After she gave me several pieces of furniture that she wanted to get rid of, my aunt seemed won over by the upgrades brought to them. She asked me, this time, to make her a custom one.

This one has sentimental value and already has its assigned place in her magnificent home. You will see that it was also entitled to a “back” beauty, since it’s location is in the mezzanine with the back against the guardrails. It was therefore intended to be visible on its 4 sides.

Step 1 – Modifying the furniture

I tackled the top of the dresser to start. As this step creates a lot of wood chips and dust, I especially didn’t want to take the risk of damaging a fresh paint. I first started by covering the top of the cabinet with old boards from an old sugar shack.

They were fixed with finishing nails and I passed the plane in order to even out the imperfect boards as much as possible. The center drawer did not have the same effect as the rest of the cabinet, as it had likely been replaced over time. Question of harmonizing it with the top, I replaced its frontage with a similar board.

Step 2 – Finishing the wood planks

I mechanically sanded the boards with a coarse paper to prevent the wooden sides from coming out. As the planks were aged over time, the plane has faded some sections that I reworked. So to make them similar to the rest of the old planks, I burned with a torch to blacken the desired places and give them a rustic appearance. Since I wanted to make the top of the chair look the same, I also randomly burned a few spots.

To make it as soft as possible, I mechanically sanded with fine paper, making sure the sides were secure. Once to my liking, I blew out using an air compressor to remove any excess wood dust. I applied 3 coats of Colorantic mat varnish on the boards, with a light sanding between each coat.

Step 3 – Prepare and Apply Color

Once the boards are finalized, I now tackle the rest of this beauty in the making. I remove the drawers and wash each surface to be painted with TSP cleaner. Once rinsed and dry, I apply a single coat of the primer to ensure good adhesion of the paint.

I apply a first coat of Cotton Ball color on the furniture as well as on the back and the legs of the chair. I also apply a first coat of Sangria color on the interior sides of the drawers, which will harmonize with the wallpaper. I repeat the procedure once it is dry.

Step 4 – Finishing the work desk

So, after 2 coats of paint, it’s time to varnish. 1 single coat was enough, making sure to varnish every place that was painted. I finally apply the wallpaper previously measured and cut using an ” exacto ” and MudPodge glue.

This adds a unique effect when opening the drawers. I also applied wallpaper to the back of the dresser, on the upper part. I separated the painted part with a pine molding, which will also join the effect of the wood on the top.