Upcycled coastal-style timber dresser

Sand the timber top to bare wood with a corded orbital sander. Start with 60 grit to strip the original finish, then progress to 80 grit, then finish with 120 grit. Scuff sand the rest of the unit so that the primer has something to adhere to, and give it another wipe to remove the sanding dust.

Step 3

Apply the shellac primer to the rest of the unit using a paint brush and roller (optional, but makes it easier to cover larger surfaces).

Note: Shellac based primer needs to be cleaned up with methylated sprits, so use a cheap paint brush that you can throw it away + a paint tray liner to make clean up much easier.

Step 4

Once the primer has had time to cure (1-3 days is best - this prevents the primer from scratching off easily), paint the unit with at least 2 coats of white paint.

Step 5

Apply 3 coats of liming white stain and varnish to the top (you can use a dish sponge), allowing at least 2 hours between each coat and giving it a light sand with a fine sanding block in between.

Step 6

Add hardware of your choosing to the draws and voila!

EricL

Hello @vividupcycling

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your upcycled timber dresser.

What a beautiful transformation, removing the mirrors and small drawers at the top has definitely transformed the look and character of the dresser. I love the colour you've chosen for the cabinet body and sealing the timber top in its natural state has really given it a fantastic coastal look and feel. The timber drawer knobs add a nice touch and provides a nice contrast to the dresser front.

Again, thank you for sharing such a marvellous project.

Eric

Akanksha

Terrific work, @vividupcycling! Your upcycled dresser perfectly exudes coastal vibes and I'm sure it makes for a great feature in your bedroom. What advice would you have for someone who wants to attempt a similar project? Were there any tools or materials that you found particularly useful for this project?

I'm a huge fan of upcycling myself and so are many of our members. We've recognised some of their work in our collection of Upcycled buffets and also in 8 ways to bring coastal style to your home. I won't be surprised to find your project in a similar list one day.

Let me also extend a warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community! It's an absolute delight to have you here and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your great work.

Akanksha

Dave-1

Good afternoon @vividupcycling

Man, So many nice jobs at bringing back old furnishings! Love what you have done. The nicesest part about it is if you went out to buy the same you would be out several hundred dollars or more. The second best part is that you have done it, you have brought something back from going to the tip and given it a whole new life

I liked how you staged the timing between coats and also cleaninh with metho. Something I possibly would have just cruiesed through. Certainly woth the detail.

Dave

vividupcycling

Thank you Eric! 😊

vividupcycling

Thanks Akanksha! My top tips for anyone starting out or wanting to attempt something similar:

- Use a corded orbital sander. I started with a battery powered sander and it use to take me so much longer to sand as it doesn't have as much power!

- Use 60 grit sandpaper to strip the initial stain/finish. Some people avoid it thinking it's too course, but it's totally fine to use and will save you time when used appropriately.

- Always prime your piece, even if you're using chalk paint, and especially when using a light colour paint to finish. I skipped this once when I first started DIY-ing (as I was using white chalk paint) and ended up getting so much tannin bleed-through (i.e. yellow stains coming through from the timber) that I had to start over. Primer is the only thing that will stop this!

- Shellac primer may have a strong smell to it, but it's the best I've found to prime furniture with. You can still use this primer without scuff sanding as it adheres to surfaces really well and it cures quickly, and is also the best at stopping tannin bleed-through if you do choose to scuff-sand your piece.

vividupcycling

Thanks Dave!

The details are definitely important - I made so many mistakes when I first started!

Akanksha

Wonderful advice and practical tips. I'm sure our members will appreciate them.

Thanks for sharing, @vividupcycling.

Akanksha