the lovely ledger dresser.

Published on by Quandie

A week or two ago Prima Marketing contacted me and offered to send me a couple of the new transfer designs that were coming out so that I could be one of the first to try them out.

How cool is that?  I’m so happy that they thought of me, and trusted me to help unveil some of their fabulous new designs!

As soon as they arrived I knew exactly which one I wanted to try first, and I knew exactly what I would put it on.

Now, I know there are people out there who might think the wood on this dresser is beautiful and that it’s a crime that I painted it.  All I can say to that is ‘different strokes for different folks’.  Personally, I think it’s rather … uh, well … let’s just say unattractive.  So I didn’t feel even the slightest qualm over painting it.

I started by sanding the dresser lightly, vacuuming away the dust, then cleaning it with Krud Kutter.  Then I added two coats of Fusion’s Limestone, which is a lovely creamy white.

While the paint dried, I scrubbed up the drawer pulls with some dish soap.  I was planning to add a metallic gold wax to them, but in the end I decided I preferred them with a more subdued look.  However, they were a bit dull, so I waxed them with Homestead House Salad Bowl Finish to shine them up.

I couldn’t really get it to show up very well in a photograph, but the pull on the left is waxed and the one on the right isn’t.  The wax adds just a little bit more depth and shine.

Once the paint was fully dry I distressed the edges of the dresser with 220 grit sandpaper.

Always remember that Fusion acrylic paint is much easier to distress before it has much time to cure.  Once cured this paint is very durable (ie. harder to distress).  I always try to distress it within 24 hours of painting the piece, if not sooner.

Next came the really fun part, adding the transfer.  The Lovely Ledger transfer combines two of my favorite things, French writing and … well … ledgers!  I’m an accountant by day, furniture painter by night (or more realistically, weekend), so this Lovely Ledger transfer was perfect for me.

I had to doctor up the design just a tad to fit it on this dresser because of the detail on the middle drawer.

I suspect that you wouldn’t even notice it if I didn’t point it out.

But if you ever buy this transfer yourself and wonder why it doesn’t look exactly like mine, that’s why.  I removed a flower from one spot and filled in with more wording instead.  Always keep in mind that you can cut these transfers up and re-arrange them to fit your piece more precisely.

One of the things I love about using Fusion paint is that it has a built in top coat.  I find that the transfers work really beautifully over the Fusion in particular because it creates the perfect surface for them to adhere to.  Once the transfer is in place I usually go over it with just a little bit of furniture wax, or in this case I used the Salad Bowl Finish.

Today’s q-tip:  Remember, never try to apply a transfer over a freshly waxed surface.  You’ll end up with a sticky, gooey mess.  Always wait until after the transfer is applied to add wax if you want to.  If you’ve already waxed and are dying to add a transfer, you’ll have to wait 30 days for your wax to cure and then you can apply a transfer over the wax.

I have to say, if I’d had some glass knobs on hand I think I would have used them instead.  They would allow the transfer to be the star of the show.  But the pulls that came with this dresser are so gorgeous, I felt like it would be wrong to not use them.  Plus I only had a mishmash of unmatched glass knobs.

The pulls do cover up some of the transfer though.

So, what do you think?  Did I improve the dresser?  Which look is more ‘you’?  The ‘before’ or the ‘after’?

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, the Lovely Ledger transfer is not yet available to purchase.  However, the new designs should be shipping to stores in mid-April so be sure to look for them then.

If you’re wondering where to purchase the Prima Marketing transfers, check out their ‘where to buy’ page.

If you’re wondering where to buy the Fusion paint, check out their ‘where to buy’ page.

And finally, if you happen to be local (Twin Cities, MN) and in need of a beautiful dresser, check out my ‘available for local sale’ page to see if this one is still available.

34 thoughts on “the lovely ledger dresser.”

  3. Oh it turned perfectly. And I totally agree that the original wood was crazy and distracting from the pretty lines of the dresser. Love the transfer. I also cut of part of a transfer to make it fit a small dresser and someone commented that it looked like it said ‘death of love’. Luckily it didn’t but I always worry about the French words might get wonky when you cut it apart. So pretty and I’m glad you got a chance to paint something other than your walls!

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    1. I feel like the wording on this one is pretty illegible for the most part, so I’m probably OK. But if there are any French speakers (readers?) out there, let me know if this one says anything weird.

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  4. This is an interesting transfer and I like the way you arranged it on the dresser front. And the knobs – so glad you kept them! Their “frilly” design perfectly compliments the intricate scroll of the text for a truly unique look. De tout beauté!

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  7. Love, love, love this sresser. The white totally brings it into the new era. The new transfer is a win too. So glad their people realize how talented you are and how well you can showcase their products. Hope it goes to a good home!

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  9. Oh wow! A definite improvement. Way too orangey and too much going on for me in the before. But some may like that and I’m not disparaging them at all. I think the pulls are awesome and look great! A for sure winner!

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  11. Wow! Love this!! You are such a pro! Love this transfer. I am so afraid to try a transfer! I envision a wallpaper type of snafu where I ended up wadding it up and trashing it because I couldn’t get it arranged well! Lol

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  12. Definitely the after but, beyond the original finish, which was probably something back in the day this had everything else going for it. Love the lines, the feet with casters and whoa gorgeous hardware. The addition of the transfers just make it a one of a kind and take it to the next level. Nice piece Linda.

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    1. Thanks Victoria! And you are so right. This one already had the right stuff, it just needed a little paint and an amazing transfer to really make it shine!

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    1. We do seem to have a pretty good market for pretty, vintage furniture here in the Twin Cities. But also a lot of competition for snatching it up! I got lucky with this one 🙂

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