Furniture Makeover: Painted Multi-Drawer Hardware Cabinet

Dated and brightly colored hardware drawers get a vintage-inspired industrial makeover with paint and hardware! 

How about we start off 2021 with a furniture makeover? 

Recently, I picked up two brightly colored handmade hardware cabinets from a local auction.  I always gravitate toward multi-drawer pieces and knew right away I could breathe new life into these dated, brightly colored drawers. 

Even though the drawers were handmade, they had lots of character, loads of storage and were perfect for a vintage-inspired industrial update. 

- SUPPLIES  NEEDED TO UPDATE A MULTI-DRAWER CABINET - 

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- Multi Drawer Dresser, Cabinet or Chest (You can create the look of multi-drawers using THIS tutorial) 

- Bronze Drawer Label Pulls

- General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint

- Dark Antique Wax

- Finishing Wax

- Dewalt Orbital Sander 

- 80 and 120 Grit Sanding Pads

- Qwikwood Wood Repair Epoxy 

- Purdy Paint Brush

- Drill and Small Drill Bits

- Screwdriver

- Lint-Free Rag or Wax Brush

- Simple Green 

- Paper Towels

- Tape Measure

- Four Small Caster Wheels 

- HOW TO GIVE A DATED CABINET A VINTAGE-INSPIRED INDUSTRIAL MAKEOVER - 

 

The bright colors and mismatched hardware may be hard to look past, but it's only paint and easy to change. 

I started by removing all the hardware and giving the drawers a good sanding with 80 and 120 grit sandpaper. 

I knew I was going to distress the drawers and wanted to limit the orange and blue paint from showing, so I made sure to sand off most of the prior paint around the drawer edges. 

I repaired major issues with wood filler, but kept most of the previous holes, dings and gashes to keep as much character as possible.  

After sanding, I cleaned the drawers with Simple Green, gave them three coats of General Finishes Lamp Black, distressed each drawer, applied dark antique wax around the drawer edges, waxed the rest of the drawers with finishing wax then added the new bronze hardware and caster wheels. 

The roughness, hardware holes and dings may not be for everyone, but I love the character it adds to these previous discarded drawers.   Now they have the perfect vintage industrial vibe and are perfect for adding a statement to any workshop, office or craft room!

- HELPFUL SOURCES FOR REPAIRING, PAINTING AND RESTORING FURNITURE -

 

- Beginners Guide to Painting Furniture

- How to Repair and Replace Old Hardware Holes

- How to Repair Damaged Dovetail Drawers

- How to Get The Chippy Look With Milk Paint

- How to Repair Damaged Veneer

- The Best Sources for Buying Used Furniture and Decor

- How to Repair Broken Furniture Corners

- The Best Way to Paint Over Dark Stained Furniture

    

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