Cassie Bustamante

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Drab to Fabulous and French Armoire

July 20, 2010 by Cassie 37 Comments

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I scanned craigslist so heavily this weekend, as I needed some dressers to paint and sell. No luck. Too late on everything. So I dragged myself out of bed early Sunday morning to hit the flea market before I had to teach cycle. Still no luck. I did get a gorgeous basil plant and some local tomatoes for a sweet deal, but no dressers. I actually had time to come home before I headed back to class at 8:30, so I quickly checked garage sale listings, and came across one that I had actually passed on my way home that morning. I hadn’t stopped because it was a busy street and I didn’t see anything from the road. However, there in the ad were the words, “antique dresser”. I hopped back in my car and this time stopped. There it was, tucked away from the other items for sale… It was one of those slow motion moments where the light shined down on it and a field of poppies and clover sprang up around me as I ran towards it with my arms open. Ok, not really, but you get it. I was happy! And it wasn’t a dresser, it was a potentially beautiful armoire. It had a price tag of $75 but I offered $50, and the lady very excitedly said, “YES!” she was happy to sell it and stop hauling it all over with her. So it came home with me that day and I went to work.
Here it is once I got it into my workspace….

I sanded it, primed it, and painted it. I didn’t have enough of my favorite French gray, “rare gray” by Sherwin Williams, so I added some antique white to it, and made my own French gray. Once it was painted and dried, I distressed it by hand with sandpaper along all the edges, details, and corners. When that was done, I took some steel wool in very fine grit and rubbed it over the entire piece. I know if you are actually reading this and not just looking at pictures you’re wondering why. Steel wool makes an incredibly smooth finish, however it rubs some if its dark gray color off onto paint. In this case, that was welcome as I knew it would add the to distressed affect. Here’s what it looked like after rubbing it with steel wool…

Once that was done, I went over the entire piece with Beechwood Gray stain by Cabot to give it just a hint more of a weathered appearance. The picture below shows the left door with the stain and the right without. It’s a subtle difference, but it’s there.

And here it is now! Oh, and some other minor repairs were made- a drawer runner repaired, and a new drawer latch added, but those aren’t very interesting topics. ๐Ÿ™‚ Also, I apologize because I haven’t been able to get it outside yet for a picture as I need my husband to help me do that and that won’t be til tomorrow night. I’ll update as soon as I can, but for now….



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Comments

  1. Life in Rehab says

    July 20, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    I’m hyperventilating, that thing is so stunning!

    Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    July 20, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    This is just the sweetest armoire! I love what you did to it. The gray is just perfect. It’s such a cute size.It has such great detail. Are you selling or keeping?

    Reply
  3. Melissa says

    July 20, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    I love it!!! I’m kinda jealous cause I didn’t find it first. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for the tip about steel wool, I have a project that I think needs the steel touch.

    Reply
  4. Sixty-Fifth Avenue says

    July 20, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    This is a fabulous find! I love the pretty legs and the color!
    Londen

    Reply
  5. ChRiS says

    July 20, 2010 at 7:35 pm

    i am running to it with arms open through a poppy field i hear harps playing…….ok not really but this is 1 amazing transformation…love it

    Reply
  6. Allison says

    July 20, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    Gorgeous, Cassie! Love the French gray and the stain that you used! Beautiful piece! Great detail and good size armoire. Good thing you went to this sale and found this treasure! Looks like a very expensive piece of furniture that you’d see in a shop. Nice job!!

    Reply
  7. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    July 20, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    That is one cute armoire! I love that happy feeling when you find something fabulous. And I love the gray too – good choice!

    Reply
  8. Stevie @ Home is Where My Heart is says

    July 20, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    I <3 this!

    Reply
  9. BB says

    July 20, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    I can never pass up a fun post about an armoire makeover.. I have 3 in my garage waiting to get “beautified”.. If it would just cool down here in Phoenix.. I could get to work.

    Reply
  10. Rene says

    July 20, 2010 at 10:17 pm

    She is beautiful!! Love that gray.

    -Rene

    Reply
  11. Tara says

    July 20, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    LOVE<LOVE<LOVE it.You did a terrific job…I’m about to redo a sideboard, hope it turns out as well as this..

    Reply
  12. Andrea says

    July 20, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Girl! I don’t how you keep up with all these projects! You are amazing!

    Reply
  13. Katie @ On the Banks of Squaw Creek says

    July 20, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    You use real paint, not spray paint?

    What kind of brush do you use? How do you make sure it doesn’t get bunchy in the corners?

    Reply
  14. The Thriftress says

    July 20, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    Cassie I am always scanning the CL too! Sometimes I even find your listings! The titles always draw me in…then I realize I’ve seen that piece before. You should really talk me into buying something. I don’t think it would be that hard!

