Chest of Drawers Before and After
7 Materials
This little chest of drawers was cute but in rough shape and missing a drawer. So I gutted it and turned into the cutest little farmhouse display cabinet.
This piece came out of an old barn that my neighbor let me pick through. I knew it had good bones but it needed lots of work.
After storing it for months with no inspiration, finally a light bulb went off. I decided to completely gut the whole thing since I was missing a drawer anyway and add shelving and then open frame doors to complete the look I was going for.
After my woodworker completed this phase I had no idea how I was going to finish the piece. My first thought was to sell it as a quilt display piece which had been my idea all along but in the midst of things I was really in need of a cute piece to add to a guest suite that we are in the process of opening and this guy was the perfect size.
Don't you just love when you are scrolling through IG and inspiration literally just jumps out and grabs you?! Well, that was the case when I saw this gorgeous cabinet made over by @junkstyledesign. I knew instantly that I needed to recreate this piece for our "Master Suite".
After several coats of Kilz and chalk, I painted with Linen White chalk paint by Rustoleam's Chalked line, distressed and sealed. I then stained the inside and doors with Minwax Provincial. After the stain was dry, I poly'ed the stained areas and added spray painted chicken wire to the inside of the doors and topped it with twine pulls from Hobby Lobby. The outcome?
One of my favorite pieces to date! The perfect amount of farmhouse charm.
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I want to take the time to thank those persons that answer questions when the project originator doesn't. I see this all to often on HT and it should be a concern. For those of you interested in recreating this cabinet there are sheet metal radiator screens of different designs that can be cut to size and used instead of chicken wire to fill in the door spaces.
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LOVE what you did with the handles
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I absolutely adore your creation. It would look perfect in our little farmhouse. I have a question. I've seen some people that after cleaning the wood, they paint the chalk paint straight on the piece then seal or wax it. Is it absolutely necessary to paint it with Kilz 1st? Thank you for your help.
Hello,
would like to have information for beginner retore?
thanks
I love the use of a vintage dresser. Not everything old is an antique! I took out the drawers, painted the bottom inside in waterproof sealer, drilled several small drainage holes, put in terrarium glass beads in one then just rocks in the others, put old chair and table legs and hairpin legs on another. The entire drawer was poly coated for waterproofing. Filled with soil and planted geraniums, bleeding hearts, petunias, and, for fun, a bag full of seeds from a neighbor! Let’s see what happens there. So much fun to scatter throughout the garden for color! And it all started with your dresser which is now a beloved bookcase to remind me of my Mama every time I see it! Thank you so much!