Painted MCM Dresser With A Light Wood Base

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Front view 9 drawer mcm dresser painted in a smoky brown with a light wood base and brass pulls.

In these quick guides, I walk through the steps I took and the products I used for a particular makeover. Interested in learning more about a particular step or process? Check out the links at the bottom of this post where I go into greater detail on each step.


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Steps I took to create this look:

  1. Cleaned the entire piece with this degreaser followed by Dawn dish soap and water.
  2. Sprayed all non-finished areas (inside, bottom, back) with OdoBan to get rid of the old furniture smell.
  3. Fixed lifting veneer with wood glue. These blunt-ended syringes are really helpful for getting the glue in hard-to-reach areas (like under veneer).
  4. Repaired areas with missing veneer with All Purpose Bondo and minor scratches with Bondo Glazing and Spot Putty.
  5. Removed the finish from the top legs using Stripwell QCS Finish Remover.
  6. Applied a paint wash to the legs using the color Stone by Melange Paints.
  7. Scuff sanded the body and drawers of the dresser with 220 grit sandpaper.
  8. Primed body and drawers with shellac.
  9. Painted body and drawers with Melange Paints in the color Fiddle by Firelight.
  10. Sealed the entire piece (body, drawers, and legs) with Polyvine Wax Finish Varnish.
  11. Added peel-and-stick wallpaper for drawer liners.
  12. Cleaned existing hardware with Brasso.
Front view 9 drawer mcm dresser painted in a smoky brown with a light wood base and brass pulls.
Angled view of 9 drawer mcm dresser painted in a smoky brown with a light wood base and brass pulls.
Inside the top drawer of the dresser with patterned circle and dots wallpaper as a drawer liner.
Front top corner photo highlighting the brass hardware.
Front bottom corner photo highlighting the raw wood leg and base.

Want to learn more about each step? Check out the links below:

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Angled view of 9 drawer mcm dresser painted in a smoky brown with a light wood base and brass pulls.

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