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A Serpentine Dresser Named Lily (Before & After)

Guess what?!?  I have a furniture makeover to share today.  I think  you’re gonna love her.  I know I do!

This is Lily:

ironstone_milk_paint_dresser.jpg

John actually helped me name her.  He thinks her color looks a lot like my favorite flower – lily of the valley.

You maybe wondering about Lily “before”. This is how she was looking for quite a while in the middle of our living room.

serpentine_dresser_before

I’m not sure you can see the scratches and wear and tear in this image but she really needed a makeover.  The top was really scratched up too!

When I saw her, I knew I wanted to do her in Miss Mustard Seed’s Ironstone Milk Paint.  I really love the color but haven’t used it since my Isla  dresser.  This is Isla in our bedroom:

Isla_milk_paint_dresser

Isla and Lily could be long lost sisters, don’t you think?!?

Isla is a Henredon serpentine dresser and Lily is a serpentine dresser by Dixie.  I think they are both from the 40s.  I decided I wanted this chippy look and Lily really chipped:

chippy_milk_paint

and flaked:

chippy_finish

a lot!

dixie_dresser_side_view

To create this look.  I scuff sanded the body of the piece and I did three coats of MMS Milk Paint in Ironstone (without bonding agent). I used a scraper, sandpaper and vaccuum to remove the chippy and flaking paint.

beautiful_antique_pulls

I stripped the top with Citra Strip and then stained the top with Minwax in Jacobean.  Jacobean usually comes out darker but on this piece it has a more cherry or redish hue but looks great with the wood that is shining through.

antique_books_stained_top

The top looks so rich now!  I sealed the entire piece with Minwax water-based polyacrylic in satin finish.  I usually use wax on my milk painted pieces but really wanted to seal the chippy finish in.

I absolutely love the details on this piece.  The medallions:

medalion_detail_chippy_paint

The beautiful brass hardware:

antique_brass_hardware

What do you think of Lily?!?

milk_paint_dresserShe’ll be available for sale at my upcoming Open Studio this Sunday.  Contact me for more details.

serpentine_dresser_one_side

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13 Comments
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Judy Pimperl
10 years ago

Love, love, love it!
judypimperl.blogspot.com

Rebecca
Rebecca
10 years ago

Gorgeous. Love her. Well done….again!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
10 years ago

Lily is absolutely gorgeous!

Darrielle Tennenbaum
10 years ago

What pretty chippy dresser! I love milk paint and your dresser turned out FAB!

Lourdes
Lourdes
10 years ago

Absolutely gorgeous! Love her!

Jackie
10 years ago

I LOVE this! Really, really beautiful! I want to start naming my (one) pieces lol! Great job on this Danielle and I love the color.
Jackie

Jolene
10 years ago

Love it!! Could see it in my house ! 😉

Alice W.
10 years ago

I love it! Such a great job. I love how you were able to get the chippy look for Lily. Looks amazing and I am sure someone will snap her up quick! (I just wish it could be me lol)

Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home

Lovely! As usual 🙂

Nancy
10 years ago

What a great piece! I don’t often come across the double drawers but it is such a great look with such pretty details and hardware. Love the restored wood finish and how the Ironstone came out. Wishing you a great open house!

JaneEllen
JaneEllen
10 years ago

Love both of serpentine dressers, the style really appeals to me. Maybe cause I saw lot of that style since I was born in 1940. The top is so pretty now, you did great job on her. The stain you used really brings out her radiance. How did you like using milk paint? I’ve wanted to try a sample or two but never seem to think about it when I have any money. I haven’t tried any yet or commercial chalk paint. I’m going to look for Americana chalky paint which I saw on somebody’s post. Can try it without… Read more »

debbie ruiz
debbie ruiz
10 years ago

What a beautiful job. I love this piece and the one in your bedroom so much I went and bought ironstone for my kitchen table. The top had a top not as dark as your piece and the legs were already cream. I don’t know what I did wrong but after 4 coats it looked uneven in different areas of the table top.. ? Yours has a creamy solid appearance I was going for. Any thoughts? PS- I did not add bonding agent and I did sand the top a little. The legs of the table turned out nicely though.… Read more »

Cyndi
Cyndi
10 years ago

Looks great! I have this same exact piece with a matching bed, that was handed down to me from my grandparents.