A Gold Medal Flea Market Makeover
By Lexy Ward
Photo: Sally Mae Photography
Every nursery needs a dresser/changing table/statement piece, am I right? When putting together our daughter’s nursery, I knew that I wanted something unique, but still simple. I found an old white dresser at a local flea market, and gave it a few coats of coral paint. Instant gratification, but it was still missing something.
Photo: Lexy Ward
I liked the dresser once it was painted, but it still felt a little “hmph” to me. It needed something extra, and I decided to give it a bit of a golden lift. Gold leaf lift, that is.
Photo: Lexy Ward
The pulls weren’t bad. They’re brassy and filled with paint in a light seafoam color. Before getting started, they needed to be removed so I was working with a flat surface.
Photo: Lexy Ward
Materials needed:
Gold leaf sheets (I used about 30 sheets)
gold leaf adhesive & sealer
painter’s tape
paint brush
Photo: Lexy Ward
Start by taping each drawer. I wanted the center of the drawers to be covered in gold leaf, but 1/2” was left untouched to resemble a border.
Photo: Lexy Ward
Once taped, paint a thin layer of the gold leaf adhesive over the entire surface of the drawer. Wait ten minutes (or however long the gold leaf packaging instructs) for the adhesive to become a little tacky.
Working gently, apply the gold leaf sheets one at a time starting at one end of the drawer and placing sheets until you reach the other end. Use a towel and rub the drawer down pushing all the gold leaf firmly into the adhesive. Don’t worry - if you feel like the gold leaf is going to flake off, it will only flake off wherever there is no adhesive.
Once the entire surface of the drawer has been covered with gold leaf and rubbed with a towel, carefully peel away the painter’s tape.
Cover the drawer’s surface with the sealer and wait several hours for it to be dry to the touch.
Photo: Lexy Ward
And that’s it! I absolutely love it. The gold leaf really adds to the dresser and it is so lovely to look at. (I’m biased!)
Photo: Lexy Ward
Photo: Lexy Ward
Photo: Lexy Ward
Photo: Lexy Ward
The lines are so crisp and the surface is so shiny! Yay for shiny drawers! Once the gold leaf was added, I felt the pulls just didn’t mesh well. I picked up some clear geometric knobs from Hobby Lobby and they were just what I was looking for!
Photo: Sally Mae Photography
Photo: Sally Mae Photography
Photo: Sally Mae Photography
Photo: Sally Mae Photography
To say that I’m in love with the dresser, would be the understatement of the year. It really completed the nursery and I know that it will be a piece in our home for years to come!
What do you think? Would you ever add gold leaf to a piece of furniture like this?
Check out more great DIY ideas for kids’ rooms and nurseries!
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