Here’s a look at the vintage dresser I’m currently redesigning.
What a beauty! I was so excited to be asked to work on this piece. The classic lines and the elegant trim are packed with potential.
Last week, I showed you how I reproduced missing trim for this item. (https://serendipitysequels.com/?p=414) Here, I’ll show you how my efforts turned out as well as how to tackle tarnished hardware.
Trim Repair
In last week’s blog post, I demonstrated how to recreate missing trim using molding putty. Here is the result of that process. The duplicate piece was substituted in the empty spot with E6000®, my favorite furniture adhesive. Next comes the paint, which will disguise the repair.
This is just the first coat of paint, but you can already see how the repaired section is going to be indistinguishable from the original trim. I’m so glad I discovered this molding putty (Alumilite Amazing Putty, available on Amazon). When I reveal the final dresser redesign, you’ll never know a piece had been missing!
Renewing Hardware
The great thing about waiting for paint to dry is that you can use the time to work on the little details. This dresser has lovely original knobs and pulls, but they were very tarnished. Using a simple process, I brightened up the hardware considerably, as you can see from this before-and-after picture. Here’s how.
First, I placed a half-and-half mixture of white vinegar and water in a saucepan on my stove. I recommend using an old pan so the grime that comes off doesn’t damage a good one. I brought the solution to a boil and then added the knobs and pulls. After 3 or 4 minutes, I removed them (caution: use tongs – hot!). Then I gently scrubbed the warm hardware with a small wire brush.
Here’s the improvement! Compare these with their dull appearance in the picture of the dresser facade above.
This is sturdy metal hardware, so I didn’t worry about the use of heat or a metal brush. If this had been delicate hardware, I might have considered a different cleaning process. But it worked perfectly here! Now these shiny beautiful originals can go back in their place after the dresser is fully painted.
Stay tuned for the final reveal of this big project! In the meantime, if you have any questions about the items you see on my blog, drop me a note on my contact page or visit my Instagram shop (@serendipitysequelsmn).