    Anyway, I, as always love what you’ve done with the armoire. What a lucky yard sale find. I’m always amazed when people are happy to take so little $$ for something antique with such potential.
    Sarah

    Reply
  15. mle says

    July 20, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    Oh! that turned out just fantastic!!! I never knew that right way to redo furniture – next time I’ll know. thanks for the tips!!

    Reply
  16. Cathy @ The Far Fifty says

    July 21, 2010 at 12:33 am

    Love it! Great tip about the steel wool. I’ve yet to distress anything I’ve painted because it’s just looks so pretty, I’m afraid I’ll wreck it! But this looks fantastic!

    Reply
  17. Nancy says

    July 21, 2010 at 1:02 am

    Wow, it really turned out great! I never thought of using steel wool. I should give that a try sometime. Thanks for sharing!

    Nancy

    Reply
  18. Kristine at The Painted Hive says

    July 21, 2010 at 1:28 am

    Love it! That kinda style of furniture is so rare here. I get what you mean with the steel wool. I bet it feels super silky.
    Krisitne
    xx

    Reply
  19. [email protected] says

    July 21, 2010 at 1:40 am

    I’m usually a picture girl, but I read this post. ๐Ÿ™‚

    great job with that little secret hint! ๐Ÿ™‚
    gray stain? is it water base?
    I absolutely LOVE how this turned out! You really “read” furniture well!
    gail

    Reply
  20. marรญa cecilia says

    July 21, 2010 at 3:10 am

    Hola Cassie, great job in your furnitures, I have seen lots you have painted, they look so beautiful now!!! So great to find you and have lots to learn from you.
    Greetings from Chile,
    maria cecilia

    Reply
  21. [email protected] Present Life says

    July 21, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    It turned out so pretty. I love the effect of the steel wool on the piece. I’ll have to try that! It seems that you and this armoire were meant for each other ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  22. Erin @ Where Beauty Meets Function says

    July 21, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    That is so beautiful! I am so completely jealous of your talent! ๐Ÿ™‚

    I know repairing furniture and painting it takes patience….which I lack….so this will never be something I could do.

    Reply
  23. Restyled Vintage says

    July 21, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    Gorgeous as always and obviously meant to be yours ๐Ÿ™‚ I was wondering, do you paint the insides of cupboards, like this one? And do you line the drawers? I do, I like the whole lot to be clean and fresh feeling so even paint the backs ๐Ÿ™‚ Do buyers care, I wonder? Oh well, I care ๐Ÿ™‚

    xx Karen

    Reply
  24. foxxy says

    July 22, 2010 at 1:43 pm

    It’s gorgeous! You are so good at what you do! Love it!

    Reply
  25. Lisa says

    July 22, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Looks great and I love the gray!

    Lisa
    http://www.trinity-house.com

    Reply
  26. Ginger says

    July 22, 2010 at 6:08 pm

    looks great! and what a bargain! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  27. Val says

    July 22, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Simply fabulous!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  28. Jen says

    July 23, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Love the color! Its gorgeous!

    Reply
  29. Ann Marie @ Twice Lovely says

    July 23, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    Glad to see our little gray beauties there side by side in the top 10 this morning! Congrats! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  30. Amy @MaisonDecor says

    July 24, 2010 at 4:16 am

    really nice, love the color of this armoire.

    Reply
  31. Nikki says

    July 24, 2010 at 8:02 am

    You did a wonderful job…. it looks amazing!

    Reply
  32. Jen T says

    July 24, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    That is gorgeous! I need to have that level of dedication to finding pieces and move to the next level with my love for revamping furniture. I gave you a shout out on my blog and link back for the inspiration. Thanks for the great posts! Jen

    Reply
  33. Alison says

    July 25, 2010 at 4:46 am

    O my goodness, I *adore* this makeover!! That paint job is simply stunning!! Have a great weekend!

    ~Alison
    http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  34. InMyOwnStyle says

    July 25, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    Hi Cassie-

    What a great piece now that it is lightened up. WOW – the detail just pop. What I love about what you did – is gave it the gray finish. Still has the “white” look, but is truly unique.
    My best- Diane

    Reply
  35. Mandy [Mandy's Yellow Corner] says

    July 25, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    This is fabulous!! LOVE the color you chose! :]

    Reply
  36. La Maison Reid says

    July 25, 2010 at 6:09 pm

    Great colors. Love the French/Swedish grays. I’ve jotted them down…so often people won’t share the colors they use…so frustrating!
    xoxo
    Nancy

    Reply
  37. chair up says

    July 28, 2010 at 6:51 am

    This is a fantastic project. You must be so pleased with the result!
    After thinking I have exhausted the list fabulous blogs out there, I always seem to find one more…now happily following yours:o)
    Angex

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.ย  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.ย  We all get one chance at this life,ย and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read Moreโ€ฆ

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