Thrifty Thursday 03: 1920's Nautical Dresser

Exciting news at the end of this post! Looking forward to meeting some of you!

Hey all!

Another week has passed, and more thrifty goodness has happened!

I wanted to wait and save this piece until it was done, but I just can't. It's too cute! I bought this off of Craigslist, sight unseen, based on this picture:

Ok. So it's not cute right now, but it will be.

Imagine it in a nice white finish, classic cast iron knobs, and a dark stained top.

Now the top is assuming that it is not entirely covered in veneer, but if it is, I can just make that white as well. Slight distressing will bring out some of those dreamy features (the sea shells, waves, and the inlay on the drawers) & accentuate the slightly nautical feel of this piece. I think some very light use of my dark wax to get into those lines would be perfect to draw the eye into those details.

This is going to be a lot of work. And I when I say "a lot of work," I mean "so much work I might die."

I am going to have to strip the veneer, sand the piece down, & seal it so that any dark stain doesn't seep through the layers of light paint.

Then I'll have to paint it, sand it, paint it again, distress it, and then seal it one more time. Then I'll be able to add knobs back onto it.

I'll be able to re-use those original handles on another piece in the future, since there's a set of (4) bottom pulls & (2) of the knobs. Unfortunately, the piece doesn't have all of the original hardware though, so I've gone hunting, and thought I had it narrowed down to these for the top...

#1-Brown Cast Iron Sea Shell Knob

...and these for the bottom.

#2- Brown Cast Iron Drawer Pull

But now I'm not sure if I like them together. Do I want two different kind of knobs? Do I want drawer pulls for the bottom instead of knobs? Do I want wide base plates for the bottoms if I stick with knobs?

So now I'm asking you, my readers. I have a selection below of which knobs intrigue me for this project. You'll notice I'm going for an aged look. No new style, shiny knobs or pulls, but things that will add to the character of the piece. Each knob has a number. Comment on the Facebook post with your vote & help me out!

#3- White Resin Knob with Metal Mesh

I like the idea of this one, but I'm not sure how well it would go with the dresser itself. Maybe for another project?

#4- Brown Metal Narrow Plate Pull

I really like how simple & beautiful this one is. Usually back plates age a piece, which isn't always ideal, but for an old piece like this, it might be perfect for those bottom drawers. But does it go with any of the smaller singular knobs? Definitely not the sea shell one, maybe the second one.

My other concern is that the back plate may overlap with the inlay... which would be no bueno.

#5- Brown Cast Iron Drawer Pull

This one is very similar to #4, as it also has a back plate & simple knob. I feel like this one matches #2 better though, so I'm drawn to this one. But again, would it overlap? 

#6- Small Brown Cast Iron Half Moon Scroll Handle

Now I'm onto pulls. Two holes means drilling through the veneer & filling the original holes. I'm not sure if I really want to do that. But I do really love cup pulls, and this one isn't super modern, so it might not look too bad with the piece. Maybe I should buy one and see how it looks, and return it if needed?

#7- Rust Cast Iron Drawer Pull

Same story here. Two holes, wood filler, etc. But this one is elegant & would match #2 fairly well. My only concern is that it's too busy for the piece with the other designs, such as the inlays & shells.

Might have to bring a drawer to the store at this point.... save myself a return trip & look crazy....or go to the store 4 times and waste time and gas (and quite possibly look crazy)?

Right now, looking at all of them together, I'm thinking #2 for the top two (the ones with the severe veneer damage), and #5 for the bottoms. It keeps the proportions in check with the smaller on the top, but it also still allows you to focus on the dresser itself, since they sort of match.

If there's an overlap on any of the wider options, I might just stick with #2 all the way through.

Big news! Evelyn & Theodore will be hosting a monthly craft night starting next month! 

We want to create a space where you all can come visit, hang out, and share your inspiration with fellow crafters. Some months it'll be an indoor chill-fest, other months, we may take up the entire lawn outside with big projects & set up a bonfire when it gets dark.

You never know who you're going to meet, or who will suggest that perfect "thing" you've been trying to figure out.

Not local? No worries! We're going to set up a Skype & Twitch account so you can join in on the fun too! Have discussions with us, meet "the locals," and craft the night away. Details are over on our Facebook page, so be sure to check it out!

See you soon!