At last, the dresser and I brought our long-standing idea to life. I decided it would be perfect for our veranda, where it could hide accumulated clutter and complement the revamped shoe rack already there.
Removing the old finish was surprisingly easy: I just used dish soap and a metal sponge. Since the plywood and pine weren’t valuable and the missing drawers needed replacement, I chose to paint the dresser. While some people don’t approve of painted wood, I believe it depends on the style and the specific setting.
Here’s what I used to transform the dresser:
I purchased the cheapest acrylic enamel in “Moss Green” from Ozon, but I wasn’t satisfied with its quality.
I used leftover acrylic paint from the shoe rack project and gold rust-proof paint from the restoration of a Czechoslovakian cabinet.
The metal mesh was already present at the dacha.
Wooden trim and moldings
Construction adhesive, wood filler
The plywood was left over from the renovation of a garden table.
I found some vintage hinges and handles in storage.
I used a furniture stapler, sanding discs, a saw, a circular saw, and a screwdriver.
I started by sanding down any defects and degreasing the surface, then moved on to painting.
I used the leftover paint from the shoe rack project to paint the plywood interior shelves. For the exterior, I chose “Moss Green.” Although labeled as acrylic enamel, it felt more like an alkyd paint—thick and with a strong smell, but it provided excellent coverage with just two coats.
To hide a rough joint at the top of the dresser, I used wooden trim, attaching it with construction adhesive and securing it with small nails.
For the missing drawers, I decided to make doors using moldings from the market secured with glue, brackets, and a stapler. Unfortunately, the wood dried out and warped a bit, as I had purchased it in August.
I chose metal mesh from the dacha for the door fronts, painted it gold, and used a stapler to attach it to the frame, folding the edges beforehand.
Finally, I attached the hinges and handles, finding some vintage brass ones in my collection.
The updated dresser is ready for use!
However, given its current state, it may find a more permanent home beyond the veranda.
