A Whimsical Dresser

I bought this vintage maple dresser knowing that I wanted to try something like this zig-zag pattern on it. The dresser is probably about 50 years old, solid maple, even the drawers, and not very big. Its size makes it perfect for a child’s room. I have seen dressers painted like this online and wanted to give it a try.

Creating a pattern is really trial and error.  I used chalk to draw the lines and then began taping.  There are some very reliable methods of creating a clean line when using tape: you can see one of them here.  This video uses painter’s caulk; another method is to use tape and paint the base coat over the tape then the new colour.  Both methods work but I couldn’t figure out how to do them with so many lines and different colours.  So, I taped then painted one colour, waited for it to dry, then did a different colour.  This method requires that you remove the tape, wax ( so that the new paint won’t peel off ) and re-tape for the new colour.  Time-consuming and not fool-proof-I had to do a lot of touch-ups where the paint bled under the tape.

Orignally, I painted the pattern in a colour-block pattern:

But, I realized that the middle 2 drawers were the same size, so after I painted them, I decided to see what they looked like when they were switched.  The effect is more of a zig-zag pattern and I prefer it.

The paint is all Annie Sloan Chalk paint but most of the colours have been mixed to create the tones that you see.  Only the Old White and the Graphite are unmixed.  One of the wonders of chalk paint is how easy it is to create new colours.

The wooden handles are original to the dresser.  I stripped them and left them in their natural state.  I think this dresser will look lovely in a child’s room.

 

 

 

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Stepback Cupboard

Stepback cupboards have a top section which is set back from the bottom.  They are a popular design which dates back centuries.  The cupboard that I painted was primitive in design and handmade.  The stain which was opaque was dried out and peeling away in most places.  This is what it looked like on Etsy where I purchased it from a local business called  In the Raw Vintage.

I had to do a lot of sanding to get rid of that peeling stain.

 

I painted the cupboard in Annie Sloan Country Grey and added Old White dry brushing to give it texture.  The inside was painted in a Provence mix.

This is a closer view of the dry brushing.  Country Grey is a perfect colour for a rustic piece like this.  It is a neutral “greige”and the type of colour you see on old furniture.  I don’t think the handles and knobs were original but they are old brass.  I painted them with  both colours and added copper gilding.  Now they look like verdigris.

The painted version is definitely an upgrade over the original which was not usable in its peeling state.

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A Playful Dresser

This antique dresser was probably just wood at one time but over the years it had been painted a few different shades.  When I bought it, it was a pale peachy beige and the inside of the drawers had been wallpapered in a beige and peach floral.  I have removed wallpaper from walls before but I had forgotten how much work it can be.  I might have reconsidered buying the dresser if I had known how much time I would need to remove it.  I thought about just painting over it but the wallpaper wasn’t in great shape and the corners weren’t very well done.  Because the dresser is on the small side, I just couldn’t see an adult using it so I painted it with a child in mind.

 

It gave me a chance to use FrogTape Shape Tape which gives a nice clean edge and a playful look.  I  admire the work of Poppyseed Creative Living who uses this tape a lot in her designs.  She has been an Annie Sloan Painter in Residence and has many great pieces.

The white looks pure white but it is actually a 50/50 mix of AS Pure White and Old White.  You can see that I got the wallpaper out of the drawers and painted them, as well as placing a bright orange wrapping paper inside.  The turquoise is AS Provence which is a lovely saturated blue/turquoise.

 

The antique-looking porcelain knobs are from Lee Valley and are a nice touch without being too feminine.

 

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Painting with English Yellow

 

 

This is the first time I have actually painted something yellow.  I love all those mustard yellow dressers one sees on Pinterest but for some reason I have never actually used the colour.  Annie Sloan has 2 yellows in her colour chart, Arles, which has a gold tone and English Yellow, which is a very bright yellow.  Both can be mixed with white or Old White to create different shades.  I painted this antique dresser in Old White and an English Yellow/Old White mix.  I was trying to get a pale lemony tone.  As you can see in the pix, I imagined this as a baby dresser because this style is so popular at the moment.  When I had my children in the days before ultrasound, everyone painted babies’ rooms yellow because the colour was gender-neutral.  This dresser, perhaps because of the style, comes across as more feminine.

I am happy with the result but in retrospect, I wish I had added a bit of Arles in with the English Yellow.  English Yellow has a green undertone which comes out even when mixed with Old White.  I don’t like it much and wish it was a bit more buttery.

This dresser also had a hinged mirror but the frame was a bit warped.  I decided to remove the mirror from the stand part and from the frame. I will be re-purposing the frame in another project.

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Using a wash over chalk paint

There are a number of reasons why I like using washes on my painted furniture and one of the main ones is that a wash adds dimension and character to the piece.  The other reason is that it helps to disguise brush strokes.  It’s really difficult to get a smooth finish with chalk paint or latex for that matter, unless you are rolling or spraying it.   Sometimes I have painted multiple coats on something that appear to be flawless only to have the brush strokes appear once the top coat, whether it’s wax or poly, is put on.  Annie Sloan’s paint is not designed to conceal the brush strokes as it is all part of the antique-painted look but I am not always happy with how the surface looks.  That’s where a wash, glaze, dry brush or dark wax treatment comes in handy and a thin chalk paint wash is my method of choice.

