Le Rerun again. Or you can call it the best of Redouxinteriors! Regardless, I will be back to work next week. In the meantime, I am sharing some of my favorite projects. Le French Baker is at the top of my list. Enjoy.
Happy Monday friends. This post is coming up late because I made a little promise to myself I would not write posts on Sunday. I have to say, my fingers were itching, but I kept to my promise. What I did have time for instead, was more time with my family after church. Three games of Othello, watched half of Pirate’s of the Caribbean #3 with my son, and some sewing time to maybe, just maybe finish up my UFO by May 9th. (Unidentified Furniture Object). And! I actually sat down to watch the first half of the last Amazing Race with my daughters. It was definitely worth giving up putting together a post on my latest project.
So….here I am Monday morning….I had planned to put the post together Saturday night, but after two days at Paris Flea Market, and doing a really fun, but busy! Paint demonstration with CeCe Caldwell paints, I was WORN OUT!
Here it is now, I can’t wait to share. I bought this dresser several months ago, and have been waiting for the right moment to “redoux” it. It had a beautiful, almost perfect Maple top, and mostly intact pieces everywhere else. The wood on the piece was a thin veneer of Maple. Some of it was peeling off, so staining the entire piece was out of the question. After some repairs, she was ready for her makeup.
I sanded the entire piece down with a 220 grit. The top I finished with a 320 grit to get a very smooth finish. The wood was mostly in good condition. Stripping and staining was not necessary. Instead, I was able to use one of my favorite products.
I love this product for it’s ease, and instant gratification. Just a little rubbed in with a fine steel wool pad brings lusterless wood back to life. Let it dry for a few hours. Then simply take a soft cloth to wipe of the excess. There were a few small parts where I did have to fill in with some wood filler. The Restore a finish doesn’t quite mask it, so I have a little trick I use from time to time to “fake” a grain. I love this product from Modern Masters. Applied very sparingly with a small artists brush, you have to look closely sometimes to see where the wood was touched up.
Before 
After
Time to turn my attention the body of the piece. I was in a major hurry. I had already placed a gorgeous Grey Buffet in my space and it sold to another consignor before the sale opened. I needed to replace it and fast. I chose Vintage White from CeCe Caldwell’s paints. I used one thin coat. Let it dry for about an hour, sanded with a 320 grit sandpaper. Now it was super smooth. I finished the piece off with a thin coat of CeCe Caldwell’s 100% all natural furniture wax. After this dried, I only needed buff it, and it was on it’s way to the store.
I love the way the wood grain shows through slightly, and the paint sands off so beautifully that it feels silky smooth, yet allows all the natural beauty and the details of this piece to come through:
This is where the story gets really fun for me . Sale opened at 5:00. By 7:00, there was a Frenchman and his wife, buying not only the dresser, but many of my pieces. The French Couple are opening an organic bakery soon, and my furniture will be used in their shop!! How much more perfect could this be. My 100% natural paint and wax used on this piece, would end up in a 100% natural bakery, and for a darling French Couple!!!!! Ah…..it was a “TRES MERVEILLEUX” ending for me.
i love this! such a classic! the finish is gorgeous, karen.
Okay I probably always say this over here but I just LOVE this piece!! I want, I need, I have to have it. Ahh well I hope it enjoys it’s new home in the bakery but you truly did an amazing job on it, Karen. I love how you transform furniture (and thank you for sharing how you got from there to here, I appreciate your words of wisdom and experience!)
I love it, I am loving wood on top 🙂
that turned out so nicely! I haven’t tried restore a finish but can’t wait to get it! The color and glaze is lovely. I’m sure it will look quite pretty in a bakery.
Just beautiful Karen! Thank you for the great tips! I think your furniture was just meant for a French bakery! That is sooo cool! … I just posred this week’s party. Feel free to link this one up again as you were at the very end of last week’s party.
Beautiful! Love the combination of the wood on top with the glazed white! I wasn’t familiar with CeCe Caldwell paints; thanks for turning me onto them. Good news, there’s a shop not too far away that will be carrying them soon!
B E A U-tiful!
Catherine
Magnifique! And good Karma I’d say!
A great piece. The top appears to be flame mahogany or walnut veneer rather than maple. It’s actually more dramatic and prettier than maple would be. looks great with the paint.
Karen, it’s killing me to find out where you bought this piece. It truly looks like my Grandmothers old piece. After her death I had a new piece put on the top because it was so far gone it couldn’t be saved. After using it for decoration for a few years my son used it as a dresser. I live in Jefferson City, MO and after no longer of any need of the piece I gave it to my sister in St Louis. I would love to know if this is the one, it even has the same blemishes on the lower drawer. A French Bakery would make my Grandmother proud : )
Sincerely,
Tammy Luikart
Simple yet stunning! Another wonderful piece. Love it.
Great! Great! Great!
What a stunning piece. Great legs. Tons of character. Nice job!
Thanks for linking up – so happy you did!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Love your piece…the legs, the color and that it sold to the French couple! I don’t post on Sunday either, try to rest and enjoy the day….makes my week start a lot better!
Such a pretty cabinet Karen! Thank you so much for sharing it at Project Queen’s Link Party. Love that little ladder too!
I love the idea of one coat painting. The piece is fantastic. I think the distressed details seal the deal. I came over from Common Ground’s Vintage Inspiration link party.
Liz
gorgeous! i haven’t done a wood topped piece in a while…. i need to! it’s so pretty!
Who thought it was old? Heck it was just a diamond in the raw.
LOVE LOVE LOVE! I am hoping there is a post with this in their bakery or should I say boulangerie?
Beautiful piece – job well done!
It’s so nice to hear a little about where the projects end up.
And I’ll have to try that Restor-a-Finish. The wood came up so beautifully!
I love this piece – so warm, so inviting!
The sideboard is lovely.
Denise
wow what an amazing transformation. I love the two tone
Lisa
Creative Raisins
My goodness that piece is gorgeous Karen. I never heard of that glazing color product. You would NEVER dream that was the same piece! Have a great weekend!
Ohhhh, I love it!!!! Can I put that in my house?
Absolutely beautiful transformation!
xx
Anne
It is beautiful Karen!!
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