1. Getting started I lightly sanded down the furniture with a medium grit sand paper, if you don't know what grit is what - just ask the team at your local hardware store, they are so helpful. Once this is completed and the finish is slightly roughed up you can then wipe down with a micro fibre cloth to remove all dust (I also use an old paint brush to wipe the cracks and grooves).
2. I had 3 colours I needed to achieve so I separated the paint into 3 jars adding my VDMV Charcoal to each one making sure I had them at 3 different levels as I went.
3. I then added white to each to bring them to the same level - mixing the darkest colour first so I can lighten from there.
4. I then painted the drawers with 3 coats using 1 jar per 1 drawer allowing 1 hour drying time between coats.
5. While the drawers dry this is a good opportunity to paint the shell of the drawers as you can rotate between coats - again 3 coats will be fine.
6. Let them dry over night just to be 100% confident that the paint has worked its magic and hardened.

So what can we match with these drawers?  I would use these in a larger bedroom so you can see the stunning finish and appreciate the balayage effect with the paint. A Senecio Rowleyanus (string of pearls) plant would be perfect to drape over the side in a marble or terracotta pot (Kmart is your go to here). And then a nice tray or container for your makeup/haircare to finish it off.


We have had such great feedback from this project, give it a go and tell us how you get on, the balayage repainted drawers are a surprisingly easy way of up-cycling a really cool old piece of furniture and making it look better than a new piece because it has character and is styled specific to your home.

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I have a really exciting mid century sideboard up cycle to take everyone through a "how to up cycle a sideboard". I picked this up from TradeMe for $20.00 and it was literally like 50m down the road. When I pulled up to pick it up it was SO much larger than I originally thought (get a Mazda Axela - you can fit anything in those bad boys). 

• Someone had done a DIY on the hinges and used a 3 inch nail and drove it straight through the side pillars : 0 I was horrified haha.  
• The locks had no keys and were taped shut, bent and in bad order.
• The handles are AMAZING but I will keep these for another project.
• The inside of the drawers had Scooby Doo durable hahahahaha.
• The veneer was chipped and dented with chunks missing.
• Inside the cupboard there was a wonderfull New Zealand calendar from 1999 that had been cut up for the images and clear duraceled to the shelfs - screams my nana hahahaha.
• Veneer had multiple stains and fade marks.

Georgia brought these drawers online for $15.00,  when we got it home Georgia was looking on Pinterest (checkout shaydennz) for some inspiration.  There is always some really cool inspo available but rarely how to and advice.  

We knew we were working with wood and wanted to have the effect of when you open the drawer you see white with spots etc.