Grandma’s dresser transformation & kitchen update

I love chalk paint. It is easy to work with, and the outcome is always a beautiful, flawless finish. You can’t go wrong with Annie Sloan or Ce Ce Caldwell Chalk Paints—both amazing products. However, I do realize they can be a little pricey, but you can easily make your own! Let me show you how!

About a year ago we had to move my grandmother into an Alzheimer’s facility and she was unable to bring all of her belongings.  She had a beautiful antique dresser that was hard to let go of, it carried so many memories from when I was a little girl.

 It was the same dresser my sister and I was allowed to grab whatever spare change was there and take it home.  It carried all her beautiful gloves for when she and my grandfather would go square dancing every weekend.  The second drawer had all the gorgeous jewels she allowed me to play dress-up with.  I sure wish I could have kept it,  I justdidn’t have the room.

I had been seeing gorgeous dressers used as buffets in dining rooms and I knew this would be the perfect project for this piece.

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How to Make Chalk Paint With Baking Soda

Baking soda is the key ingredient in the simplest recipe for DIY chalk paint, making it perfect for a quick or small project. 

Supplies

• 1-quart container
• Paint mixing stick
• Baking soda
• Latex paint color of your choice
• Water

Pour 1 cup of matte or flat latex paint into a quart container. Sprinkle in 1/2 cup of baking soda, mixing as you go.

Mix ingredients thoroughly until the baking soda is completely dissolved. If the texture seems too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of cold water to thin out the mixture. 

Clean the whole dresser with soapy water and let dry.

Give the entire dresser a coat of paint and let it dry. Use an angle brush and a foam roller for the flat areas.

Give the dresser a second coat using the dry brush method with some white paint. (no need for it to be chalk paint)

For the final step, distress the armoire in certain areas that would naturally age over time using a piece of sandpaper.Last, apply Creamy wax Using a  soft rag until you have the desired look.

~A quick update on the kitchen~

I was able to take a very quick shot of some of the mold before the drywall came out.  This was actually one of the better areas that was furthest from the dishwasher, see all the spores, yuck!

All the mold is out, everything has been treated and the machines run 24/7.

After we receive an OK from the mold company we will bring in the plumbers, then the drywall, I will paint the walls, and finally the new cabinets.  I guess I should go pick out a countertop.  I’m going to need some help on that, guess that will be my next post since you are always so helpful and insighful.

Meanwhile, here at home life somehow is pretty peaceful despite it all.  My hubby is gone back East, Grayson has been home sick all week, and I’m living in a disaster with no kitchen, My uncle passed and we had to say goodbye to him yesterday. Yet, somehow it is all OK, because of friends.  Friends that have fed us,  watched the dogs, taken the kids, done my dirty dishes, and opened up their homes.   I honestly feel extremely blessed!