I don’t know about you, but I find the key holes in old vintage furniture pieces so charming. Problem is, I have never come across one that still had the original skeleton key with it. This dresser was no exception.
Looks like the FBI ransacked my garage doesn’t it? Pay no attention to all that stuff in the background. . .
I love the curved drawers and top on this guy. I wanted to update it with an elegant look without getting fussy. This particular style of furniture can get fussy real fast if you’re not careful. While searching for hardware, I came across some great vintage inspired key pulls from Liberty Hardware. I bought them here. I thought they would be a really fun, unexpected detail on this piece.
I replaced the knobs on the top two drawers with pretty glass knobs I had left from another project.
The top of this piece was in good shape, but did need to be refinished. I removed it, stripped and sanded, and then stained it with one coat of General Finishes gel stain in antique walnut.
The grain of this oak top has some naturally occurring black tones that look so pretty with the black paint. Oh, yes, the paint is General Finishes milk paint in lamp black. Love, love, love that color.
This piece still has its original casters, too. One thing that has always bugged me – doesn’t it seem like locks and casters are a contradiction? I mean, If someone wanted to steal your stuff, locking the drawers wouldn’t stop them since they could just roll the whole thing away!
This photo is just me playing with my new 60 mm macro lens. Love the close ups I can get with it.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Susan
Linking with Miss Mustard Seed and The Painted Drawer
Oh what a beauty!!!!
I have this exact dresser!! You inspired me to do something with it now. The drawers stick so I was told to use a bar of soap or wax on them to get them to slide easier. I think I just have too much junk in them. I’m a photographer as well and love my 60mm macro lens. You do an awesome job and I was delighted to see your finished work with some very professional shots with details. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you so much for your comments about the dresser and my photography. I am definitely a novice photographer, but really trying to improve the quality of my images. The new lenses have made a big difference. As to your sticky drawers, you might also try sanding them a bit – that seems to work well for me. Good luck!
Hi Susan, from New Zealand! I came across your blog through The Painted Drawer. I am so inspired by you ladies, with all the lovely furniture restoration you do!
Unfortunately, we don’t seem to have the products available here that you have in the USA. I have never heard of gel stains for example. We do have Annie Sloan Chalk Paint though.
I am particularly interested in the milk paint you used on this dresser. You have such a lovely smooth finish. Is this through spraying or brushing? I read elsewhere that milk paint is more brittle than chalk paint, when distressing a piece. Is this your experience?
I love all the amazing pieces of furniture in The States, that seem to be so inexpensive! Being a much younger country with a much smaller population, we don’t have the same range available and furniture is much more expensive. Oh well, it’s interesting reading these blogs! 😊
Did you have to sand the drawers before applying the milk paint? Did you have to fill the knob holes on the drawers with the key handles? If so, what did you fill the holes with? Thanks so much.