I Finally Finished My Very First Piece!

Three years ago I picked up my first dresser in an attempt to see how hard it was to re-purpose a piece of furniture.  Friends were giving us grief because we were still using our old TV.  They couldn’t understand why the flat screen my husband earned at work years earlier was still covered with a sheet in our closet

I don’t know why it was such a big deal to everyone else.   Our old TV worked fine and the flat screen wouldn’t look much different in the armoire anyway.  It didn’t make sense to switch everything out until we had the right stand for our new TV plus, I really didn’t care for the new entertainment centers in the stores.

I started looking for something I could re-purpose for our flat screen.  Of course I wanted something different.  How boring would life be if we all copied each other?  I planted the seed in my mind and during a stop at a thrift shop, I spotted an old dresser.  It was marked down 50%, most likely due to the outdated finish, but it was well built.

I removed the chunky hardware it had along with strange wood trim then lopped three inches off the bottom of the dresser using my circular saw.  Yes, you read right; I literally sawed off the bottom three inches of the entire dresser ~ all the way around.  I did that to remove the damaged veneer, not realizing then that I could have repaired it.

I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  I just jumped in and went for it.  That’s how I learn.  I spent hours going through all the tedious steps of sanding and priming. I stood outside for hours sanding with my orbital sander, until I had removed the original finish down to the raw wood.

I hand painted it with black Rustoleum paint but it smelled horrible and didn’t spread well.  It took forever to dry so every particle floating around in the air ended up stuck to the finish.  Clean up required more chemicals to clean everything up which took my nightmare over the edge.  I pushed it aside and left it there – FOR THREE YEARS.

FAST FORWARD, January 2014 ~ After three years of waiting, it was finally time to finish what I had started.  My daughter helped me load it into the truck, on a very cold morning I might add, and off it went to our paint studio.

My Uncle filled the holes from the old drawer pulls so our new ones would fit.  I fine sanded the roughness out of the Rustoleum paint which had a gritty feel to it, most likely due to the dusty space I had painted it in three years prior.

My neighbor Dave helped me cut down two other odd ball curved pieces that really dated the piece.  Once cut straight, the entire piece took on a whole new look.

 

I painted it with American Paint Company’s Lincoln’s Hat and sealed it with APC’s Clear Wax then attached the new hardware.

We attached casters to give it more of an industrial feel and to make up for the height it lost when I sawed off the bottom.

I have to apologize for my lousy pictures.  The weather is just not cooperating and I apparently need to create better lighting in our workshop because the fluorescent lights are messing with my lighting.

This piece along with many others will be available at this year’s Women’s Expo at Devos in Downtown Grand Rapids.  We are one of the key presenters for the show.  Save the date ~ March 14, 15 & 16 and stay tuned for all the fun and exciting things we’ll be doing there.

Did you know that…

• We’ve opened up a Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, Michigan 49428?  This is where Cathy and I paint our furniture but we want our customers to know that we’re here for you.  We encourage everyone to stop in any time to buy paint or to get your questions answered.
• We’ve taught people from all over the United States and Canada how to paint furniture Shizzle Style using chalk and clay paints?  Join us for one of our super fun workshops.  Learn hands-on in a relaxed environment.  Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
• You can Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints?
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• We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page?  We share all sorts of additional tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page?).
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• We sell our painted furniture at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan 49424?
• Shizzle Design is an American Paint Company’s Chalk/Clay/Mineral Paints in West Michigan locations and sell both domestically and international online?  Click LOCATIONS or Online Shizzle Shop.

Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers

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

Click here to see Funky Finishes

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