Elevate your space with this exquisitely reimagined Mid-Century Modern tallboy chest. Once bearing a pale, dated finish, it now stuns in a rich cast iron black, beautifully contrasted by solid wood drawers finished in a warm, natural stain. Every detail has been thoughtfully curated—from the elegantly updated black hardware to the refined moldings and drawer groove accents. Smooth-gliding feet have been added for effortless movement across both hardwood and carpet. Measuring 34" W x 17.5" D x 40.5" H, this sophisticated piece offers both function and timeless style—an instant statement in any well-appointed room.
As soon as I saw this dresser posted on Facebook (R) I immediately knew I could make it lovely just like the recent MCM dresser I restored. It did not have to wait long in line once I had it in my workshop (L)
This is the makers mark on the back, I can make out made in Quebec, Canada and Sapphire 950 is the model but not much more.
The hardware was removed and the entire dresser was given a deep clean starting with vacuuming out then scrubbing all nooks and crannies with TSP cleaner.
The top had a lot of finish damage (L) that I tried scraping off with my Hyde dust free scraper but did not have much luck (R)
There was a corner on the top and along the back edge where the veneer was lifting so I applied Titebond cold press glue between the veneer and wood frame, put plastic between the top and a flat board to prevent sticking to the board and clamped in place and set a gallon paint can on the other non clampable spot and let dry well.
The wood drawer accents were removed, you can see now the original faux finish now next to the sun affected areas.
I applied it in the tight spots with the Titebrush (L) and clamped from all directions keeping it square. (R)
There were other areas in a couple drawers that had been glued in the past where the excess glue was not wiped leaving an awful mess.
I used a carbide scraper (similar to this linked one) to remove this odd glue.
Once the finish began to bubble it was scraped off then
neutralized with water and left to dry well.
This is a pretty tough faux finish. The remaining bit of finish was removed with my Festool orbital sander ETS REQ 125
I started with 80 grit sand paper - Get 10% off your order with this link or use code CREATIVEMOMENTS1 at checkout.
Then moved to 120 then 180. The drawer fronts were down to beautiful bare wood. The top was just smooth out as it will be painted.
The top was sanded again once the wood filled areas were dry.
The wood veneer was loose on one side of the tall boy as well.
Having the dresser on its side made that stepp easier as well as it allowed heavy items set on it to home flat and flush as it dried.
The next day the rest of the dresser base was power sanded to remove and lifting old finish and ensure a smooth surface. It also give the surface a bit of texture for the paint to adhere to better.
All the dust was wiped off ready to paint.
I set the wood accents and knobs on the drawer front to decide if I was keeping them and if so will I paint them or sand to raw wood. I chose paint to keep the raised details in a bold pop.
I started painting the body in this rich black with just a hint of brown called cast iron from the Fusion Mineral Paint line. {get 10% off your order with this link}
There was one final area that needed the wood veneer wood glued. It was applied, clamped and left to dry.
Now to the drawer fronts. I wiped the dust residue off with a damp cloth and this shows what the wood will look like when stained natural, perfect.
To clean up the edges and create a nice crisp paint line, this handy little micro tool was used to sand these areas. (R)
When the paint dries I use a thinner flexible sponge to lightly sand the surface and wipe with a damp cloth. This keeps the painted surfaces buttery smooth.
Two coats of the black paint were applied to the dresser frame and the raised wood detail pieces.
The original hardware was really pretty but had discolored and tarnished over the years. (L)
Black satin spray paint was sprayed on all sides with many light coats. (R)
Holes were pre drilled to prevent wood from splitting and it makes tapping them in with a hammer so easy. These are such lovely additions for furniture making them easy to move on hardwood or carpet.
The painted wood details were screwed back in place.
And it seems another dovetailed drawer box needed gluing after it dried out.
The dresser just waiting for that last drawer to be complete.
The drawer had another issue with part of the drawer runner broke off, I found a scrap piece of wood the exact height of the runner. (L) My husband cut it to the width needed with his chop saw. (R)
And once again I used wood glue brushed on the underside (L) then with my Stanley electric stapler (mine is older than this version) it was brad nailed in place. (R) 
This Mid-Century Modern tallboy chest of four drawers has been completely transformed. The outdated, faded faux finish is gone—replaced by a striking cast iron black body paired with natural solid wood-stained drawer fronts. The original hardware has been refreshed in timeless black, complementing the detailed moldings and drawer groove accents. Newly added glide feet ensure smooth movement across both hardwood and carpet. Measuring 34" W x 17.5" D x 40.5" H, this stunning piece is ready to make a bold statement in any room.
It is so lovely. I just love natural wood tones with classic black.
The original hardware is perfect in black.
I've included
Fusion Mineral Paint affiliate links for your convenience, making it simple to locate the products I utilized. Plus, by using these links, you'll
save 10% on your entire order! Please note that I may receive a small commission from your purchase, but this comes at no extra cost to you and enables me to keep providing these free tutorials. I appreciate your support should you decide to make a purchase through my links.
FEATURED ON
Shared on these fun link up parties
Absolutely stunning transformation from a nice piece to show stopping!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I sure think so too.. no more grayish blah faux finish
Delete