Vintage Dresser Redo

Recently I picked this baby up at a yard sale for just $20!

It needed some work definitely! I had already removed the handles in this picture.  Even though she needed some love, I saw her potential.  

Here's a close up of the top.  Water marks and scratches.  Since this dresser is 100% real wood I wasn't too worried.

I started by removing all the drawers and doors, and giving the whole thing a good sanding.  I used 100 grit sandpaper and a palm sander.  It's the way to go when you have a lot of sanding to do.  Makes it go by fast.

Next, I gave the everything except the top 2 coats of primer.  I used the spray paint type, which my primer time super fast and easy.  It also dries faster than the brush on type, and you don't have to worry about brush lines.  The cans were about $4 each.  It took 2 cans for this project.

While my primer was curing, I did the top.  I used Minwax PolyShades in Bombay Mohogany.

It makes the staining process fantastic because it stains and poly's all in one quick step!  I did 2 coats of this on the top.

She's starting to look up!

After a full day of dry time, I went back to more sanding.....
Ug!
But it's important.  I used 220 grit sandpaper and gave the primer a fast light sanding.

Next was painting.  I wanted a grey-blue color.  However, all I had on hand was coastal blue or medium gray. I could have bought a gallon of a color I liked but I didn't want to spend the money.  So guess what I did?  Yep I mixed them together.

I wanted to use chalk paint, so I purchased some Plaster of Paris from the hardware store, (about $5 for a large container of it) and mixed it up.

1 part plaster of Paris disolved in HOT water
3 Parts Latex Paint

Mix your plaster and hot water together first, then mix in the paint.  It will be thinner than most paint.  After 2 coats of now "Slate Blue" chalk paint, this beast was really starting to shine.

I decided to distress the dresser.  I went back to my palm sander, and ruffed up the edges, legs and certain spots on the drawers.

Then I applied a glaze.  I bought my glaze in a discount bin.  It was a chocolate brown color and it was premixed.  I diluted it down with a little bit of water.  Then rubbed it on with a clean cloth, and rubbed it off with a damp one after about 15 minutes.  Here's the look it gave:

Then I spray painted the handles black.

I gave the whole thing a coat of wax and vwalla!

I love how it turned out!

I almost just want to keep it instead of reselling this baby!

What do you guys think?