Take a map!
Transform a dresser from outmoded to marvellous with just a lick of paint and some wonderful vintage maps.
Adorn a chest with vintage maps
INFORMATION Materials
* Chest of drawers
* Old maps
* Sandpaper or electric sander * PVA glue
* Furniture paint (we used Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch in Heirloom White)
* Clear satin varnish * Paintbrushes
* Craft knife
Size: 74.5 x 66.5 x 45.5cm (29 x 26 x 18in)
Skill level: Moderate
Map prints are always popular, so why not think big and use vintage maps to turn boring brown furniture into something stylish? Boot sales are great for old OS maps or A-Zs, and you can pick them up pretty cheaply too. Look for a variety of colours to add interest, or alternatively use street maps – they tend to be smaller, so this will give more of a collage effect. The technique here is easy but take your time, especially if you’ve set your heart on using a specific map.
How to make the drawers
1 Decide which areas of the furniture you want to paint, cover with maps or leave plain. We painted the lips of the drawers, the side columns and legs white, leaving the strip above the drawers original.
2 Remove the handles. On the map areas of your piece, sand the wood until the varnish has been removed. This will form a key for the PVA and maps. Paint the legs and leave to dry. Apply a second coat if necessary.
3 Arrange and position the maps in the areas you want to glue them. Cut them back to about 2-3cm (1-1 in) more than the area to be covered. You don’t have to cut too accurately, as you want some play in positioning. Once you’ve decided on your arrangement, start with one of the sides and apply a fairly thin coat of PVA.
4 Start in a corner and place the map in position. Make sure it’s butted up to an edge, or that you have enough to fold over a side or back. Smooth the map down and work fairly quickly, but don’t rush, as the map may tear or slip. If you need to reposition, slowly peel back the map, being careful not to tear it. Smooth out any large bubbles as you go.
5 Once you’re happy with the map position, go over it a few times with a clean cloth to push out any small bubbles. Push the map into corners with your fingers, or fold over edges to create a sharp finish. Trim excess paper with a sharp craft knife. Be careful if the map is thin, as the PVA will moisten it and it might tear when cutting.
6 Cut into any corners to give a neat finish, and apply more PVA to help bond the area. Go around the edges with more PVA to ‘seal’ the map in place. Continue to cover the other areas of the piece.
7 Once the piece is dry, cover the map areas with a very thin coat of PVA. The maps might bubble – this is normal and they usually dry back flat, but if the bubbles are large, gently press them with your fingers.
8 Wait for the PVA to dry (a couple of hours) before applying a second coat. Two coats should be enough to
‘seal’ the maps from any discolouration by the varnish.
9 Once the PVA is totally dry, apply a very thin coat of clear varnish. Again the maps may bubble, but they should dry flat. Apply another three or four coats of varnish, making sure that each coat dries fully before applying the next. Varnish any painted areas or original bits. Put the handles back onto the drawers.