Denim Blue Sideboard

I really wanted to create a piece of furniture that felt like a favorite pair of jeans. A piece that would wrap you in a feeling of calm every time you walk by it in your home. A piece that was completely original yet fit perfectly – just like your favorite pair of jeans. Introducing the denim blue sideboard…

Imagine your most comfortable pair of jeans. You know that pair that’s been washed a million times but still fits perfectly.

It’s that pair of jeans that has a hundred different color variations of dark blue, light blue and white running through the threads.

You know the ones. You can feel how soft they are and appreciate the tiny tears in the threads.

Well… here’s I re-created that look and feel on a piece of furniture. Let’s begin with the list of supplies you’ll need.

Supplies List

Craftsman Rotary Sander
5-inch sanding discs 8-hole
Krud Kutter
Zinsser primer
Semi-gloss enamel paint in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Endeavor
General Finishes Winter White Glaze
Water-base Polycrylic. or water-based polyurethane (satin)
Purdy 1.5-in Clearcut Brush
cotton rags (t-shirts)
Satin Nickel Knobs.
Satin Nickel drawer pulls

Step 1: Sand & Clean

Begin by sanding down the entire sideboard / dresser with a rotary sander. I have a confession… I got about half way through sanding this enormous 75-inch piece of furniture and I gave up. Some of the drawers were completely started while others were not sanded at all. I worked for hours and hours and the finish was so difficult to sand off I gave up.

So I started cleaning the sideboard with Krud Kutter to be sure the areas that were not sanded were clean and free of dirt, oil, and any furniture polish wax that may have been used by previous owners.

Step 2: Prime

I opted to prime this very large piece in order to save on paint. I tinted the primer with the blue paint.

Step 3: Paint

Paint on the blue enamel paint in the color Blue Endeavor by Benjamin Moore. Dilute the paint with approximately 10% water to ensure a smoother finish. Let dry and then apply a second coat.

When I painted the the top, I brushed the paint on in one direction, let it dry, then for the second coat brushed the paint on in the opposite direction. I only did this on the top surface. The reason is that when you add the glaze, you’ll see tiny cross brush marks that resemble the fibers in denim.

Step 4: Glaze

Allow the paint to fully dry and then it’s time to add the white glaze. With a brush, dab on a small amount of glaze, then immediately wipe it off in long even (left-t0-right) horizontal swipes. Be sure the cotton rag is folded evenly and doesn’t have any wrinkles.

blue denim sideboard dresser, blue endeavor

Here’s a look at the cabinet doors during the glazing process.

See how white the door on the right (above) is? The entire sideboard turned out like this after the coat of white glaze. It was too white for the look I wanted.

So I watered down some of the blue paint by 50% and with a folded cotton rag, I wiped it over the entire sideboard including the cabinet doors (below) to get the perfect faded blue.

Step 5: Clear Coat

The final step was to add a clear satin topcoat to protect the finish, especially the top and the areas where the drawers slide in and out.

Step 6: Choose Hardware

Ok, this should really be Step #1, but honestly, I never know what the finished product is going to look like until I’m done.

I actually wish I had filled in the hardware holes so didn’t have to purchase so many knobs and handles, but I was a little anxious just to get this project finished.

I want to thank everyone who responded to last week’s survey about which type of metal to choose. The question was do I go with a dull brass or a satin nickel – both of which could resemble the button on a pair of jeans, depending on which brand of jean you own.

It was almost an even split, but a few more of you chose the satin nickel so I applied just a few here as an example. I’ll leave it up to a new owner of this sideboard to choose/purchase their own hardware so they really have some they love.

Here’s the one most of you chose. And notice the how the white glaze brought out all of the imperfections in the soft pine wood. Don’t you think it resembles the threads in a pair of jeans?