Hello, amazing friends! I’ve got one of my favorite makeovers to share today; I’m saving an antique dresser that belonged to the sweetest lady! I’m a busy bee fulfilling orders today, so this was a great one to reshare.
Also, Dixie Belle has just announced that to keep up with increasing costs, they will be increasing the suggested retail prices on the following items:
- Chalk Mineral Paint
- Silk Paint
- Clear Coat
- Gator Hide
- White Lightning
- Voodoo gel stain
- Big Mama’s Butta
- Bonding BOSS
New pricing will take effect starting January 1st. It’s not a ton, just a dollar on most items, but all the more reason to stock up now!
Back to this gorgeous antique dresser makeover…err at least it will be gorgeous!!
You can obviously still see the beauty that this forlorn piece once had:
At least I could! This poor thing was in serious need of TLC and I spent way more time on this than I normally do on my furniture pieces. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
If you haven’t heard the story about this piece, here ya go!
I was sitting on the couch back in 2020 minding my own business when on the day before Mother’s Day, the kindest lady reached out to me to ask if I would be interested in several antique pieces that had been in her family for generations. She was downsizing and had been storing them in her garage for many years, hoping one day she could being them back to life. Unfortunately she would no longer have room to store them and feared she would have to leave these treasured pieces on the curb. She thought offering them to me would give them the love she always wanted to give them.
Did I mention it was May of 2020? I was in desperate need of pieces to redo and all the thrift stores had been closed, so of course I accepted this generous gift!
This was the first piece of several from her that I loved back to life. I’ll link to the rest at the bottom.
Enjoy!
Clean
I now start all my pieces with a good cleaning with White Lightning, mixing one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water. These terrycloth applicator pads are perfect for this purpose and can easily be tossed in the wash.
(I’ll be honest, until 2020 when we could no longer find antibacterial wipes, that was all I used to clean my pieces. I was using ten or more wipes to attempt to get some of my pieces adequately clean. What a difference cleaning them with White lightning makes! That is all I use now!)
Fixing Damaged Veneer
I was anxious to get right to it, so the first thing I did on this piece back then was remove the drawers. They were missing veneer in several spots:
I had two choices here. One, I could soak the veneer off like I did in this post, or two, I could fill those spots with filler. I chose the second option since the areas were small, and the veneer was still attached very well. I did that by applying Dixie Mud in brown with a putty knife to patch those areas.
I even had this very questionable area on one of them:
I applied the Mud to that too and crossed my fingers!
While the Mud was drying, I sanded the top of the dresser with 120 grit sandpaper first, followed by 220 grit sandpaper using my orbital sander:
I rigged it to my shop vac to cut down on the dust using Gorilla tape. This trick really works!
My favorite way to spend the weekend!
After the Mud was completely dry, I used my orbital sander to smooth those areas out also, using 220 grit sandpaper. As a test when filling holes, I close my eyes and run my finger across the area to feel if it is smooth. If I can still feel an indent, I reapply the filler/Mud and allow it to dry again. I’ve never had to do it more than twice. After giving a couple of areas a second coat, I was good to go.
Combating that Musty Odor
When I removed the drawers, I got a big whiff of must. That is not unusual for a piece that has sat unused being stored in a garage for many years.
I went straight for BOSS stain blocking primer (Now Bonding BOSS which is also an adhesion primer!!). It blocks odors, so I used the clear formula this time and brushed it on the entire interior of the dresser:
I let that dry overnight and then gave it the sniff test…no more musty smell woohoo! And don’t worry, it dries perfectly clear with a matte finish. (Only use on the interior or on exterior surfaces you plan to paint as it will leave a slight haze on darker stained areas.)
I bossed the thin piece of wood on the bottoms of the drawers also as that part seemed to have an odor as well.
Then, I used a product called Big Mama’s Butta in the Orange Grove scent and buffed it into the rest of the drawers, inside and out.
It is like a salve and it rejuvenates and protects the wood. It also leaves a lovely sheen and even better fresh citrus scent! It comes in a few more scents as well as an unscented version.
Priming for bleed-through
Next, I primed the body of the dresser and the drawer fronts with Bonding BOSS in white, allowing it to dry for 24 hours as adequte dry time is key! This is an antique piece, and I don’t like to take chances with bleed-through on older pieces. Plus, because it is white, that’s one less coat of paint I will need to use.
I taped off the legs with FrogTape since I didn’t plan to paint them.
