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 was able to snag it away from them.  There have been dressers that we have purchased 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 either function as a buffet or a dresser.

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)
  • We purchase our Fusion Mineral Paint from a store in North Carolina called The Weathered Soul Shoppe.  You can buy Fusion Mineral Paint from a number of vendors in various locations, but we have found that The Weathered Soul Shoppe ships the paint quickly and has fantastic customer service.  The paint is a little bit pricey, but it provides a really great finish and has self-leveling features that reduces brush strokes.
• Minwax Dark Walnut Oil-Based Interior Stain
•  Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane Semi-Gloss Base 11.5 fl oz Polyurethane
  • We like to use the spray-on polyurethane on a lot of projects because it dries so quickly, it doesn’t leave bubbles, and we know that we get an even finish without too much work. It’s a little more money, but it’s worth it sometimes. 
• Stain and Polyurethane Brush
  • There are many options for applying stain to the wood.  However, we have found that using a stain brush allows for more control over the application process.  Please make sure that you have an old rag around so you can wipe up any excess stain that may have dripped on to areas of the dresser that you do not wish to have stained and any stain that may have dripped on to the floor.  
• 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 type of stain remover (This is huge, because stain removers are a pain).  Just keep in mind that if the dresser is not solid wood, then 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 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.  
• 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 DIY projects; however, it can produce huge savings if you are planning 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.  ​

The first step was to remove all of the original stain.  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 just paint the top with mineral paint because we had already found that the veneer on the drawers was more accepting to the stain that we were using (this allowed us to keep the stain/paint dynamic that we wanted).    

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).   

The next step was to finish tackling the drawers.  As was noted above, the walnut stain was fully compatible with the veneers on the inside pieces 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.  

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 was 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.  The next day you should take fine steel wool over the entire body, 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 you have accomplished 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.