Two Years in the "Biz": My Top 3 Refinishing Projects

For the last 2 years, I have been refinishing furniture and even created my own LLC. I can genuinely say that I do have a top 3 projects list with my favorites over the last years. Here they are!

Vintage turned Custom

This was a custom project from a dresser that I had in my inventory. I had purchased it but was unsure of what to do with it, so I hung onto it. Eventually I found a client who wanted a newly updated custom look. It has come to be my most popular and most-liked flip!

I started by refinishing the veneer and making some slight repairs. My client wanted to keep the original wood grain pattern, so we decided to highlight it on the top and the front 3 drawers where it was most visible. She was ordering this dresser with another one that I had already refinished in my inventory and wanted them to match. I created a custom "griege" color that matched with the other dresser. I used Fusion Mineral Paint and used my HomeRight Max sprayer for the body. Added some updated gold handles and knobs and voila! The client was so happy with the customization. 

Out with the Velvet

This was a dresser that I refinished for some close friends. She picked the color and the handles for the customized look. There was minimal damage to the body, but there were still spots that needed wood filling to create a smooth surface. After scuff sanding and priming the whole body, I used the color Gunsmith Gray by Benjamin Moore paints. I added neutral drawer liners to the invisible drawers at the top of the piece.

Originally, the drawers were decked with old red velvet liners, which were the first to go! They proved a little tough to remove in the beginning, but with the help of some boiling water and pliers, we were able to pry up the velvet. Added the black handles for a sleek, modern look and then drove it to its new home in Logan, Utah! This dresser was a fairly easy refinishing job and the first introduction that I had to using traditional paint rather than a water-based furniture paint. Let me tell you, it quickly became a new favorite material that I added to my toolbox!

A Nursery Makeover

This was another custom project that was requested by a mom redoing her daughter's nursery. She had an authentic vintage piece that was sitting in her garage that she didn't have time to refinish. The dresser definitely showed wear and tear, so first, repairs were made. One side of the top was detaching from the body and since I knew it was going to be painted, I put in a screw and then applied Bondo over the top. It originally came with wheels and those were removed and then Bondo was applied. Wood filler and Bondo had to applied all over the piece to fill in holes and dents made in the wood. The piece was then sanded down with a 120 grit for a smooth surface to paint. Since the wood was a dark cherry red and the paint the client wanted was white, I had a major problem with bleed-through. HACK: spray Shellac on your pieces with bleed-through and then apply paint again. The Shellac acts as a barrier against the tannins in the wood so that you can have a fresh canvas for paint! After that, there were no issues with paint. 

I installed the handles that she requested and also greased the drawer tracks for added smoothness. In the drawers went the wallpaper liner that she picked out. I love the classic look this dresser had and love that it will be used for so many more years to come!

My Projects!

To see more of my projects, behind-the scene work, as well as tips and hacks for furniture flipping, visit @thecreativezo on Instagram, or tap this link to follow and support a local artist! My books are open for more custom orders. 

https://www.instagram.com/thecreativezo/