Black and Gold Bassett Dresser!

This dresser was in the back of a storage unit at the time that we purchased it. Being that it was a Bassett Furniture dresser, we knew that it had solid bones. The original design of the dresser was pretty modern, so we decided to go with a design that was slightly modern, but that would be an eye-catcher. 

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We used the following supplies on this dresser:

• Purdy 3-Pack Polyester-Nylon Blend Angle Sash Paint Brush Variety Pack
• Fusion Mineral Paint - Color (Coal Black)
  • You can buy Fusion Mineral Paint from several vendors in various locations, but we have linked to one of our local retailers that allow for online ordering. The paint is a bit pricey, but it provides a really great finish and has self-leveling features that reduce brush strokes.
•  Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane Gloss Base 11.5 fl oz Polyurethane
  • One of the things that we have learned is that oil-based polyurethane yellows over time. It might not be a big deal for the project that you are working on because it could give it an aged look, but we have transitioned to other finishes. Although we didn't use it on this project you might consider Minwax Polycrylic Clear Gloss Water-Based Polyurethane Aerosol Spray, which is a water-based poly. 
• Frog Tape Trim Painter's Tape
  • Frog tape is a life saver if you are going for a more professional look.  Generally speaking, it is a time consuming task to tape up the dresser, but you will be happy that you did when you see the finished product.  
• Hobby Lobby knobs
  • Hobby Lobby only sells the knobs we used in their store, so you cannot get them online.
• Plaid:Craft Martha Stewart Large Stencils​
• Stencil Tape
• ​​Mondo Llama - 2oz Acyrlic Paint - Metallic

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The first step was to sand the body down to ensure the paint adhered to the dresser properly. After the sanding was completed, we painted the body and the drawers. ​

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Next, we started the difficult process of the stencil work. This project was our first time doing anything with stencils, and just like anything, it takes practice to make it perfect. Hence, this piece is not quite as clean and sharp as we would have liked it to be.   
 
 First, the stencil we used was not quite as long as the drawer itself was. We started by lining the stencil up in the middle of the drawer, making sure to measure from top to bottom and side to side to ensure that it was straight and even. It still turned out to be slanted slightly, so it's important to double and triple-check this. Once we got it as square as possible, we taped down the edges so the stencil would not move. 
 
 There are several options for how to paint the design. Once the base color (gold) was painted on, we chose to use a stencil sponge to apply the top color (black). The sponge worked well because of this Moroccan design. However, the texture is a bit thicker than just regular paint. Outside of using a sponge, another option is to use a roller. This would be preferred over a paintbrush so that no paint gets underneath the stencil.
 
 We learned this lesson the hard way, folks, so pay attention here. Once you are done painting the first layer over your stencil, it is important to remove the stencil while the paint is wet. This will help to keep the paint in the design. We left the stencil on the drawer while the paint dried, and we had to start over. Blue specks from the stencil got stuck in the paint, and my lines were not smooth and crisp. 
 
 Finally, once the first coat of paint dried, we moved the stencil over to create the corners. You can follow the same process as above for this. Just be sure to line up the design and make sure it is centered.
 
 After the stencil work was completed, we applied two coats of Polyurethane to the drawers. Poly does two things: (1) it creates a layer of protection for the drawers from everyday abuse, and (2) it creates a smooth finish. We typically apply two coats of poly, but some projects may require more. After the poly has dried, we use a wet sanding technique with extremely fine sandpaper to ensure that the stained areas are smooth to touch. The wet sanding process is really simple, just spray on some lemon oil and lightly sand over the stained areas with an 800 grit sandpaper (you can also do this over the painted areas, but you need to be careful not to sand too aggressively over the painted areas or you will end up with a distressed look). ​

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After the poly dried, we installed the new hardware. The style of the hardware matches up almost perfectly with the stencil work. All in all, this project was a huge success leaving us with a desire to find a new project to try our newfound stencil talent on.