This four-drawer dresser came in wearing a bold hunter-green lacquer, trimmed in gold leaf and set on brass Greek-key feet — a striking look, but it needed to blend with a freshly redecorated space. The client wanted a softer, more versatile neutral, on one condition: every bit of that gold leaf detailing had to stay exactly as it was. We masked off the trim, the feet, and the hardware, then resprayed the case in a soft Comfort Grey satin lacquer.
The Piece
A four-drawer dresser trimmed in gold leaf along every edge and finished with brass Greek-key feet, the detail that makes the piece. Bamboo-and-brass bar pulls run across each drawer front.
Why Comfort Grey
Comfort Grey is a soft, warm neutral — pale enough to read as a quiet backdrop rather than a statement color, but with enough depth that it doesn’t wash out next to the gold leaf trim. Where the green pushed the piece toward a bold, of-the-moment look, the grey lets the gold leaf banding and Greek-key feet do the talking instead.
Keeping Every Gold Leaf Detail
The gold leaf trim, the Greek-key feet, and the hardware were all original to the piece and in good condition, so nothing was replaced. We carefully masked every strip of gold leaf trim and each foot before spraying, then pulled the tape once the lacquer had fully cured — same gilding, same brass feet, just a new color surrounding it.
Same Piece, New Color
Nothing about the dresser’s construction changed — same gallery-back silhouette, same gold leaf trim throughout. The transformation is entirely in the lacquer color: hunter green traded for a quiet, versatile grey.
Not Just Comfort Grey
Comfort Grey was right for this piece, but it’s one option among many. Lacquer takes color and sheen exceptionally well — gloss, satin, or matte, in virtually any shade — so we can match a piece to your room, your palette, or a finish you already have in mind. If it’s got detailing worth keeping, like gold leaf or brass trim, we build the color around it. We can also add gilding in gold or silver leaf, a detail most refinishers don’t offer, for pieces that call for something extra.
Send Us a Photo for a Free Estimate
Have a chest, dresser, or other case piece that needs a fresh finish? Send a few photos using the form below and we will tell you exactly what it needs, what we would do, and what it would cost. Estimates are free, and pickup and delivery are available across the Dallas area.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (469) 371-1468 or email Phil@TheEnglishRefinisher.com.
The English Refinisher – fine wood and furniture refinishing, by hand in Dallas, Texas. Serving Dallas, Wylie, and surrounding communities by appointment.