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Serendipity – Dresser Before & After

I love happy accidents.

This dresser was a happy accident. 
Someone had left it in an attic or barn or somewhere where it was exposed to heat.  This heat made the poly finish bubble and it eventually cooled and hardened, leaving an amazing alligator skin texture.  This would be a bad thing to most people.  To me, it gave a texture I can’t begin to reproduce. 

Another happy accident was me being a little sloppy with the paint stripper I used on the top.  Some of it stuck to the sides and the result was this amazing crazing in places. 
I ran out of my signature glass knobs, so I used some carved bone knobs I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  Another happy accident.  They are perfect for the piece, but not what I originally had in mind. 

If you read my blog, you know I’m into nice legs.  These legs?  Nice.  Oh yeah.  You can whistle.  I won’t be jealous.

This is one of those pieces I would love to keep, but it really needs to go to my space at Lucketts.  Just a part of this business. 

Whoever buys it had better love and cherish it always…

…and whistle at the legs every now and then. 
There were tons of questions about waxes and I knew there would be.  Do not dismay; I will definitely share more. 

I linked this to TDC’s Before and After Party. 

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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76 Responses

  2. I scored a dresser with that same kinda of patina for free a few months ago, just loved it! I only stripped the top and painted it blue but left the bottom stained, just did a little touch up. Perfection!

  6. Oh, my! Perfect!

    A friend of mine spray painted something and was complaining because it crackled. I'm having a hard time convincing her that it's great and people do that deliberately. (She's not into chippy shabby.)

  12. Marian it's perfectly Miss Mustardseed. Do you worry at all about weather conditions at your Lucketts space? It seems so open to the elements even with all the 'walls' you made. Also, what about theft? Do they seal it up somehow? Just curious.

  14. If I had your job and your talent I would never make any money because I would keep everything for myself!! Love this piece. If I lived closer I would buy it up right now, but Alabama is a little far 🙁
    And you weren't kidding – those ARE some nice legs!
    Love the blog! Off to watch the wax video which I was interrupted from earlier when the baby woke up from his nap.

  23. I'm having trouble letting go of some of the things I paint too. When you put your heart into creating something you want whoever buys it to love it as much as you do. I really like the blue color you've been using!
    Jodie

  26. Oh just love this! If I lived closer I would buy that so fast – and of course give you visiting rights. 🙂 Thinking maybe I could find a spot in MY barn where the heat gets terrible..mmmmmm.and put a few of the pieces I have waiting to paint…

  30. You have made it such a pretty furniture piece now its lovely. I am trying to make a decision on a chair I want to upholster I have a few ideas if you have time to blog hop over to my little blog space I would really love & apprecitae your opinion (this is a first time challenge for me)

  33. I have a small booth and am having a hard time "letting go" of things for it – not things I've had for a while – but things I found at a great price and loved. Yikes. Better get my 'business' head back into place! That piece is beautiful. Do you ever share your favorite paint colors? Would love to know that one.
    -Trish

  34. Gorgeous!
    and I am whistling at those legs.
    Hopefully one day I will be able to make it to Luckett's. I am hoping for a late spring trip up that way.

  35. The color of the dresser and you did a beautiful job making it so YOU. I'm with the rest of the comments, don't know how you sell such great stuff. My house would look like a furniture store "-)

  37. Fantastic accident Marian, and I really love those knobs, they caught my eye first, but I definitely checked out the legs too!

  38. My only question about waxes is "how much do i owe you for ALL of the free advice?" I am so happy that you appear in my in box everyday :-))

    I need to save up for a big old chalk paint splurge!!

  39. Beautiful…. as always…. Really amazing pieces that you bring back to life!!!! Also, maybe I am behind the times… but I just happened to pick up a Cottges & Bungalows magazine at Lowes on Monday and guess who is featured ???!??!! congratulations, 🙂 Terri

  40. I'm new to your blog, and I LOVE it! Love how that dresser turned out for you. I need to look at these chalk paints you are talking about, I've been wanting to tackle my china cabinet and buffet, and they do have legs to whistle at as well! :o)

    I'm wondering how the chalk paint would work on kitchen cabinets? Need to look into that. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, it is very much appreciated!

  45. Could you tell us what color paint you used on this? I've been desperately searching for a grayish paint, and this looks like it could be perfect. Thanks so much. I love what you do!

  46. That dresser turned out amazingly well. I am so in love with it! If I lived closer, I'd surely snatch it up right away for my nursery. It'd be perfect.

  47. Absolutely AHHHMAZING!!! 🙂 Don't you love it when accidents turn out in your favor? Some of my favorite 'redo's' have happened just that way! Great job!

  56. You crack me up! Get it? I think there are barns full of stuff for you to paint in this genre. Maybe you could get a grant from the government because you will be keeping all this stuff out of the land fill and recycling it. Annie Sloan has an old book on Amazon about making your own paint. Maybe her chalk paint recipe is in there. Centsational girl made chalk board paint last week with grout. I wonder if your chalk paint has grout in it. I think you'd better caption each post with the color and type of paint you use. You are getting such a large readership that some people haven't had time to read your old posts. Ann

  59. whistling…cat calls…drooling too.

    That color is a divine!

    Chalkboard paint on the clay pots…cute, cute, cute.

    I agree with Nutbird…oooh, how about in your spare time maybe crank out an eBook! I would buy it up in a heartbeat!

  73. Hi Marian,

    Beautiful dresser. It looks so gorgeous! Do you only distress with waxes now and not any other kind of distressing medium? The techniques are changing so fast that I'm having trouble keeping up. I seemed to have a really heavy hand with the glazing and spent more time taking off and trying to make the piece look right then I did putting it on.

    My second question is about drawers and doors on painted pieces. Jennifer and I have painted several dressers, a sideboard, two china cabinets and a dresser with a hutch. All of the doors and drawers are sticking. Should we not have painted the sides of the drawers and doors? Should they be sanded down to compensate for the extra "height" that the primer and paint will add? Or should the space that the drawer fits in be sanded down a bit? We've tried waxing them and soaping them, without success. We bought some chalk paint at Round Top and can't wait to try it and of course that will help with our problem since the layers on the drawers and doors will be less. But now we have all of this furniture painted that we can't pry the drawers and doors open! What a mess! Any help and advice will be appreciated. As always, love your information and your tutorials. Reading your blog is always a learning experience and we look forward to them. We missed you while at Round Top!

    Paula

  76. Hello! I just stumbled across your blog and LOVE IT! I have a dresser that is very similar to this one you have posted and would love to know how you went about it? I love everything from the distressing to the color choice. Im very new at this refinishing so any tips you can give would help a lot! Do you stain it before painting, what paint did you use? etc Thanks for your help!!!
    ashleynbarry@gmail.com

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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