I had the last laugh on this roadside rescue. Strangely enough, I found this French Provincial on the curb in front of my sister’s house! WHAT??? What was she thinking of throwing away perfectly good junk! When I asked her, she was like, “no one could save this one!” Challenge accepted! I’ll use the best chalk paint I know of to save this one.
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Always Repair Before Painting
First things first, I always repair before painting. That’s also why it was a roadside rescue! I began by reworking every single drawer. Some of the slides were missing, while the others needed to be replaced. I can always count on Mr. Honey Do to be “Johnny on the spot” for that. His name is Ron. I never understood who Johnny was… I digress. It also needed some wood repair on the back legs. Those repairs weren’t complicated, and I managed to document the process in another blog post for you. You can see the repairs by CLICKING HERE Furniture Repair For Wood Damage.
The Makeover Begins
This dresser was poorly painted prior with a high gloss latex paint, and someone had already started to prep it for a makeover. I knew if I were ever gonna get the paint to stick to it, it would need a good cleaning and light sanding to scuff up the existing paint.
SUPPLY LIST:
- White Lighting Cleaner
- Spray Bottle (for White Lighting)
- Paper Towels
- Orbital Sander with 220 grit discs
- 1-inch Painters Tape
- Driftwood chalk mineral paint
- Hurricane Gray chalk mineral paint
- Metallic Gold base coat
- Pearlescent Glaze
- Black Wax
- Oval Short OS paintbrush
- Large Wax Brush
The Best Chalk Paint For Furniture Makeovers
I began by painting with the best chalk paint I knew of. My honest opinion! Dixie Belle chalk mineral paint is smooth and easy to apply and covers with 1-2 coats. Easy peasy! That’s my kind of paint!
Taping Off For Stripes
I love stripes, but I wanted them to be subtle. For this makeover, I taped off the top drawers using 1-inch painter’s tape. Using my finger, I carefully painted a small amount over the edge of the tape with the same base coat color. This will prevent bleeding when I paint the stripes. This method is called paint burnishing, and even the best chalk paint will bleed if you skip this step. CLICK HERE to see another BOLD stripe makeover.
*Just in case you’re wondering about that paintbrush hair that got stuck in the paint. It was easily removed with a 220 grit sandpaper.
I used Dixie Belle’s Metallic Gold based coat for the stripes. The paint was transparent, so it took three coats to get the coverage the way I wanted.
Repeating the Stripe Theme
I began painting/dry brushing stripes in alternating colors of Metallic Gold and Hurricane Gray over the Drift Wood base coat with my oval short paintbrush. I liked the look of the stripes that weren’t so perfect. After the paint had dried, I sanded over the whole dresser with 220 grit sandpaper to give it a distressed aged look.
Glazing Over Chalk Paint
To add a pearl effect, I used Dixie Belle’s Pearlescent Glaze. It went on smooth with my paintbrush and dried quickly. I liked the look, and it added a beautiful pearl effect.
The Detail Work
Because I used THE best chalk paint, I just had to use the Best Dang Wax. Seriously, that’s the name of it. It stands up to its name. I added the black wax with my wax brush and made sure I got it into all the details. Because I had applied the glaze over the chalk mineral paint, it was easy to wipe off the excess with a cotton cloth. I like this method of applying wax because I have total control. The glaze acts as a barrier and seals the paint. You can skip the glazing step if you want a darker aged piece.
The End Results | The Best Chalk Paint
Guess what my sister is getting for Christmas? 🙂 Yep, I’m taking it back to her. I hope she loves it. Thanks for joining me with this roadside THRIFT makeover. I hope this inspires you to never give up on a piece even when you think it’s hopeless. If there’s a will, there’s away!
*update… she LOVED it! ? We (my sister and I) have been known to swap out home decor too. Would you have done this? Feel free to elaborate in the comment section below. I can’t wait to hear your story.
Until the next project… xo, Do
I love your stuff and your videos. You are so funny!
Hey thanks Gail! It’s easier to smile than to frown. Thanks for reading. Have a fantastic day! 🙂
OMG you never cease to amaze me! I always have to pick my jaw up off the floor after seeing one of your makeovers! Love it!
Salvage Solider 4Life,
Windy Honeycutt ?
You are so kind Windy. Hopefully I’ll get the same reaction when I take it to my sister. 🙂
Whaaaat! If my sister put something out on the curb without offering it to me first she’d see fireworks shooting out from my ears LOL! 😉 Really amazing makeover…love the stripes Do!
Do,
Loved this piece. Also really really enjoyed your “blending paint” video. I just got an order of Dixie Belle paint; haven’t tried it yet but excited! You mentioned that your paint should be wet when blending; I guess that’s what I do wrong; I thought it would turn to mud if I didn’t wait until it was dry! I also HATE to put on varnish (topcoats); no matter how hard I try; I get those awful streaks? Do you use Gatorhide on just the top and the topcoat on the rest of the piece? Do you need to use more than one coat? And do you sand between coats of paint if a second coat is needed? Thanks, love your work!
Hi Jackie! Thanks for stopping by. What I love about Dixie Belle chalk mineral paint is that it is self-sealing. I use Gator Hide only on the tops of high traffic pieces. Apply a very thin coat and sand between them. Using a damp sponge for application is key. It creates a durable surface and is water resistant. With any new products, It takes me a while to figure them out. It’s all about the application. Happy painting! 🙂
Aw, this was an extremely good post. Taking
a few minutes and actul effort to produce a very good article… but what
can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t manage to get anything done.
I just love this and wondered about how chalk paint stand up to use? Can it use on Kitchen Cabinets?
Hi Patricia! I personally do not recommend it for cabinets, but I have seen others that swear by the durability. My concern is if I change my mind (creatives do that) and want to go back to maybe a natural wood. I can strip latex paint but not chalk paint. Great question, I hope this helps.
With thanks! Valuable information!
Happy to help! Happy painting!
xo, Do
Hi Do!
I have recently started fueling my passion for furniture upcycling and painting. I have loved every one of your videos I’ve seen so far! You’re very detailed in your description while still making your videos entertaining to watch. I am really interested in Dixie belle products and I am going to put in an order this weekend. I was wondering which brushes are must haves for starting out and which brush you used in this post for your wax? Again, thanks for being awesome!
~ Summer
Hi Summer!
Thank you! I think Dixie Belle is a great choice in paints. Whether you’re an experienced painter or a first timer user. In this blog post, are products in a list with links attached to the products. Just click on the products that are highlighted and it will direct you where to find them. The wax brush is not a Dixie Belle product. I order them on Amazon. I hope this helps and I’m excited for you to get started. It’s so addicting! I also welcome you to share your before and after pictures.
Happy painting! 🙂 xo
She’s a very regal shabby chic dresser now!!! Love the end product and so appreciate how you tell us exactly how to achieve the end look! Thank you, Do!!
You are welcome, Karolyn! 🙂 xo