Hello beautiful friends! I’m back today sharing how I updated a painted French provincial dresser!
Yes, this piece was already painted when I acquired it from my sweet neighbor who was getting rid of it:
I wasted no time going to get it when she texted me about it! Yes, please! And thank you!! I’ll gladly take that gorgeous piece off your hands!
It did need some work though.
The stained parts of this piece weren’t the best:
The body of the dresser was actually not too bad…
Except for the fact that it was painted in what looked to be a semi gloss or gloss paint, and it was painted with a roller:
The roller leaves that lovely mottled look behind that really shows up in this glossy finish.
It was in a child’s room though, so it was nice and durable and did the job it needed to do.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Smoothing out the Finish
A little one-on-one time with my rotary sander loaded up with some 220 grit sandpaper was all I needed to smooth everything out and get this makeover on its way:
I also enlisted the help of my smaller corner cat sander as well for the edges:
To get to the harder-to-reach areas, I used Rad Pad sanding pads and they worked great here as well on the rounded outer corners:
I usually buy sandpaper in bulk since I go through a lot of it, but if you just have a few projects to do, these are fantastic!
The goal was to get the surface as smooth as possible as all the imperfections would show through the new layer of paint.
Cleaning all the Surfaces
After sanding, I gave everything a good vacuum with my shop vac and brush attachment to pick up all the dust…
Finally, I wiped everything down with White Lightning for the best prep possible:
I’ve found the applicator pads work great for this and can be rinsed and reused again and again! Be sure to swap out your water for clean water and give everything another once over to remove any residue.
Painting the Dresser
The surface was now clean and ready for paint!
For this piece, I chose Silk Mineral Paint in Anchor:
Anchor is a true, perfect black, much like Caviar from the Chalk Mineral Paint line. I love the chalk version for its no prep, but the Silk line does require sanding first. Since I already sanded this piece, I chose to go with the Silk!
Here it is after two coats:
This paint has excellent coverage, but because I was painting over white, it definitely needed that second coat:
There is more prep involved when using Silk since it does require a scuff sanding first to give your surface some grip, but the trade-off is that it has a built-in topcoat!
I like this paint for pieces that I do not plan to distress. If I plan to distress, I stick with the chalk mineral paint.
So, this piece was done! Or was it?
Adding a transfer
When I was digging through my transfer stash, I came across another Somewhere in France transfer that I didn’t even know I had!
I knew I wanted to use it on this piece!
You can find it in my Etsy shop HERE.
I used it on one of my favorite dressers ever HERE in 2020.
I laid my dresser on its back to make applying the transfer a bit easier.
Then, I cut this one apart and started applying it to the drawers with the provided burnishing tool:
The great thing about this transfer is that you can cut them apart to make them go a bit further:
I still have two of those strips and the entire third panel left to use on another project.
The final task was to paint the hardware. I took the easy way out by giving them a quick spray with Rustoleum’s Metallic Gold spray paint:
The After
Here is how this beautiful dresser turned out:
While I love a white dresser, there is no denying how elegant a simple piece of black furniture can be!
The finish of the Silk Mineral Paint is so beautiful!
Here are a few things to keep in mind about Silk Mineral Paint:
- Requires scuff sanding first OR Slick Stick
- Built-in stain-blocking primer
- Allow at least two hours to dry in between coats (at least four hours {or overnight} if bleed-through occurs)
- Smooth, silky texture
- Does not distress as well, more for a crisp, clean look
- Not recommended for blended finishes
- Mixing with water not recommended
- Eggshell finish
- Fully cured in 30 days
- Water, mildew, and grease resistant
- No topcoat required
You can see how Silk Mineral Paint compares to traditional Chalk Mineral Paint HERE.
Stenciling the Drawers
I usually line the insides of the drawers on my pieces with fabric, but the insides of these were in absolutely perfect condition:
So, I decided to add a little something extra another way!
I pulled out a gorgeous silkscreen stencil from the Belles and Whistles line called Roses:
Silkscreen stencils have a super fine screen in the open areas and are self-adhesive to give you the most detailed stencil results.
