before and after.

here goes. I'm gonna try and do a before and after post. that being said. all pictures are taken on my phone... so not the greatest.
so in the beginning... i was looking for an awesome looking long dresser/credenza/sideboard for the end of our bed....
i looked for a long time. found some good ones but was too cheap to spend more than $50..... finally... finally i found one. not perfect but kinda cool.... here it is. in the thrift store.... it even came with a mirror for the top... which is in our garden shed now....also only $20.... this was bought a long time ago. months.

and no... i did not buy the lamps. shud've wud've cud've...... right....:)
so then i started sanding. and sanding and sanding. for hours. literally. power sander even. then gave up. tried paint stripper. took me a couple tries but i figured out how to do it. you gotta put it on thick. like thick thick...

so this is the dresser up on its side... you pour the stripper on... wait about 30 minutes or so... then just scrape. i ended up giving a quick sand after all this too.... directions said i would'nt have to but i did.
then i stained a dark walnut... i was so upset after first coat- it looked identical to the color that was on the dresser before!! i should also tell u... i painted the drawers- glossy white. i spraypainted them. got this trigger thing... amazing- i recommend for all avid spray painters like myself..... some of the drawers did not turn out super awesome upclose- i think cuz it was super muggy out maybe??.... but i was getting impatient at this point so really- did not care.

anyways back to the staining... second and third coat of stain looked way better, then i tried waxing(used a product by 'Minwax') it to protect instead of using a varathane.... it worked pretty good i think... im still letting it sit for a bit more before i put anything on the dresser but i am happy with finish- it feels smooth but is not overly shiny like varathane looks sometime. so here is semifinal product.... still need to line the drawers. and its ended up in our living room for now instead of the bedroom....

 

yes that is my mop in the picture... funny its out seen as i can't remember the last time i used it:) also there are some random shoes in the picture. I especially like that the white drawers bring out the not-already-obvious white cable and outlet... in the middle of the freaking wall....... i guess i should do something about those.
i bought some lamps to redo for the top.... they are almost done and then i will post pictures of the whole dealio.
dealio? dealeo? not even a word. doesn't matter how you spell it.

so its not fantastic. but its a dresser.