This is what the dresser looked like after I removed the trip-fold mirror from the top, two of the drawers, and the drawer knobs:
So, after doing some research (and being a little hesitant to spend the amount of money that Annie Sloan products cost), I decided on this Renaissance Chalk Furniture Paint Deluxe Starter Kit from Amazon. For $84.99, I got a quart of Ivory Tower paint, clear wax, dark wax, a brush for each of these items, a lint-free cloth, and gloves! Since I needed all of these items, it seemed like a wise purchase. Unfortunately, I didn't read carefully and had to wait longer than the normal two days for the kit to arrive, as it doesn't ship for 2-3 days. (Once I get an idea, I'm nothing if not impatient!)
As I waited, I readied the furniture for painting by washing it down with Murphy's Oil Soap. I purchased two pieces of MDF from Home Depot and had it cut to size for the shelves that I was creating. I covered the carpet with brown paper to protect it, and removed the drawers and laid them out on the floor. Finally, the paint came and I started that very day!
The paint was definitely thick. I thought about thinning it with water, as I read some people like to do, but decided to keep it the way it came. This is what it looked like after two coats:
Since the piece would get more than a little bit of wear, I decided to coat the top in one layer of Minwax clear Polycrylic for some extra protection. Then, after it dried, I covered the top and the rest in a thin layer of clear wax, a small piece at a time. Following ideas from other blogs, I scooped out a bit at a time onto a paper plate, where I could dip the brush and evenly distribute the wax as I rubbed the brush on the plate. After buffing the clear wax, I painted on dark wax in the areas I figured would show some wear, wiping it off immediately. As I read, if it went on too heavy in places, I put a little dab of clear wax on the cloth and wiped it off, like it was an eraser. This is what the piece looked like after I finished the wax:
Last, I installed the knobs, which I also ordered from Amazon at $10.99 for 12 knobs. Once I received them, I realized the screws were slightly too long and had to purchase shorter screws from Home Depot. Then, in some places, even these were too long, so I ordered these washers from Amazon for $7.35 for 100 to ensure a snug fit. I love the way the knobs sparkle in the sun!
Finally, after letting the dresser dry for a couple of days, we moved it to its new home and set up all of the gadgets in and on it. I am pretty happy with how it turned out! What do you think???
