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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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.
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
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)
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!!
I would find an Art Nouveau Stencil to put on the second drawer down. Beautiful.
Fabulous job, it looks beautiful, perfect the way it is!
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.
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.
Love it! i would distress it a little though
No, please no distressing !!
I adore it! Gail, your hard work saved this dresser from doom. Someone will be very lucky to have it.
What do think if you highlighted the groves in white?
Yes that would look nice& paint tiny little flowers on the handles :0)
I love it!! I would add some white to the engraving on the drawer faces if anything, but its fabulous as is, too.
I love all your project. I get so many fabulous ideas from you. Thanks so much!
You did a great job! However, I’m just not feeling it. I think it needs some dimension and depth to the paint color. But that is just me. Also I am not a fan of the white handles. I think some distressing to the handles would be interesting.