Sunday, May 13, 2012

Homemade Chalk Paint Dresser


There are so many great furniture makeovers using chalk paint.  However, I'm bit too cheap to shell out over $50 for a quart.  I've been thinking about trying to make my own chalk paint, but haven't had the right piece to try it on.

Enter this dresser.  It's perfect for my chalk paint experiment AND my daughter Chloe needs a new dresser.  Double score!!

This is probably the nicest piece of furniture I've picked up at a yard sale.  It's made by Drexel, solid wood (super heavy!), dovetail joints, etc. etc.  It's also in near-perfect condition.

Chloe wanted yellow.  So, I picked up a free quart of Ice Cream Sundae at Ace Hardware in a flat finish.  I had seen different techniques on making chalk paint.  At first I was going to use unsanded grout mixed in with the paint because I had a container of it sitting in my garage.

Luckily, my friend Ange from the Blooming Hydrangea commented that this would make the paint a "chalkboard" - type paint rather than the coveted "chalk" paint.  Instead, I mixed Plaster of Paris with the paint and thinned it with a little water.

I don't have an exact recipe or tutorial for you because I didn't measure anything.  I started by putting a few tablespoons of plaster of paris into a container.  I mixed this with about a tablespoon of water and then added a cup or so of paint and mixed well.  The consistency was similar to yogurt...fairly thick.

As I painted it on, there were glops and bumps.  The paint dries VERY quickly....maybe in twenty minutes or so.  There is no need to wait for the paint to cure.  You can go right ahead and sand as soon as the paint is dry.  Just like everyone says, the paint sanded beautifully into a chalk dust.


I used two coats of Minwax paste wax, which buffed to a subtle shine.


I added some new hardware from Hobby Lobby.


And I have a cute new dresser for my cute little Chloe.

Before:

After:


This is my "After" project for Lisa's Before and After party, which I wasn't supposed to share until the end of the month.  But, I finished it so quickly and was so excited by it that I had to share it now!

Linked here:
Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Not Just a Housewife, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Bella Before and After, Primitive and Proper, Home Stories of A to Z, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tip Junkie, Type A Decorating, http://sistersstuff.blogspot.com/, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking, Primp,
A Diamond in the Stuff, Restore Interiors, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans,My Simple Home Life,
Addicted 2 Decorating, Just a Girl, Remodelaholic, Miss Mustard Seed, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello, Under the Table and Dreaming, Thrifty Decor Chick, Coastal Charm, Junker Newbie, Serenity Now

30 comments:

Cassie Bustamante said...

suzy, i LOVE it! love the color- the knobs! all of it- it's adorable!!! fabulous job!

Starr said...

It looks beautiful--great color!

Gwen @ The Bold Abode said...

It IS adorable! The color is perfect and the knobs are magic!

Kristine @ Lovely Again by Kris said...

Freakin' adorable! I love it! I just tried making my own chalk paint as well, but I used the unsanded tile grout...not perfect, but good! This is way better!

Like the other chickas said, the color and knobs are too cute! Great job!

Pine Tree Home said...

The color of this dresser is way too cute. Great job.

Michelle said...

this is how i do my chalk paint, too! I love the yellow. it's so pretty

Katie said...

This looks great Suzy! It's so cute in her room! I love the subtle distressing!!

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

I love love love it!! The color is such a great yellow - so easy on the eyes and fresh! I tried the unsanded grout method of homemade chalk paint and don't love the results….I'm definitely going to try the plaster of paris method next time - thanks for sharing about it!

simplifylisa said...

ok, i know i'm asking a silly question but could someone explain the reason for the "chalk" paint? why not just use flat paint? what is the finish like that makes it so special?

Danylle McLain said...

I love the color! Isn't homemade chalk paint great? I have been experimenting with it lately too. I really like how you distressed the edges. Great Job!

Decor & Harmony said...

Very nice Suzy, chalkboard paint is such a nice option and it works very well :) fantastic restyle.

Maury @ Life on Mars said...

This looks great Suzy! I love the color and the new knobs!

Ange said...

that turned out beautifully! So glad you didn't do the unsanded grout, now I'm really wanting to redo the bub's dresser. The color is so pretty, with the aqua it's a winner!

Tausha said...

Your dresser is fantastic! I am a lover of the Annie Sloan paint, but sometimes they don't have the color that I want. I have never heard to try plaster of paris. Great idea! I love the butter yellow that you chose. So yummy! Great job again!
Have a happy week!

♥Tausha
sassystyleredesign.com

Janet said...

Love it! We just bought some OOPS paint at Home Depot and some Plaster of Paris to experiment with making faux chalk paint. Glad I remembered (small miracle) the right additive; didn't want chalkboard paint. I think the first victim...er project will be a beat up old sewing machine cabinet that came with the sewing machine I wanted. Wish me luck!

Tiffany @ {Living Savvy} said...

I love it! I have been dying to make my own... i hope mine turns out just as good!

Sooner Laura said...

I've got two works in progress with paint + Plaster of Paris and it seems to be working - yours turned out great. I didn't measure exactly either. I also am planning to use Minwax. What type of brush did you use to apply the wax. Sounds like you are like me and I don't want to buy a $30 wax brush. I read you can use a regular paint brush or put the wax in cheesecloth.

Mandy said...

Love the color you chose for this dresser! I still need to make some homemade chalk paint! You have inspired me ;-). Thanks so much for sharing on Project Queen's Link Party!

Karen @ http://scarlettbegoniasfancy.blogspot.com/ said...

The color is so pretty! I've been experimenting with homemade chalk paint as well and I'm loving it. It's a beautiful piece!!

Unknown said...

Wonderful redo, I love the color and may just try my hand at making my own chalk paint now. Your latest reader, Tanya :)

Carrie @ My Favorite Finds said...

Way to go! I've not attempted making over furniture. This is great! So glad you shared at Handmade Tuesdays.

DIYbyDesign said...

The dresser looks beautiful. Ange saved me too from making the same mistake with the homemade paint. Thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign. So happy you could join the party.

Chiwei @ One Dog Woof said...

Great job! Can you tell me more about why you chose chalk paint - does it look different than normal paint? And which tutorials did you use? I'm thinking about repainting a door, and I'd love to try it, but also not willing to buy the Annie Sloan stuff yet.

ww.1dogwoof.com

Jamie @ Domestically Vintage said...

Your dresser turned out beautifully! I love the color. Thanks for clearing up the plaster of paris/unsanded grout chalk paint thing. I've seen recipes for both. I'm visiting from the Liz Marie Link Party. :) ~ Jamie

the decorating chica said...

Beautiful. You are motivating me to try my own chalk paint. NEVER used it before. really.

Katie - Something to be Found said...

Very cute. Love the yellow color you chose!

Edith Demshar said...

Awesome dresser! I am taking your cue and painting 3 bar stools black (also using the P of P recipe) and distressing for a french country look to use in my kitchen. LOVE your tutorial and blog!!!!

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

Thanks for linking this up, Suzy!

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