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by Tandra Griffiths
4 months ago in Design Dilemma
Dresser overhaul
I need help with this dresser. We are redoing the master bed and this thing just looks...blah. Our colors are navy with bright accents. I thought about painting it white, but our walls are white, too. Any ideas to spiffy it up?
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Creations Nadia Interior Design light blue with crystal knobs???
4 months ago · ·
Creations Nadia Interior Design or find the colour you like in your bedding set :))
4 months ago ·
apple_pie_order It may be possible to touch up the finish with gel stains, then overcoat with polyurethane or oil based varnish or real shellac. The hardware could be replated professionally (it's cheap). Or the hardware spraypainted white or black or some fake metallic.

If you are a skilled painter, some thing like this could be done:

4 months ago ·
Tandra Griffiths I though about restaining it :) I don't want to do anything that would compromise the bones, since it's an antique dove-tailed piece. Is there a way to do replating at home? My biggest issue with the dresser is the carved design. It's too busy and I just don't like it.
4 months ago ·
Tandra Griffiths I like the traditional look but I feel like here it's overdone. I'm looking for something simpler and more basic, like this: Traditional Dressers Chests And Bedroom Armoires design by Other Metro Wisteria
4 months ago ·
putter2 Have it stripped, and wax it, or whitewash......
4 months ago · ·
apple_pie_order Plating can't be done at home. You can use a metallic spray paint at home, though. It will not be a smooth finish, but it might be just fine. Or spray paint black. Or replace the metal hardware with new antique style (they'll run you $10 per pull or more).

On the other hand, you can try Brasso, a brass polish, and a toothbrush or Dremel tool.
4 months ago ·
Tandra Griffiths Hmm. Thanks for the suggestions. I got it into my head to take the sander and just blast away the whole thing, since the wood is still good and thick and the engraving isn't deep, but I'm not sure I want to go to the trouble.
4 months ago ·
jillef I'd agree with above. I would do a light detailed sand, oil and light untainted varnish. It looks like it has beautiful would underneath. It's always exciting to see what you get when yo strip it. The look would be contemporary and you would keep the integrity of the antique as you could always repolish.
4 months ago ·
anitajoyce White was the first color that came to my mind. Even if your walls are white, I think your dresser would look stunning painted a nice white. Will you replace the drawer knops or pulls?
4 months ago ·
Tandra Griffiths I do want to replace the pulls. My husband actually suggested completely removing the bottom three drawers and using hinged doors instead, to use it as a sort of mini-wardrobe. It is antique and beautifully made, but not a family heirloom or anything. I'm really liking the idea of painting it white.

Like this:
http://www.builtinwardrobesuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mini-Wardrobe.jpg
4 months ago ·
judyg Paint the frame of the bureau navy, and the front of the drawers white. The navy outline will be against your white walls. Your chest, maybe 1920/30's.

4 months ago · ·
anitajoyce Add brushed nickel pulls and with it painted white, it will look like a very expensive piece of furniture! Please post pictures. You'll get lots of compliments on it also.
4 months ago ·
Design Mode I think it is a veneer, so blasting away may not work. Paint is a good idea. I just saw that Sharpie markers has a whole new metallic and neon colour lines that you could use in the grooved areas as highlights.
4 months ago ·
Jefferson Park Collection I'm not an expert on furniture but, I would check this piece out to find out it's value before doing anything. When you redo or paint an antique piece you can loose the true value.
4 months ago · ·
Tandra Griffiths It's not veneer. If it was I'd probably have just torn it off and started from scratch. This thing is about as solid as possible, and it weighs a ton. While I was checking the drawers to see if it was veneer, I saw a crack in one of the dovetails, so I may have to replace them anyway :-/

I really like brushed nickel, but would it look too contemporary?
4 months ago ·
anitajoyce You could try a different finish for the drawer pulls. How about (glass,ceramic, copper, brass or bronze finish.) Try a few and see what you like. The choice is yours.
4 months ago ·
Jefferson Park Collection Even veneer wood core pieces can be worth alot. I have a few of these pieces. Anything with pressed wood is worthless and is fair game for anything you want to do, including mulch!
4 months ago ·
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