Debbie's Paint Projects > Projects > Scandinavian Style Chest of Drawers

Tools and Materials Needed

• 1/2" and 1/4" low-tack painter's tape
• Olive green, gray, and white latex paint,satin
• water-based glazing liquid
• mixing container
• paintbrushes
• rags
• colour photocopies of designs to fit behind and around handles
• scissors or utility knife
• fine-grade sandpaper
• wallpaper paste or white craft glue
• satin acrylic varnish

Getting started

1. Add a little white paint to gray to lighten it, then
2. 1 part latex paint
3. 1 part water-based glazing liquid
4. Remove the drawer handles. Measure and mask off an insert panel with 1/2" low-tack tape on the front of the drawers
5. Apply 2 coats of olive green base coat to the dresser except for the taped-off areas. Let dry for 4 hours
6. Remove the tape and retape on the outside edge of the white panels. Paint the inside of the panels gray. Remove the tape and let dry
7. Apply 1/4" tape over the gray color around the frame of the drawers
8. Mix the light gray glaze. Dip a paintbrush into colored glaze, take off the excess on rag, and apply with a dry brush to the entire dresser. Work in one direction holding the brush perpendicular to the surface. This produces a soft, grainy quality. Let dry; remove the tape. You are left with a muted green chest, muted gray panels, and a solid gray border around the panels
9. Cut out the color photocopies to cover the area behind the handles. Sand the edges of the paper gently by moving the sandpaper from the middle of the paper out, so the edges blend into the surfaces. Apply a glue to the image and secure it in place. I also glued the paper to the front of the drawer pulls
10. Apply 2 coats of varnish for protection. Reattach the drawer pulls.

Topics covered by this article include: Bedrooms, Decorating, Design, Painting...