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First, I want to thank Stacy from Red Door Home for featuring Miss Mustard Seed as the blog of the month for March.  She is the one who inspired my color choice for my living and dining room.  Read her feature to find out how.
If you’ve been reading my blog the past few days, you know I’ve been working on my second Union Jack Dresser.  Just click to read part one and part two
And now…the reveal.

Last night I applied the second coat of white and red on the flag and allowed it to dry overnight. 

This morning I sanded the entire piece with a coarse sand paper.  I sanded all edges down to the wood and only lightly sanded the flat surfaces. 

After wiping off the dust with a rag, I applied a dark wax on the entire dresser.  The dark wax (made by Minwax) antiques the paint, brings out the richness of the wood exposed by sanding and protects the piece. 

Simply rub the wax on with a rag, allow it to dry to a haze and then buff with a clean cloth.  I use scrap canvas drop cloth leftover from my slipcover and upholster projects. 

I had some questions about painting around keyholes.  I simply painted around them.  Now, I recognize that I have a very steady hand, so this is not possible for everyone.  Just keep a wet rag handy to wipe away any paint you get on the brass.  Another trick is to sand the key holes once the paint is dry.  I sanded these keyholes lightly with the palm sander and it actually buffs the brass.
Sanding the edges makes the distressing look natural, since that is where normal wear happens.

The top was stained in Minwax dark walnut and waxed with one coat of dark wax. 

I had a fun time staging the dresser in a masculine/vintage vignette.  I kept the vignette simple and neutral with warm woods and contrasting textures. 
The picture on the right is of my great, great uncle, Garland Estes Vaughan.  Isn’t that a dapper name?  He was killed shortly after his college graduation in a car accident. 

Some white flowers are bunched into a silver relay race trophy from the 1920’s.

I found the wooden dumbbell at an antique store for $9.  I thought that was such a steal, since they are usually around $20.

I leaned a small wooden handled brush against a loose stack of books.  I found it at an antique store for $3.00.

The smaller picture is of my maternal grandfather as a boy in a homemade sailboat.  He died about a year and a half ago and I really miss him.  He was an amazing man and my oldest son was named after him. 

So, just to recap, here’s the before (it did have drawers, they were taken out to move the piece)…
…and the after.
It’s going to The Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts, Virginia, to sell, if you’re interested!
Miss Mustard Seed

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    58 Comments

    1. Heidi@TheCraftMonkey

      Thanks for sharing your techniques & your fabulous works of art! I LOVE this dresser! And you've totally started a new trend in blog land!

    2. Ali Richardson

      You have such a wonderful gift! Amazing. Seriously amazing!

    3. Tanya

      Such an amazing piece! What a way to start a conversation…LOVE IT!

    4. Katie

      This looks as awesome as the first piece! And thanks so much for sharing about the dark miniwax! I never would have thought about that! I love how it knocks out two jobs at once!!

    5. Gina

      Oh that looks so awesome!!! I love it!! <3

    6. Fiona

      You're the Queen of furniture revival! Well done. What sort of money will you sell this for?

    7. freckled laundry

      He's a good lookin' boy. LOVE paste wax.

      Hugs,
      Jami

    8. lvroftiques

      Again……LOVE IT!! Vanna

    9. Into Vintage

      Gorgeous! And thanks for all the technique tips too. I bet this will sell in a minute!

    10. Karen

      Wow Marion, that looks amazing.I love the dark stained top with the blue and red and the glass knobs are perfect,they let the Union Jack design shine and add a little sparkle. It is fabulous!

    11. SweetMelissa

      Love your tutes! And those photos…priceless!

      Missy-JunkFest

    12. Yanet @ 3 Sun Kissed Boys

      Oh this is so gorgeous!! Now, how do you keep the dark wax from making the white not looking dingy?

    13. Kai

      Thanks for the tutorial. I'm going to try to make a version for my entryway – can't wait!

    14. Corn in my Coffee-Pot

      MMS– your turn around on a piece of furniture. You work LONG HOURS… it's plain to see.
      This chest of drawers looks fabulous…

      Had to laugh at Fiona's question regarding the KIND of money~~

      US Legal Tender… cold hard cash! That's what I'd take for it…LOL.

      very nice.

    15. stormygirl

      I love it! You have done yet another outstanding piece! It may take me a while to find the 'right' chest of drawers, but I am going to try this one day. It's perfect…again!! Well done!

    16. Little Miss Penny Wenny

      Looks just as fab as the first one. I love the pieces you staged for the photo shoot. Fabulous family heirloom pics.

    17. Mel

      Another great piece of work. I am loving the iconic Union Jack too.

    18. white life©

      Fantastic job – looks wonderful with your decoration. I could imagine this dresser very well as a soloist before a long white wall.

      Hugs

      Tine

    19. Red Door Home

      Love the dresser and the styling! You have such creativity and it always shows in everything you do!

    20. Carol Bennett

      Wow, Marian, that is just great looking! You are so talented!
      Carol in GA

    21. KATHY

      That looks fantastic!!

      Kathy

    22. irish rebel

      Absolutely fantastic, What is the color of Blue that you used?

