Most of the time when I buy in the Rusty By Design Auction I don’t go preview the items. I have shopped their auction house for many years, pretty much from the opening. I have never been disappointed at all. Now, I have left the auction house on pick up day and though OMG I can’t believe I got that piece for such a great price. If you are looking for a perfect piece that you don’t have to do any repairs then you should go preview any auction to view the item first. I’ve just always had great luck and don’t really go to previews anymore. Their descriptions are always spot on and truthful.
I found this dresser that had great bones but needed lots of TLC. The description said it needed TLC so I knew what I was getting myself into. It had pieces of trim missing along with dry and cracked wood. A clear discoloration to the front of the dresser but the hardware was fantastic. Along with that fantastic hardware the body and drawers were stable as an ox. No need to do any wood repairs.
I cleaned it up and found a few concerns. First there was chipping wood on many spots of the trim. I used a putty knife to chip away all the pieces not attached. I try to make damage some how a part of the shabby chic design. Second that stain. Not sure at all what it was or what caused it. Almost looked like the stain darkened because of light or maybe even water damage. Sometimes when you have a stain you have to treat it or it will come through the paint no matter how many coats. My best defense against stains on furniture is to coat it with Defender first. Defender is a clear coat I offer in my line of paint that will seal the wood once applied.
Now I was ready to apply the paint and restore this beauty back to life for many more years. I used Pure White Chalk paint from Chalk Country. It took 3 coats to cover the dark wood. After drying I used my electric sander to shabby it all up. The missing trim pieces turned out to be what made it so very beautiful. The sanding process gave it an extreme shabby chic look that you just can’t get with a perfect piece. I was so excited that the Defender sealed the stain and it never came through to destroy its beauty. Defender was the 2 final coats to finish off the piece. I returned the original hardware back to the piece and it was stunning on the newly restored dresser.
When I start a piece I really never know what I’m going to end up with. I can plan, design and create but in the end the piece commands the outcome. I love redoing these old pieces. They are getting harder and harder to find as we fill our homes with proceed furniture that isn’t real wood. It’s really kinda sad. This beautiful dresser is now sitting on the sales floor at BoHo Buffalo in Waco Texas. I know it will serve someone well as it is now a restored life piece.
