It isn't very often that I find a fabulous free item on the curb that I…
The Seven Layer Silver Dresser
Hello! Here is the long awaited makeover of my I removed the veneer from it, supposed to be industrial looking, came out like a tiger, silver dresser. I absolutely love it! It’s not like any other piece I have ever done and even though I had some hiccups with this baby, it’s my new favorite – the seven layer silver dresser.
This dresser has seven layers of paint on it and ended up being a kind of distressed, yet metallic just like I wanted it to. The layers are:
1. Primer 2. Primer 3. Martha Stewart’s Precious Metals in Tin 4. Another coat of Tin 5. Black glaze 6. White glaze 7. Tin mixed with glaze. Eight layers if you count the semi gloss spray.
Let’s not forget where we started with this piece. It had great shape but the drawers needed fixing and of course it needed some paint love. This was a piece I saw and immediately knew what I wanted to do with. That was make it metallic.
The top was also beat up so I ended up removing all of the veneer from the top. Here is the how to.
Once it was patched and sanded, I gave it two coats of Zinsser oil based primer. Then I painted it with Martha Stewart’s Precious Metals in Tin. This was a light almost translucent streaky kind of paint but it was the look I wanted for the dresser.
To try out a metallic look I glazed it with both black and white paint mixed with glaze per Jami’s instructions at Freckled Laundry. She has amazing video tutorials and her side table looks fantastic.
I think it might have been the metal paint {and my novice glazing skills}, but it didn’t come out like I wanted. In fact I called it a tiger. I had a tiger for a dresser. No thanks 🙁
My solution? Sand it. It ended up being just the look I wanted. After that I added a layer of the metallic paint mixed half with glaze and viola, a perfectly unique dresser.
In this side shot you can see the black and white glaze still. I love the combination of that mixed with the silver and white which is the primer.
Some of the drawers had chips of veneer missing but I was OK with that, it added to the distressed look. The pulls are form Target.

And here is the top there I removed the wood veneer.
A quick before and after.
I love the little keyholes!
I was expecting to put this in the foyer by the fireplace but I’ve found a home for it in the living room by the windows. I think it will hold our tools. And I’m trying out a new lamp in that space too, which needs a non-crooked shade.
Next up in that corner are curtains. Those are some wedding pictures I finally have hung up a year and a half later. Here is how to hang items on plaster walls. Oh and tomorrow come back to see my quick tips for insulating your home in the BlogHer Winter Projects Series.
What do you think of the silver, was it worth removing veneer, and living with a tiger? 🙂
See all of my furniture projects here.
Sharing with:
Tuesdays Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Piece of Work Wednesdays Furniture Link Party at Primitive & Proper
DIY Project Parade at the DIY Show Off
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking
Restored it Wednesday at Restore Interiors
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
It turned out really well! And I love the pop of pink the flowers bring to the space. Awesome 🙂
how fun is that! i love all the layers- it looks amazing, jessica!
how fun is that! i love all the layers- it looks amazing, jessica!
I think it is a fun piece and has new life. I am into silver right now.
I love how it turned out, Jessica! You have some serious patience to do that many layers of paint!
amazing! I love all the variations in tone and texture on it – you did a great job – well worth the 8 (yes I’ll count 8!) coats!!
I love your dresser, it came out so great!
agirlandabrush.blogspot.com
Jessica –
Your dresser is simply stunning! Please come over and link it up to my Creative Inspirations Linky Party at Embracing Change!
Stacey :o)
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com
I love that you posted this! I need to re-do a dresser for our nursery and was thinking about doing a metallic finish,I was thinking I’d need to use silver left or something crazy, didn’t even think about paint haha. Looks Great!
Oh Jessica, it looks absolutely lovely and I do admire your skills (and your patience!)
That is a lot of work, but you brought out the best in that piece!
Love it!! Wondering if you have your paint color for your living room listed anywhere. I really like it.
It’s adorable!!! I am officially afraid of glaze!!!
Oh my goodness… Love the dresser!!! I would love for you to link up to my party going on now at Jillify It! Hope to see you there!
Jill
http://www.jillifyit.com
I just love repurposed furniture! How fun is that dresser!
Oh WOW!! This dresser looks AMAZING!! I love the vintage look to it! I love the keyholes too! Would LOVE to have you share this at my link party going on and maybe become my newest follower 😉
http://www.pincushioncreations.com/2012/03/homemade-by-you-3.html
Thanks so much for sharing and God bless google for helping me find this page! I just bought a very old veneer dresser off of Craigslist (didn’t realize it was veneer until I went to buy it) and wasn’t sure how to handle the chips in the veneer. Now, thanks to you I can get ready to refinish it shabby chic style! Thanks again and I love how your piece turned out!
Thanks so much for sharing and God bless google for helping me find this page! I just bought a very old veneer dresser off of Craigslist (didn’t realize it was veneer until I went to buy it) and wasn’t sure how to handle the chips in the veneer. Now, thanks to you I can get ready to refinish it shabby chic style! Thanks again and I love how your piece turned out!
I love this piece Jessica. Don’t know why I’m just now finding it. Inspiration!!!!
Thanks Kathy and thanks for pinning it too!
Wow, this is incredible! I definitely have to try this one day!
Hugs,
Jamie
Thanks Jamie! I am planning to use this paint again soon. I loved taking a risk with it, the dresser came out great!