Empire Dresser with Plank Top

I have become a huge fan of empire furniture since I fell in love with Ferpie and Fray’s many empire designs. There is something about the curvy legs that draws me in. Empire pieces come in many sizes, shapes and forms, but they are always unique in their curves and that is what makes them easy to spot, but hard to collect.

I found this one in particular from someone in a nearby neighborhood. It was essentially too much work for her, but I knew when I saw it, I HAD TO HAVE IT! I have been looking for the perfect spare bedroom piece every since we sold our Elegance Cottage Style Dresser.

While it doesn’t look to be in rough shape from this photo, there was peeling veneer and chips EVERYWHERE. Quite a few knobs were missing, and the usual dings and scratches covered the top and sides.

This was just a corner of the top. I could see there was real wood underneath there, so I figured I would take the chance in removing the veneer to see if the top could be salvaged.

Endless laboring of chipping off veneer with a scraper, burns with a heat gun and scratches with a sander left me with this. Three hours of labor for scrap wood. Unfortunately, this top was too far gone. So I decided to go with thick 2×4 planks, because I loved the thick wood this originally had. It would look too funny with a thin/table top style.

And here is this lovely dresser finished. I painted it using General Finishes “Antique White.” I did use my orbital sander to distress just giving it a quick once over on areas I know would naturally distress over time. I sealed it with my favorite poly High Performance Top Coat in Satin.

I pried out the keyholes and painted them gold. I’ve had these cute little brass and white porcelain knobs in my stash for a while so I knew they would work well with this piece, especially since the smaller drawers really wouldn’t look good with anything bigger than this.

The industrial style cup pulls were also a purchase from Hobby Lobby. I love the exposed screws and how it gives it a rusted farm style feel.

I added some new Escutcheons I found in a multipack from Joann’s. Never realized how these things could come in handy!

I am in love with how this plank top turned out. I only gave it one coat of Rustoleum’s Dark Walnut and sealed it with HPTC in Satin. I am hoping to do this style top on our coffee table next, but I have to wait for Jake to get back to get around to that…I also have to clear out my dang garage!

Hope you loved this transformation as much as I did!