Are you ready to witness a spectacular upcycling journey? We’re thrilled to share the initial steps of a stunning chest of drawers transformation, breathing new life into a forgotten piece with the incredible versatility of WoodUbend mouldings and the luxurious finish of Posh Chalk products. Get ready to be inspired and discover how you can achieve similar results on your own furniture flips!
The Foundation of Fabulous: Prepping for Perfection
Every great transformation starts with a solid foundation, and this chest of drawers was no exception. Before we could even think about adding beautiful colours or intricate designs, we had to prepare the surface. Our first, and crucial, step was to thoroughly sand the entire piece. This wasn’t just a quick once-over; we meticulously sanded to remove any remnants of previous stencilling and to create a beautifully smooth, receptive surface.
Think of it as creating a blank canvas, perfectly primed and ready to absorb the new layers of paint and the intricate details we had planned. This stage is paramount for achieving that flawless paint and stencil application later on, ensuring maximum adhesion and a truly professional finish. Without proper preparation, even the best paints and mouldings won’t look their best or last as long.
With our surface now ready, it was time for the magic of colour to begin! We chose the exquisite shade of Delice by Magic Paint to coat the entire front of the chest of drawers. This soft, elegant hue provided the perfect backdrop for the embellishments to come. To apply it, we reached for a Posh Chalk Smooth & Blend Brush. This isn’t just any paintbrush; it’s a game-changer for achieving a seamless, professional finish. Its unique bristles are designed to lay down paint like a dream, leaving virtually no brush strokes.
We applied the paint in smooth, even strokes, ensuring full coverage and a consistent colour across the entire surface. The difference was immediate – the chest of drawers was already shedding its former drabness and beginning to exude a quiet sophistication.
Embracing Curves: Attaching WoodUbend Appliqués
Now for the moment you’ve been waiting for – bringing in the sculptural beauty of WoodUbend! We carefully selected a WoodUbend WUB1261 applique to adorn the bottom edge of the front. This is where the magic of WoodUbend truly shines – its remarkable ability to be gently heated and bent allows it to perfectly adhere to even challenging curved surfaces!
To successfully work with WoodUbend, you’ll need a heat source. A heat gun, a hairdryer, or even a griddle can be used. Gently heat the moulding until it becomes wonderfully flexible. You’ll feel it soften, becoming pliable and easy to manipulate. Once it’s warm and bendy apply a good quality wood glue, such as WoodUglue, to the entire back of the moulding. Don’t be shy with the glue, a consistent and generous application ensures strong adhesion.
Firmly press the moulding onto your desired surface, holding it in place until the glue begins to set. For those tricky curved surfaces, it’s a good idea to continue applying gentle heat as you press the moulding down. This allows the WoodUbend to conform precisely to the shape, eliminating any gaps and ensuring a flawless, integrated look. We held the WUB1261 firmly against the curve of the chest of drawers, coaxing it into position until it was perfectly flush.
Once the WUB1261 was securely in place, we painted it with the same gorgeous Delice by Magic Paint, but this time we used a Posh Chalk Mouldings Brush. This specialised brush is meticulously designed with smaller, denser bristles, making it ideal for getting into all those intricate details and crevices that WoodUbend mouldings are known for. It ensured every delicate swirl and curve of the applique was perfectly coated, enhancing its intricate design.
Defining Elegance: Adding WoodUbend Trims
To further elevate the design and add a touch of sophisticated detail, we incorporated the WoodUbend 119IE Trim. A strip of this flexible trim was carefully attached to both vertical corner stiles on the front of the chest of drawers using WoodUglue. We knew that precision was key here, so we took extra care to ensure full adhesion, especially given the subtle curve of the stiles.
As with all WoodUbend products, heat was my best friend during application. I gently warmed the trim with my heat gun until it became wonderfully pliable. Once it was warm and flexible, I applied WoodUglue generously to the entire back of the trim strip. I then positioned the trim precisely where I wanted it on the surface and pressed down firmly. For the curved areas, I continued to apply heat and gentle pressure, allowing the trim to mould seamlessly to the curve of the furniture. I held it in place until the glue grabbed and the trim was securely adhered. I knew it was important to be patient during this step to ensure a lasting bond.
Once the trim was fully adhered and cooled, we simply trimmed any excess border edge that was hanging over the edge of the corner stiles. The beauty of WoodUbend is that once it’s cool and bonded, it behaves just like real wood. This means you can cut, sand, drill, and even stain it to perfectly integrate it with your project. The result was a clean, crisp finish that beautifully framed the front of the chest of drawers.
Stencilled Sophistication: A Symphony of Design
With the front of the chest of drawers coming to life with paint and mouldings, we turned our attention to the side panels. We painted one of the side panels with the ever-versatile Delice by Magic Paint using our trusty Posh Chalk Smooth & Blend Brush. After ensuring this section was thoroughly force-dried – we use a heat gun for this to speed up the process – it was time for some artistic stencilling!
For this design, we decided to incorporate the incredible Posh Chalk Leafy Scroll Premium Stencil. Stencilling allows for intricate and repeatable designs, and Posh Chalk Premium Stencils are known for their durability and sharp detail. To stencil effectively, first ensure your painted surface is completely clean and dry. Secure your stencil in place; you can use low-tack painter’s tape or a temporary spray adhesive to prevent it from shifting while you work.
We strategically positioned the Leafy Scroll Stencil upside down in the top left corner of the side panel. Then, using a Posh Chalk Stencil Brush, we carefully stippled Soffio by Magic Paint through the stencil openings. To load your stencil brush, dip it into a small amount of paint, then offload any excess onto a paper towel. This prevents bleeding under the stencil. Use a gentle, dabbing (stippling) motion, working the paint through the stencil. For a more opaque and vibrant design, it’s always better to apply multiple thin layers rather than one thick one. This gives you more control and prevents paint from seeping under the stencil.
Once the top left was done, we then repeated this process in the bottom left corner, this time with the Leafy Scroll Stencil positioned right-side up. This created a beautiful mirrored effect. To add a touch of variety and ornate elegance, we then used the Posh Chalk Ornate Damask Premium Stencil in the centre of the side panel, repeating the same careful stippling technique with Soffio. The premium quality and intricate designs of Posh Chalk stencils ensure stunning, professional-looking results every single time. This entire process was then repeated on the other side of the drawers to keep the design consistent.
The Excitement Builds!
And there you have it – the thrilling start of our chest of drawers upcycling adventure! We’ve meticulously laid the groundwork with proper preparation, applied beautiful paints, and begun to adorn this piece with the exquisite, flexible details of WoodUbend mouldings and the sophisticated designs achieved with Posh Chalk stencils. The transformation is already remarkable, but this is truly just the beginning of its renewed life!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog series where we’ll reveal the final breathtaking stages of this incredible transformation, including the fantastic stencilling on the front that you can see a sneaky preview of below! You won’t want to miss it!
P.S If my blogs do inspire you, and you get round to trying some of these techniques and products, I would love to see them in the Creations community we have. There are over 25,000 members who post daily. You’ll also find lots of creators in there who have posted some wonderful projects. It’s an inspiring group with lots going on. You can join here, and best of all it’s free!
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