Merton Gershun American of Martinsville Chinoiserie Dresser....

This was in my inventory for like 2 years!

One of my repeat customers wanted a unique

Mid Century Modern dresser for her living room.

Plus she wanted it to match her cypress and mesquite

coffee/sofa tables she had.

I was actually going to sell it as is, but the finish was

way to bad.  Here is what the front drawers and top looked like below.

So we picked early american stain.

Here is the before below.  The finish was that 1940s

bleached finish.  So basically it had a taupe like paint

as the first layer then a stain over that.  

We sanded it down first.

Looked amazing but then I stained it in an 

early american stain and that bleached taupe paint

showed because it was in the wood grain.

This was my WORST piece ever that gave me 

so much trouble.

Next, I stripped it with stripper.

I mean everything we stripped.

Here it is after the stripper.

I started feeling better, but could still notice 

some taupe in the grain.  My customer said

to do what I thought was best she totally trusted me.

I didn't want to paint it, because I've researched it

painted.  I didn't like how they looked.  They where ugly.

Plus, look at that wood grain why would I want too.

The factory finish actually covered all that up.

I couldn't believe it!

After we stripped it, we sanded it down all down again.

Then I decided to just seal it, not to stain anything.

I sealed it in general finishes high performance 

semi gloss.

Left hardware original.

I'm was VERY happy with the look.

I also added new center knobs. The original where missing.

Everything came out amazing! 

Look at that top!

That wood grain!  WOW!

I also repainted the bottom black.  To clean it up.

She loved it!  I mean loved it!

I was so glad she trusted me and let me do what was best.

I'm started to see why my customers keep

coming back to me and keep me busy.

Thank you Herminia! 

Before/After below.