Waterfall Dresser (Chest of Drawers)
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If you don’t like painted waterfall dresser furniture, you may want to look for another furniture makeover on my site.
This waterfall dresser (chest of drawers) was headed to the dumpster when I saved it. Not only was it 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.
Because this was a quickie makeover, I didn’t 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 cups to shake and store it.
Painting drawers is pretty straightforward, so I used a brush on them. This is after one coat. I decided 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. Gotta love that it dries so quickly and 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. It’s best to read the directions on the can, many brands vary on their dry times.
Then I reinstalled the pretty white hardware! Do you love the white handles against the pretty blue color?
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 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.
Should I call it done? Or would you do a stencil or some distressing on it?
gail
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Oops…and no distressing. What’s the point if making something look new just to make it look old and worn again?
I’m not a big fan of waterfall style furniture so I think you did it a huge favor painting it. Looks better than if you restored it to original I think. Maybe a white stencil on top and sides but not on the drawer fronts. I think stencils on the fronts would detract from the pretty handles.
I love it. How pretty. I am a “it could always use more person” but on this it is perfect. It looks very classic. The only thing I would do maybe is accentuate the line detail. I love graphics, and some of my furniture even have them but they are so over-done these days. Keep it classic
Love it just as it is !
What a save. I just love that this dresser now lives on to brighten up and add charm to a room. Imagine if this dresser could talk, the story it might tell. I love it and would leave it just the way it is!
This is so pretty! Great job on this piece!
You lose the mitered details with a single color and think those are the coolest part. I would take the darkest shade of your tiffany blue and with a small brush highlight all those miter lines. Otherwise it’s beautiful.
I love it. I would call it done, anymore might be too much.
Perfect for a nursery.
Way to save a beautiful dresser! I thought you were going to do ombre on the drawers when I saw the picture of the paint, that would be cool, but I thinks someone would love it just the way it is too! I like the white and blue, maybe some wax on the handles to bring out the detail…just throwing out suggestions since you asked, otherwise I love it!
Awesome job!!!!
What a great save Gail! I’d call it done!
Love it just the way it is, simply elegant.