You can get up to ten uses out of each stencil.
How to apply a silkscreen stencil
I cut the one on top there to give me two exact pieces. Then I positioned it where I wanted it it on the outside of my drawers, starting from the lower corner.
- After placing the stencil where you want it, use the included plastic spatula to pick up some paint. I used the Silk paint for this.
- Drag it across the surface. This pushes the paint through the screen and onto your surface.
- Before removing the stencil, drag the longer edge of the scraper across the surface to remove any excess paint.
- Remove the stencil and voila!
Dixie Belle has a silicone tool called a Thing-a-ma-jig that is made for applying the paint with several sized edges to use if you use silkscreen stencils a lot.
I did not rinse my stencil in between uses. I did all five drawers back to back on one side using one of the stencils, and then I switched to the other stencil just like it for the other side of all five drawers.
I put them in a tray of water as soon as I was done…
Then I used my Scrubby Soap (It’s soap with a scrubber inside!) to clean the paint off the stencil:
I usually use it for scrubbing the paint off my fingers, but it works great here too! I’ve also seen people use them to clean brushes.
Just lay the stencils tacky side up on a paper towel to dry and then stick them back onto the original backing. I should get at least a couple more uses out of these.
See all nine silkscreen stencil sets in my shop HERE.
Rehydrating the Drawers
I had to sand many of the drawers on the outside to remove white paint that gotten on them from the previous makeover. This left them dried-out looking.
To rehydrate them, I applied Big Mama’s Butta in Orange Grove using a soft cloth:
It not only hydrates and protects, but it smells amazing!
I love this sweet addition to the sides of the drawers!
The addition of the stencil might be my favorite part!
Now this painted French provincial dresser is officially complete!
This little Eiffel Tower art is one of my all time favorite thrift store finds…
It came in a set of three different scenes. They looked worn but I thought the frames were cute and could be pretty updated. It wasn’t until I got them home that I realized they were hand-painted tiles! The tiny details that were all hand-painted left me in awe! I have the set hanging in our dining room. What a treasure for only a couple of dollars each!
NEW SILK COLORS are here!!
Have you heard?? Dixie Belle released 10 brand new silk colors:
See them all HERE in my shop. These are some fun new ones to play with!
I hope y’all enjoyed this makeover today!
That’s one project closer to calling this haul complete!
If you’ve missed any, you can see them all below!
Four Basket Makoevers
Curbside Table Makeover
Grandma’s Mirror Makeover
How to Upcycle a Secretary Desk Hutch
Stenciled Stool Makeover
Antiqued Christmas Mirror
STENCILED BENCH MAKEOVER
STENCILED DESK MAKEOVER
CURBSIDE LAMP MAKEOVER WITH WAX
LONGABERGER BASKET MAKEOVER
HOW TO “FIX ” A BROKEN CANE CHAIR
I can’t believe it’s time to start hunting down my next haul!!
I started on my next piece from this haul, but it rained a good part of this weekend (while many of you were getting snow…we just got cold rain boohoo), so I won’t be quite ready to share it on Thursday. However, I will be back with these smalls I’ve been working on to replensish my booth:
I hope to see you then!
UPDATE: No need to wait! See how these mini makeovers turned out here now!
As always, thank you so much for stopping by!!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Rose Lefebvre says
Nice! You made her elegant.
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! XOXO
ColleenB.~TX. says
Absolutely Gorgeous; Rich & Very classy looking
Christy says
Thank you so much, Colleen! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
WOW it is beautiful now, AMAZING how beautiful that turned out. I love how the silk paint looks, the finish is so nice. The stencils on the sides of the drawers look amazing. I bet your friend would probably like it back now that it looks like that, LOL!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! I know, right?? I can’t wait to show her ha ha! XOXO
Maryellen Webber says
Wow Christy! This dresser is stunning! Beautiful job! I love the Effiel Tower art also, so pretty! We had a couple of inches of snow here in GA. I am happy to see it fall and happy to see it melt away the next day!
