Funky Junk Interiors

 

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Fabric pattern stenciled dresser makeover

Remember the boy’s room/guest room/sewing room project in the making?

I finally have a long awaited update that has been a total game changer for added sewing storage I’ve required! And it’s a cutie too!

* Be sure to also catch the video at the end of this post that shows how to work with each pattern!

During one bike trail ride as I head towards the forest, I passed this dresser sitting on the curb.

I had dreamed of housing a dresser for sewing storage in the corner of the sewing room part of this bedroom. So I was ecstatic to come across this gem!

The dresser had obviously occupied a young girl’s room, showcasing flower decals and glass pulls in which some were missing… too bad. They were pretty!

Regardless, the piece was in exceptional condition, and upon further inspection, I took note how deep the drawers were and how tall the piece was. Now that’s some decent hidden storage for all the sewing nicknacks required!

Plus, painting it up in a fun way to chime in with the room would offer up the excuse to get ultra creative!

#winning

While I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards this particular vintage furniture style, I fell hard for this lovely woodwork detail along the front. I knew immediately this needed to be white to resemble lace!

So before the bike tires even hit the gravel forest trails, I quickly head home first so I could come back with my truck to pick up this little number.

Fabric pattern stenciled dresser makeover

 

How I prepped:

• Cleaned with Fusion Mineral Paint’s non-toxic TSP
• Light sanding with palm sander to apply tooth for new paint
• Find a Fusion Mineral Paint local retailer from HERE

I first removed the decals, cleaned it, then sanded the paint to give it some tooth for the new paint to stick to.

Once I brought it into the room,I was ecstatic to note it was the PERFECT size.

But this is where the delay kicked in. It sat for a long time in this condition. Reason being, I actually liked the original colour and how the sanding gave it a weathered appearance. Sorda… fabric-like! So my intended direction needed to hit pause while I thought on it more.

After my summer trip to Hawaii, I once again walked into this room, and still visioned what I originally wanted to do with it. DONE!

My vision: a white dresser (so the dresser would loose some power against the white wall as the size was hefty!) with fabric-looking drawer fronts, since it would be housing sewing essentials.

This would be fun challenge!

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How I painted:

• After cleaning, I applied Fusion Mineral Paint’s Casement in long, even strokes with a quality brush.
• I did some light sanding with 320 grit in between the two coats.

The dresser first got two coats of Fusion Mineral Paint’s Casement. I used a quality rectangle brush, and applied even strokes.

Fusion dries quickly, so it’s best to get the paint on nice and smooth, then leave it be so it has a chance to level. If you continue to brush it, it builds texture on the drying paint, causing brush strokes.

I also sanded with 320 grit in between coats to achieve the smoothest finish possible. What a difference!

• Drawers were numbered before removal.
• The drawers were painted in 2 coats of rotating colours using Fusion’s Coal Black and Casement using a quality brush.

While the dresser was curing upstairs, I first numbered all 4 drawers, then brought them downstairs to my photo studio to get the royal fabric-look treatment.

I first rotated the drawers with Fusion’s Coal Black and Casement.

You may note some texture… which was done with intention. I attempted to build up a fabric-like texture but honestly, the paint leveled so well, you can’t even see it now anyway. LOL

About the stencils:

• Patterned stencils from Funky Junk’s Old Sign Stencils were positioned as desired.
• Colours were then selected to work well with each other. (listed further down this post)

Then it was time to decide what pattern would go where.

I grabbed 4 stencils, then dreamed up what tones to use where.

In order from left to right:

Houndstooth-large

Buffalo Check – large

Argyle – large

Plaid Shirt

Find ALL PATTERN STENCILS HERE

My main colour goals were black, white and a soft mocha so it would bring in warmth to work well with the antique wood in the room.

Stencil Tips:

Be sure to watch the video at the end of this post, which shares how to work with each pattern! However, here’s a few quick tips on how it was done:

Argyle (above) – Because a true argyle rotates different coloured diamonds side-by-side, I taped 4 envelopes together to create a template around each diamond, so I wouldn’t go over the lines. It worked great!

Plaid Shirt (above) – Since I started with the thin lines first, I painted them the darkest. The thicker lines that went on top were much softer as to not overpower the drawer too much.

And then they were done! Aren’t they the cutest?!

And the stenciled drawer fronts really did resemble fabric, thanks to using a super dry-to-the-touch brush to create a slightly uneven effect!

Learn stencil basics HERE

I couldn’t run to the dresser fast enough to fit in the finished drawers! Each one slid in effortlessly and then I added odds and sods for drawer pulls since I didn’t have any standard type at home.

A lock, rusty junk, hooks, a spool of thread… hey, whatever looked good and worked went on!

Saved me around $40 on new pulls, right?!

And I’m not exactly known for my standard ways… you may remember THIS DRESSER with rusty junk pulls as well.

Drawer Details:

Houndstooth – Large stencil HERE

Drawer painted in Coal Black

Houndstooth was stenciled in Casement

Learn how to stencil with Houndstooth HERE

Argyle – Large stencil HERE

Drawer painted in Casement

Diamonds were rotated in Coal Black and Goddess Ashwagandha

Thin lines were stenciled on top in Algonquin

Learn how to stencil with Argyle HERE

Buffalo Check – Large stencil HERE

Drawer painted in Coal Black

Buffalo Check was stenciled in Casement on top

Learn how to stencil with Buffalo Check HERE

Plaid Shirt stencil HERE (is a 2-piece stencil with thin and thick lines that overlap.)

Drawer painted in Casement

Thinner lines were stenciled in Coal Black

Thicker lines were stenciled over top in Goddess Ashwagandha

Learn how to stencil with Plaid Shirt HERE

Video how-to:

 

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Click above to watch a short video on how to stencil each pattern!

Music: Happiness by www.bensound.com

So, from this…

… to this, has me totally smitten about that dresser! And the room is looking so much more complete!

Plus I now have a ton of sewing storage, making this room pretty much a wrap!

Except… oh never mind. You’ll be seeing this room again soon. Because, is a room ever really done?!

What do you think of the fabric pattern stenciled dresser makeover? How would you have painted it for the room yourself?

See the rest of this room series HERE

Find all the stencils from HERE

And all stencil projects from HERE

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