One thing I just can't get enough of is finding unique ways to repurpose old "left-overs". Ugly, unwanted pieces that are just screaming for someone to make them pretty again.
Here's one of my most recent projects to get your creative juices flowing!! And if you're not feeling a little elbow grease, you can find this in my Etsy Shop.
So I picked this up this old dirty drawer at a flea market for $5.00. The dude selling it told me that it came from a primitive hutch that he no longer had. I knew it was special just by the character. The patina and rusty hardware called to me. When I got it home (and snapped these shots) I realized that the separators built into the drawer, likely for silverware or other utensils, would serve really well as small shelves if the piece hung. And so I began...
So I mentioned this thing was dirty, right? Filthy is a better term. My first task was to clean it, and make sure there were no little surprises waiting for me under the layer of funk. Luckily, all good! With the piece clean, I set about to paint the interior of the drawer. I had a nice rich red in mind and knew I had some in my stash, as seen below. I'm thinking it's exactly the look I'm going for...
Until I lay on a coat and let it dry. Oh the horror! Not looking too much like that nice deep red I had in mind. At this point, I had relatively limited options. When I say the piece is primitive, I mean this drawer has got to be at least 100 years old. At least. No way it was going to stand up to sanding and repainting without ruining some of it's natural charm. So I decided to try an antiquing technique using stain that I hoped would result in a rustic feel and darken up the pink party drastically!
Before starting to apply stain to the piece, I lightly sanded the edges and corners to expose a little wood at places that naturally would see a lot of wear. Make sure the piece is dust free and dry before you start to apply stain. I recommend applying the stain with one cloth and having a clean, dry "wiping" cloth nearby. Using a brush to apply the stain and wiping away with a cloth is an option too, but I personally hate cleaning brushes with oil-based stain on it, so I go with the lazy mans method. Use cloths and throw them away when done. Disposable gloves are also really helpful at this step if you have some handy.
I started by dipping a corner of the cloth into the stain (Minwax Jacobean) and applying it to the interior of the drawer. When using this technique, just like staining bare wood, you want to let it sit and then wipe excess stain away with a dry, clean cloth. The longer you let it sit, the darker the effect. I started with one small section at a time, wiping away stain almost immediately to test the effect.
Once I got a feel for the time the stain needed to sit (5 minutes in this case), I completed the process. If you are attempting this technique for the first time, I can't emphasize enough to TEST first before going to town on your project. The effect can differ drastically depending on the color of stain and paint and the finish of paint you're applying it over (flat, satin, etc).
You can really give your piece some additional character by leaving more stain in the corners and recessed areas, as seen below.
Once I had the staining completed with the desired antiquing effect, I let it dry for a full week (stain takes forever, especially applied this way) and the finished it with a coat of sealer (Minwax Polycrylic).
I wanted to make sure any items stored on my new little shelf wouldn't hit the floor if somehow bumped, so I decided to add wooden slats across the front. I cut to size from some scrap wood we had and sanded and stained the slats with the same Jacobean stain. Once they were attached, I added a picture hook to the back and Viola!
I am so thrilled with the way this came out! It's a versatile little shelf that generates a lot of conversation and I can guarantee is one of a kind!
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