Painted drawers

[Wing]

I had an old set of drawers in the garage that were practical but very marked and ugly. I thought I would try to make them more attractive and individual. After sanding the body, the drawer fronts and all the sides, I sanded the top back to the wood as I wanted to give that a varnished honey colour. I then set about varnishing the top. The body of the drawers were painted with three coats of matt white paint. Once that was completed, I painted the four round wooden feet with matt black paint and then I hammered in some padded sliders to the feet bases. That finished the drawer body. I then drew a picture using thick lines that would be large enough to cover the three stacked drawers. I traced this picture onto the three drawer fronts in pencil. I painted along the lines to outline the image in the same stain/varnish I used for the top. Once that was complete, I painted in between those thick lines with the matt white paint and filled in the gaps with white. I painted the inside of the drawers with more white paint and lined the inside bases with shiny white contact paper. The old drawer handles were replaced with three simple handles in matt black to match the feet. The patterned drawers were then put in place to complete the project.

Materials

Matt black paint https://www.bunnings.com.au/white-knight-100ml-black-flat-strokes-and-splashes-paint_p1564477

White matt paint. Maple stain and Varnish water-based https://www.bunnings.com.au/cabot-s-250ml-maple-water-based-stain-and-varnish-250ml_p1520311 Handles https://www.bunnings.com.au/taskmaster-34mm-matte-black-round-cabinet-knobs-4-pack_p0296753  Felt sliders  https://www.bunnings.com.au/surface-gard-30mm-nail-on-felt-pad-8-pack_p0312628

Tools

My sanders were used on all surfaces. https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-palm-sander-rps18-tool-only_p0371771. I used an orbital sander for the larger areas. Paint brushes and screw drivers.

Steps

Step 1

The first job was to get the old drawers up on my horses so I could start seeing what I was up against. The old drawer handles were removed.

Step 2

Sanding the three drawers and the body of the unit took a long time and covered the whole garage and car with sawdust.

Step 3

Staining and varnishing the top surface was the fun part. I then began tracing the outline of my image that would cover the three drawer fronts. I then painted a thick outline on the pencil line of the image. This was on all three drawers. 

Step 4

When the three drawers had their images added I then painted around the lines with white paint. This needed two coats so it took a long time to finish

Step 5

Once the three drawers were painted then the new handles could be screwed in. 

Step 6

All drawers were finished with painting, handles and were then added to the painted body of the unit.

[JacobZ]

Hi @Wing,

Thank you for sharing your beautifully restored drawers.

The design is absolutely fantastic and gives your drawers such a unique look. The intricate design must have taken a huge amount of time to get just right.

I hope you are extremely proud of what you've achieved. I am a big fan.

Jacob

[Dave-1 · Accepted solution]

Good Afternoon @Wing 

Nice effort and worth it You have created something trully yours and very indervidual  

Will you be adding to your collection with further piece sin the same painted style?

Dave

[Wing]

Thanks Dave, for your kind and motivational comments about my painted drawers. As for adding to my new collection, I may need to find a dodgy piece of furniture by the side of the road, as my garage is now devoid of sad items in need of some TLC. Jana

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @Wing 

Crunchy truck day or the days before always have "dodgy" pieces of furniture around And the efforts the Bunnings community members have put in converting these to a modern / retro / new look is amazing. I can imagine seeing two community members screeching to a stop next to the pile of "stuff" and trying to get to the bits first

Dave