Today I have a chest of drawers, the “Rough Oak” model, in really good condition and made of beautiful solid wood. I’m thinking of a Moroccan style with lots of red, black, turquoise, and, of course, gold.
The full description can be found below the video and a list of the products used at the end of this article.
Of course, I started by thoroughly cleaning this fine piece with White Lightning. After that, I lightly sanded the surface with an abrasive sponge, since it was quite shiny.
For the base coat, I’m using Barn Red and Honkytonk Red from Dixie Belle’s Chalk Mineral Paint series. First, I apply a base coat of Barn Red using my Dixie Belle Mini Brush. Even with just the first coat, I achieve good coverage for this project.
Starting from the center, I’d like to create a subtle color gradient from Honkytonk Red to Barn Red.
It’s important to keep the paint wet. To do this, I use my spray bottle, a small amount of paint, and gentle brushstrokes to blend the shades together. I barely touch the surface with the brush—like butterfly kisses. The two shades are very close to each other, so they blend beautifully together to create this gradient.
There are various methods for creating color gradients. Today, I decided to go with the approach of applying a solid base color first and then layering the accent color on top.
Dixie Belle’s Chalk Mineral Paints are water-based and blend well together using this technique.
For my shoes, I chose Caviar, a deep black.
Of course, you mustn’t forget the sides, the edges, and the areas behind the drawers. That’s why I take the drawers out and paint those parts as well.
I like to apply my first coat while looking at the drawers in the dresser so I can get a complete picture. Then I decide whether the overall look matches what I had in mind.
The feet have a groove, so I decided on the spot to add a WoodUbend trim to fill it. I used the TR37 trim.
When cold, WoodUbend trims behave much like wood. When heated, they become flexible and can be cut to size and shaped to fit various forms. To attach them, I use Titebond’s Quick & Thick wood glue.
Even though the first coat of paint already provided good coverage, I’m now applying a second coat using the same technique. Since I was happy with the overall look, this time I’m painting the drawers separately rather than leaving them in the dresser.
The shelf also has a groove where I work in the WoodUbend Trim TR46. For me, that really ties the whole look together beautifully.
Now it’s time to focus on the details. To do this, I’ll start by sealing the surface with Easy Peasy Spray Wax. It’s a liquid, water-based wax designed for sealing. The manufacturer specifies a drying time of about 25–30 minutes. This allows me to continue working on the next layers afterward and makes it easier to adjust them if I’m not yet satisfied with the result.
First, I’ll be using the Victorian Damask stencil from Belles & Whistles along with Caviar. For larger stencils, I like to use the Best Dang Brush —especially for lazy people like me. 😉
I start by dotting the center first, since there’s still more paint on the brush. Once most of the paint has been applied, I work outward in circular motions to create a fading effect.
Next, I make what’s called a “wash.” To do this, I take some Caviar and dilute it with water. I spread the mixture into the corners and crevices of the drawers and wipe it back with a damp, lint-free cloth until I achieve the desired effect.
To create the chippy effect, I’ll now use a plastic spatula—the Mud Spatula—and a painting spatula. First, I’ll use these to incorporate the stencil more fully into the project. I pick up a little bit of the Caviar at the tip and drag the palette knife from the edges toward the stencil at a shallow angle. I’ve moistened the edges slightly with water so the paint glides on more easily.
I repeat the same process with a turquoise shade—Dixie Belle’s “Mermaid Tail” —and, of course, gold—the “Gold Digger” from the Moonshine Metallics series. I focus mainly on the edges and corners—anywhere I want to create the appearance of wear and tear. I also go over the stenciled area. Although it’s only very slightly raised, if I hold the palette knife completely flat, a little bit of the “Mermaid Tail” paint sticks to the raised areas.
In the end, I treated the surface of the dresser with No Pain Gel Stain in Espresso. This is an oil-based gel stain that I let dry for at least five days and then seal with a water-based finishing varnish. For high-traffic surfaces, I like to use Gator Hide by Dixie Belle.
Finally, I’ll use Dixie Belle’s gold gilding wax to add the finishing touches around the cover plate and the trim.
At the very bottom, you’ll find pictures of the finished project. I hope you like it and feel inspired to give it a try yourself.
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Then feel free to write me in the comments or write me a message.
For now, I’d just like to say thank you for reading, and see you in the next blog post.
Your Master of Disaster
Angela
Products used:
Not all of my favorite products I carry myself in the shop. Nevertheless, I don’t want to withhold them from you and I’m happy about every cent in my coffee box so that I can continue to compile informative articles for you.
The links marked with an asterisk (*) are so-called affiliate links. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy via this link, I get a commission from the online shop or provider in question. But your price does not change!
Festool ROTEX RO 90 DX FEQ-Plus geared random orbital sander
Festool 497481 Interface Pad IP-STF-D90/6
Festool CTL SYS mobile dust extractor – 575279
Hot air gun Steinel HL 1920 E*
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