Anyone into refinishing furniture?

[y4m]

I bought this dresser and want to refinish it into a bright green buffet for our black and white (and brick) dining room.  



Kind of going for a look like these:





I'm thinking Annie Sloan Antibes Green with dark wax:



But what should I do with all the channels in the wood (currently gold).  I'd like to keep them, but maybe in black or dark gray (or just emphasized by the wax?)  And what kind of hardware should I get? (or should I just spray paint the existing stuff to black or dark gray?)

Anyone out there do this stuff?  Anyone do it in the DC area and want me to pay you to do it for me?  Or have ideas or experience with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

[nomad100]

I don't have experience with AS paint but have painted several pieces with a DIY version.

Chalk paint is pretty darn forgiving. Just make sure the piece is clean and dry with no flaking finish. No need to prime it before painting. With a darker color you make need multiple coats. With the DIY version of the paint, I sand lightly to make everything nice and smooth before I wax. Not sure if you have to with AS paint.

Regarding the channels, I would paint the whole thing and then using a small craft paint brush, repaint the channels whatever color you like. They are too thick for the wax alone to fill.

You can totally paint the hardware. Again make sure they are clean with no flaking finish. Prime with a metal primer, let dry overnight. Paint whatever color you want, letting it dry completely between coats and them after the last coat let it sit for at least 2 days to finish curing. This will ensure that the finish will last a long time.

HTH

Le

[mrshabious]

Pop into the DC board. We just had a GTG (i could not attend it) where someone demonstrated chalk paint.

[ssmjlm]

The biggest thing with the chalk paint is you have to do the wax top coat, otherwise the paint finish is very chalky/dusty.

If you want to do the traditional type of painting then I would follow this tutorial from Centsationalgirl: www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/04/how-to-paint-furniture/

Also paging bunch

[sillygoosegirl]

I refinished a desk of basically the same style, though I stripped it down completely and then stained it, so I don't imagine my experience is particularly relivant. However, I think the existing handles are pretty and that the shinny brass would look good with that color green, so I would keep them if I were you. I think they might be the about same ones that were on my desk, except mine had been painted and I was never able to get them quite as free of paint and shinny as I wanted. So... If you don't want the handles, I can offer them a good home...

[y4m]

Bumping in case anyone is curious. Here's how it turned out. I'm debating one more coat of dark wax as a glaze.

[KaraOrNot]

I love it!

[aspentosh]

Man you were fast doing that! It looks great y4m.

[Deleted]

It looks really good!!

You are making me feel bad, I've been trying to get an antique vanity done for six months now.

[mbcdefg]

Nice job!

You should submit it to the Better After blog: www.betterafter.net/

[y4m]

Thanks! DH was out of town this week, so this is how I spent my evenings. Also the Annie Sloan chalk paint, though expensive, is pretty much fool proof and make this really easy.

[nomad100]

It turned out great. Love the how the dark handles pop on the green.

[midwest07]

May 24, 2013 8:24:43 GMT -5 y4m said:

Thanks! DH was out of town this week, so this is how I spent my evenings. Also the Annie Sloan chalk paint, though expensive, is pretty much fool proof and make this really easy.

I missed this post the first time around, but would have definitely recommended chalk paint to you.  I went on a painting spree and painted 4 things with it and it was so easy.  I am still trying to get a better handle on the waxing part, but the painting is so easy and fast, especially since you don't have to really prep the surface.

Did you use the Antibes green?  Any tips on using the dark wax?

[y4m]

The step I missed initially was that you have to use clear wax before you use the dark wax. I wish I'd read more carefully, because there's only one place to buy the stuff here in DC and it was closed the day I needed it. I ended up using Minwax Finishing Paste, which worked great, and I'm sure is cheaper than Annie Sloan. I did use Annie Sloan's dark wax. A tiny bit goes a LONG way. I bought her wax brush, which was not MM, but which made getting a nice coverage really easy. I basically brushed the dark on lightly, then wiped it away very quickly with a clean, lint-free rag. Supposedly you can mix the wax and mineral spirits to make a glaze, and I am debating doing that to deepen the color a bit.

[y4m]

Sorry and yes, Antibes green! I used a little less than half the quart on this, so it really does go a long way. The drawers were done after a single coat, but the dresser itself had a laminate on it, so it needed two coats. No sanding, stripping, or priming necessary though!

[genet313]

OMG, that dresser looks EXACTLY like my childhood bedroom furniture.  that is definitely still in my childhood home!  

that furniture is built to last, seriously.  i remember getting it when i was 5-6, i'm 32 now.  great pick-up.  

[y4m]

May 24, 2013 9:59:59 GMT -5 genet313 said:

OMG, that dresser looks EXACTLY like my childhood bedroom furniture.  that is definitely still in my childhood home!  

that furniture is built to last, seriously.  i remember getting it when i was 5-6, i'm 32 now.  great pick-up.  

It was a steal--totally quality piece!  If you had the mirror, I painted that green too, and we'll hang it in our entryway!

[genet313]

May 24, 2013 10:24:31 GMT -5 y4m said:

May 24, 2013 9:59:59 GMT -5 genet313 said:

OMG, that dresser looks EXACTLY like my childhood bedroom furniture.  that is definitely still in my childhood home!  

that furniture is built to last, seriously.  i remember getting it when i was 5-6, i'm 32 now.  great pick-up.  

It was a steal--totally quality piece!  If you had the mirror, I painted that green too, and we'll hang it in our entryway!

ha, yes!  i have a mirror (my dresser is slightly smaller than yours and not wavy, but the other details are exactly the same).  i also have a tall chest of draws, a desk, a nightstand, a headboard, and another piece.  the entire set.  

i'm really inspired by your work to see if i can re-purpose mine.  thanks for the ideas!  yours really looks awesome.

[theintended]

I love it!