Project: Farmhouse Style Chest of Drawers

An old project from 2019....

Before....

Materials

Prep:

• TSP (Fusion Mineral Paint)
• 180-grit Sandpaper

Paint & Finishes (Fusion Mineral Paint):

• White Paint: Picket Fence
• Black Paint: Coal Black
• Brown Stain: Cappuccino Stain & Finishing Oil (SFO)
• Sealer: Clear Tough Coat
• Resist/Sealer: Clear Wax

Transfers (Redesign with Prima):

• Cow/Rooster: Farm Delights
• Black/White Botanicals: Spring Meadow Life
• Pastel-Coloured Botanicals: Delicate Fleur

Tools:

• Faux Woodgrain Tool
• Chip brush
• Staalmeester synthetic-bristle brushes
• Redesign with Prima wax brush

Others:

• 400-grit Sandpaper
• Chux lint-free superwipe cloth

Process

1. Remove drawers & hardware then clean well with TSP (mix as per instructions) and let it dry.
2. Scuff-sand the wood with 180-grit sandpaper, then clean dust off with the same TSP solution. Let it dry.
3. Insert the drawers, then use your finger to apply the clear wax where you want the orignal brown to show through, usually the areas where natural wear and tear occurs eg. corners & edges, protrusions... Avoid waxing the top and its side edges.
4. Using a good synthetic-bristle brush, paint the wood (including top and drawer fronts) with Picket Fence (Fusion’s brightest white). Paint over the waxed areas as well. Let the paint dry.
5. Use fine-grit sandpaper (400) to gently sand off where the wax was applied. The wax acts as a resist, so any paint over the wax should come off as you sand.
6. Clean over the waxed areas with the same TSP solution. Let paint dry at least 24 hours before the next step.
7. Cut out the main Farm Delights image and rub it on the front centre. Don’t worry about the small gaps between the drawers as you will be able to cut and press the transfer down on the drawer lips with a stanley knife. 
8. Cut, lay out, and rub on each botanical from Delicate Fleur and Spring Meadow Life transfers.
9. Seal the transfer surfaces with Clear Tough Coat.
10. Use a cheap chip brush to brush Cappuccino SFO over the painted top and its edges. Then with a lint-free Chux cloth, wipe off the excess in the direction of the wood grain. 
11. When the SFO is still wet, drag the Woodgrain tool along the top and its edges to create faux woodgrain texture.  Rock the tool gently where you want knot impressions.
12. Rub your SFO-contaminated Chux cloth over the bottom trim and legs. Voila! All finished!