Here's how
Step 1 In a well-ventilated area, remove drawers from chest. Using a screwdriver or drill, remove handles from drawers. Wearing goggles and mask, and using medium-grit sandpaper, sand chest and front of drawers to give tooth for stain blocker to stick. Wipe away dust.
Step 2 Spread out a drop sheet and put all components on top. Using a mini roller, paint flat surfaces of chest in stain blocker and use a brush to paint detail areas. Allow to dry
Step 3 Apply stain blocker to edges of drawer fronts. There is no need to paint the flat face of each drawer, as they will be covered by plywood. Allow to dry.
Step 4 Paint chest and edges of drawer fronts in 2 coats of Vivid White, allowing to dry between each coat.
Step 5 Away from wet paint and using fine-grit sandpaper, lightly and gently sand plywood pieces, keeping with the grain. Wipe away dust.
Step 6 Using a brush, apply stain and varnish to 1 face and all edges of plywood pieces. For the patchwork effect as seen here, use a different colour for each piece. You may also wish to use the same colour on 2 pieces as we did. Allow to dry.
Tip For greater depth of colour, apply a second or third coat and allow to dry after each coat.
Step 7 Stand 1 drawer on end and, on face of drawer, apply a thin even bead of Sika SuperGrip, 25mm in from edges, and a strip or 2 through the centre. It will ooze, so don’t overdo the application of adhesive. Bring plywood into position, align and press into adhesive. You have about 5-10 minutes to reposition plywood, if necessary. Since adhesive will expand, for best results clamp plywood to drawers and leave for 20-30 minutes to cure. Repeat for remaining drawers.
Step 8 To attach new drawer knobs, working from inside of drawer, feed drill bit through existing drawer-knob hole and drill a hole through new plywood front. To prevent a blowout in your plywood, place an offcut of plywood or timber over position of the hole and drill through into offcut. Repeat for as many holes as required for new knobs.
Step 9 Using a screwdriver or drill, fasten new knobs in position. Move chest into its new position, then place each drawer back in chest, arranging into desired pattern.