Modern Dresser Makeover with Custom-Cut Legs
Step-by-step guide made from Black Sheep House's YouTube video.
This project transforms a traditional, ornate wooden dresser into a modern piece. The process involves stripping the old finish, cutting the base to create new, straight legs, and applying a custom-mixed green paint to the body while finishing the top and new base with a light wax for a two-tone effect.
- Difficulty: intermediate
Safety
- Always wear a dust mask and eye protection when sanding wood to avoid inhaling fine particles.
- Use caution when operating power tools like jigsaws and sanders. Ensure the workpiece is secure before cutting.
Tools
- Orbital Sander (Random-orbital sander, Bosch, 5-inch)
- Carbide Scraper (Hand scraper) (optional)
- Jigsaw (Corded Jigsaw, Ryobi)
- Oscillating Multi-Tool (optional)
- Paint Brush (Angled synthetic brush, 2-inch)
- Foam Roller (Small foam roller, Whizz)
- Dust Mask
- Gloves (Disposable gloves) (optional)
Materials
- Wood Filler (Ace Hardware, Natural)
- Sanding Discs (Orbital sander discs, 80, 120, and 320 grit)
- Wood Glue (Original Wood Glue, Titebond)
- Scrap Wood (1 piece)
- Decorative Finishing Wax (White Wax, Behr)
- Latex Paint (Interior Paint, Sherwin-Williams, Cashmere, Satin Finish, Color: Dard Hunter Green)
- Water-Based Primer (All Surface Primer, Zinsser, Bulls Eye 1-2-3)
- Water-Based Polyurethane (Clear Coat, Varathane, Satin)
- Calcium Carbonate Powder (Chalky Paint Additive, Greenway Biotech)
- Drawer Knobs (20, Round Knobs, Antique Brass)
Step by step
Step 1: Prepare and Sand the Dresser
The dresser is cleaned, and the old, peeling finish on the top is removed using a combination of a hand scraper and a random-orbital sander to expose the raw wood.
- Clean the Dresser. The entire piece of furniture is wiped down with a damp cloth to remove any surface dirt and grime before starting the refinishing process.
- Scrape Peeling Finish. Using a carbide hand scraper, the creator removes the thick, peeling top coat from the dresser's surface. This is more efficient than starting directly with a sander.
- Tip: For stubborn or peeling finishes, a carbide scraper can save a lot of time and sandpaper.
- Sand the Top to Raw Wood. An orbital sander is used to sand the entire top of the dresser down to the bare wood. The process starts with a coarse 80-grit sandpaper to remove the remaining finish, followed by progressively finer grits.
Step 2: Cut and Shape New Modern Legs
The ornate bottom skirt of the dresser is marked and then cut with a jigsaw to create a new, modern base with straight legs, which are then sanded smooth.
- Mark the Cut Lines. A straight piece of wood is used as a guide, and a nail is used to scribe a clear cut line across the bottom of the dresser, marking where the new, modern base will be formed.
- Cut the New Legs with a Jigsaw. Following the scribed lines, a jigsaw is used to carefully cut away the ornate, curved sections of the dresser's base, creating a new profile with straight, modern-style legs.
- Sand the Cut Edges. The newly cut edges of the base and legs are sanded smooth with an orbital sander to remove any roughness from the jigsaw and to round over the sharp corners slightly.
- Common mistake: Some viewers feel that altering the original base of a vintage piece can devalue it. Consider the dresser's history before making irreversible cuts.
Step 3: Repair Drawer Slides
A missing wooden stop for one of the drawers is replaced by gluing a small piece of scrap wood into the dresser frame to ensure the drawer functions correctly.
- Identify the Missing Drawer Stop. The creator demonstrates how one of the drawers tilts down when pulled out because a top wooden guide, or stop, is missing from the frame.
- Glue in a New Stop. A small piece of scrap wood is cut to size and glued into the dresser frame to replace the missing drawer stop, ensuring the drawer will slide smoothly and stay level.
Step 4: Fill Imperfections with Wood Filler
Wood filler is applied to fill in cracks and gouges on the newly cut base and to patch old hardware holes on the drawer fronts for a smooth surface.
- Fill Gouges on the New Base. Wood filler is used to smooth out the grooves and imperfections on the newly cut and sanded base, creating a seamless transition that will be hidden under the new finish.
- Fill Old Hardware Holes. The creator applies wood filler to the old, damaged hardware holes on the drawer fronts to create a clean, flat surface before painting and installing new knobs.
Step 5: Mix Custom One-Step Paint
The creator demonstrates her recipe for a durable, one-step furniture paint by mixing latex paint, water-based primer, water-based polyurethane, and calcium carbonate powder.
- Gather Ingredients. The four main components for the custom paint are laid out: water-based latex paint, water-based primer, water-based polyurethane, and calcium carbonate (chalk powder).
- Mix Calcium Carbonate and Water. To avoid a gritty texture, the calcium carbonate powder is first mixed with a small amount of water to create a smooth, lump-free paste.
- Combine All Components. Equal parts of paint, primer, and polyurethane are mixed together in a jar. Then, the calcium carbonate paste is added and stirred in thoroughly to complete the one-step paint.
Step 6: Paint the Dresser Body and Drawers
The custom-mixed green paint is applied to the dresser frame and all drawer fronts using a brush for cutting in and a foam roller for a smooth finish, requiring about three coats.
- Apply the First Coat. The first coat of the custom green paint is applied to the dresser frame and drawer fronts. A brush is used for detailed areas and edges, and a foam roller is used for the larger flat surfaces.
- Apply Subsequent Coats. The creator continues to apply additional coats of paint to the dresser and drawers until full, even coverage is achieved. This paint dries quickly, allowing for multiple coats in a short time.
- Tip: About three coats are needed for full, opaque coverage with this custom paint mixture.
Step 7: Apply Wax Finish to Wood Surfaces
A white decorative wax is applied with a cloth to the sanded raw wood top and the new base, sealing the wood while maintaining its light, natural appearance.
- Apply White Wax to the Top. Using a soft cloth, a thin layer of white decorative wax is rubbed onto the sanded raw wood top of the dresser. This seals the wood and gives it a light, whitewashed look.
- Wax the New Base. The same white wax finish is applied to the newly constructed wooden base and legs, creating a cohesive two-tone design that matches the top.
Step 8: Install New Hardware
New antique brass knobs are installed on all the drawers to complete the modern look of the dresser.
- Attach New Knobs. New antique brass knobs are screwed onto all twenty drawer fronts, completing the dresser's modern transformation.