Don't Be Scared of a Little Laminate...

Thanks to Craig and his list, hubby and I got some new "nightstands" for our master bedroom.  I showed you guys the desk and dresser we are using in my last post.

Clearly, these guys had seen better days...but I knew a little elbow grease and paint could have them looking shiny and new again.

Now, I'm definitely no stranger to a furniture makeover {here are some of my past projects}, but this one intimidated me a little bit.  The top of both pieces was a very slick, glossy laminate.  I wasn't sure how the tops would take paint, but after a little research, I bit the bullet and dove into the makeover, head first.

I started by cleaning the pieces with a wet rag.  They. Were. Gross.

Then I used a liquid deglosser all over and removed the old hardware.

After that, I used an electric sander and roughed up the flat surfaces (focusing on the super slick tops) as best as I could.

Following the sanding, I wiped everything down with a lint-free cloth.

Then I pulled out my secret weapon...Zinsser's B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer.  I specifically chose this primer because of it's supposed ability to stick to glossy surfaces.  I am happy to report, it didn't disappoint {thus far}.

I sprayed two light coats of primer onto my pieces, sanding lightly in between.  {Make sure you wipe off the sanding dust in between applications.}

FYI - To get the lovely odor out of furniture that often accompanies anything purchased on Craigslist, try to spray the pieces with vinegar and wipe down...allowing to dry out in the sun.  The longer you can leave in the sun, the better. Nature can work miracles!

On to the painting....{which I did not take pictures of because, well, I was busy painting and forgot...bad blogger!!}...

I used a combination of a low-nap roller, made for specifically for smooth surfaces, and a quality brush to paint the pieces.  I didn't purchase new paint for this project.  I just went into the basement and grabbed my go to white furniture paint...Behr's paint and primer in one, in off-the-shelf, Ultra Pure White, semi-gloss. {This is what we have on all the trim and kitchen cabinets in our home.}

I applied two coats of paint, letting it dry overnight in between coats.

The next step I took is TOTALLY unnecessary, unless the height of your pieces is a touch too high for your liking. ;)  I borrowed my neighbor's jigsaw and chopped a couple inches off the bottom of each leg on the furniture pieces.  I tried to measure as best I could to ensure I was removing the same amount of leg, but not all the legs touched the floor to begin with, so I kind of winged this part.

Thankfully, I did NOT ruin the pieces at this point {phew!!!}, and I only had to go back and touch up two or three legs with the jigsaw.  To smooth the cuts out, I busted out my electric sander and finished things off. Plus, I put little felt pads on the bottom of all my furniture, so that helps to even things out that may be off a tad bit.

After all of those steps, it was time for the most exciting part of the project for me...giving it a paint-dipped treatment!  I've fallen in love with this look and couldn't wait to apply it to something in my home.  I know some of you got a preview of the makeover on Instagram {retroranchreno}, but come back soon for the full view of the treatment and the FAB hardware I found!!