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Rustic Red Paint | Dresser Makeover

October 5, 2020 by Denise - 103 Comments

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A VINTAGE DRESSER GETS A MAKEOVER USING RUSTIC RED PAINT, WOODUBEND, AND AN EASY TECHNIQUE FOR AGING AND DISTRESSING.

Rustic Red Painted Dresser

Hi beautiful #sifamily, thanks for joining me! Today I’m transforming this vintage dresser into a rustic red beauty using the perfect Rustic Red Paint, an easy paint distressing technique, and WoodUbend appliques.

As you know, painting is a creative outlet for me. But another reason I love furniture painting is that I learn something new with each makeover… and then I get to share it with you!

I learned a lot about fumed oak a.k.a tigerwood on this one. 😲

I’m also sharing ~

  • How to get a perfectly painted lip under your stained dresser top
  • How to Distress with Paint
  • The BEST Sandpaper Grits for a gorgeous stained top
  • How To Sand WITHOUT dust

Here’s what I started with. This vintage tigerwood/fumed oak dresser. I shared a before video on my Facebook page which you can see here.

Here’s the after. What do you think?

DB-Rustic-Red-Paint-_-Dresser-Makeover

Can you see the tigerwood showing through the paint?  I tried to capture it on camera but it’s pretty subtle unless the light hits it just right.

THIS POST IS SPONSORED AND/OR CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I LOVE TO USE!  YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

SOURCE LIST::

RUSTIC RED PAINTED DRESSER

I bought this dresser off Facebook Market Place. It had been in storage for some time so I gave it a really thorough cleaning with this heavy-duty cleaner.

Of the entire makeover, the sanding was the most time-consuming because I was hoping to salvage the wood top. Unfortunately, the gouges and scratches were too deep. Once I started sanding, the fumed oak/tigerwood disappeared and I was left with ‘average-looking’ wood.

Sanding Dresser Top

A few of my FB friends sent me some articles on how to get the fumed oak look. It’s an interesting process. I also found this youtube video explaining how ammonia fumes bring out the tannins and darken the wood. If you’re interested in how wood reacts, they’re an interesting read.

To get a super smooth stained finish on dresser tops…

  1. I start with either a 60 or 80 grit sandpaper depending on the hardness of the wood and what I’m stipping off or leveling out.
  2. When this orbital sander has done the heavy sanding, I switch to a 120 grit and go over it all again.
  3. A 220 comes next to smooth everything out even more.
  4. Then I hand sand with a 220-320 fine sanding pad.
  5. Now it’s ready for stain!

Also, if you don’t want to make a mess when you sand, here’s a really inexpensive way to sand WITHOUT dust. If you have a vacuum, all you need is an inexpensive attachment!

First Coat of Expresso Gel Stain on Wood

But even before I stain, here’s what I do to get a PERFECTLY painted underlip on the dresser top.

While I’m painting the dresser, I paint the underlip. If a little paint gets onto the edge (as in pic below) I don’t worry about it. After the paint has all dried and I’m ready to stain, I sand the edges of the dresser top. Then stain. This leaves me with a perfectly clean line of paint where the stain meets up.

Painting-Under-a-Dresser-Top

To give this dresser more character, I added these WoodUbend Corner Molds.  These appliques are really easy to work with because once they are heated, they actually bend and mold perfectly to the surface. I have a full tutorial including a video here.

WoodUbend Clamped On Dresser

To give them a distressed and aged look, I dry brushed a tiny bit of this Coffee Bean just hitting the high spots of the applique. This is the simplest technique and takes barely any paint at all. I find a good stiff stenciling brush gives me the best result for this method.

I created a video tutorial using this paint aging here. (starting at 5:55 in the video)

Antiquing WoodUbend w Paint

For the small metal keyholes, I used this Posh Chalk Patina from WoodUbend.

POSH Chalk Patina by WoodUbend

I love the end result and I’m smitten with this chunky hardware as well.

Dixie Belles Rustic Red Paint IG _ Dresser Makeover

Tiger Stripe Rustic Red Dresser

Perfectly Painted Underlip of Dresser Top

Here’s another look at the before and after…

Dixie Belles Rustic Red Paint _ Before an

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS SALVAGED RUSTY RED DRESSER OR FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. IT MAKES MY DAY! 🙂

UPDATE:: It’s almost one year later and I just found out this Rustic Red Dresser made the FULL back cover on the Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Autumn 2021 Issue. I couldn’t be more thrilled!

Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Back Cover Autumn 2021

 

Happy furniture painting my friends!

Denise x

RELATED POSTS::

RED Painted Furniture

RED Stencil Embossed Cabinet

How To Fix Furniture Painting Mistakes

DIY Weathered Wood

Fuchsia Sunset Painted Dresser

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DB-Rustic-Red-Paint-PIN-_-Dresser-Makeover



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Comments (103)

  1. I’m happy every week to have found your site ! This red is amazing.
    The chunky harware is perfection for this piece.
    Vintage furniture has such beautiful detailing. Its wonderful to see how you added just the right Wood-u-bend
    details to turn this into such an elegant timeless piece.
    I haven’t watched your YT video yet… but look forward to seeing your process.
    The dark detailing is perfect.
    Thanks so much for sharing. You do inspire.
    p

    Reply

    • Woodubend is so fun, isn’t it!?! I’m working on a vintage washstand for next weeks T2T post and I’m REMOVING the Woodubend. This stuff is brilliant because it comes off in one piece so you can REUSE it! Can’t wait to share and as always, thanks so much P!💜

      Reply

  2. Love this piece & how you finished it. Your YT video on distressing with paint is excellent, eliminating glaze or wax step. This technique is exactly what I was researching. Many thanks!

    Reply

  3. I just LOVE it! I have a salvaged dresser with a mirror that looks similar and can’t wait to use some of your ideas that you shared! I have been used to using antiquing in the recessess of the detailing…never thought about using dark color as a highlight. It definitely works so well on your piece! I too wished I knew the name of the hardware too but understand there is no way to obtain that information. I love your site! What you teach us all is the information I live for! Thank you, Denise!
    Congratulations on your magazine cover! Way to go! Well deserved!

    Reply

  5. Oh, Denise, this lovely lady is once again a striking show piece!!!!!!!! I love everything about this beautiful dresser: the color, the dark accents the chunky pulls and the bendy design. WOW!!!!!!

    Reply

  6. Congratulations on making the cover! Back or front, it’s a cover! I will have to check and see if I have my new issue yet. I can’t wait to see it in person. Where on earth did you get that beautiful chunky hardware???? I just love that and it really makes this piece so unique!

    Reply

        • I know, sorry. There’s no markings on them and I plucked them out of a bin. They didn’t come in a box or any wrapping. I even tried finding the little boutique online (because so many people have asked where I bought them) but unfortunately, I believe they closed. 🙁

          Reply

  7. Oh wow Denise. You did it again. LOVE the color, trim pieces and the HARDWARE! Wow. What I also so much appreciate is that you describe every detail of the process and give us all the links!! Who does that?
    YOU ! Lol. Your are my inspiration. 😇

    Reply

  8. Hi Denise! It was so good to re-read this again a year later. You only used 1 layer of paint? The dark is the actual wood. Wow, this is amazing. Congrats on the Magazine. I will be picking one up

    Reply

  9. Hi Denise. What a gorgeous transformation! I just picked up a copy of the magazine today and admired the back cover. Then I open my inbox to see your post with all the details! I love your work. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  10. Hi Denise. What a beautiful makeover. I’m always very impressed with your work. Congratulations on the magazine 🙂

    Reply

  12. The piece is beautiful!!!! I just have a couple of questions… do you paint the back of the dresser and do you paint the inside of the drawer lip. Plus, did you dry brush lightly over all the red or just parts of it.

    Reply

    • Thanks Amy! For this dresser I did not paint the back but yes, I always paint the drawer lip(s). The dry brushing was done mostly on the front. Some of the dark you see peeking through is the actually tigerwood showing through as only one coat of Rustic Red was used. 🙂

      Reply

  13. I love it! I have the exact same dresser but i am more towards grey, the topwood stained color and shades of blue! Maybe I will have a go at mine!

    Reply

  15. I really love this red piece. Where did you get that chunky hardware? I have never seen that kind before. I also can’t wait to use your trick for dust. Thanks so much.

    Reply

  16. Wow Denise that is just fantastic!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! I would buy that in a second and make it a center piece in my home! Thank you somuch for sharing with us how you did this makeover. I love following you always!! Can not thank you enough!

    Reply

  17. This is an exceptional piece! Although I love the old wood finishes, I realize some pieces have outlived their finishes and all of your pieces really capture the beauty of the original and then expand upon it so beautifully! I enjoy all of your postings because you take the time to go over the entire process so someone with no experience in furniture painting can understand what you have done to create your beautiful pieces! I look forward to your next posting! Have a wonderful day!!!

