Two-Tone Carolina Furniture Dresser

We have friends that attend furniture auctions to purchase solid wood pieces of furniture. We were fortunate enough to purchase this dresser from them before anyone else could snag it away from them. We have purchased dressers that demand a particular design (or, in other words, the dresser would not cooperate with our original design), and this was one of those dressers.  However, at the end of the day, the dresser looks fantastic and has become a versatile piece that can function as a buffet or a dresser.​

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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 (Linen)
  • 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 Dark Walnut Oil-Based Interior Stain
•  Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane Semi-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 Matte Water-Based Polyurethane Aerosol Spray, which is a water-based poly. 
• Stain and Polyurethane Brush
  • There are many options for applying stains to wood. One such method is brushing on the stain. Make sure that you have an old rag around to wipe up any excess stain that may have dripped onto areas of the dresser that you do not wish to have stained and any stain that may have dripped onto the floor. Some other methods that you might consider using are using Staining Pad or just a cloth. 
• Bosch 2.5-Amp Orbital Sander
  • Just remember, this is a staple item that will continually be used, so you can utilize this on a ton of DIY projects after you make the purchase. We decided on the Bosch sander because of the quality of the Bosch brand; however, you can probably get away with a cheaper option if you don't want to invest in a nicer sander and if you only plan on doing a few DIY projects with it. 
• Gator 50-Pack 80-Grit 5-in W x 5-in L 8-Hole Hook and Loop Sanding Disc Sandpaper
  • Depending on the type of stain that the original manufacturer of the dresser used, you may be able to get away with just sanding down the dresser without using any stain remover (This is huge because stain removers are a pain). Keep in mind that if the dresser is not solid wood, you may want to go with a more gentle approach, i.e., a combination of stain remover and hand sanding.
• Frog Tape Trim Painter's Tape
  • Frog Tape is a lifesaver if you are going for a more professional look. Generally speaking, it is time-consuming to tape up the dresser, but you will be happy that you did when you see the finished product. 
• FolkArt Home Decor Wax - Clear, 32 oz.
  • There are many wax options out there, but this may be the most reasonably priced. If you time the sales right at A.C. Moore or Michaels, then you can just about get this wax half off of the retail price, which is a huge discount! The 32 oz bottle will be overkill if you are only planning on doing a couple of DIY projects; however, it can produce huge savings if you plan on doing lots of DIY projects.
• Home Decor 1-3/4 in. Chalk Finish Brush
  • This brush will help you to apply the wax.  This is not a necessary purchase, but it will help you if you have a lot of detailed carvings on the piece you are repurposing. ​

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The first step was to remove all of the original stain from the dresser. Once the stain was removed--and the body was sanded--we applied a coat of stain to the top of the dresser. Unfortunately, the stain didn't take (it turned out extremely blotchy). As you will find with many of your DIY projects, your original designs can be dismantled by many variables, including the types of veneers the original manufacturer used. However, do not let this throw you off; go back to the drawing table and pick a design that will work for your project and with the particular variables that you have been handed. On this project, we decided to paint the top with mineral paint because we had already found that the veneer on the drawers was more accepting of the stain that we were using (this allowed us to keep the stain/paint dynamic wanted).  ​   

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Once the top of the dresser was painted, we went ahead and painted the entire body. (Note: the picture on the right was taken after the painter's tape was removed. The painter's tape provided us with internal compartments free from sloppy-looking brush strokes).  ​

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The next step was to finish tackling the drawers. As noted above, the dark walnut stain was fully compatible with the veneers on the inside of the drawers and the doors. This next part is a tough lesson that we have had to learn over a few DIY projects, and that is when you have a piece that will consist of both stain and paint (such as the drawers), do the painting first. Here is our rule of thumb, paint on stain is difficult to correct, but stain on paint can be corrected with a stroke of a brush. ​

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We also decided to add a little more design to this dresser by staining the inside of the door and the internal drawers the walnut color that we used on the inside of the drawers. We believed that this made the design more complete and hopefully provided onlookers with a wow factor. 
 
 Once the paint and staining were completed, we added a coat of wax to the body and drawers of the dresser. Remember to not overcoat with wax because it will create major streaks. After the wax has been applied, allow it to sit overnight. You should take fine steel wool over the entire body the next day, then buff out the wax with a cloth. (Note: Make sure that you are not too aggressive with the steel wool because you may end up peeling back the paint). 
 
 ​After accomplishing this, you will want to let the wax cure for around seven days before putting the dresser into any significant use. Also, until it is fully cured, be careful to touch the wax with your fingers because the oil from your hands may transfer into the wax, giving it a dirty look. ​

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