We were using a 1970's dresser set which was constructed of cheap particle board wood with a laminate teak exterior . I decided to do a makeover that would match our bed. Instead of simply painting, I decided to use solid wood (pine) and get rid of the poor laminate drawer fronts.
Wood type: Pine (dresser drawer fronts and top)
Finish: Water based polyurethane, Minwax wood conditioner, dark walnut stain and white paint.
Hardware: Drawer handles
Finish: Water based polyurethane, Minwax wood conditioner, dark walnut stain and white paint.
Hardware: Drawer handles
I didn't like the original handles and wanted to replaced them. I quickly realized, that I couldn't replace the handle without replacing the entire front of the drawer (photo below). So I took apart the drawers and built new ones out of pine.
I cut my drawer front panels to length with mitre saw and then made a dado on my table saw. There was a dado groove on original drawer front which secures the front to the drawer base (photo below on right).
I then started to work on making a new top for the night stands and dressers. I made pocket holes and screwed and glued the boards together.
I then used a router to make a decorative edge along the top of the nightstands.
I had to plane the top of the dresser because it was not flat since I will screwing a new pine top onto the existing one.
My wife helped me out and painted the original sides white. I then screwed on the new top. I stained the top and front panels with a Minwax dark walnut stain and applied a few polyurethane coats.
The final step was to glue the drawer fronts and attach the new handles.
Photos below are the nightstand and Dresser.
Photos below are the nightstand and Dresser.
Project Complete!