Painting & Sanding
I followed up with two coats of Dixie Belle’s Cotton and then sanded with 220 grit sandpaper that I wrapped around an old foam sanding sponge to make it easier to handle:
The bottom of the sides had chipped veneer also, but I had another remedy for that:
I cut a piece of poplar to fit, painted it, and attached it with wood glue:
Looks like it has always been there!
Staining the top & bottom
For the top, the details at the base, and the legs, I used Dixie Belle’s No Pain Gel Stain in Espresso:
The gel stain has a thicker consistency, so it is less likely to splatter and it’s easy to apply:
I conditioned the top first with Minwax Pre Stain Wood Conditioner and then applied the stain with a soft cloth right away. Wear gloves for this as the stain will stain your hands. For the details on the bottom, I applied the stain right over the existing stain.
I used a clean soft cloth for that also:
I let the stain dry for three days and then sealed the entire dresser, top included, with Clear Coat in Satin using the blue sponge applicator.
The Final reveal of this White Painted Antique Dresser Makeover
Tada!
It’s amazing what a little (okay, a lot) of TLC did for this dresser!
I loved the carved detail along the bottom and wanted to keep that as is:
And here’s the side where I covered the chipped veneer:
Doesn’t it look like that piece was always there?
I wanted to keep it simple and timeless and I think this combination achieves that.
The Satin Clear Coat over the stain appears more matte than I’d like. I would use the Gloss version on this stained surface next time.
Many of the original pulls were either broken or missing, but I managed to pull together four from this dresser and the wider dresser that I have just like it.
They got a good cleaning and three coats of Cotton. I used my nail to scrape away paint here and there to age them:
The other drawers got these pretty pulls from Hobby Lobby:
For the inside of the drawers, I needed something that I had on hand since I had limited options to shop back in 2020. I had this vibrant paper in my stash that I found at TJ Maxx the year before:
My fabric stash was very thin at the time, so this paper worked just fine. I used my rotary cutter and cutting mat set to cut it to fit and attached it by by running a glue stick around the perimeter.
This dresser may have taken twice as long for me to complete, but it was so rewarding to see this once loved piece come back to life with each step!
And guess who has it now??
When Ms. Mary, the delightful lady who blessed me with this Mother’s Day haul, saw this dresser made over, she asked if she could buy this and the longer one like it back!
I knew she was heartbroken to have to let them go as she shared stories about each piece on the day I picked them up. This dresser had belonged to her father, and I believe her grandparents before then.
I redid the longer version just like this the very same way to make them a set.
You can see that one HERE.
It’s basically the same makeover except I did seal the top with Gloss Clear Coat instead.
I was so excited to reunite her with her treasured family pieces!
Here are all the pieces she blessed me with:
Antique Serpentine Dresser Makeover with Transfer
I’ll be back with a brand new makeover on Thursday sharing what I did with this white painted mirror I picked up at a yard sale:
It looks much different now!
UPDATE: See how I fancied it up HERE now!
Have a great day, dear friends!!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
I remember when you made over all of those pieces, they all turned out so beautiful and I see why Mary didn’t want to part with them! You can fix and make anything beautiful again!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Mary! These pieces really taught me not to shy away from those damaged pieces, and I was so grateful she trusted me with them! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, always love re-shares. It is a beautiful to see. The first time around, I must have missed two things; first, your dust-catching idea when you were sanding was ingenious. I see how you connected the sander to the shop vac – did you run the vac at the same time? (maybe it’s too early in the morning for me to think this through so possibly a dumb question); second, after you rubbed the outside of the drawers with Mama’s Butta, wasnt it too slick to apply the Boss? When I’ve used it, it seems to leave a bit of an oily feeling. It does dry but thought it still might be too slick for the Boss without another wipe down. So, seeing the re-shares is like watching a movie again and seeing things you missed the first time!
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one again! Yes, I did run the vacuum at the same time. It works great! As for the drawers, I only applied the BOSS to the bottom panel of the drawers. It was a different, thinner wood and not as nice as the drawers, so it must have soaked up the odor more there. I only used the Butta on the sides inside and out. You are right that it would be too slick as it is oil based and the BOSS would basically just sit on top and not adhere well if at all. Have a great week, my friend! XOXO
Mary C King says
Lovely to wake to this sight this morning. I will be forever grateful for the love you gave my pieces and I am so happy you gave me the ability to have a few back in my home. This particular dresser was indeed used by my father and has a special christmas memory attached to it. It’s mate was my mother’s and they both belonged to my dad’s parents (and possibly his grandparents’ my great grandparent’s before that). Glad I can once again thank you. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.
