Sometimes you find a perfectly good piece of furniture, but it’s not all wood…
Prime, Flat Paint, Glaze and Wax 
When shopping for furniture to refresh, my first choice is all wood.
I do like a challenge, and I don’t back down easy.
If there’s a will, I try to find a way.
My Mama is proud, she taught me that 🙂
There was no sanding to distress this piece, I used glaze to create some interest.
Did you know that you can use wax over flat paint? You can 🙂
Have you smelled Miss Mustard Seed’s wax? You should, it doesn’t smell like all the others!
What’s your favorite-go to wax?
be.refreshed.
ps. all these opinions are mine 🙂
sharing:
Hi,
Your post is very helpful. I was wondering if you could help me with my questions. I’m in the middle of painting my dresser and the paint that I bought looks too flat. Which brand of glaze did you use? And would doing just the glaze be enough or is it best to do both glaze and wax? Thanks in advance!
HI Dee, I bought my glaze at Lowe’s and you will need to read the directions on your glaze as mine did require a top coat. You could use a gloss poly, if you want your piece to be more shiny.
Good Luck,
Debbie
These non-wood furniture pieces come out beautifully spray painted with Krylon’s made for plastic paint. It gives a very clean look to pieces that you may want a more contemporary feel for. I’ve used both satin and high gloss and the adhesion is wonderful.
You are right…these non-wood dressers can be terrific finds 🙂
oops….I just saw I’ve already commented on the same thing. Sorry for the repeat ….
Very nice work. I run into this type of furniture a gazillion times! In fact I just did a redo with a dresser very similar to this in the room. Wish I could have painted it. They always look so dated “as is”.
I have found though that this type of “laminate” type surface does extremely well being spray painted with Krylon’s paint made for plastic. It’s a dream! Mind you, I don’t often do distressed looks 😉 so spray paint will give it a more contemporary look.
You did a great job on this piece!. I have a few different go to waxes. It all depends on the paint I’ve used. I’ve found that certain waxes work better with certain paints. Trial and error I guess!
Great look! We wouldn’t have known it wasn’t all wood if you hadn’t spilled the beans 🙂 I like the opinions being offered about the waxes. Thank you for opening up the topic for discussion. You know I’m an Annie Soan’s wax lover. But I just ordered some MMS wax from Robyn Story last night at 15% off. Woot!
Amazing Debbie! I have used Briwax in the past and really like it. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying Miss Mustard Seed’s wax. In a pinch I use shoe polish. It’s always on hand in our house and it works as well as any wax I’ve tried before.
Wax on, wax off! Love this piece – and LOVE your new blog design!!
So fresh!
Kelly
Your dresser looks gorgeous and I’m liking your new look here – beautiful!
I love the makeover of the dresser, but I’m visiting tonight because of your FB post about your blog makeover – I’m loving it!
I’m a fortune teller, so listen closely…You will load this into a truck and drive it to Kentucky. I will make you dinner and we will stay up all hours of the night laughing so hard that we make snorty pig sounds. Then the next day, no need to wake up at the crack of dawn, we can sleep in this time! Sound like a plan?
Hi Debbie,
Your piece looks gorgeous. Thanks for the tip about MMS’s wax. I have only used AS wax, and I am just about out of it and need to order some more. Love your blog redesign because it looks so……FRESH! I like how you have the BlogHer ads on the side rather than at the top-just a personal preference of mine.
Hi Debbie..LOVING the fresh new look. Kristi is dabomb!
Well, you learn something new every day! Thanks for sharing — that’s a pretty cool piece even if it’s not real wood. 🙂
xo Heidi
What a beautifully destressed dresser. I’ve never just glazed a piece. This is a technique to try… I love the effect!
Hi, Debbie! I have to agree with you about MMS wax. It smells awesome, is so creamy and dries very fast for a soft wax. It stays pretty matte, too. I tend to stick with Minwax (mostly because it’s so easy to find) on table tops, though. Need that hard finish for protection. I really like Briwax because it finishes like a hard wax even though it’s soft; it just smells terrible when applying (and requires a drive out to Wilmington Island). I am not crazy about ASCP wax and it’s expensive. Howards has a good soft wax when you can find it. CeCe Caldwell’s wax is nice like MMS, but it’s waxier and takes longer to dry. I have used the Johnson’s paste wax and it’s great if you can stand the odor (which does linger after drying), but for less than $7 I can wax outside. 🙂 Do you still like your sprayer?
The glaze distress is a nice little tip to know. And your mama taught you well.
Bliss
I love the simple finish. The style of the piece is great on it’s own.
I haven’t used wax much. Maybe you will convince me. I still use just glaze or polyacrylic sealer. I will have to try Miss Mustard Seeds.
Thanks for sharing!
Deb@LakeGirlPaints
Hi Deb – really great looking refreshed dresser! Love it! And thanks for the info on Miss Mustardseed’s wax. I truly hate the smell of ASCP, Liberon etc. I will try it out (really – thank you for this. I think I got sick when I used other waxes. Worried about my health! Thanhs so much. I have so much respect for Marian and anything she makes – I will be buying her wax today!).
I have a two questions. 1) which primer did you use. I am a decorative painter by trade and with non wood furniture (especially things that are glossy), I’ve used a product called PrimeEtch from Faux Effects – and it really etches into the surface – giving you a great tooth so that anything sticks to it. I’ve used it on stainless steel too (makes painting those ugly steel range hoods a breeze!). On your project, I would probably have used an oil based primer – just to be sure that it stuck to the surface. And 2) You used a glaze over a flat painted surface. What glaze did you use? Usually the flat paint doesn’t seal the surface – and your finish can be uneven (Or did you just drybrush it – so the glaze didn’t really get a chance to seep into the pores of the pieces?). Would so love to know what glaze you used.
Thanks so much – I’m off to see more of your blog!!
Linda
PS – Thanks for using CommentLuv – I have it on my blog as well.
I sent you an email Linda 🙂
the dresser looks awesome! great job! and great find!
Oh Deb that is a great looking piece. I have only used Annie Sloan wax so I have nothing to compare it to. I do like it though. I know La Craie has a nice wax too now.
Wonderful!!
I am also a fan of flat paint and wax! My go to wax is still Minwax Natural. I luv the way it applies and I burnish it will a 0000 steel-wool pad.
Cheers, gee
Love this piece! Great post ! Love, Me
That is such a great piece! You would never know it wasn’t all wood…super job, Deb!
I still have never used wax. i haven’t refinished a piece of furniture in a while. I will have to try waxing – your dresser looks really pretty.
How did you go about this? It’s gorgeous Debbie :)))
emailed you 🙂 have a great day!
Could you pass along the info to me as well? I have picked up several non-wood pieces and all I know to do to them is to use Kilz…
If there’s a BETTER way – I’d love for you to share! 🙂
Thank you so much!
I have never used wax…maybe I should 🙂 looks lovely. do you prime the non-wood with oil base primer?