I had been on the lookout for a campaign dresser for several months when I spotted the perfect piece on craigslist.  It had sturdy dovetail construction and solid brass hardware.  I was not a big fan of the original wood tone, so I decided to give the dresser a classic kelly green makeover!  Here is an overview of the process.

First I removed the hardware and gave the whole piece a good sanding.  I used ScotchBlue painter’s tape to keep all my edges clean and then painted one coat of Zinsser primer.  Primer will prolong the life of the finish.

I decided to use Benjamin Moore Advance high gloss paint in jade green.  It has a built-in self-leveling property, which helps hide brush strokes and provide a smooth finish.  I ended up doing three (long and painful!) coats to get complete coverage.  Fortunately this paint does not require a top coat.

I also polished the hardware.  You can use a magnet to determine if you’re dealing with solid brass or brass plating; the magnet will stick to brass plating, but not to solid brass.  I polished the hardware just enough to shine, but I didn’t want to remove all of the patina.

It’s so gratifying when you finally get to screw on the hardware, tuck in the drawers, and see the finished piece!