Hello everyone!
In true “me” fashion, I completely forgot to take a proper before photo of this dresser (insert facepalm!). I snagged this beauty on Facebook Marketplace for $50 — it was a bold blue with very shiny silver hardware… and not in a good way.
The plan? A quick makeover: paint it black and style it for my living room.
And this is the story of how that did not happen… 😂
But first, here is the best “before” photo I managed to find:
Materials I used
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QCS Stripwell
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Citrus Strip
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Fusion Mineral Paint — Coal Black
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Minwax — Provincial
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Dixie Belle Clear Coat — Satin (I only used this on the bare wood areas)
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General Finishes Gel Stain — Provincial
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0000 steel wool
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Bar Keepers Friend
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Big Mamas Butter (Dixie Belle)
The process (the short — and honest — version)
When I started stripping the dresser I discovered some beautiful wood inlays I hadn’t expected. Cue the little victory dance — and the long, tedious work that followed.
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Citrus Strip first. I used this to loosen the top layers of paint. It’s pretty forgiving and did a good job waking the paint up without being too aggressive.
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QCS Stripwell + a wire (fire) brush. This is where the heavy lifting happened — QCS to break down the remaining primer, and the fire brush to get into the grooves and around the inlays. Not glamorous. Took days. Yes, days.
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Detail cleanup. After the bulk of the paint was gone I did more delicate cleaning with 0000 steel wool and Bar Keepers Friend to get residue out of the inlays and smooth the bare wood.
After stripping off as much of the paint as humanly possible, I was still left with those tiny stubborn white flecks tucked deep in the wood grain. You know the ones — the kind that mock you after hours of scraping. 😅
Enter: General Finishes Gel Stain in Provincial.
This stuff worked absolute magic and completely disguised the flecks. Total game-changer!
Next, I tackled the top surface. I sanded it down starting with 80-grit, then 120, and finished with 220 for a smooth, even finish. Once it was prepped, I applied two coats of Minwax Provincial, and then a layer of the General Finishes Provincial on top. That extra coat helped blend the colour perfectly so the top matched the drawer fronts more seamlessly.
Once the wood was finished, it was time to give the body of the dresser some love. I did a quick scuff-sand with 220-grit to help the paint adhere, then brushed on Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black. Instant transformation! Even after the first coat, she was already looking so much more chic.
While the paint dried, I turned my attention to the hardware and those decorative decals. I placed everything in a Bar Keepers Friend bath overnight, and by the next morning the old paint slid off like a dream. After a quick buff with 0000 steel wool, the hardware was gleaming — a rich, warm gold that looked chef’s kiss ✨.
And here she is before sealing:
The inside of the drawers were in such amazing condition that I just couldn’t bring myself to cover them with liners. Instead, I gave the wood a little TLC using Big Mamas Butter to condition and nourish it. The transformation was subtle but so satisfying — the wood looked rich, hydrated, and absolutely beautiful afterward.
And now… the moment we’ve been waiting for —
Here is the finished dresser:
I really wanted to keep her — truly. But in the end, she just didn’t fit with my décor (heartbreaking, I know). So, I listed her on Facebook Marketplace and she sold within the week! She was such a beauty, and I’m so glad I was able to restore her and let those stunning wood details and gold hardware shine again. ✨
Thank you for following along on this little makeover journey with me — I hope you enjoyed the transformation of this serpentine dresser as much as I did.
— J
Furniture + Refinishing