Every home has a drop zone, a place where everyone drops their stuff when they walk in the door, this project is a great way to organize the drop zone. We found a modern-style chest of drawers at a thrift store and gave it a fresh coat of blue paint. Picture frames and chalkboard paint were added to the center of each drawer so each family member could have a designated place to store their gloves, hats, keys, etc.
Clean the dresser with wood soap. Remove the drawers and any hardware. Sand at least the exterior finish of the part. This will allow the new paint to adhere better. Thoroughly clean sanding residue.
When the vanity is completely clean, apply a coat of paint. Let dry well and apply a second coat if necessary.
Remove glass and rugs from frames. Place a frame in the center of a drawer and use a pencil to trace around the inside of the frame. This will be the template for the chalkboard paint. Repeat the process for the other drawers.
To frame the chalkboard paint area, place blue painter's tape slightly outside the pencil marks, about 1/2 inch. Paint the section with chalkboard paint and let dry for 24 hours. If necessary, apply a second coat and let it dry for 24 hours.
Mark the top and bottom centers of the wooden frames, and drill a small hole at those points for the nails.
Remove painter's tape from around chalkboard paint. Apply a small amount of glue to the back of the frames and place them in the center of the drawer, framing the chalkboard painting. Let the glue dry for a few hours. The hammer drives into the holes in the frames for additional frame stabilization. Use a dab of black paint to cover the nail heads. Let dry.
Joanne Palmisano is the author of Salvage Secrets (W.W. Norton, September 2011). Visit her blog, also called Salvage Secrets ..
