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 It’s time for a good old fashioned dresser before & after here at Miss Mustard Seed.  We all loves those, right?  This was a piece I did for the Lucketts fair a couple of weeks ago…


Here’s how it looked before.  Just a ho-hum dresser…

 

 

It needed a lot of repair to the drawers, which was the biggest task.  Once those were fixed, I stripped the top of the dresser to refinish the natural wood and lightly sanded the base to prep it for painting.  From the moment I bought this dresser, I envisioned it being Mustard Seed Yellow.  Beyond that, I wasn’t sure.  I just let the piece develop as I worked on it…which is usually how I work on pieces.

 

 

I highlighted the details with white acrylic paint and added little green knobs from Hobby Lobby for a little pop of color.  To me, this dresser just looks happy.


DSC_9549 (424x640)

 

I finished the piece by staining the top in Dark Walnut, lightly distressing the base with 180 grit sand paper and then applied a coat of MMS hemp oil on everything.  I found a new way I like to apply the hemp oil and I’ll share that soon.

I have a bunch of painting projects in the hopper, so more tutorials and before & afters are on their way!

 You can find a Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint retailer HERE or order online HERE.

PS – The dresser did sell at the fair, but the tole chandelier did not, surprisingly.  My dad is now rewiring it and I will sell it in my online shop when it’s up an running.

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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43 Responses

  1. Love the dresser and the detail on the drawer fronts! We just got a Hobby Lobby in our area and the first time I went in there I discovered their aisle full or awesome drawer pulls! I was like a kid in a candy store. It’s a good thing it is a 30 minute drive to my local HL. I’d be in big trouble if it was right around the corner!

  2. I like the dresser except for that odd white piece at the bottom. It looks like it doesn’t belong there. Do you think it was original or an addition? It looks like the scalloping should have continued or come to a point in the middle, yes?

    1. I agree about that odd piece at the bottom–don’t think I would have highlighted it–nor the rings around the legs

    2. I have the Exact same piece I’m refinishing in yellow too. The odd piece is original! So were the knobs. Mine is Identical but had 10 layers of cracked paint..and my drawers were falling apart as well. Cool to see the Exact same piece refurbished!

  3. I love what paint does to a tired looking wood piece. And your milk paint colors are just so fun. If I ever get caught up a bit on my sewing projects I am going to use some more of your paint on some pieces I have waiting on me!

  4. This may be a silly question, but I having trouble with the stripping/staining process. The last time I stripped a piece to restain the top, it had deep scratches/gouges before that were still there after stripping. So, I used the orbital sander to try to smooth the scratches in that area. It didn’t get completely smooth but helped. But, when I stained that area where I had sanded was so much lighter and it looked awful.
    Is this because of uneven sanding? How do you avoid this with pieces that are worn?

    1. Hi Hayley. I just thought I’d throw my thoughts in…I do believe it’s because you only sanded the roughed-up areas (correct?). Next time, just be sure to sand the entire surface (if you didn’t initially) to ensure an even grain. Sometimes the grain can get raised for different reasons (humidity, sanding, etc.) and that will affect its absorption of your stain. Hope this helps! :o)

  5. It DOES look happy! I love yellow and this little lady is so cute! Great job. 🙂

    Gail

  6. Happy is exactly the right word for this piece! Did I notice some new links to the master bedroom and kitchen? Looks great!

  7. Love this! I bought your paint and it came in the mail last night. So excited to get to repurposing!!!!

  8. Dresser just sings – and the tole chandelier was made to go with it!
    Do you think (for the rest of us less talented junkin’ neophytes..lol) that you could do a post on some of the various furniture damage and repair techniques you encounter, please?
    Thanks.

  9. Hi Marian, happy Tuesday! Are you doing all your painting by hand now that you use exclusively milk paint? That’s what it looks like in the close ups. Do you spray anymore at all? Was hoping for a tutorial using the sprayer. Hope your PA weather is gorgeous today like ours, nice for painting 🙂

  10. Perfect color, perfect detail accents. Happy, happy, happy! One of my favorite colors in your line of paint. Thanks for the eye candy.

  11. What a great job! It looks fantastic. I’m having trouble using the milk paint. It dried extremely muted, and had a chalky texture residue when I ran my hand across it. Any suggestions?

  12. Great transformation. Love how you highlighted the details. Come by and check out my one of a kind transformation on my teapot floor lamp. I think you will love it.

  13. Dresser was pretty even in its original state, but Mustard Seed Yellow and all the other little accents made it absolutely adorable. Yes, it does look very happy. 🙂

  14. How interesting. I didn’t think the tole chandelier would sell. Dunno why, but I remember having that thought. But I DO think it’ll sell online. Go figure.
    Nice finish on the dresser. Glad it sold as well as so many of your other items. Looking forward to your online shop. Go MMS!

  15. It turned out beautiful. I love the white details on the yellow. So feminine and cheerful.

  16. It’s a lovely dresser and I really like the color! I wish I had your knack for furniture re-doing. I tried to make a simple bench today and it became the project from h e double-hockeysticks! I have been taking pictures though so will be blogging about it at some point LOL Right now I’m going to get in a cold shower because my garage in the hot Georgia sun had to be in the 90s!

  17. A quick question … Was this painted once or twice with the
    Mustard color. I have this color & was curious about coverage.
    Thanks … And I love the way it turned out!

  18. Oh, I want the chandelier too! I have the perfect spot for it! Maybe you could put all of our names in a hat! Love the dresser too!

  19. Yes, it looks so happy! Love the colors you used and the green knobs. Does the paint NOT chip at all with certain techniques? I so want to try it but don’t want any chippy look. Love the yellow!

  20. In defense of the ornamental molding painted white at the bottom of the dresser, I have to say that I find it anchors the heavier/larger ornament above, and balances the entire dresser face in a most unusual and surprising way! The colour division used makes this very clear to the eye – go back and just gaze at it for a few moments… you’ll never see this happen at IKEA!

  21. I am in love with piece! The color, the embellishments…just an amazing transformation..

  22. Hi Marian,
    Another beauty indeed! Love the extra touches! We are doing the same as you in the bathrooms. We are in the process of putting in an old dresser to use as the vanity. Im wondering what top coat you would recommend on a stained top in the bathroom. I just recently tried the wax on my stained top buffet because I hate the brush stocks that polycrylic leaves. The waxed top looks great but seemed like it took forever to cure. I have a cat who likes to get on top of it and he leaves kitty prints. The polycrylic doesn’t do that. I know it sounds like I used too much wax but I wiped it pretty good for a week straight everyday! Any suggestions?

  23. This turned out so lovely! It sounds like we worked on pieces in a similar fashion. I’m not always sure what I’ll end up with. Even if I have an idea, 9 out of 10 times it changes half way through painting a piece!

  24. Hello, I am interested in the toile chandelier posted on your yellow dresser..could you give me info on how to possibly purchase this item? Thanks

    Tracy

  25. Love the dresser and the color!!! That is a beautiful piece!!! I would Love to have that chandelier!!!!

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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