Christy says
Thank you, Maryellen!! I feel the same about the snow…so happy to see it fall and happy to see it go away lol! XOXO
Jeanne says
Love this makeover! Great Work!😊
Christy says
Thank you, Jeanne! XOXO
Sandy Long says
Hi Christy,
I love all of the black pieces you’ve done. So elegant and classy. This one is a WOW!! Amazing transformation!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Sandy! It’s amazing what black paint can do for a piece of furniture! XOXO
Sammi says
The black dresser with transfers and stencils is REALLY ELEGANT!! The gold drawer pulls add to the whole look. Nice job!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sammi! XOXO
Holly says
Absolutely beautiful! The way the handles turned out with the gold against the black is stunning! Love your use of the stencil also, it just adds something unique to the piece. I have a question, I understand the silk paint has a topcoat, but how durable is the transfer without something to seal/protect it on top? Will it easily peel off? I’m curious it would certainly save a step, but I have always used something after applying them. Definitely something I would be willing to skip in the future!😂 Thanks for your talented inspirations! Keep them coming!😊
Christy says
Thank you so much, Holly! I always seal my transfers, but this is the first time I have not. They are near impossible to remove without sanding, so I was thinking they should be okay. I just didn’t want to alter the sheen of those three drawers. This piece will be hanging out here for a couple of weeks before I take it to my shop, so I may change my mind lol. XOXO
Christina says
What a stunningly beautiful makeover Christy! The extra touches you add make it so special. The hardware really shines now! I love the stencil on the side of the drawers. This will NOT last long in your booth, just sayin’. I hope your weather is more accomodating and, dare I say, warmer. Have a wonderful week!
Christy says
Aww thank you, my friend! It is always so rewarding to see these pieces coming to life with each step! And yes, hoping for a break in the weather this weekend! XOXO
Wendy says
This black chest is gorgeous! I am a huge fan of black furniture and Cabinetry. Question for you: could this silk paint be used over Sherwin Williams black gloss paint?
Christy says
Thank you, Wendy! I don’t have much in the way of black pieces in my home, but I really love them! You can use Silk over gloss paint…just be sure to give the glossy finish a good sanding first to dull the shine or use Slick Stick first! XOXO
Denise Cox says
It’s GORGEOUS!!! That Silk has such a lovely, smooth finish. Amazing!! Do you place all of your pieces in your booth to sell? The gold is a great complimentary color, too. It still boggles my mind how you have such a gifted knack for this type of “DIYing”. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog!!! 😘🤗😄🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, Denise! It really does have such a lovely, soft finish! I do sell most of my pieces in my booth, but I currently have a couple of local people asking about this piece, so it may not make it there! I’m so glad you found me too!! XOXO
Laura says
Love this makeover. The black silk was a perfect color. Makes the piece less French Provençal and more likely to fit in with other styles. So creative and the stencil on the drawers was brilliant.
Christy says
Thank you, Laura! The stencil on the drawers is my favorite! XOXO
Denise says
Classic and elegant! She’s a beauty my friend. And I love the drawer detail as well! XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! It was a treat to see this one come to life! XOXO
Linda says
Everything you do is gorgeous, unique and creative! I love how you can see the potential in all kinds of pieces. This piece is what I would call a chest…a dresser being usually lower and longer across the front. In fact, with the middle trim giving it a divided look between the drawers, it might be called a chest on chest! Truly stunning piece!
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Linda! Thank you!! And that explanation makes sense! XOXO
Cecilia says
Oolala! So elegant now. Love the stenciled sides too but love the gold on the black. Very, very beautiful!
Hugs, Cecilia
PS
Christy, would White Lightening be a good choice to clean kitchen cabinets before repainting them? I need to redo mine and was wondering.
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! And absolutely! Be sure to wear gloves and after cleaning, wipe down once more with clean water to rinse any residue. 🙂 XOXO
Robin says
What a truly elegant bureau you’ve made, Christy. A gem.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Robin! XOXO
Margie says
Absolutely stunning!!
