The Unique Suitcase Dresser

Here's my favorite Craigslist find to date!  This dresser / end table / night stand / hall table (whatever you want it to be, really) is something I picked up off craigslist from someone who was moving.  The straps and handles are real, high-quality leather, and the piece is covered in a burlap-like (shellacked burlap maybe?) finish.  It was a little beat up and dirty, but the drawers (yes those are drawers!) were in beautiful condition.  So nice, my family screamed in protest when I threatened to paint the insides.  So I left the drawers alone.

I wanted the piece to have a slightly cleaner, more elegant look.  Like suitcases from the QE2, not a Carnival Cruise.  After debating extensively over what color to paint it, I decided on Chalk Paint® in Old Ochre and mixed in a teeny tiny bit of Burnt Sienna (acrylic paint) to warm it up a little bit.  I really wanted to show off the leather straps and handles since they were in such fine shape, and this color combination would make them "pop."


Painting this was not easy!  I didn't mask all the leather, instead chose to paint around it very carefully, and wipe off any paint that might get on it.  This actually worked well, but was a little tricky, and destroyed a few finger nails.  Also, the textured surface was hungry for paint and took 1.5 good coats to cover.

After letting the paint dry, I mixed up some Annie Sloan Clear Wax with a little bit of dark wax (about 5:1), and waxed and buffed all the painted areas.  A little wax on the leather didn't hurt it at all, and actually helped clean it up nicely.  The results?  Stunning!

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