Applying a wash is not always easy but this is what I have found to be most effective:  Apply two coats of the base colour.  Water down the wash colour so that it is quite thin and apply to a dry surface.  Let it dry completely then go over it with a damp cloth to soften the wash. Use a dry cloth which you fold over a lot to wipe off as much of the wash as you want.  The trick is not to press too hard and to repeat the steps until you get the look you want.  If you get it too wet, you will remove the base coat, that’s why I prefer to let my wash dry before I start the removal because I have found that if I try to do it when it is still damp then the base colour may come off.

Washes are very good for wood surfaces that are not very smooth or for highlighting carved details.  This dresser was originally white and had many coats of old paint on it.  Even after I sanded it, I found that I could not get a completely smooth surface to paint.  I knew that a wash would settle into some of the rough areas and really improve the look.

The colour is a mix of Old White and Napoleonic Blue.  It is a beautiful shade and with the white wash it looks like faded denim.  It would have looked fine just blue but the wash adds a special dimension to it.

The photos aren’t quite close enough but the wash settled into the pits and brush strokes on the surface.  Some of the original white paint is also peeking through in the areas where I may have rubbed off too much.

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My first year

Painting furniture has been the perfect hobby/obsession for me.  I retired from teaching at the end of January 2013 and plunged right into painting. I had first read about Annie Sloan chalk paint in a newspaper article that featured Katrina Barclay who owns Malenka Originals.  Here is a look back, more or less in order, at the things that I have painted.  It’s pretty obvious that I like colour.

Mahogany dresser painted in Provence with dark wax:

French Provincial coffee table painted in French Linen with a blue wash and gilding:

Pine dresser in a lightened Napoleon Blue and stained top:

Waterfall Dressers: The first one is Barcelona Orange, the second is a peacock blue that was a mix of Napoleon Blue and Aubusson.  I later repainted it in the 3rd photo.

Mahogany end tables painted in a lightened Provence with Old White and German Silver gilding:

Mahogany End tables.

Art Deco mahogany dresser in Provence with an Aubusson wash:

Mahogany Desk in Old White and Emile in the drawers:

Smaller Mahogany desk in French Linen, Old White and copper gilding:

Small dresser in Chateau Grey and Old White:

Two incarnations of a Mid-Century table:

Miss Mustard Seed Typewriter and Old White:

Coffee table in Graphite and Old White:

End table in Graphite and Silver Craft paint:

Drum table in Old White, with Graphite, Paloma and Gilding on the edges:

French Provincial Dresser in Pure White with Old Violet and Gilding:

French Provincial dresser with Old Violet and gilding

Teak coffee table in Graphite and Florence:

Washstand in MMS Tricycle and dark wax:

End table that was painted first in Tricycle then changed to a Provence/Florence mix:

Provence mixed with Florence to make a true turquoise.

Pine dining table refinished top and Pure White:

Round table with Provence and Old White base:

French Provincial table in Old White with walnut top:

Antique table in Chateau Grey with a white wash:

Table painted with Chateau Grey and a white wash

Vintage rocking chair in a Provence/Florence mix:

Maple dresser in Emperor’s Silk, Tricycle and Old White:

Antique mahogany dresser in Cream:

Oak desk in Graphite:

Antique dresser in Emperor’s Silk:

Antique dresser painted with Emperor’s Silk

Mid-century table in Provence/ Florence mix with MMS Typewriter and Emperor’s Silk feet:

Nesting tables in lightened Provence with Graphite and gilding on the edges:

I have also done a few custom pieces and various chairs and small tables which I haven’t included in this post.  It has been a very busy retirement so far.

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The weird world of Craigslist and Kijiji

Normally, I write my posts about furniture styles and the different pieces that I have painted.  However, lately I have been having some strange experiences with both Kijiji and Craigslist that I thought I might share.  I have now had 2 people buy furniture that they were going to repaint and one person offer me a low price because they were going to repaint it.  It’s hard to not be insulted but at the same time you want to sell the piece so I have been trying to be philosophical about it.  Here’s the first piece that was bought to be repainted.  It is an unusual Duncan Phyfe style coffee table that was originally maple.  I painted it with AS Florence, used dark wax all over and added gilding.

This is the second piece. It is an antique dresser that was in rough shape when I got it.  The drawers were missing pieces in the front, the bottom drawer sticks a bit and it needed new knobs.  It also had about 5 different colours of paint, probably lead based, judging by the undersides.  I painted it in AS Old White and Louis Blue.  I also painted the insides of the drawers because they smelt dry and slightly smoky,

I get that it looks like a baby’s room but that was the intention.  The buyer wanted to repaint it for her wedding, to use as a cake table. (?)

Finally this is the piece that I didn’t sell to the person who was low-balling me.  It is a classic French drum table painted in Old White, Paloma, Graphite and German Silver gilding.  REALLY!

I guess that’s what I get for trying to sell my pieces through the internet but since I have no other venue other than Etsy, I’ll have to grow a thick skin.  The other annoyance is the trolls that like to send you insulting messages about your ad.  Those are at least funny because you know what their object is.  I’m not sure the re-painters even realize that I have just painted these pieces.  How do I interpret that?

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