Christy says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it even though you get to see those lovely pieces every day ha ha! There were truly special pieces to work on and I am so grateful you trusted me with them!! Seeing you get them back was definitely the highlight for me though! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas too, my friend! XOXO
Jackie C says
such beautiful gorgeous pieces with a treasury of memories.
Cecilia says
Yep, still like that one and the fact she was able to get her family pieces back all redone is the sweetest part of that story. 🥰
😊Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! Delivering them back to her was the best!! XOXO
Mary Jo says
I love what you did with both of these dressers. No wonder Mary wanted to buy them back from you. I’m going to give the sander/shop vac connection a try when I have to sand the top of a coffee table I bought at an estate sale for my son. I only wish the owner of the shop where I went to buy the stain had not talked me out of of using a water-based stain. I think I’m going to be facing a lot of odor. If it wasn’t so expensive, I would just keep it and use voodoo gel stain instead (although I wasn’t sure I could find the right burgundy/cordovan color my son wanted). I haven’t tried it but everything I’ve seen you and others use on your pieces makes it turn out beautiful. Thanks for inspiring me all the time with your work.
Christy says
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, give the sander/shop vac tip a try. It really cuts down on the dust. I’m sure the stain you purchased is a good one and will be nice and durable for your son…good luck with it! XOXO
Darlene says
What a unique piece. You made it more beautiful than when it was created.
Love from Texas,
Darlene
Christy says
Aww thank you, Darlene! I had great bones to work with for sure! XOXO
Liz Shivel says
Wonderful job, Christy! Beautiful! Both pieces. Nice to see Mary’s response here today and now she can walk past those pieces and give them loving touches. I bet she found special places in her house for them.
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! I love that she was reunited with them! Delivering them to her was truly the highlight of these makeovers! XOXO
Jackie C says
I remember this, and I love the hidden Easter eggs, in this case, those beautiful drawers.
I just sent you another order to fill on Etsy. Thank you for the great sale..
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! I just dropped your order along with 77 more at the post office lol. Glad you were able to take advantage of the sale, my friend! XOXO
Addie says
She’s a beauty!!! Saved from the landfill and ready for a new life in a new era!!! I love that you do this…so many people are ready to send it to the heap and go buy Ikea cr*p!!!!! I suppose tomorrow’s antiques will be “vintage early Ikea”!!!! ;(
Christy says
Thank you, Addie!! I loved bringing all of those pieces back to life. I know it’s often said, but they just don’t make furniture like they used to!! XOXO
Michele M. says
Absolutely amazing you saved that – and the other things – and that your friend could buy them back. Kindness in both cases. Well done, Christy. You are the furniture doctor to be sure.
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! I loved being able to return these piece to where they belonged! What a treat! XOXO
Leslie says
Hi Christie, another beautiful project.
On a completely different topic …. I know you live somewhere in the southern part of US, but were you really wearing flip flops? I’m so so so jealous. I had to dig out my winter coat last Friday and put on my a pair of my arch nemesis’ … SOCKS! As I write this, it’s starting to snow again …..
I guess that’s the price we pay for living in the foothills of the Rockie Mountains …. but I still want to wear my flip flops outside …… GRRR! or should I say BRRRRR!
All the best …/leslie
Christy says
Thank you, Leslie!! This was a reshare of an older post, so it was probably nicer weather when I originally shared it lol. That being said, it can totally be 70 degrees one day here and then drop to 35 degrees the next day! So it wouldn’t be unusual to get to pull out the flip flops in winter every so often! XOXO
Tia Trevallion says
What a wonderful story with a happy ending. I’m so glad Ms Mary was able to be reunited with her cherished pieces that held so many memories. My heart was breaking for her having to let them go.
💕
Christy says
Isn’t it a great story?? She is so lovely and I was thrilled to be able to save her treasured pieces as was she! XOXO
Elena says
Wonderful job, Christy! Beautiful! Both pieces.
Amazing, I love everything you do, you are extraordinary!
All the best!
Elena
Christy says
Thanks so much, Elena! I truly appreciate that!! XOXO
Kathy from JAX says
What a wonderful story. I’m just now catching up on this. I, too, have treasured pieces from my grandmother and it makes us happy when we save and treasure these wonderful pieces that have stories. They turned out beautiful and you were so gracious to let her have them so that she can enjoy them once again. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Christy says
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Kathy! I don’t own any treasured family pieces as we grew up in a military family that always had to purge with each move, but I could see the love she had for these pieces so clearly. I’m thrilled that she has them once again. Hope your year is off to a great start! XOXO