Sunday, October 6, 2013

Pressboard Dresser

One of my neighbors stopped by when I was painting furniture in my garage.  He said he had an old dresser to offer to me.  He did mention it was pressboard and I tried to politely decline, but he really wanted to give it to me.
He and his son walked it over a few days later.  I was actually surprised it was in French Provincial style. The hardware was really nice!  Upon closer inspection though, the top and one side had a lot of the telltale pressboard bubbling.  

I didn't want to get rid of the dresser because it was structurally in good condition (it also weighed a ton), but I was stumped as to how to hide the bubbling.  I decided to try to distract the eye from the bubbling with some kind of painting technique.

First I painted it with two coats of SW paint in their base white mixed into homemade chalk paint.  I then took a small container and poured in a little bit of SW Seaworthy and added a lot of water to it (about a 3 to 1 ratio of water to paint).  

I then used a 4" wide chip brush to add the watered down paint across one of the drawers.  I wiped left to right, then up and down, then left and right again.  Not sure if that was necessary, but I liked the result and repeated it on all drawers and the body of the dresser.

Here's how it came out.
I think it kind of looks like a denim treatment--or maybe linen?  Or is more like a white washed look?  Either way I really like how it came out. I also switched out the hardware for ones I spray painted a bright white.  
There was an extra handle in the middle of the top drawer and since I didn't know I was going to change the hardware before I started painting, I didn't fill the holes.  I used little wood appliques I got from Michaels. I painted them white and glued them on with Aleene's Tacky glue to cover the holes.  

I distressed the edges and finished it with Minwax Finishing Paste.  You can still see the bubbling (although not in the photos I took), but it didn't look too bad--it gave a little character.
  

Linking to:
Silver Pennies | DIY Showoff  | Dwellings | Craft-O-Maniac | Coastal Charm | The Dedicated House | Rain On A Tin Roof | Homecoming | Cozy Little House | Love Grows Wild | Kathe With An E | Kammy's Korner | Table 4 Seven | Elizabeth & Co. | The Winthrop Chronicles | Not Just A Housewife | The DIY Dreamer | Savvy Southern Style | Polka Dots On Parade | Fluster Buster | The Real Housewives of Riverton | Ella Claire | The Blissful Bee | Shabby Creek Cottage | Lamberts Lately | Start At Home | Sweet Haute | Saving 4 Six | Too Much Time On My Hands | Dagmar's Home | DIY Vintage Chic | The Dedicated House | Classy Clutter | Life On Lakeshore Drive | VMG206

Featured by:
The Dedicated House
Kammy's Korner

24 comments:

  1. I love it. Maybe I will not pass up pressboard again you have inspired me to give it a try. Thanks for the great idea. Sheryl

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  2. If you end up with another pressboard piece and the problem is only on the sides or drawer fronts, ...try using some beadboard wallpaper. The vanity in my bathroom is a cheap hunk of junk. The body is made of pressboard with only the cabinet doors made with real wood. I am pretty sure the cabinet came from Heebies since just about everything else the contractor installed came from there. Not long after moving in I discovered that the contact paper or whatever it is that is applied over pressboard was peeling up from the bottom. I pulled it off and applied beadboard wallpaper and painted over it. Looks great now!

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  3. Love this color, Susan, and the treatment! I've painted lots of pressboard stuff and my clients tell me it's holding up beautifully (I think it's more about the products you use). Another beautiful makeover!

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  4. I love this transformation! What a gorgeous colour too!
    xoxo

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  5. Love the color. Does blue sell for you? It's one of my favorite colors to paint with, but I find that they take much longer to sell here in San Diego.

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  6. I amazed at how pretty it turned out. I always pass up pressboard too. It looks like a lovely cottage piece. Very soft. Great job.
    Sew Crafty Angel

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  7. Oh my goodness it is gorgeous!!! That was meant to be! It's a good thing he pushed it on you because you nailed it!!! Beautiful work!!!! And the color is stunning!!

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  8. Really like it, the color is so pretty! I'm redoing a pressboard chest of drawers and the only bubbling was on top, I sanded as far down as I could. I love the white hardware thanks for the inspiration.

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  9. Hi I don't know what pressboard is but the dresser is beautiful-love dee x

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  10. Beautiful update! Don't forget to link up to The DIY'ers. http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/10/diyers-32-and-marathon-weekend.html

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  11. It turned out really pretty. I never would have guessed this is pressboard.

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  12. I love how the finish turned out on this. Thanks for sharing at Share Your Stuff Tuesdays!

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  13. Very pretty makeover, Susan! I love the color. I've had to deal with pressboard on furniture as well. I did a little chest once that was pressboard, wood and plastic {legs} that was also in the French Provincial style.

    Thanks for always linking up to The Creative Home & Garden hop! : )

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  14. That came out absolutely gorgeous!

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  15. Oh, my, I wish you would link up your thrifty finds to my weekly "Thrifty & Vintage Finds" link party! Thrifty or vintage, either one :) I'm also absolutely addicted to garage sales and flea markets.

    http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com/2013/09/thrifty-vintage-finds-link-party-11/

    Dagmar
    Dagmar's Home

    This dresser turned out absolutely stunning.

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  16. I LOVE the finish and how you used the little appliques! Very creative : )

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  17. Love the effect you got. So pretty. It reminds me of linen. Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays. x

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  18. Holy flip! How pretty. You will be one of the features tomorrow at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  19. I agree, it does look like a denim. I love it! Thanks for linking to DIY Sunday Showcase.

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  20. You have a gift sweet friend...it's always a pleasure seeing how you turn average pieces in to beautiful treasures! GREAT transformation! Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  21. Beautiful transformation!! Thanks for sharing on DIY Sunday Showcase!

    Shelly
    minettesmaze.blogspot.com

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  22. Hi Susan, I featured your dresser on my latest link party! Thanks for linking up.

    http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com/2013/10/thrifty-vintage-finds-link-party-12/

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  23. Hi! Love how this turned out. I found you through a google image search and your picture drew me in. I have a jelly cabinet I want to paint a navy or denim blue and then do a whitewash over it. Hope mine turns out as well as yours!

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