A VINTAGE DRESSER GETS A TEXTURED FINISH USING SEA SPRAY ADDITIVE AND A VARIETY OF SPRING PAINT COLORS!
Hi sweet #sifamily! I hope you’re well and enjoying these first few days of spring. I know I am! And it seems this time of year I get a little spring fever which reflects in my furniture painting. I’ve added links to my prior years Spring Painted Furniture in the “Related Posts” section at the end of this post. But for today, it’s all about the textured paint finish using Sea Spray Texture Additive for Paint!
Also, it’s Furniture Fixer Upper day! If you’re new to the #siblog, the fourth Thursday of every month we join my super talented blogger friends to share our before and after furniture makeovers. I’ll link to their furniture restyles below.
Here’s the vintage dresser I started with. A nice ReStore find that also came with a mirror. More on the mirror a little later but first, doesn’t this inlay remind you of tulips?… or is it just me?
I couldn’t get spring tulips out of my mind so here’s my spring dresser interpretation. What do you think?
I just have to show a close-up. Look at all this gorgeous patina and texture!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SOURCE LIST
-
- Vintage Dresser – SALVAGED
- Paint Brushes
- Sandpaper | Shop Towels
- White Lightning Cleaner
- Water Misting Spray Bottle
- WoodUBend #2157 (applique)
- Sea Spray (for textured paint)
- Colonel Mustard Chalk Mineral Paint
- Chocolate Chalk Mineral Paint
- Manatee Gray
- Farmhouse Green
- Evergreen
HOW TO USE SEA SPRAY TEXTURE ADDITIVE
Before I get into this how-to, a big thank you to Maja from Reloved By Maja Komosa. When I came across her IG I fell in love with her work. All her painted furniture has a worn, vintage authentic patina yet feels so colorful and fresh. Not an easy technique to pull off! I took inspiration from her textured style and I hope I did it justice.
Here’s the step-by-step to get this look.
PREP – Clean and Sand
I started by giving this dresser a cleaning with this White Lightning Cleaner. Then I sanded the outside of this piece and took the mirror out of its frame for a clean finish. As a side note, I did paint the mirror frame but decided it looked a little too busy for the finished look. I’ll be using this mirror for another project down the road.
WOODUBEND
Before I repaired this dresser, I added a little extra detail with this WoodUbend design. Do you remember the WoodUbend I used on last week’s table makeover? I used the extra tidbits of the applique I had cut off. They look fabulous! A little WoodUbend goes a long way. I still have 3 pieces left over for another project!
REPAIR
Like many of these vintage pieces, the frame needed a little tightening with wood glue and a few extra screws. When I see gaps in vintage frames, I find it easiest to flip the dresser onto its top and then work on any repairs.
SEA SPRAY TEXTURE PAINT ADDITIVE
To get this fabulous worn and textured finish I mixed some of this Sea Spray Texture Paint Additive into this Matanee Gray paint. I mixed 2 scoops into 8oz of paint per instructions and mixed together to create a thick brownie batter consistency. You can customize the amount depending on how much or little texture you like.
Using one of my cheap dollar store brushes (you can check out The BEST Paint Brushes for Furniture here!) to apply the first coat, I combined a pouncing and smoothing motion to create highs and lows in the paint. If the peaks look a little harsh, you can flatten them out with your brush so long as the paint is still wet.
PAINTING OVER THE TEXTURED-BASED COAT
For me, this is where it got fun and scary all at the same time! After my Manatnee textured base coat had dried I mixed a few colors of DB paint into a paint wash using around a 50-50 mix.
Keeping my water misting spray bottle and shop towels close by, I applied the paint in sections and dabbed at it with my shop towels to create variances in intensity and make sure all the colors blended together into a patina. Here’s how it looked step in each phase.
I kept adding wash and dabbing off the excess. Waiting for it to dry. And then adding another layer of wash repeating the same technique. I added five (5) layers in total to get this final look.
And aren’t these knobs perfect for this new finish? I bought them from Pier One 3+ years ago. I can’t tell you how many pieces I’ve wanted to use them on but they never looked quite right… until now!
TOPCOAT / PROTECT
Because there was a lot of dry time and layers involved, I haven’t top coated this piece yet. When I do it will be a flat spray finish.
I’m not sure how fast (or slow) this textured look will sell here in the GTA (Great Toronto Area) as we Canadians as a whole are more conservative with our furniture colors and textures than they are in Maja’s country – Poland… or anywhere in Europe. But hey. I love this dresser. It went through a few scary phases but what a fun finish!
I think it turned out really interesting with this textured vintage patina and colorful spring cheer!
And the nice thing about working with textured paint is it’s SUPER forgiving. If you have any flaws in your furniture it’s a perfect way to hide them.
And now for some FURNITURE FIXER UPPER FUN!
