Pretty in Pink Chest of Drawers

Scandinavian pink chalk paint mixed with Old White.

This chest of drawers is a French Provincial style piece manufactured under the Sears Bonnet label. Not too long ago I found a dresser of the same style and painted it white (you can see that project HERE). So my first inclination was to paint this white, too. But since I already sold the other dresser, I thought I would try a custom mixed pink instead.

Before photo of Sears Bonnet chest of drawers.

The finish on the legs was chipped here and there, but otherwise it was in good condition for its age.

The original finish was chipped and worn.

The knobs on the top drawer are original, but the handles on the bottom drawers were replaced at some point. The original finish from the 1970's had yellowed considerably over the years. I can see the outline of the original hardware which is a little whiter than the current finish.

Original vintage drawer pulls.
Original vintage drawer pulls.

The top of the dresser is laminate.

Laminated top.

Luckily only minimal prep work was required for this piece. There was a lot of residue left behind from stickers. I used a razor blade to scrape off the remaining adhesive.

Removing sticker residue.


One of the legs was very wobbly, but that was an easy fix. I simply used pliers to grasp the bolt underneath and tightened it.

Repair any damages prior to painting.

I mixed a custom pink color using Scandinavian Pink and Old White. When creating a custom color I first mix a small batch and write out the ratios of paint used. I will use the ratios to mix a larger batch. If I run out of paint and can then use the ratios to mix smaller batches as needed.

Mixing a small test batch of custom pink.

The color changes slightly when it dries, so before mixing a full batch I tested the color on the frame of the chest. Once I was happy with the color I went ahead and mixed a larger batch.

AFTER:

And here she is all pretty in pink! The color scheme for this piece is a one-color finish to keep it simple and elegant.

Vintage Sears Bonnet dresser transformed with paint.

It's a soft and subtle pink. The white staging items add contrast which helps the pink show better in the photo.

Soft and subtle pink adds elegance to a vintage dresser.

When I first saw this piece I thought it was a 5-drawer chest.

Vintage Sears Bonnet chest of drawers painted pink.

But the bottom drawer is actual double deep. Which is so convenient for storing bulkier items.

The bottom drawer is two drawers deep.

The knobs on the top drawer are original and just so pretty. I applied light distressing to the hardware on the drawers, but otherwise didn't distress the paint.

Original French Provincial style drawer knob.

The previously chipped paint on the legs is no longer a problem. The Chalk Paint covered it beautifully.

Chalk painted leg on dresser.

The chalk paint covered and adhered to the laminated top beautifully. If you're painting with a different type of paint then definitely use a good primer first.

Painted laminated furniture.

I mentioned earlier that my first coat adds a bit of texture. But don't worry, the final finish is smooth as can be, with just a subtle bit of texture. It could be sanded even smoother, but I love the look and feel of a hand painted finish. The paint was sealed with soft clear wax.

Smooth finish using Chalk Paint over laminate.

For the staging I made a wood block sign using leftover paint.

Use leftover materials to make staging items.

I do appreciate you stopping by The Black Sheep Shoppe today!

Before and after vintage Sears Bonnet dresser.

Comments

  1. Turned out very nice Patricia,
    I like the look of paint with little bit of texture in it . Your custom color turned out nice as well. Never was a real fan of pink BUT .... I love the hot pink color for some reason. Maybe not on furniture though. lol
    Great Job... rock on..
    Greg

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Greg! Funny but my husband isn't a fan of pink either, ha ha. But he did say this one turned out "OK". :)

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  2. Really love the color! It is so soft and subtle...just georgeous! I don’t know that I’m sold on the entire piece being that color but then again I am, if you know what I mean. So what was the exact color called?

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    Replies
    1. Thank you McGypsy9. The pink is a custom mix of Scandinavian Pink and Old White (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint).

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  3. Hello, I also commented on your other post with this same Bonnet furniture. I had a few questions. The laminate tops now are so smooth I worry that the chalk paint will have a rough texture. And what it if something wet spills in it? How does that affect the finish. Also, is the wax applied on the entire piece or just the top?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Tara, The hand painted surface will not be as smooth as glass like the laminated finish, but it won't be horribly bumpy and splotchy once you build up the layers of paint. However, if you want it to be as smooth as possible, you can lightly sand in between coats of paint which will give you a super smooth finish. Again use a light hand when sanding unless you are going for a distressed finish. It might require an additional coat or two, but it will be beautiful. The chalk paint needs to be sealed over the entire piece with wax or alternatively you could use a polyurethane (I am partial to General Finishes High Performance Top Coat) especially on the top of the piece if it will get a lot of wear and tear, such as a table. If you haven't used chalk paint before then I recommend getting a small item from a thrift store and test it out first so you get the hang of it. Last recommendation: make sure you are using a true Chalk Paint and not a "chalk style" paint, as the technique and results will be different. I used the Annie Sloan brand on this project, but I now use the Jolie brand as that is more available to me in the US and it is the same formula. Good luck with your project!

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