apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I like designerdi's Jumpstart project -

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/jan-jumpstart-2008-northwest/northwest-5-designerdis-necklace-nook-041270

I wonder if you could do something similar, but for drawers?

You need a trip to an art store for paper that has a lot of texture for its weight. Why? Because a thick paper won't fold around all those corners well -- but you need some texture and thickness to help cover the peeling and uneven surface. So your best bet is paper that, while relatively thin, has plenty of surface crinkles and bumps... and, ideally, a fairly busy pattern so that uneven application won't be a huge issue.

What'll get you into trouble (even with mass quantities of Modge Podge) is trying to use a heavy, flat paper. It won't take the corners well, and every flaw will show.

Fabric is a tougher call, as this kind of project calls for a tightly woven calico, which means the fabric will be flat. A busy enough pattern will hide a lot of flaws, though. Don't be put off by the term "calico" and think it's all Little House on the Prairie; even Joann has modernist calicos for quilting.

If you are thinking of doing fabric on the outside (or even the inside), you could use spray fabric adhesive on about any kind of fabric although I would choose one that is flexible enough to handle the corners and/or edges. I think the inside of the drawers are perfect for felt which comes with adhesive (only a few color choices) or without which you could adhere with most glues. A friend of mine covered a trunk with an old map using decopodge and it has held up extremely well so paper could be a good choice as well. Don't overlook the possibility of gift wrap for the paper. Good luck!

Velvet for inside the drawers would be very nice. I would use fray-check on the edges of the velvet so you don't have to hem the edges, just lay it in the drawers, maybe with a small drop of glue in every drawer corner to keep it in place. Elmer's or Alene's would be fine.

But a button cover kit and some adorable fabric and make new little drawer pulls.

Be careful - the moisture in some glues or paints may cause the cardboard/wood to warp or even bubble. I would recommend covering it with a thinnish textured or patterned paper, and maybe using a spray adhesive. Or some kind of self-adhesive paper (like contact paper). Good luck! It's a lovely find!

I recently aluminum leafed (an inexpensive alternative to silver leaf) an old TV entertainment and it turned out really well. I thought the project would be too expensive after looking in local craft stores, but then found it online on the cheap:
http://www.lagoldleaf.com/index.php?cPath=22
I only paid 34 dollars to do my entire 5 ft. project, but you would need much less than that!

All you have to do is buy spray glue, and then pat on the thin sheets-- it actually looks better if you scrunch the sheets and rub them in, so it should be perfect for your uneven/ delicate surfaces!

What a find! I love this.

-If you're a knitter, perhaps knit a simple (in warm color) looking runner for the top, if you can sew and sew one.

-For lining the drawers ... try this idea http://www.marthastewart.com/article/lavender-drawer-liner

That is brilliant, vieboheme! I think I'll try that on something.

Nice vintage jewelry chest! I think you need some good paper. Thin and fit it well.

if paint is a possibility, then use someting called liquid sand paper. it is a chemical that strips off the glossy finish and allows the surface to be painted without the hassle of real sanding. if you wan to dress up the inside of the chest use cool material or wall paper.