Thursday, August 2, 2012

London Calling - Union Jack Dresser

My daughter Casey is in love with all things British.  This started way before the Olympics and the latest British Boy band invasion.  She's saving up her money for a graduation trip to London when she finishes High School. 
In the mean time, she asked me to give her room some British flair.
I call it my British Bubble-Gum Dresser.
It's painted with a Union Jack, but in soft pastel colors.


If you follow me on Pinterest, I'm sure you noticed my Union Jack pins. 
Here's my inspiration for the project. 
source
This project was free because I used what I already had.
I started with this dresser. 
It has been in my family for years and was already living in Casey's room. 
It was my dresser growing up and my very first furniture distressing project from way back. 
My mom remembers having it when she was a little girl living in Japan.

Here is the stamp on the back. 
The Ballman-Cummings Furniture Co. was established in 1894. 
From what I can tell, the dresser is over 100 years old. 
It's solid and very well built. 
Yes, I know, I probably devalued it by painting it way back when, but the finish had seen better days.


I used paint I already had and painted the base a soft blue, Benjamin Moore, Barely Teal. 
Then I measured and taped off the stripes. 
I custom mixed the pink and the lavender stripes with old paint.  I ran out of my favorite green Frog Tape and had to finish up with yucky orange tape because I was too lazy to run to the store.  To get clean edges, paint with the base coat over the tape before you paint the contrasting colored stripes.


I distressed the whole thing with lots of sanding and topped it off the top with a coat of polyurethane.

It's as solid as the resolve of Queen Elizabeth,


with a little more girly freshness of Kate.


I continued the stripes around the sides

and on to the top.


Casey loves it! 
Her room is getting a makeover and I'll show you more later.

Thanks for checking it out.



8 comments:

  1. Hi Shannon~
    Too cute! Can't wait to see the rest of her room.
    Hope you're having a good summer.
    ~Tina

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  2. sweet! you did a beautiful job. Love it to pieces!

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  3. I really like it Shannon - it's a nice change of pace from the typical union jack!
    Peggy
    The Painted Pear

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  4. Great taping job. I think that's probably the hardest part and it looks perfect.

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  5. Well done. I have seen a few Union Jack dressers on Pinterest lately, probably all from your pins. Did you see the Queen with James Bond and the corgis (my dogs are corgis) during the opening of the Olympics?

    I just redecorated Ashley's room. I'll try to post some pictures.

    ~Heather

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  6. How clever and what a lovely article .. I am pleased to have been a little part of it! Maria @ cute-clocks.com x

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