Steampunk Ornate Dresser

 Isn't this dresser cool?  It was absolutely huge (like almost 8 feet) and I loved the raised detailing and the angled doors.  Super unique. I used a very dark charcoal chalk style paint on this one as I wanted it to have an imperfect mottled look to the finish.

It had really cool little feet, they looked very steampunky to me, which is why I'm calling this my steampunk dresser.

The light catches the angled doors so nicely.  This piece was so big it completely took up my staging area, I could barely get the whole thing in the picture.  Don't you love those little insect-looking legs peeking out the bottom.  I kind of expect it to lift its heft and start tip toeing away.

I did a light distress on the edges to complete the look and I clearcoated the top and waxed the remainder of the piece.  Hardware is original but updated with gold.

Restoration Hardware Style Nightstands

Finally some warm weather here!  Where was this weather when I was chattering through the night on that canoe trip!  Things have been a little busy around here lately, my dear mom had to have one of her kidneys removed as it was no longer functioning.  It's the first time we have had to deal with a serious health issue in our immediate family, so it was a learning curve for us all on how to handle the bundle of emotions that comes with something like that. True to form she handled it like a trooper, and we are all so happy to have her safely home convalescing. 

 
I picked up these nightstands as part of a three piece set. When I saw the set in the store, I love the bubbled drawers on the tallboy and longboy and chunky feet straight away, when I got them all home...hmmm...not so much. But alas, I had already committed, so may as well start painting.
The nightstands were tackeled first as they were small and easy.  I really liked the restoration hardware style mirrors I did HERE, so I decided to recreate that look again.
 

 
I sanded everything down and then cleaned all the dust off, aka the boring part.
 

 
Next I painted everything matte black.
 

 
Another good sanding to smooth everything out and to distress all of the edges.

 
Lastly I protected the piece with wax. It has that hand finished look to it which isn't really visible in the pictures. But I think it suits the pieces and echoes the look I was going for.

 
I also traded out the hardware for something a bit more chunky and rustic looking. It also matches the metal feet on the bottom of the legs.

 

The before!

 

 

 

Restoration Hardware Style Mirrors

I was flipping through the latest addition of the Restoration Hardware Catalogue recently, and I happened across this picture here.

I loved the matte black cabinets and the distressing.  I never seem to paint anything black, and when I picked up this great dresser set with two gorgeous mirrors I knew I was going to paint the mirrors black.

They are so beautiful and tall and fairly contemporary given that they are vintage.

 
I sanded them down gently as I still wanted the wood stain to show through once I distressed them.

 
I painted everything matte black, and then use course grit sand paper to sand all of the edges (this was the most time consuming part).  I then sealed everything with wax.

 
I love how they turned out. They would look great above his and her bathroom sinks.  I wish I had a pair of those to hang them above for me.