Antique Highboy Dresser Before and After

Last summer, I was out thrifting and going to yard sales with a friend.  As we made our way down the main street through town, we saw that a little junk store was bringing furniture pieces out along the street.  I saw a piece that caught my eye and I made a quick turn to stop and see it.

It was love at first sight!

After a little haggling on price, I loaded her up and brought her straight home.  She had great details and look at those sexy legs on her!  Sure her finish had seen better days and there were hearts carved into the top of her from one of her previous owners, but I saw her potential.

I was inspired by a couple of vintages pieces that Beth from Home Stories from A to Z had recently refinished for her boys.  I loved the two-toned look she created.

(Image Source)

Here is my version of the inspiration piece.  I didn't want a bright white, so I chose Annie Sloan's Country Grey.  Unlike the name would lead you to believe, Country Grey is more of a creamy almost Almond color.  I thought it was perfect for this piece.

I did a light sanding on the top and the drawer fronts and stained them in Minwax Special Walnut.  The wood was very dry and really soaked up both the paint and the stain so several coats were needed.

The following two pictures were after two coats of stain.  I believe I have at least four coats on the finished piece.

I decided to use the original drawer pulls because they were just so neat!  I gave them a good scrub with Bar Keeper's Friend, but I was left with a splotchy mess.  I  brightened them up again with a little Antique Gold Rub n' Buff.  Then I went over them with a dark glaze to age them again.

One of the original pulls was missing, so I opted to go with porcelain knobs on the top drawer.  I think it gives the highboy a little bling.  And for that extra touch, I painted the insides of the drawers in Annie Sloan's Duck Egg blue.  

I really loved this antique highboy and there was a part of me that really wanted to keep it.  But, I can't keep every piece that I paint.  This one is now part of a little girl's nursery.  It will be a piece the family can always treasure!

And another before and after.

So what do you think?  Are you a fan of two-toned furniture or would you have finished it in a solid color?

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