reimagining a golden oak dresser using general finishes milk paint and miss mustard seed’s White wax
Antique and vintage oak furniture usually has an existing golden stain finish. And I don’t know about you, but golden oak is NOT my favorite look, nor is it really on trend. So when I found this 3 drawer oak dresser at Morgantown Market, I immediately saw it reimagined in a dreamy gray paint color.
Luckily, General Finishes has a gorgeous Milk Paint shade called “Perfect Gray” that IS on trend!
preventing bleed through
Before work began on my dresser, I made sure to prep it thoroughly using the recommended method by General Finishes.
After prepping, I applied 2 coats of General Finishes Stain Blocker.
This high-quality primer is my go-to product for preventing bleed-through when I’m painting with light colors.
a perfect gray body
The drawers on this dresser needed some minor repairs done to them. While they were getting fixed, I painted 3 coats of Perfect Gray on the body of the dresser. To add some interest, I gently sanded the edges of my piece with 400 grit sandpaper to reveal bits of the Stain Blocker underneath.
Once it was dry, I applied High Performance Topcoat in Flat to seal everything up.
Whitewashing the drawers with white wax
I’ve written blog posts in the past on how to get a whitewashed look using Miss Mustard Seed’s White Wax, so I’m not going to get into details here. But here is a reminder video to jog your memory:
I used the technique mentioned above on the drawers and top of my oak dresser.
It’s such an easy way to jazz up oak wood and get a lovely farmhouse/coastal feel at the same time!
new hardware and drawers!
The drawers needed the bottoms ripped out and replaced. The original wood that was there was warped, broken and dirty. Once they were replaced, they slid in and out of the dresser much more easily.
I cleaned up the sides by sanding off the existing shellac finish to reveal the gorgeous joinery.
With the addition of new hardware, the piece was all set!
Available at homestead studios
If you’re local to Southeastern Pennsylvania, you can find this piece at Homestead Studios in Parkesburg. Inquire with me for dimensions and price.
If you’re not local to Pennsylvania, you’re in luck because I do offer shipping! Contact me for a quote if you’d love to have this piece in your home.
For more Perfect Gray inspiration, check out this cedar chest makeover!
