Drexel Mid Century Dresser

       I came across two mid century pieces (well 3 actually) that were fantastic finds! Craigslist of course! This is a Drexel "Biscayne" series. I googled this model and found it for sale at a vintage furniture store for $1900!!!

      The guy told me his mom had been using this dresser as an ironing board/sewing center!!! 

ACK!
Why do people do this to furniture???

As bad as it looked, it felt even worse!

You can't tell from the pics, but the top was very concave.
No way this top could be saved. I'm good, but
I'm not Houdini!

Here is what it is supposed to look like. This is the one that's going for $1,900.

I tried to save the top. Sanded and even attempted to glue down the veneer. But it was too bowed to save.
I got a solid piece of pine, cut it and routed the edges. Plywood would not have worked unless I wanted to band the edging. Too much work since I was painting. 

Ended up scrapping the entire top and getting a new piece. I would have done a cool top with some nice wood, but I had already decided I was going to leave the drawer fronts natural and I had no idea what kind of wood it was. Even the guy at the lumberyard was stumped. I have seen this type of wood before, or since.  No way to match it. So, I figured I would do everything else a gloss white. The new top is a solid piece of pine.  (No need to spend a lot of money on premium wood that is going to be painted). The edges were routed, much like the original one.
After a bunch of sanding and staining,,,,,

Ta-Dah! 

This was my first time using the HVLP sprayer that I've had (for almost 2 years!!)
Normally I brush, but I wanted this to be extra smooth.  I like it. But it is a pain having to tape
off and prep and cleaning up afterward. I used a Sherwin Williams enamel. I so wanted to use a
paint lacquer, but not here in Calif. Can't get it. I really wanted the glossy smooth glass-like finish.

I used the Command Max Sprayer. Simple enough to use and decent results.

                                      Those are natural light areas in the wood that you see.

The hardware was cleaned and polished and sprayed in a soft gold. The hardware and the 

drawer fronts got a coat of spray lacquer for protection. 

 This is a really cool piece and can be used so many places in the home.

 Hopefully not as a sewing center.



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