really in rough shape. It had been stored in a damp shed building for years.
The first layer of veneer came right off very easily. The second later needed a little more elbow grease.
After removing the layers of veneer, I could see the damage done from years of storage.
I patched the cracked wood with spackling.
I didn’t even attempt to patch this missing piece at the bottom?
Most of the drawers were rickety and not sturdy. I used my new Ryobi Airstrike Stapler to secure the sides of the drawers.
After a good cleaning, the chest of drawers heads to the paint booth for the HomeRight Max Pro Sprayer
treatment. I used a light coat of flat white paint as a primer all over the piece, with the drawers in place.
After the light coat of primer I used Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint all over.
Then I got busy mixing some paint to change the color. The gallon can of blue is Tiffany Blue, and the White is the Behr that I used for a basecoat. I mixed the paint in one of my Homeright paint cups so I could shake it and store it.
I knew the drawers would be quick and easy to paint so I used a brush on them. This is after one coat. I decided that the color was too light, so I added more tiffany blue for the second coat.
This picture shows a better real life color than the pictures below.
While the chest of drawers was drying, I got busy on the hardware. Some of the hardware was very rusty. I used a wire brush to remove some of the rust.
Then I washed them off with the hose.
I reached for my Krylon Rust Protector Spray Paint. Love that it dries so quickly, and it has the EZ Touch 360° dial spray tip.
I was a little impatient, and did a lot of coats—the hardware was a little tacky to the touch, so I laid it on a piece of scrap wood so it could dry better.
Then I reinstalled the pretty white hardware!
This vintage waterfall chest of drawers is far from perfect. It’s been through a lot in it’s lifetime. Some may think I should have restored it. I wish I could have, but I just didn’t have it in me to take on such a project. At least it can still live a nice long purposeful life, instead of being chopped up and thrown into a dumpster.
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Should I call it done? Or would you do a stencil or some distressing on it?
gail
Here is another beaut I rescued, check out this navy blue waterfall dresser
Rebecca Balent
Here's a helpful hint; if you plan on painting the furniture and there is damage, missing corners, etc Bondo works wonders. You can shape it, sand it, and it's much sturdier and dries faster than spackle or wood putty. I broke up an old waterfall vanity and turned it into 2 night stands. I used Bondo to fill in the space where the vanity shelf fit. They came out perfect.
Gail Wilson
Rebecca,
Thanks for your hint! I once had a clock with severe damage repaired and I'm sure they used bondo. It was an amazing transformation. In all the years I've been doing this, I've never used it. 🙂 strange but true!
gail
JuneF
I'm another that doesn't usually care for wood furniture to be painted, but this piece is gorgeous! I love the colors! The only thing that I would consider doing, is painting the engravings white. I would be pleased to have the piece in my home just as is now, tho.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thank you June. I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
Susan B
Leave it as is....gorgeous!
Janice
I would do some mild distressing on a few edges and call it done! Looks great
Tina
It looks great! I LOVE the color combo! How did you fix the warped veneer on the drawers?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Tina,
I didn't do anything to the drawers, they are just less noticeable now that they are painted. 🙂
gail
Anthea
I love what you have done. Had you thought of outlining the details on the drawers in a darker blue?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
The chest of drawers has already gone to a new forever home "as is" 🙂
happy you stopped by to check it out and thanks for the input!
gail
Yvonne
Perfect and i bet it likes its new home better than a smelly dumpsite too! Good call not fixing the molding at the base, hardly noticeable
Marsha
I love it the way it is; don't di another thing!?
Nancy
Looks waaayyyy bettern being in a dumpster smashed... I think distressing it would add to its character, and perhaps tracing the etched lines in a deeper color?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Nancy,
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. This piece has already found a new home. 🙂
gail
Ivas. Shelby.
I am a wood purist so to speak, but I think paint is used well for orojects like this. When
The wood is not "good hardwood", mdf or pressed or plywood, etc then it's time to bring out the paint can. You did a beautiful job. nice color choice! Leave as is.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thank you for your input! I so appreciate the fact you "get" why I painted it. I treat all of my stuff on a case by case basis. 🙂
gail
Laurelei creuzer
It's beautiful! It's done imo.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
thank you Laurelei!
Lynne
You made it into something very lovely! I don't think it needs any tweaking -- as that sometimes appears desperate. Thank you for sharing this project. You're a creative genius!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I truly appreciate your sweet comment Lynne!
gail
Shanda
I think a stencil would be gorgeous! And I'm glad you painted it. I happen to like both painted and stained wood pieces in a house.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Looking around... I only have 3 pieces that aren't painted. A cedar chest that belonged to my aunt, a dresser that belonged to my mom, and a table in my hallway that is only about 20 years old, but may be the next thing to be painted in my home. 🙂
thanks for stopping by Shanda!
gail
Shawna Punzalan
It looks great! I need to find a couple dressers for girls to do this with! Their dressers are falling apart. (Ikea press board specials)
Missy
Love it just the way it is!! You did a great job!! It has great clean lines. I would leave it just like it is!!
Sue Young
I would find an Art Nouveau Stencil to put on the second drawer down. Beautiful.
Diane
Fabulous job, it looks beautiful, perfect the way it is!
kerri
I think I would have liked the handles to be sprayed antique gold in keeping with the original. But, the white stands out and I wonder if they would look more harmonious with the rest of the chest if painted the same color as the body of the chest. I love painted rescued waterfall pieces. I did a waterfall vanity too far gone to refinish in coral and it is beautiful.
Knuckles McGhee
I don't think you should apologize for finishing it the way you did.
Paint>sledge hammer. That being said, it does seem somewhat unfinished. I look forward to seeing it with a little more vavavoom.
Darlene
Love it! i would distress it a little though
Linda
No, please no distressing !!
Doreen
I adore it! Gail, your hard work saved this dresser from doom. Someone will be very lucky to have it.