My buying history suggests that I will buy an old dresser in need of love as long as it is about $40 or less. I don't mind driving a distance to pick it up, as long as it's good looking, has dovetail joints and the seller promises all of the drawers work! I live on the outer edges of the Bay Area, so driving awhile to get good stuff is sometimes necessary (it takes me 30 minutes to get to Whole Foods).
So, I saw this sweet set of dressers in what might be called the Duncan Phyfe style. The curves and hardware reminded me of my (Dutch grandfather) grandparents' dining room furniture. And there were TWO dressers (high boy and chest of drawers) going for $50. Sweet. And, just to make it more fun, the name of the seller was clearly of Dutch origin. So, I drove out to pick up the pieces. In the end, she only wanted to sell one, so I took it. The woman-girl had a story. Meeting her seemed to be somehow meant to be. Anyway, the dresser was pretty beat up, but I brought it home and decided to see what all the fuss is about chalk paint.
Being thrifty, I did not want to spend big money on the commercially available boutique chalk paints. So, I searched for chalk paint recipes and mixed up my own. I bought plaster of paris from ye-olde-home-depot, mixed it up with water and oops paint, and voila! Chalk paint. Custom Chalk Paint. Now, something appealing about this nifty paint is that you supposedly do not have to sand down your piece before painting. Now, that's a big deal. Sanding and prepping can take longer than the actual painting or staining. As cathartic as sanding can be, I would happily skip it from time to time if I could...
So, I did. I skipped the sanding. I just washed the dresser, took off the hardware, decided on a two tone paint color scheme and started painting. Chalk paint goes on a little rough. The plaster of paris makes the paint feel like it's a little like stucco, more like paint, but a little like stucco or even like the skim coat you put over fresh drywall. Anywho, it's got some sweet texture, and it gives the color a little bit of variation and depth. I like it. It dries really fast too. So, you can move right on to the next coat after the first is finished.
When I was satisfied with the paint job, I used some citrus furniture wax to protect the finish. This final step really helps enhance the depth of color and texture. And, if you apply a few coats of wax and buff, it's a pretty durable finish too. I used my orbital sander as a buffing machine with a soft fluffy cover where the sandpaper normally goes.
So, as I spent my hours painting 2-4 coats of paint on this lovely dresser, I went back and forth in my mind about whether I should have sanded before painting. I came to the conclusion that, if there are big niks and gouges in the surface of the wood, then yes, sanding is called for. If the piece is fairly smooth, a good cleanin' is all it needs if you're using chalk paint.
Elyse: here is your Grandmother's old dresser. What do you think? Peace to you.
