Upcycled Antique Drawer Front Shelf
August 19, 2018
This re-purposed antique drawer front shelf was another item I brought home from my mom's apartment. (A few weeks ago she moved into a much smaller assisted living apartment, and I am downsizing her belongings)
I like this shelf, but to be completely honest, I listed it on a FB group to sell for $25. When it didn't sell the first couple of days, I deleted it from the selling group and decided to give it a makeover.
The antique drawer front is indeed beautiful, with it's curved front and beautiful grain, so my first thought was just to paint the primitive country gold shelf on top.
After painting the shelf, I just didn't like the contrast. The gold shelf seemed to blend much better with the gold tones in the wood grain.
So I painted the whole shelf with Chalked Ultra Matte Paint in Chiffon Cream
mixed with Chalked Ultra Matte Paint in Linen White
. About a 5:1 ratio. I wanted the Chiffon Cream to be more like Annie Sloan in Old White.
mixed with Chalked Ultra Matte Paint in Linen White. About a 5:1 ratio. I wanted the Chiffon Cream to be more like Annie Sloan in Old White.
I have this mixture on hand from painting my kitchen dining chairs.
If you are groaning that I painted the wood, my husband has already complained about it. (I am only painting a drawer front here.)
After the two coats of paint were dry, I sanded the whole shelf with 220 grit sandpaper. I applied pressure when sanding the edges to reveal more of the stained wood. In the center areas, I applied less pressure. Raised areas of grain pop through.
I continued to sand with sandpaper that was caked with paint. Ever so slightly continuing to smooth the surface, and eventually burnishing the finish by rubbing the caked paint on the sandpaper "onto and into" the painted surface.
Here is my sandpaper. When you start to see shiny spots on your sandpaper, you are burnishing.
I wanted to distress the finish and have the dark stain show through. Many times the older stains will bleed through white paint after applying wax or water based poly.
The burnished finish should be fine for this wall shelf that will only light use.
I thought a bedroom dresser drawer front would be a perfect candidate for my Bed & Breakfast stencil from *Old Sign Stencils.
*Old Sign Stencils provided me with complimentary samples.
All opinions about these fabulous products are my own.
It fit perfectly between the two knobs!
I taped it in place with blue painter's tape.
I stenciled the cursive lettering onto the drawer front using Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black
. Fusion is an excellent paint for stenciling. It doesn't need to be sealed for indoor use, and it is much smoother than craft paint.
I very gently sanded the stenciling with 220 grit sandpaper to dull down the black paint a bit.
. Fusion is an excellent paint for stenciling. It doesn't need to be sealed for indoor use, and it is much smoother than craft paint.I very gently sanded the stenciling with 220 grit sandpaper to dull down the black paint a bit.
I love it!
I plan to hang it in my bedroom!
My shelf is so light and bright, and Farmhouse!
I was lucky enough to get my shelf already re-purposed into a shelf, but it would not be hard to make one. The shelf is just a 1" x 6" pine board, with the edges softened with sandpaper.
Other Bed & Breakfast stencil projects:
Sharing is caring
Carlene, this is beautiful. An otherwise neglected drawer front is now a useful and beautiful shelf with joy! You go girl!
ReplyDelete~ Christina
Super clever! I didn't even pick up that was a drawer right away! Just goes to prove, your makeovers are rather genius... :D
ReplyDelete