Patina Dresser
March 3, 2010
Every time I go to antique fairs, I am always drawn to those pieces that someone has glazed with a bold color. My entire house is filled with mostly dark wood tones or white painted furniture, so this time, I thought I’d have some fun !
As you know from this week’s sordid tale about stripping paint off furniture, I had my little heart set on giving my previously white Craigslist dresser the look of a French antique. With spring drawing very near, I thought it a good time to add a pop of color to our home. To me, turquoise is a color that is simultaneously vibrant and calming, and a reminder of coastal waters by the sea.
You’ll recall the ‘Before’ with the multiple layers of white chipping paint, and here is the dresser after it was mostly stripped of it’s paint.
Here is the patina dresser, given a romantic new look, and refinished in this fresh new color.
I just love this piece now. It looks like something I’d want to buy from an antique shop! To achieve this look, I invested in new knobs, some appliqués, and some paint. (Sources below)
The first thing I did was stain my appliqués a little darker with an old half pint of honey stain I had leftover from years ago, so they would match the tone of the dresser.
Then I attached them to the drawers with Titebond wood glue. Setting paint cans on top helped them lay flat on the dresser so they would stick !
As the appliqués dried, I watered down my small Pratt & Lambert sample of turquoise paint (called “Always Smooth”) with a few tablespoons of water and applied the base coat of glaze to the dresser. No primer on purpose here – I wanted the wood tones to show through.
When the deep turquoise base was dry, I dry brushed the second paint color on top after I turned it into a glaze with some water. I bought a quart because I loved this color so much – it’s called ‘Rainy Day’ by Pratt & Lambert. I’ll definitely be using this color in the future – it’s gorgeous.
You could easily get away with just buying another sample color because watering it down makes it go far enough to cover a piece like this.
Dry brushing is simply dipping your paint brush in paint, then wiping most of it off before you apply it to your piece to get this deliberate two-tone look by revealing the base underneath.
When it was all dry, I sanded the edges with a sanding pad to reveal some of the wood.
Finally, I added a coat of Polycrylic in Satin to protect my hard work !
I am loving the weathered look and colors of this dresser !
So much can be done with appliqués and new knobs to give a piece a new look ! For today, this dresser is sitting in our foyer, but it will be returned to the mud room shortly. I’m sure I can use this piece in a future guest room someday too.
Sources for materials: dresser from Craigslist; appliqués from Lowes; Pratt & Lambert paint and Minwax Polycrylic from OSH; knobs from Anthropologie.
I am loving this color so much lately. And how wonderful that Pantone named turquoise ‘Color of the Year’ ! To me, turquoise is such a friendly color because it gets along so well with others. It’s so feisty when paired with coral or orange, like a fiesta with reds, like sea glass with greens, a stunning focal point with white, and a cool compliment to warm browns.
What about you, how do you feel about turquoise ?
Linking:
Tags: craigslist, patina dresser
Well hello, gorgeous!! I’m in love!
Thjs is absolutely, hands down, i want it, gorgeous!!!! You did a great job at refinishing, adding the details along with that color. It is beautiful. Makes me want to paint something turquoise…just because!
~judi
from the1829farmhouse.blogspot.com
Looks wonderful!! You’ve done a really great job!
AMAZING, the color, the finish…great lines, it just all comes together! Janell
It took me almost 30 years to figure out my favorite color. It just happens to be TURQUOISE! Love that dresser. Great work!!!
Thanks so much for sharing all of your tips! What a beautiful transformation!
It is “Centsational”, I love it and the color is so perfect….just looks like it’s always been that way! Great job!!!
Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful! I love turquoise, and wow – you just always have such a way to make things look gorgeous! I wish I could rent out your taste for a week!
I’m not sure I’d ever have this much patience. You sure do a lovely job!
Wow, that looks so great! I think one of your best DIYs yet!
Wow, what a transformation. It looks gorgeous.
Leeann x
Fabuloso! I love that color too! I think it is taking over the world and that is great because it makes me feel so happy! Thanks for showing us the steps and the results…it always inspires me to get off my duff and go out and paint something!
You do such great work!! You are my hero! LOVE the new color on this dresser. I started visiting my local Salvation Army after seeing all the great stuff you re purpose but I have not found ANYTHING like the great stuff you have transformed. Love your house too!!
SO pretty! Do you have Hobby Lobby there (it’s like a JoAnne’s or Michaels)? They have very similar knobs to Anthro usually at half the price!
Amazing! You know, I’ve never cared much for the patina look. Just not something I’d ever go for but you have changed my thinking. I absolutely love what you’ve done. You are one talented lady. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Oh, Kate, it looks fab!!! You did a great job. Turquoise used to remind me of my grandmother’s OLD white Christmas tree with the turquoise lights and matching turquoise ornaments (very out of style by the mid 80s, you know?). So I wasn’t a fan. But it’s made such a great comeback…how could I not love it?
I LOVE this! I WANT this! My Craigslist never has great finds like this…people are always wanting top dollar for their stuff here! I would love to try a project like this! I’m hitting Goodwill today!