You’re going to LOVE what my creative team of Furniture Fixer Upper girls do! Below are their BEFORE photos. Visit the links underneath to see the amazing AFTERS and learn how they did it! I’m heading over to take a peek as well! x
1. Confessions Of A Serial DIYer
2. Petticoat JUNKtion
3. Girl In The Garage
4. Salvaged Inspirations (happy you’re here!)
Here’s another look at my Textured Spring Dresser before and after. I hope it’s inspired you with some new ideas.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS TEXTURED SPRING DRESSER. WOULD YOU TRY THIS TEXTURE PAINT TECHNIQUE ON ONE OF YOUR FURNITURE MAKEOVERS? FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE… I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. IT MAKES MY DAY! π
Happy furniture painting friends!
Denise x
Lyndsay says
Hi Denise, I love the colours… beautiful…… Can I ask your opinion on the final finish… Would you be able to seal with clear wax instead of the too coat,? Lyndsay from SA…xxx
Denise says
Hi Lyndsay! Thanks, and yes, clear wax would work nicely. π
Val says
Fresh is the word! You are certainly brave to tackle this technique. This piece is gorgeous. I think it belongs somewhere hot and tropical. Well done, Denise. I agree with you that it is not a criticism when someone isn’t drawn to a particular piece. How boring this world would be if we all only liked the same things. One of the things that I enjoy about your work is that I never know what to expect.
Denise says
Hi Val! I would get bored doing the same painting techniques with the same colors and/or products over and over again so I really appreciated you saying this. Thank you.π And I totally agree. Not every piece is going to be a big hit with everyone, but I REALLY hope it inspires everyone reading to step out of their comfort zone every once in a while and try new things! π€
Do Dodson says
FUN! Love the green, and the yellow is so fresh. Beautiful as always. π xo
Denise says
Thanks my friend! Have a super weekend. XOXO
Kathy says
I definitely have to try the salt wash now.. Love the colors you chose. I love the knobs. Have used them myself on a project or two!
Denise says
Thanks, Kathy! And ya, aren’t these knobs adorable!? I’m so glad I finally found a piece to use them on! π
Carolyn G says
Oh. My. Gosh. This is absolutely amazing, beautiful!
You are truly an expert to pull off this difficult technique but it sure was worth it!
Denise says
Thanks, Carolyn! XOXO
Monique says
Hi Denise. What a pretty spring inspired dresser. The patterned inlays really are reminiscent of tulips. Beautiful work.
Denise says
thanks my friend! XOXO
Yanina says
This is a beautiful Denise! I love the colours that you chose.. Thanks for breaking down your technique. I’m going to give it a go.
Denise says
Hi Yanina and thank YOU! If you give it a try I’d LOVE to hear how it works out for you! π
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
Denise, I thought my project was bold but I think you definitely beat me on the boldness factor! This is definitely a creative work of art! xo
Denise says
Thanks! XOXO And ya, it’s pretty bold (for me) and gave me a scare halfway through…lol. π So glad I tried something different tho. π
Patricia Brown says
Hey Denise! I am a true fan of yours, I actually turned into a Marketplace junkie, thank you much. This is the only thing you have posted that I truly don’t care for! Sorry, but not sorry. I know you can take criticism, so there you go! XOXO
Denise says
I’m not looking at it as criticism. Part of being a creator is trying new products, techniques, finishes, and exploring new ideas. When and if you share them with others, not everyone will gravitate to every single piece of work… and I totally get it. If everyone loves every piece you do, I don’t think your stretching and growing your creativity but rather playing it “safe”. Thanks for being a true fan and happy marketplace hunting Patricia! π
Nicki says
i have to be honest, I wasn’t sure where you were going with this dresser but it’s magnificent! You are a true artist and thanks for sharing with us! ~ Nicki
Denise says
Thanks so much Nicki! XOXO
Cate Cooper says
THAT is just super! Good job!!!
Denise says
Thanks so much, Cate! π
Toni says
Another knock out of the park! Itβs absolutely gorgeous.
Denise says
Thank you Toni! π
p says
Gorgeous !!!!!
Denise says
Thanks so much! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Denise, you are truly an artist! This dresser is gorgeous and so unique. I would love to try the Sea Spray texture stuff and love the colors you used. Could the textured stuff be used to make something look like layers of paint have been applied over a long time and maybe chip some of it away? Guess I need to get some and play around! Enjoy your tulips; ours are long gone:(
Denise says
thanks my friend! And yes, texture additive (any brand!) would work amazing for a layered paint look with chipped distress. And you can control how chippy/layered/distressed you’d like it by adjusting the amount you add into the paint. I left mine REALLY textured but you can tone it down or even step it up! My tulips greenery is JUST starting to peek out of the ground. Can’t wait because Spring is my fav time of year!π·
Christy says
I love that you always go for it, trying new techniques and colors! Hopefully, there is a buyer that will love it too! XOXO
Denise says
I hope so too… and thanks! There was a couple of scary stages but I’m so glad I tried this finish! XOXO