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French Provincial Dresser Makeover
Apr 09, 2020
Second Hand Score
I bought this dresser and two twin beds from friends who were moving for $50.00! It may have been the friends and family discount, but I was super excited to have it. I’ve seen this style of furniture my whole life, but I never knew what to call it, so I turned to Google. I have seen it called by the name Dixie DuBerry, but that may be an actual brand, so think it can be most accurately described as French Provincial.
Originally, I was looking for boy’s furniture, but after seeing the lines of this, it was clear it was much better suited for a little girl’s room. That was fine, since I needed a dresser for that, too.
Process
I did a base coat of light gray chalk paint on everything. The chalk paint serves as a primer and there’s no need to sand or prime. You can paint that stuff on anything. I just grabbed a couple jars of chalk paint from Michaels, but I don’t remember the brand. My favorite brand at Michaels is Martha Stewart Chalk Paint, so if they make the color you want, it’s worth the extra $3.00! I think it’s only $11.00-12.00 for 8 oz., anyway, and you can always use a 40% off coupon. They have several colors in the store.
I took out the drawers, removed the hardware, and painted the drawer fronts and dresser. I put this up on paint cans, so it was really easy to paint the legs and bottom edge well.
Finding the Right Tools
I used a brush that was recommended for chalk paint, but after talking with my mom, the expert painter and artist, (who is usually right, wink), I learned there was a better way. She explained that I was actually using a stencil brush, so I bought a 2″ paint brush, which makes much smoother strokes and is so much easier to use.
Two coats of chalk paint covered everything well. I thought about leaving it as it was, but was itching to try a black glaze. It was super hard to apply the glaze evenly on the curves and bends of the drawers; it wanted to drip and smear and was generally a mess to work with. Looking back, I would not recommend that technique on something with those lines.
Drawer Liners
It's the little things that make a piece. I lined the drawers with a fun floral printed scrapbook paper, and although unnecessary, since the drawers were clean and in great shape, it makes me smile when I open them. So in my book, that’s a win. Scrapbook paper is a cheap and easy way to add a secret pop of color inside a drawer or behind a shelf.
Wax on or wax off?
Even though I love chalk paint, I don’t love wax. I prefer using a couple coats of varnish for a nice hard finish and no significant wait time for curing. It’s also easy to care for and clean.
New Hardware
To finish off the French Provincial dresser chalk paint makeover, I spray painted the original handles a metallic gold and love the girly touch they added. This is a smaller dresser, so it fits in a variety of spaces in my home. I love that they grey and gold is feminine for a little girl’s room, but still neutral enough it could find a home in another room at some point.
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