Q: Long time listener, first time caller! After years of reading Apartment Therapy and seeing all the amazing DIYs, I took my courage to Home Depot and bought supplies to refinish a dresser I've had for about 5 years. It's not really my style anymore; I've been leaning steadily in the modern direction, all the more when I moved into a darling mod duplex in Tucson last fall. Instead of replacing it, I thought I'd try my luck, so I refinished and painted. I think my stain's too dark... is it? If you think I should bring it down a notch, what type of bleach would you use? A/B or Oxalic acid? Thanks!!
PS It's going in the same bedroom with this long Harmony House dresser I found on Craigslist. Removing the tile top on this will be my next "Good Question" :)
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Doesn't look too dark to me. Good job.
I'd leave it, I think the contrast between the white and the dark is striking, but not too jolting. Nice work!
Hard to say when the whole concept of the room is not known. As a piece standing alone, it looks fantastic. You did a great job. Why not just roll with it?
I love the contrast. Just make sure not to ruin it with the wrong hardware - stick to white, I think.
Looks great.
I like it! Totally suits the piece. Fab job!!
i think it looks great as well! if you're worried about it 'matching' other pieces (like the ones in the picture), i'd say that it's better to have the darker piece rather than worrying about trying to get the two finishes to match exactly. :)
looks good as is, nice job! maybe replace the tile top of the second dresser with mirror?
I love how it looks. Find pulls you absolutely love and I think you will be set! I recently DIYed some leather pulls from an old belt and was really happy with the look. I think you did a great job.
Not too dark, but the white reminds me of '80s kitchen drawers. Change the white (but no chevrons) and it should look even more sophisticated. Gradient shades of brown or greys; dark bottom to light top drawer maybe? I'd have to mull this over if it were mine, so no sure quick answer on the white.
It's perfect. Want proof? Look at this FB page, it's a store in Chicago who does beautiful refinishing jobs just like this and resells them for $$. https://www.facebook.com/pages/the-white-attic/124019642764
Nice job! I wouldn't change a thing.
now about that Harmony House dresser....I'd go in through the drawer openings and see if you can remove the entire top. Then replace it with a sweet slab of marble. :)
I think having a bigger contrast is actually nicer! Maybe you could stain the other dresser too to match? And add a marble top, so you have wood/white contrast too?
It looks great and should go well enough with the other wood pieces. If you are really worried about it, get wooden knobs that match the other dresser's wood color. Case closed.
The dark is fine, looks great. I just redid a mid century walnut dresser and it's about the same shade with drawers stained a slightly lighter brown. I'm not in love with the white, but if you like it it's fine. I probably would have gone with an olive green.
Gorgeous! I wouldn't change a thing.
No, I think it looks really nice. I, personally, really like the contrast.
I like it...and would be excited to see what hardware you choose. And I love the new dresser.
However, the fact that you are asking makes me think that you aren't quite in love with it as it is. You should make it so YOU love it.
Love it. Leave it as is.
I think it looks great. I want it!
I think the dresser looks great as-is, it's a nice contrast. However it doesn't live in my house, so make it what you want. I don't have any advice on the specific bleaching agent, other than to go slowly, you might want less than you think. Easier to put on another layer than take one off. Good luck!
I think the person rmbnn may have the correct answer. Possibly it isn't that it is too dark, perhaps you find the contrast too much for your eye. There are so many shades of white. Take a piece of fabric or something in a different shade of white and just tuck it around one drawer, or buy a small amount of paint and paint a piece of cardboard and see if that colour changes how you feel about it.
Love it! Lately I've found myself strongly attracted to the brown wood/white face combo. In every instance I've seen, it looks quite modern...or is the word contemporary???
Have you chosen a final finish? Perhaps a nice semi gloss will give it the kick you want. I would suggest simple brass MCM handles to mediate the darkness of the wood and the starkness of the white. Great work!
Wow :) thanks so much everyone. @Peregina, you're right, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable with it, thinking I'd lean more toward a chestnut/white theme, but after walking past it each day on my patio, it's really grown on me, and I do love the contrast.
@alyse and @fulinlin: both great ideas on the spectrum, of matching/ coordinating. :)
I was considering putting the original pulls back on it... they are a dark bronze half-moon with center post and some intricate carving, mostly straight edges. I think it'll be a cool contrast in itself, and they're easy to change if it doesn't work :) thanks again!
Oh! and @Lynne M S, I am doing a high gloss over everything. I may stop before I get that far if I'm satisfied after just a couple coats. thanks :)
looks great! love the high gloss white :)