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Cityscape Dresser Flip – Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

I am super excited about today’s post.  I got to be part of The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest for July and today I am revealing my furniture flip.  It is a cityscape dresser!

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest

I came across a post in June and she was a part of The Fab Furniture Flippin Contest.  She stated in her post how others could join in if they wanted to so I signed up for July.  I am not sure how long this contest has been going on but every month there is a theme and this month was “Come On, Let Your Colors Burst!”

 

The sponsor for July is a company called Unicorn SPiT.  No I am not kidding.  I love the name and it was really fun to tell people that I couldn’t wait to get my Unicorn SPiT in the mail.  So funny to see the confused look on their faces.

 

 

unicorn_spit_logo

 

 

You can check them out by clicking the the link below and while you are there check out the AMAZING videos.  So pretty!

Unicorn SPiT

I really had a hard time choosing between the Zia Teal and the Phoenix Fire but for this project I wanted the orange.

This is not your everyday wood stain.  It comes in so many beautiful colors and can be used as a wood stain or over other painted surfaces.  I was so excited when my Phoenix Fire arrived in the mail!

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

Cityscape Dresser

Here is the story behind my furniture flip and why I chose Phoenix Fire.

Our house was built in 1891 so storage is nowhere to be found.  I have to create storage and dressers are a great way to do that.

A friend gave this dresser to me a while ago.  I knew that I wanted it in Brian’s old room which is now our guest room.  We needed storage in there and this was the perfect solution for extra bedding and blankets.

The walls in the room are gray with different shades of gray rectangles.  We did this when it was Ian’s room and have just left it.  Brian liked it and since they are the “guests” we have most often I decided it should stay for now.

I wanted to add an accent color so I chose orange.  Pillows and other orange accents in the room are part of the plan.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

This was the dresser before I started to clean it up.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

 

Getting Started

First I cleaned all of the drawers and wiped down the dresser with soap and water.

The dresser had a couple of coats of a thick poly finish.  It would have taken forever to sand it all down plus I wanted to paint it anyway.  So I went with chalk paint.

I used the Americana Decor and the color is Yesteryear (who thinks of these things?)

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

Before I painted the fronts of the drawers I masked them and spray painted the inside and out side of the drawer in a gray that is darker than the chalk paint.  I love the look of two different colors.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

I gave the inside and outside of the drawers a good three coats of the spray paint.

Then I painted the gray chalk paint on the dresser and the fronts of the drawers.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

It needed two coats and I was surprised that I still have paint left over.  It really does go a long way.

 

The Plan

I had decided on the cityscape design but needed a plan.  I drew this quick sketch drawing on Photoshop Elements.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

This helped a lot when I was ready to start taping for the cityscape design.

 

Mapping Out The Design

I used some washi tape and started with the first drawer that would need masking.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

Once the first drawer was masked I set the next drawer on top of it so I could get the tape in the right spots and it would line up with the drawer under it.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

If you are an artist you could probably just paint it on and forget about the masking but that is not me.

 

Adding The Design

Once the taping was done I was ready for my Phoenix Fire Unicorn SPiT wood stain.  It smells so good…like Jasmine!  It really does!

I used a rag to apply the stain inside the taping.  The color is so pretty but it is a stain so it is much lighter than a paint would be.  I gave it two coats.

This it what it looked like after ripping the tape off.  

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

I cut a piece of a sponge to use as a stamp for the windows and some tan colored paint.  I wanted the tan instead of a yellow to match the room better.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

Then I stared at it.  I knew it needed something but I wasn’t sure what.  

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

So I went crazy and added a darker gray “wash” over the top of everything.  I mixed some black paint with some white…and more white…and more white until I liked the color.  Then I added water to thin it way down.

I used a brush to apply some of the wash (see the photo below) then used a damp cloth to blend it into softer lines.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

I needed to be careful over the Unicorn SPiT because it will wash off with water if you want it to.

This is what it looked like after the wash.  I liked that it didn’t seem so stark.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

Finishing Touches

Then I sprayed the fronts of the drawers with a polyurathane semi – gloss finish varnish (you cannot use polyacrylic with the Unicorn SPiT.  It will bubble.  It needs to be a non water-based sealer.  Then I used the wax over the rest of the chalky paint on the dresser. .

I buffed the wax with a soft cloth then Jeff added some drawer pulls to finish it off.  The drawer pulls weren’t really necessary because the drawers have a built in  pull at the top but am I glad i did.  I think they added a lot.

We moved it upstairs to it’s place in the guest room and added a little decor.

I think it turned out nice and am so happy with it.

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

 

 

Cityscape Dresser Flip - www.michellejdesigns.com - A dresser for storage in the guest bedroom and created for the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest

 

 

 

 

So what do you think?  I am really happy with it and the more I see it the more I like it.

If you would like to see more of my projects check out the following galleries:

Furniture Makeovers

Home Decor

Outdoor Projects

 

Have a great day,

Michelle

 

Marg Watts

Thursday 11th of August 2016

First time on this site, love this idea.

Michelle

Thursday 11th of August 2016

Yay! Thank you so much for stopping by Marg! I am so glad you like my dresser. It was my first Fab Furniture Flippin' contest.

Terry

Tuesday 20th of October 2015

Do I ever like this! I have never seen anything like it, it is so unique! Well done! I would be so happy if you would come share some of your pieces at my Making Broken Beautiful Party. It runs every Thursday thru Sunday. I do hope you will come and inspire! http://thecuratorscollection.wordpress.com

Have a great week! Terry

Michelle

Wednesday 21st of October 2015

Thanks Terry! I am glad you like it. I will definitely come over and share at your party. Thanks so much for the invite.

Susie Bentz

Saturday 17th of October 2015

Very cool! Love the name of the product, too - funny and memorable!

Michelle

Saturday 17th of October 2015

Thanks Susie! It is a great product and it smells good. Lol!

Debbie

Monday 14th of September 2015

I'm beyond impressed with it. We live so small that our stuff piles up. Such a nice piece you created. Lovely!

Michelle

Monday 14th of September 2015

Thanks Debbie! I appreciate that. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Jamie | anderson + grant

Tuesday 28th of July 2015

Great dresser, Michelle! That was a very creative way to dress it up and make it totally unique!

Michelle

Tuesday 28th of July 2015

Hi Jamie! Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my dresser. I love your blog and am flattered that you made a visit! I appreciate it very much.

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