Burled Walnut Sideboard

By A. Surless Redesigns, Owner/ Artist in MIDDLETOWN, NY.

As soon as I saw what was advertised as a "dresser" I knew I had to have it! Love at first sight, despite the missing trim and veneer. Once I got it home it sat in my dining room for a couple of weeks while I would just stare at it and try to figure out a way to preserve what was left of the original character and what color to work with. Whenever possible I try to keep the natural beauty of the wood. Highlight the good, transform the bad; this piece is the perfect example. Little did I know it would come out as gorgeous as it did!

I did a light sanding, careful not to sand through the wood veneer and dug out what was left of the trim and replaced it with thin wood dowels. To match the patina of the aged wood, I used a heat gun to slightly burn the dowels before gluing them in place. I carefully removed the parts of the veneer that were not able to be salvaged with a the heat gun and spatula.

Living with it in my dining room allowed me to see the presence that it had and to me, it demanded black accents which led me to apply Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Typewriter to the areas where the veneer had been removed. I then used Annie Sloan Wax in Clear to bring out the wood grain of the stunning burled walnut and to seal the milk paint. The top drawer has the most gorgeous red velvet lined drawer that is divided into 3, which is perfect for silverware. This is one of the pieces which is hard for me to let go! 

Project Category

Upcycling Merit CategoriesRoll Out The Burl-El

Products Used

  • Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint- Typewriter
  • Annie Sloan Wax- Clear

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