Fleur Chalk Paint Dresser (Before & After)
Meet Fleur…
I have to admit to you, she’s one of my favorites. Duck Egg Blue and Old White are my absolute favorite color combination.
When I first saw her I almost didn’t buy her. She was covered in this awful cherry stain with loads of varnish on top….
See what I mean? The top was very scratched up too!
I thought long and hard about bringing her home. I LOVED her shape, the curved top and the sweet caster feet, but I was worried about the cherry stain and bleed through.
But home she came! I threw her in the back of my CR-V while the kids rolled their eyes (another project). I sang all the way home so happy with my find!
I guess my intuition was right, but she’s come out cute as a button in the end.
I used Citristrip on the top but it made the varnish and stain go all gooey and messy. Conor thought I’d cut myself because I had red dye all over my hands (I know I should wear gloves). I decided the stripper wasn’t going to work so had to use the palm sander. Afterwards I stained the top with Minwax Special Walnut.
I did my usual prep of washing the piece down and did two coats of clear shellac to prevent any bleed through, and this worked perfectly. Two coats of Duck Egg Blue Chalk Paint® with Old White detailing.
The all over brocade stencil from Royal Design Studio creates beautiful detailing on the drawers reminiscent of hand painting.
I had planned to bring this beauty to the Duxbury Show but ran into some issues with the hemp oil. It seemed to bring the aniline dye up to the surface for some reason. I felt like crying. Sigh. I didn’t even know about this dye until this piece. So I tried topping with clear shellac but I really wanted a dark top. So I waited a while and then re-sanded and redid the top. Phew!
I love how Fleur is a mix of country and coastal.
She’s elegant but also relaxed.
The bone knobs from Hobby Lobby work perfectly with the dark wood top.
They add a primitive quality and I love how they are a little distressed.
The allover brocade is just so restful and cheerful.
Oh, and her sweet little casters. How could you resist them?
What do you think of Fleur?!?
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beautiful job, danielle! love the color combo, and the design!
It’s beautiful! I agree, Duck Egg and Old White is one of my favorite combos too. I’m sorry you had such a hard time with the top. It turned out awesome though in the end! And I love the stenciling. This piece is right up my alley. I would buy it from you if I didn’t live 1,000 miles away 🙂
Fleur is one of my favorites too – just so sweet and charming!
Gorgeous, Danielle! Beatrice has always been my favorite piece of yours … but I have to say, Fleur is right up there with her. I love them both. The stencil is really pretty and just sets the whole thing off, with that wood top! Beautiful.
Your dresser is great and I love the color combo too! Gorgeous!
I live in Mass. I was just curious if you sell locally or on craigslist?
I love this piece!!
This is absolutely lovely.You did such a great job!!! Love the color and the design.
Hi Danielle,
This is just the piece I needed to see in my inbox today! I have been wrestling with an idea on a piece I’m doing in duck egg /old white and wondered about stenciling with the old white…you answered with your photos! My question is…how did you stencil the all over pattern, with a stencil brush (which I’m use to) or a roller? Any hints or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Judi, I used a stencil brush. You can see more of this method on this piece – http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2014/01/adana-stencilled-dresser-before-after.html I used the stencil creme on this one though.
I love it! It is delicate yet not too feminine. Duck Egg and Old white are my favorite combo too. Beautifully done, Danielle.
Love the stenciling! Just beautiful!
Hello ~ Stopping by to say I am learning so much from your blog. Also want to mention your website
is awesome.
Blessings,
Rita
Wow! This is seriously beautiful, Danielle! I think this is my favorite dresser you have done, except mine of course!!! Love the color combo with the stain, the new knobs….and the stenciling!! That is amazing! Did it take forever? You are good, girl:)
So pretty, Danielle! I am such a sucker for casters – I rarely find ones I can turn down either!
She’s absolutely gorgeous. So glad you decided to pick her up.
GORGEOUS DRESSER, SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL~
lauren
Oh now, she is a true beauty!!! You did a beautiful job on this piece and I would love to have you share it at my Nifty thrifty Tuesday party.
Blessings,
Linda
I say why can’t I find an adorable piece like that? Just once. I let a great little high boy go by last year at Goodwill, kicking myself often. I wanted it for our room. I just have this thing about high boys and those little casters. Thought it was too expensive, have learned since was pretty much what is charged for like pieces in Grand Junction. I love that little chest, the blue with white stenciling is so soft, perfect. And the top, love that look with stained top and painted body of piece, wood top looks gorgeous. I’ve… Read more »
Love, love, love this, it’s so pretty. I just love all of it, the colours, the castors, the wooden top and especially the stencilling.
I’ve been thinking about doing some stencilling in my living room because I miss the work I did in the last house.
Beautiful job with so much care and detail. Thanks for the inspiration. Pinned 🙂
I love the stencilling over the duck egg – it’s so fresh looking. Pinned!
The chest is lovely! But I’m confused about the Hemp Oil situation…So after you stripped, sanded and stained the top, you put Hemp Oil on it as the protective coat. Did a reddish dye start bleeding through the Minwax Special Walnut? This is some valuable info, so thanks for sharing. So sorry you had to strip it again….but way to persevere! 🙂
Robin
I love this Danielle! You did an incredible job on it!
Fleur’s a looker!
WOW! WOW! WOW! You’ve excelled yourself with this one Danielle! Absolutely adore the stencilling.
Judi in the UK
Hey lady,
Fleur is lovely. What brand of shellac do you use?
The Other Marian
[…] chance to pick favorites in a while, so here we go… My first favorite is by Danielle of Finding Silver Pennies. Come on…a blue dresser with white detail, pretty knobs and a wood top? What’s not […]
[…] Dresser makeover from Silver Pennies. […]
Your dresser is beautiful! I love the stencil that you used, it looks like lace:)
Wow, this is soooo gorgeous. I just love that combo of Duck Egg and Old White, and I am off to purchase that stencil immediately! Thank you for sharing!
Really, really lovely! But, I am with Judi, I’d like to know more about how you did your allover stencil. I’ve never attempted stenciling with chalk paint and have always just used acrylic with a stencil brush, which could take a while with an allover stencil. Do you have a different process that you are willing to share with us?
Absolutely gorgeous !!!
[…] on over to Danielle’s blog if you fancy reading more about this […]
This project turned out beautifully! I want you to know you’re not using Citrstrip to its full potential! The first nice thick layer usually takes off up to 7 layers of paint and finishes (so far.) If you’ve left the stuff on overnight, you probably know this! 🙂 Another application turns the stain and varnish into BBQ sauce. Turn your piece on its side or where you can and squeegee the gunk, with the grain, into a plastic bag. Use a plastic scrubbie and yes, water to sluice it down. I press down the grain with my plastic scraper to… Read more »
Very Miss Mustard Seed! it’s a gorgeous dresser and I love the new look you’ve given it. Never get turned off by the current finish – i only ever look at shape, you must be very happy you decided to buy this piece as it’s turned out beautifully.
Fiona x