Posted on by shizzle-design

Vintage Highboy Dresser in Old White Chalk Paint

I’ve been searching for a highboy dresser like this for quite a while now.  I knew just how I wanted to refinish the little gem – just had to find it.  Well… three weeks ago, I found it (along with half a semi full of other great finds).  Many mahalos to Aunt Katie & Uncle Jim; without their help, we never would have got it all home.  You guys rock!
When I found her, she was having a midlife crisis.
Stripping the top piece of veneer was the first step in her facelift.
Next, I busted out my handy dandy stripper and slathered the gel all over the parts I wanted to re-stain.  I let that oopy-goopy messy yucky gunk do its job while I stained the INSIDE of the dresser.
I do that sometimes to give the entire piece a more finished look.  Since the wood on the INSIDE of most dressers is not finished, it absorbs things over the years.  Oil marks from somebody’s hand, splashes of stain from before…  So, if it bugs me, I stain it.  I know, I’m strange.  We all have our things right?
The next day, I scraped, brushed and cleaned all the goopy sludge off the parts to be stained.  Can you TELL how much I LOVE working with strippers?  I didn’t take a picture ’cause my fingers were all sticky – it’s SO messy!!
I refinished those parts with a dark stain three times over the course of three days, lightly sanding between each coat.  The color turned out just how I wanted, but it needed a little more of something?!?
I taped off the stained parts and went to town painting and waxing the rest with Annie Sloan’s Old White and Paris Gray.  I have a hard time painting with just one color and usually end up layering several then distressing here and there until I get the look I’m going for.  You could say I paint like I cook.  A little bit of this plus a little bit of that until its JUST RIGHT.

Here she is all decked out and ret-to-go!  She’s currently strutting her stuff at Not So Shabby Antiques & Fine Furniture in downtown Zeeland.  If you haven’t been there yet, stop by and check it out.  It’s a really neat shop!

Since this post, I’ve learned so much.  I worked countless hours almost a year using these products but continued to have difficulties achieving a quality finish with their wax.  I tried other several other waxes by different companies, some were hard, other’s were a little easier to blend in and work with but also had those terrible fumes.
I experienced months of recurring respiratory problems and was advised to remove as many chemical hazards from my environment as possible or find another line of working order to get well. I replaced toxic, hand burning, chemical strippers with citrus based strippers (which work better anyway), pulled chemically laden paints, waxes, glues… and started searching for better products.
That search eventually led me to the products I choose today ~ American Paint Company’s all natural, eco-friendly chalk and clay based mineral paints.  From the first time I tried  them, I was sold.   I know that sounds so dramatic, but after everything I went through, It was a God send.  This type of paint is so much easier to work with.  It spreads easier, covers better, adheres well and the wax and finishes have been life changing for how much work I can accomplish on any given day.For my style of painting, I can achieve a much more superior finish and can create it much faster eliminating the stress of working so hard to achieve something that’s easy with a chalk and clay mixture.

I love these paints so well that I decided to share what I do with our followers.  We proudly offer American Paint Company Paints locally in the Greater Grand Rapids area and sell worldwide on our Online Shizzle Shop.  

shizzle design paint studio 2018 Chicago Drive Jenison MI American Paint Company CeCe Caldwell's Paints retailer buy chalk clay instructor workshops paint retailer 1

  • Did you know…

    • Shizzle Design is a small family owned business in Jenison, Michigan.  My sister Cathy and I work, paint, ship and teach our chalk and clay paint workshops out of the same space where we paint all our furniture.  We are truly humbled to be known as a leader in the world of chalk and clay paints.
    • Instead of hoarding our knowledge, we empower DIY’ers by sharing our years of experience.  Stop in for paint and we’ll offer you honest and knowledgeable answers for all your chalk and clay paint needs.
    • We are so blessed to have taught people from all over the United States and Canada.  Join us for one of our super fun hands-on chalk and clay paint workshops.  Learn in our casual & relaxed environment.  Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
    • Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints.
    • Did you know that you can get these sent directly to your inbox and that it’s FREE?  It is ~ what are you waiting for?  Enter your email in the right hand column of our blog to stay in the loop.
    • We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page.  We share all sorts tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page).
    • Pin our posts on Pinterest ~ Find all sorts of inspiration here.
    • We sell our painted furniture in our Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI 49428 and at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
    • Shizzle Design is an Authorized Retailer for American Paint Company Paints.  We offer a large inventory of chalk and clay paint and supplies at our Shizzle Design Paint Shop /Studio,  2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428.  We also stock several other shops in the greater Grand Rapid’s area, to find out where, click LOCATIONS.  Not from Michigan?  No worries, we ship paint and paint supplies worldwide through our Online Shizzle Shop.

    Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers

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    Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s

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    Click here to see Funky Finishes

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    Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

    Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party
    The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday
    Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday
    Redoux – Friday Link Up Party
    Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend
    Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special
    Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays
    Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

    a hui hou ~ Shelly

A hui hou!

Shelly

 

9 Replies to “Vintage Highboy Dresser in Old White Chalk Paint”

  3. Wonderful job, Shelly! Gotta luv that ASCP! I’ve been transforming vintage furniture over the summer, too – and will never go back to any other paint. I’m spoiled now! lol! Are you located in Zeeland, MI??? 🙂

    xoxo laurie

    Reply

  7. Hi Lauren! I LOVE your style and would be honored to be featured on your blog! I’m tickled pink as this is the first time I’ve been featured. You’ve made my day! Thanx a million!

    Shelly

    Reply

  8. Hi there – just saw your feature on West Furniture Revival (mine was featured by Lauren as well -so nice of her, right?!)Anyway, it is a beautiful piece and I can’t believe you stain the inside. I’ve painted, but never stained…might have to try that sometime if I have the patience. I had to smile though as one of my pieces that I’ll be debuting this week has a similar feature – stained top and spindle legs. Great minds think alike? Nice work!!

    Shari
    turnstylevogue.com

    Reply
  9. Pingback: Best Painted Furniture Reno’s 2011 by Shizzle Design — Shizzle Design

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