    Reply

  21. Oh, Denise, this is absolutely gorgeous! Rustic red is perfect for this dresser. I absolutely love the hardware. So unusual. You have done it again. I live vicariously through you.

    Thank you,
    Marian

    Reply

  24. This piece is absolutely stunning! The pulls are perfect. And yes, let us know how we can puchase these. I have a piece just like this in storage and I’ve wondered what to do with it….now, I have the answer. As always, you’re talent really shines through. Question….did you distress the whole piece just like the video shows using the dry brush technique? Thanks so much for sharing all your tips and tricks. Can’t wait to see what you’re up to next? Take care.

    Reply

    • Thanks so much Kathy! For the distressing, after one coat of the Rustic Red was applied, I really liked the tigerwood showing through. More of it was showing through on the sides than the front though because I filled the old hardware holes and sanded. So the majority of the distressing was on the front and very little on the sides. But honestly, it’s all a personal preference. You can add as little or as much as you like. 🙂

      Reply

  26. WOW!!! I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to have a red piece in my home, but if I was – this would be the one! I love everything about this makeover! Thanks for sharing your talent and all your tips. ~ Nicki

    Reply

  27. Denise-Red is my absolute favorite color! My husband is making me a new cabinet and I want it to look old.. I thought about red but my husband always comments he doesn’t care about the color as long as it isn’t red…..😏 I also love the drawers pulls. Beautiful! The whole dresser turned out to be gorgeous ❤️ Great job👍

    Reply

  30. This is gorgeous! Red is my favorite color but it can be challenging to incorporate in furniture makeovers without looking garish. I absolutely love the hardware you added too. Would you mind sharing where you purchased the pulls? I think they’d look gorgeous on a project I’m getting ready to start. Thanks again for the inspiration!

    Reply

    • Thanks! I bought these pulls from a little boutique in Elora Ontario. I’ve already had a few people emailing me about them so I’m going to have to Google and get the name of the place. 🙂

      Reply

  32. WOW! What a difference. I love the rustic red finish and the woodUbend appliques really add to the rustic look. Great look! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  33. Absolutely stunning. That red color gives it such character. And the distressing, oh my God gorgeous. Great job .

    Reply

  34. You truly are an amazing artist. You just made that ugly duckling into a beautiful piece. What a treasure. <3

    Reply

  37. This piece is stunning!
    I love that you have a video showing certain steps in achieving your end results. Always looking forward to your projects. Thanks and have a great day!!

    Reply

    • Thank you! 🙂 Even if I had used stripper, I still would have needed to sand to get out all the scratches and gouges this piece had. 🙂

      Reply

  41. This piece is absolutely gorgeous! I love those colors!!!!! You are so very talented!!!!!!! May I ask where you found that beautiful “chunky hardware”, as you call it? I love that and have some pieces that I’d love to try to attempt to do this way! Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us!

    Reply

    • Thanks so much Lynn! I just went to Google the store and i can’t find it.. maybe it’s closed down but it was a little boutique on the Main St in Elora. 🙂

      Reply

  45. Gorgeous! Love the color, casters on everything and the hardware. Another great from and artist and perfectionist. Many thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  46. Coucou
    Très joli travail !
    Mais comme à l’accoutumé , je dirais.
    Merci pour nous inspirer
    Souvenir de France
    DB

    Reply

  47. Wow! What a phenomenal transformation of what many would have thrown on the burn pile. I’m not a fan of red but this piece is gorgeous! The aging is perfect, the Wood-U-Bend moldings add the right touch of romance and the aging glaze is perfect. And the drawer pulls…just stunning!

    Reply

    • You sound just like my sister… she’s not a red fan either… she says it ‘scares’ her…lol. Anyway, so happy you like it, Sharon. I’m pretty smitten with how it all came together too! 😉

      Reply

  48. Hi Denise. Beautiful makeover, perfect for the fall season. I’m absolutely in love with the chunky hardware you chose. Fits this updated dresser and looks gorgeous. Quick question…in the before pic the two top drawers are much darker than the rest of the piece. Are they different wood?

    Reply

    • Thanks! The cool FAll weather was my inspo! 😉 Hmm, I thought the same thing about the top drawers but I think they just got darker as they aged.

      Reply

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