Kate, you never cease to amaze me…
Oh my I love it!! The color is awesome!! Lovin the hardware.
i am totally on the turquoise train! I’ve always loved the color in clothing, now I am loving it for my home. Your dresser looks amazing.
LOVE turquoise or an blue shade really. This dresser is just beautiful, the appliques really make it stand out. Beautiful job!
Great transformation! I love the turqouise color, and of course it is the color of the year… Great job!
I have always been a HUGE turquoise fan…in fact my first pieces of jewelry at the age of 2 were sterling and turquoise bracelets. Hate to admit it, but that was 37 years ago! =)
Love having turquoise in my home too, and your new dresser is fabulous! Beautiful job.
This dresses is so BEAUTIFUL. I think that I’m going to try and copy it.
I’m TOTALLY stealing this idea for a chair I have that’s been stripped, sanded, and naked, for um… a couple of years. I couldn’t commit to a color, but this is perfect! Thank you!!!
Absolutely brilliant! What creativity!
Love it! Very nicely done.
Ok, I do love turquoise – have it in pops throughout my house. You’re lucky you live far away, because I might steal this piece.
ANYWAY…I was thinking about doing this type of finish for my new-to-me antique desk. Could you share what ratio of water-to-paint you used for the 2nd layer glaze?
Seriously, I am obsessed with you. I want to come to your house and hang out with you. I am going to need help refinishing our antique doors in our house (there are like 20) and I will need ideas on how to update them without spending a ton of mulla.
You’re brilliant!
Absolutely breathtaking! I have an old 1930′s dresser that I got off CL for $30. You just gave me the most excellent idea. Don’t you just love those appliques?
-Shannon in Austin
PS: I still need to send you the pics of my redone bedroom set. Sorry I haven’t gotten them to you.
love, love that dresser!!!
You motivate me!
Yay for turquoise!! It’s no surprise that turquoise is my fave, and you’ve done such a beautiful job working some of that fab color into your home. Great paint job!
Oh it turned out so pretty! Love the color you used!
Take care-
Kristin
That looks FABULOUS!!! And it is styled so beautifully.
Gorgeous! That turquoise apple on top is fabulous, too. I may have to add some color to my next GW find.
I knew those turquoise knobs would be gorgeous, and look what you did!! Kate, you are amazing. Thanks for the great step-by-step!!
Looks great. The wood onlays were a nice touch that really added to the finished product.
Love this color. I did my oldest daughter’s bedroom using these colors. I wish I would have found old furniture and did this to it though, instead of buying some! Oh well, always next time!
Very, very pretty. Such an awesome job. I agree, the appliques add tonnes of style to the finished piece. How long did this re-finish take you?
Looks great. You did a fantastic job.
I love Turquoise too! What a great job! It looks so classy yet shabby! I love refinishing old pieces that may have been someone else’s cast offs and you get to “recycle” them and give them new life! I did a dining set “redo” myself, well my hubby helped, but it was so inexpensive!! You can see an in the works pic here:
http://sergioandpattymartinez.blogspot.com/2009/05/hes-not-baby-anymore-and-no-slip-and.html
This dresser is beeeeaauuuutiful! Yes – this is the HOT color, but they are calling it aqua (not turquoise) and aqua + red = a new kind of awesomeness.
I’m really inspired by your willingness to GO FOR IT. I have many pieces around the house that I haven’t done anything with yet because I’m afraid I’ll regret it. But I’m almost getting up the courage to go buy some spray paint…
I’d like to send you something – it’s a brochure about home decorating from the 1950′s – from Sherwin Williams paints. It has articles on updating things around the house with paint makeovers. I think you would enjoy it. If you send me your address, I can mail it to you.
What a transformation, and you make it look very easy. I will keep your refinish tips!!
Karena
Art by Karena
Beautiful!
Oh the finish you achieved on that piece is JUST GORGEOUS! I have so many samples & little bits of paint that I could have a great time playing around with on some accent furniture. Thanks for the great step-by-step!
Turquoise….I love it! I know it’s the “IT” color right now and I’m not usually one for trends, but I’ve always loved this color. My home is beachy eclectic, so it just looks great with all my stuff. I’m currently making a door a chalkboard and the frame will be turquoise with faceted crystal knobs.
If you love decorating books, be sure to check out my giveaway. I’m giving away a decorating book a day through next Wednesday. The book for today is The Nest’s Home Design Handbook!
very shabby chic! i likes!
That’s really amazing! I would have spent a lot for something like that. Love the color, and love that little turquoise apple!
You’ve really outdone yourself this time!! Simply gorgeous!!!
I love it! Thanks for sharing the steps you used.
Hi! I too love turqouise and shades of aqua. Almost every room in my home has aqua incorporated into them! It really is a relaxing shade and makes a room feel fresh and crisp! I love the furniture piece you transformed… very beautiful!
I am fairly new to the blogging world and am looking forward to getting to know you! Hopefully you can check out my site too at http://www.adesignstory.com!
Lindsay