A great chest! (keep your mind out of the gutter!)

I've been busy, busy, busy.  But, when I saw this chest I just couldn't resist.  Even though it was seriously dated and in desperate need of a makeover, I really could see the potential.  I love chests and dressers this size.  They can be anything!  Media center, Entryway table, Buffet for a smaller dining room, and of course, a great place to store clothes, ha!  Here it is all dated and sad:

And, I would be remiss if I left out the grungy top:

I can't even begin to imagine what this is, but these spots were all over the top.  Needless to say, the first thing I did was give this chest a good cleanin'!  Then, I got out the ole orbital sander and sanded away all the orangey brown stain from the top.

That top looks much better, huh?

I have to admit, when it comes to staining, I'm learning as I go.  My first try wasn't that great, but I got better.  I always used the stain/poly mixture and was happy with it, but that has all changed.  A few weeks ago while doing my pallet wall project, I sent my husband to Lowe's to buy stain.  I just told him dark walnut, but forgot about the whole Polyshades brand.  He came home with this:

Luckily, I also had some poly on hand.  I couldn't really tell with the pallets because they just soaked up the stain, but I really liked the color, so figured I'd use it on this chest.  I LOVE this color and the best part?  ONE COAT.  Yup, you heard me, no waiting 6-8 hours in between coats of stain, this covered evenly and dark in one coat.  I then put 2 coats of poly on top and it really is my best staining job yet.  The wood is so pretty!

I also decided this whole dresser needed a redo, right down to the drawer pulls.  I could have painted them, they probably would have looked fine, but I wanted this chest to be updated, made to look like it was just made.  I found some great drawer pulls at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.  So, after 2 coats of ASCP Old White, some sanding and waxing, it's done!  I really like the way it turned out.  It looks like something you would find in a store today and notsomuch like an old washed up piece repainted.

Just look at the great dark wood top in contrast to the Old White:

Doesn't even look like the same chest, huh?

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Primitive and Proper and Miss Mustard Seed