I personally would love to see the top kept stained. You can seal with a water repellant sealer. I cannot think of the name we used on outside wood chairs. It is a decking sealant - rubs on. NOT shiny!

We have used a piece for a vanity. Cut the top first. It doesn't really matter, but why stain more than you have to?

You can stain it darker and then if you think the distressed areas need to look darker - use some dark wax after painting. That will also make the carvings show up better too. Use clear wax before using dark wax.

I believe there is an additive you can use to prevent bleed through, but that may be with MMS milk paint instead of chalk paint. I'd look at both her web site and the annie sloan site for guidance on that.

I think the brass/gold color on hardware will work!

tina

Thanks Tina! Yes, the dark wax should do to enhance the light distressing around the carved areas. I definitely want to keep the top stained if possible. I just need to find a high-performance poly like you mentioned.

From the Annie Sloan materials I have read, Zinnser's Shellac is used to prevent bleed through, and also for sealing odors or other imperfections prior to painting.

A couple more questions:

I plan to strip the top and stain it in a darker shade. Somehow I need to strip the underside of that top piece, I would assume, since that overhang/lip should be stained underneath vs painted. I wonder how difficult that would be.

I love the white sink in the Sweet Pickins photo above. But, our toilet is bisque, and our wainscoting is a creamy white. Does the sink need to match the toilet, etc.?

I know, I'm overthinking this! :o)

It would look beautiful with the top stained, rather than 'updated' with a hard surface. I would do several coats of 'Boat Coat' or a similar product. You want something that 'beads up' when water get on it obviously.

Are you going to do a glaze over the white or will it be left a pure white? I have a dresser almost identical in one of the guest rooms. I took the mirror off and used something more decorative. Thought it was 'too country' for the 'French' look I was going for, but loved it at the same time. Can't wait to see the transformation!

I think you should make an outline in your powder room of the shape of the vanity plus mirror will take. It seems largish and powder rooms are often smallish. Just be sure it can work before you begin to modify the piece. I tend to agree with your husband.

Measure to make sure it'll fit through the bathroom door as well.

I agree with the others, a stained top will look very nice, and do all the cutting on it before staining/painting so you don't have any accidental marring of your new exterior surfaces.

There is room in the powder room and doorway. The curved top is just under 22" at its deepest point, and at its narrowest is 19". It is 43" long (enough for an extra foot+ to play with in positioning the dresser along the wall with the toilet), and our ceilings are 9' so there is plenty of room for the less than height. It will definitely have a larger visual presence than the pedestal though. I will do the template to get a better feel.

The first pictured dresser--it is so beautiful it would be a sin to paint it--but that is not THE dresser you are talking about, correct? You didn't ask about your paint plans so back to the subject. I have been wondering if there is a piece of glass you could add to protect the wood top and give you the wood look? I have never heard of that done in a bathroom but it is done on table tops all the time.

Arcy, yes, the very first picture of the dresser in the cluttered antique store is the actual one. I do understand the sin of painting it, but I think it will look great that way as well. I want to keep the top stained, hopefully. The issue with the glass would be that it needs to accommodate the sink.

Kathy, thanks for the Waterlox info. I'm definitely checking that out. Flipping the piece will be helpful for the underside, and I agree now it's not necessary to darken the stain. I'll use dark wax if necessary and lightly too.

This post was edited by jan_in_wisconsin on Wed, Aug 6, 14 at 16:21

Forgot to mention that I agree about the shellac. This is an oak piece, not one of those deep red mahogany pieces. I am also in the process of a sideboard redo, and that piece will need the shellac first I think.

jan, Have you bought it already? I just wanted to tell you to do some research on sinks to be sure you can find one that will fit front to back. I have three 'old furniture vanities' and only the one on the first floor had a nice deep front to back top, so the sink was no problem there.

You say that the narrowest part of the top is 19", and I don't think that is at the center, but measure from the front inside of one of the drawers to the inside back of the piece, as that measurement will be important when you look at sink specs.

For my two 'narrow from to back' ones, the only sink I could find that I liked was a Kohler 'Serif' that I have linked below, in the biscuit color. You can get it in a one hole for the faucet, 4" spread or 8" spread.

This is one in my basement vanity -

Here is a link that might be useful: Kohler K-2075

my3dogs - Yes, I bought it since it was from an out-of-town antique shop to which we'd never otherwise return, with the idea that I could resell if it didn't work out. But, I definitely want it to work out. Thank you for the great image of your basement vanity. Wow! I love it! You brought up a great point about the sink measurements. I believe the sink you posted (which I love, btw), would fit, even considering the narrower distance than 22" for the inside of the front curved drawers to the back. I'm going to have my DH, who is a math guy, check it out, though, and measure it to be sure. Also, we have a friend who is a carpenter that will be stopping by to help with the dresser modifications needed.

Thanks for the sink link!

Sounds like you are ready to go full speed ahead! Yay!! The one we did (wish I had a picture!), we needed a smaller sink and I found that online. That was several years ago and I can't remember where! You could probably google. I do remember looking at bar size sinks too. The sink should come with a template - which you can trace onto the wood top. You may lose use of some of the drawers for the pipes/plumbing.

Glad my3 had some pix - I had forgotten about her beautiful vanities. Great examples!

tina