Christy says
Thank you, Margie! XOXO
Celia says
This is stunning as usual and I admire your restraint on adding too many details. It’s one of my failings to go overboard! I do really like the drawer stencils but I would have been afraid to use the butta over the paint?
Christy says
Aww thank you, Celia! And yes…ha ha! It is difficult sometimes to know when to stop! The Butta is absolutely fine to use over the paint. 🙂 XOXO
Fran Blunt says
Hi Christy ! You hit another one out of the ballpark. I love all things French! You inspire me the most. The Big Mamas Butta is great too . I love how it revitalizes wood.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Fran! I really appreciate that, my friend! And yes, Big Mama’s Butta is fantastic! XOXO
Fran Blunt says
I’m curious. Why does your Etsy shop have prices with the British pound instead of the American dollar sign. I went to order the transfer in your blog and it added 10.00 to my price making it almost 40.00. Is that some sort of exchange rate? Thanks, Fran
Christy says
Hi Fran! I only sell in the US, so be sure you were still in my Etsy shop. They like to advertise “Other shops you may like” at the bottom and it can be tricky because people often click on those and think they are still in my shop. Just be sure it says TheSerialDIYer. 🙂 Let me know if you still have trouble. XOXO
Michelle says
This looks amazing! I didn’t even notice all the detail in the legs until the ‘after’.
Christy says
Thank you, Michelle! The legs are so pretty! XOXO
Niki says
This is great Christy. The stencil on the side of the drawers just maybe my favorite part too. Also after my reply a couple weeks ago I got to thinking I’ve probably said that before. I blame it on my cancer treatment giving me brain fog! Sorry. I’m done with that now so I’m hoping it’ll get better.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! Yes. the stencils are a fun surprise! And I’m so happy to hear you are on the mend! XOXO
Nancy Sharp says
Wow! Gorgeous piece!
Christy says
Thank you, Nancy! XOXO
TRACY A TOTTY says
I love the black silk furniture you have been doing lately. The black and gold together is really beautiful. I am going to get some of that black silk paint when I can get my money together. I like the white furniture that you do also but there is something about that black silk
Christy says
Thank you, Tracy! I always love a good white makeover, but I agree…there’s just something about the black! XOXO
Susan Pearson says
So once again you have amazed and inspired me with your creative artistry!!! Beautiful!!!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Susan!! XOXO
Vicki says
This is absolutely stunning! I love black painted furniture, especially with gold hardware. I didn’t realize the silk paint also had a stain blocking primer! I need to try it as I have some dark stained pieces I would like to paint that would probably bleed through. Really like the idea of not needing to prime or seal. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Christy says
Thank you, Vicki! Yes! Just be sure to let it dry ample time in between coats…the Silk is lovely to paint with! XOXO
Toby Peplow says
This is striking! I love everything!!!
So beautiful! I bet it flies right out of your booth…
Have a great day! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Toby! I hope so! XOXO
Vicki says
Wow! Stunning.
Christy says
Thank you, Vicki! XOXO
Nancy F Lambert says
The dresser is absolutely Beautiful..
Christy says
Thank you so much, Nancy! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I was surprised you took on a previously-painted piece, Christy – it’s so much better now. I figured it would get transfers, but the stencils were a surprise and they look fabulous!