    23. One Cheap B*tch

      I am just so smitten with that dresser and you decorated it so beautifully. Sigh, if I had half of your creative genius…

      Jeanine

    24. www.MaisonStGermain.com

      You are the Queen of Cool:) That dresser (and everything you touch) is amazing. I am so glad that you blog and share your wonderful talents with us. Thank You!!!
      ~Debra xxx
      Capers of the vintage vixens

    25. Caroline (Piorra Maison)

      You do not disappoint, the dresser looks great. I love the vignette you created.

    26. Princess Danell

      Gor-juss! Your little Union Jack is fab! Thanks for the painting/finishing details. I have been working on a console/dresser project and I think dark wax will be the way to complete it. Brilliant. Will send link if I can get it done this weekend!

    27. Amy

      Love it!! It would look so cute in one of my boy's rooms but I think shipping it to Indiana might be a little costly! I'll just have to try it one of these days but I am sure will not turn out near as beautiful as yours!

    28. SueBee

      I learn from you every day….I should start a blog…what I learn from Miss Mustard Seed each day!!!

    29. MommaHen

      This dresser would be a huge hit here in Ky! I love the dark wax. I've never used an aging wax. I'm going to have to try and find some . I love the results!

    30. Jeanie

      Really nice job; love seeing your finished pieces and thanks for sharing the steps–for now, I will live vicariously through you. 🙂

    31. The Old Block House

      Absolutely stunning. I've added the dark wax to the shopping list for the next trip out of town, as our little pittstop doesn't carry it. Can't wait to give it a try.

    32. Amy in CA

      Wow! I am putting away inspiration ideas for my 7 year old son's future room (about a year away). This dresser is now on the list! He wants to go from a twin bed to a bunk bed, and I will be selling all of his furniture as a matched set — and keeping my eyes open for a dresser that I can buy and transform as you have done.

      You are simply marvelous, dear! 🙂

      Amy

    33. Full Circle Creations

      I love the dresser. You do such amazing work. Thanks for being such an inspiration!

    34. maggie

      I. LOVE. IT. !! Thanks for sharing your redo techniques with us! Love the staging, too. You are just so ultra-talented.

    35. Mary in VA

      Marian, the glass knobs on this piece are perfect!

    36. grammy and papi

      Love Union Jack Jr. Thanks for sharing your techniques, you are awesome.

      Have a God Filled Day
      Shirley

    37. Maria (Magia Mia)

      Another masterpiece, Marian. Well done. You're a smart marketing cookie using the Union Jack design, since I just saw it in the Resto Hardware catalog. Whatever you charge for it, it's surely not enough. 🙂 I've always finished my pieces with a tinted glaze, but I'm really intrigued by the wax technique, so I think I need to play with that!

    38. Pamma

      Marian—This is just beautiful. Such a beautiful job!
      Thank you so much for sharing, again.
      Best regards,
      ~Pam
      pamspaintparlor.typepad.com

    39. Cindi @ Rustique Art

      Love your before and after…the tutorial helps boost my confidence that I could and should try this.

      I just need someone to push me off of this cliff. I used to not think a thing about painting
      something…now I just sit on the edge and watch.

      Time to dive in!

      Cindi
      rustiqueartblog.com

    40. nicreilly

      Out of curiosity, how do you price the items that you going to sell?

    41. Dear Lillie

      If I ever have a boy I think I would want to design the entire room around this fabulous piece!

    42. Rachel @ SuiteRevival

      Wow!!! That is stunning and I LOVE that fan! It's beautiful…good job!

    43. Richella

      Oh, Marian. Oh, oh, oh. It's easy to see why Union Jack #1 sold so quickly, and I have no doubt this one will follow that one within days. I'm such an Anglophile, so this really speaks to me. And I love the way you accessorized the top for the photo shoot. Once again–oh, oh, oh!

    44. The Taylor Family

      A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!! I love this dresser. Your blog is so inspirational to me. Thank you for sharing all of your FANTASTIC work! 🙂 I can't tell from your photo's, but did you stain the top of your first Union Jack Dresser like you did with junior?

    45. Princess Danell

      Question: I've been all over town today looking for dark wax. Can only find natural. Where can I find dark wax?

    46. Erika

      This dresser us uber fab! Thanks for sharing all of your ideas…you are such an inspiration!

    47. jennifer

      This dresser caught my eye! It looks fantastic… I would absolutely LOVE something like this in my home. Just love how the original integrity of the piece is perserved here too! You are an inspiration. Thanks so much.

    48. coreyadom

      Thanks a lot for sharing for dark miniwax! Never would have to think about it! Like how it knocks, two tasks at once!
      French country furniture

    49. Heidi

      I learn so much from your blog!!! This art from Winterberry Cottage is so creative and fun – I love the look! I especially love the Which Way Do I Go, Blue butterfly, Book plate #1, and Point Me in the Right Direction. hfeury@gmail.com

    50. Kelly @ JAX does design

      Love, love, LOVE it! You did an amazing job of creating a beautiful antique-looking piece. Plus the Union Jack is fantastic!

    51. Tara

      I love this! Just read part one and two and wondering, it looks like you didnt prime it first? Can I ask why? This was done with regular Sherwin Williams paint (not chalk paint)? Thanks!

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