Thursday, October 10, 2013

White French Dresser for my Bedroom

French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

I am kind of cheating by saying that I have finished the French dresser for my bedroom finally...after 8 years or so of wanting to paint it. I am actually a little unhappy with the wax on the top of the dresser (Pure White is a bitch to get an even sheen on over large flat areas) and eventually I will re do it. The drawers and sides turned out perfectly and have a beautiful gloss but the top is still a little chalky. But for now it will do!

French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

I love this chest of drawers. Originally when we first moved in, we had dark tall furniture in our bedroom and it was all tall and looming and pretty ugly. I looked for months and months for a chest of drawers in the French style that was long and low. I finally found these on eBayfor a small fortune (for me to spend on furniture anyway) and even paid $100 for delivery. This is when my kids were babies and before I refinished furniture. Anyway I have never regretted buying these despite their mustard yellow colour. I knew eventually I would repaint them.

French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

We repainted the bedroom a few months ago and it actually made the drawers look worse!

French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

So I made the time to paint them. I sanded lightly, used a sealer, a primer and ASCP Pure White. Because this was shiny oil based old baked on paint I wanted to make sure I had a good adhesion for the paint so I took extra steps. Probably too many steps but I was happy to be extra careful and it didn't take too much longer.


French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

I changed out all the handles as the old ones annoyed me no end. At $7 a handle this was expensive but I figure this is a dresser I keep most of my clothes in and every single day I got annoyed with the old handles so it was worth it to me to spend the extra month for cup handles. I needed to drill new holes the handles and did it when I had finished painting. Next time I will do this before I paint. I was hurrying putting on the last handle and wrecked my paint job. When I re-wax the top I'll repaint this drawer below. In real life it is barely noticeable but I know it's there.

French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

I love it all white. Especially at the end of the bed.

French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

French Provincial White Chest of Drawers Lilyfield Life

hand made white quilt Lilyfield Life

I love this quilt my mum sewed by hand - the detail is amazing and must have taken forever. She was very proud of it and it's the quilt she and Max had on their bed.

hand sewn white quilt

Someone else likes it too.


So often when people come to the house to pick up furniture they comment on this large chest of drawers and ask if I will sell it. Probably never as it's wonderful storage. But any time I find French style chests of drawers I buy them as I know they sell well.  

And I buy them because I love painting them.

Fiona xx


9 comments:

  1. I share your pain with the wax. I tried it recently and it is hard work!

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    1. It's because there is no pigment in the Pure White so it absorbs the wax differently to the other colours. I'll just have to work on it a bit more! Thanks Allie
      Fiona x

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  2. Well I love the drawers but I also love your mum's quilt! The blue cushions on your bed are nice - did you make them?

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  3. Hi Fiona,
    I love how clean and crisp your dresser looks - and those drawer pulls, SWOON!
    I find sanding with a fine grit sandpaper before waxing helps.

    Mary @ Orphans With Makeup

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  4. LOVE it! gorgeous gorgeous! love the curves and pulls and i love your blue pillows!

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  5. Just beautiful! your dog is gorgeous also

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  6. The drawers are divine and the quilt - just exquisite! And so precious. <3

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  7. Stunning, what a beautiful serene bedroom , MJ

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  8. Fiona. Another beautiful piece. Can't believe you of all people have trouble. Your room is just stunning.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com