Christy says
I know, right? I usually pass on already painted pieces, but I couldn’t beat FREE ha ha! That makes it worth the work! Glad I can still surprise you! Thanks, my friend! XOXO
Patty says
Oh my, Christy, this piece is gorgeous!! As usual, you just amaze me with your ideas and how beautiful they turn out. I also appreciate your instructions. I have several pieces now that I want to paint with Silk – need to get an order to you but I’ve been unsure about how they would ship with the cold weather we’re having (below 20 expected this weekend). We’ve had snow in NC too and although so pretty – I’m really ready for spring flowers!! 🙂
Christy says
Aww thank you, Patty! The Silk is wonderful to work with! I only had one order freeze in transit last year and that was a UPS delivery. I ship 99% of my orders via the USPS, and I’ve never encountered an issue. As long as it isn’t left outside on a porch for several hours, you should be good! Enjoy that snow…we haven’t seen any yet. Maybe this weekend though! XOXO
June G. says
Christy, that is so beautiful!! I put my hand over my mouth when I saw the black…gorgeous!! I’m so inspired!! I’ll check out the Silk paints. I had not heard of the line. Really like the eggshell finish with stain blocking too. I have the perfect project in mind to get me going again!!
Thanks for the inspiration and all the links!!
June G.
Christy says
Oh I love that reaction, June!! Thank you so much! The Silk is just lovely to work with. Dixie Belle just released it about a year ago. It does require that you sand or use Slick Stick first, but if you prefer a clean look rather than a distressed finish, this is the one to go with! XOXO
Denise says
I don’t know what to say that hasn’t been said! It is absolutely stunning, so beautiful and so elegant. As always, great job. It was a lot of work, but you made it a gem!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Denise! Definitely worth the work! XOXO
p says
Wow ! Such an elegant look. The drawer stencils add that special extra touch. Sweet !
I hope to try some stenciling soon. 🙂
p
Christy says
Thank you, P! The stencils are a fun surprise for sure! XOXO
julia says
This dresser is stunning! The drawer side decals are such a thoughtful detail. L<3VE! If you were closer to me, this is one I would purchase before it made it's way to your booth!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Julia! It actually did sell before making it there lol! XOXO
Char says
It was nice before but now it’s stunning! I love the texture of the silk paint and the stencilling is the perfect little surprise when you open a drawer.
Christy says
Thank you, Char! The Silk goes on so lovely for sure! Glad you enjoyed this one! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
That turned out SHARP!!! Very elegant.
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! XOXO
Addie says
WOWSER!!!! Very nicely done!!!!….as always!!!!….xx
Christy says
Aww thank you, Addie!! XOXO
Nancy says
The black finish is stunning with the gold handles. I am curious as to why you used cafe and restaurant stencils on it.
Christy says
Thank you, Nancy! Ha ha I was going to joke about that in the post. Unfortunately, there isn’t as elegant a transfer that says something about clothing! XOXO
Barbara Summins says
Simply beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Barbara! XOXO
Kathy Blumenberg says
Awesome!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Kathy! XOXO
Imelda says
Christy….you are so awesome! You are my hero (or is it heroine 😉). This project is fabulous, love the drawers!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Imelda! You are the sweetest!! XOXO
Joanne D. says
This is one of your BEST transformations! What a “WOW” piece and lucky the person who purchases it. We’ll be in Florida for the month of February – hope the warm weather comes to you and us.
Christy says
Aww yay!! Thank you SO much, Joanne!! Yes…some warmer days would be nice! Enjoy your Florida time! XOXO
susan says
It is beautiful Christy!
Going to have to try the silk paint now! I have a dresser about the same size. How much paint did you use on yours?
Thank you!
Christy says
Thank you, Susan!! Silk is so nice to work with! I was able to finish this with less than one 16oz jar. XOXO
Marietta says
Oh no you did not! That is simply breathtaking.
The only problem I would have if I owned that beautiful dresser is my drawers would be hanging out for all the world to see and so would my, well, uh, drawers!
Seriously this is in my top ten!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Marietta!! I enjoyed that chuckle this morning! XOXO
Mary says
Just breathtaking Christy!! That is definitely an heirloom piece now that you have used your talent to transform it. Beautifully done!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Mary! XOXO
Cindy says
This dresser is now a lady of such refinement 😉 Truly a piece of furniture anyone would love!
Christy says
Oh I love that description, Cindy! Thank you!! XOXO
Janina Fisher says
That is so stunning that your neighbour is going to want it back!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Janina! You might be right lol! XOXO
Cheryl says
Beautiful!!
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! XOXO