I opted for hemp oil. Rubbing in three coats of the oil brought the natural wood out beautifully without covering anything over. Hemp oil takes about thirty days to fully cure, giving a durable topcoat to the wood.
Since I was using the oil, I wanted a light contrast in color against the now lustrous golden top. I went with a blue/green/gray. Then, for a bit of dark flair, I painted the original vintage hardware in oil rubbed bronze and added two new contemporary knobs to the top drawer. Dreamy. Classy. Sophisticated. Adorable.
I painted it in the custom color chalk paint, lightly distressed and then clear waxed. The top is strictly hemp oiled. Another funky feature of this mini dresser is the vintage distressing the maker added. I thought the subtleness of it was so fitting for a nice contrast in its design. Like leather and lace, sneakers and skirts, or traditional and retro. I enjoy combining, or sometimes colliding, styles together for a bit of fun and originality. Rules shmules. Mix it up and see what comes out.
Like this:
Please pardon the poor lighting. It is inside and evening. All lights turned on and this is the best I could do for it. I will try to get some outdoor shots if the weather is decent.
Before: