Hello there! Are you in the mood to see a dirty old dresser made beautiful again? Then come on in, kick off your shoes and have a seat!
A couple of weeks ago I spied this little lady at my all-time favorite thrift store:
It was a bit more than I like to spend at $79 (I am such a cheapo), but I just couldn’t leave her behind.
I brought her home, cleaned her up and painted her in this beautiful blue:
Of course if I’m going to add a splash of color to a piece, it’s usually blue. I have included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I use. Read my full disclosure here.
This is Behr’s Gray Morning made into chalk paint. (My favorite chalk paint recipe can be found HERE.)
I love the softness of it. A splash of color, yet subtle.
I did give it two quick coats of spray shellac before painting to prevent bleed-through like a lot of these older pieces like to do.
It also needed quite a bit of repair before getting started:
And here is what the top looked like before:
Yikes! I’m remembering why I was hesitant to pay almost $80 for it now. I decided to sand the top down and restain it. I love this method for removing stain without sanding, but the rings in this were so deep that it needed a good sanding. After sanding, I used this wood conditioner by Minwax to prep the old dry wood:
This helps the wood to take the new stain more evenly. I used Minwax Polyshades in Espressso to stain the top because I had it left over from my dining room table. It is not my preferred way to stain…I’d rather use a separate stain and poly. I think the finish just looks better, but it is easy!
It didn’t do too badly on the top of this pretty dresser though.
I lined the drawers with wall paper I found at a yard sale a couple of years ago. I just cut it to fit and used a glue stick to adhere it to the bottom of the drawer.
You can see the top a bit better in that photo also.
I kept the original hardware, just spray painted it in Rustoleum’s satin white.
These older pulls are so much prettier than what you can find today.
I borrowed this window-turned-perfect-wreath-backdrop from my mantel. (You can see the “Clamshell Extravaganza” that it was when I found it here.) I’ll be changing that out for Fall very soon!
Breathing new life into a forgotten piece is my favorite. 🙂
I hope you enjoyed it too!
If you how I rescued this sad piece, you will like this one too:
Check out how this sad thrift store drum table turned out HERE now!
XO,
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Amy b says
The top is gorgeous! What a difference! Great job saving an old tired piece…I think I would have passed it by because of the damage. Seeing this makes me realize I need to look beyond damage to see what it could really look like! Thanks for sharing it!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Amy! I’m so glad I took a chance on it! 🙂
Christina says
Christy this turned out gorgeous. You did a great piece of furniture such a favor. She’s pretty again! 🙂
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Christina! I think so too. 🙂
Sue Farmer says
Very nice!!! Love the color you used and the top looks beautiful.
Christy K. James says
You are always so sweet, Sue…thank you! 🙂
Anne@DesignDreams says
Very pretty piece – love that colour!
Christy K. James says
Thank, Anne! I love it too. XO
Diane says
Another beautiful piece! I really like that color blue. You do such a great job of turning ugly ducklings into beautiful swans!
Christy K. James says
Aww thanks, Diane! I’m always thrilled when a piece can be made pretty again. 🙂
Jennifer says
It’s beautiful. Did you happen to seal this piece with anything?
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Jennifer! I sealed the blue with Annie Sloan’s clear soft wax. 🙂
Sheila Moore says
Oh my Christy, that is absolutely the most gorgeous piece of furniture. I love the blue with the stained top. Great job!
Christy K. James says
I’m so glad you like it, Sheila! Thank you! XOXO
Mechelle says
What a great job! I am usually the one that say’s no to paint, but you may have converted me. I can’t believe I just said that!
So pretty!!
Christy K. James says
Aww thanks, Mechelle! It is hard to see a beautiful piece painted sometimes, but what I find in my budget usually isn’t so beautiful, so that makes it easier. 🙂
Lindsay Eidahl says
Nice makeover. Very pretty blue. I have never used that wood conditioner before. I may have to check it out!
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Lindsay! Old pieces like this are so dry after sanding, and this just helps rehydrate the wood so it takes the stain better. 🙂
Joanne Boulter says
Absolutely beautiful. I can see why you couldn’t leave with out it. 🙂 Jo
Christy K. James says
Thank you, JoAnne! I struggled with that price tag a bit, but I’m glad I took a chance on it! XO
Shanna Gilbert says
Gorgeous job my friend!
Christy K. James says
Aww thanks, Girlie! XOXOX
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Beautiful makeover Christy! I hear ya re: the price…ouch…but the makeover is stunning and should sell quickly for you, unless you’re planning on keeping this beauty.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Marie! Yep I am such a cheapo, but I’m glad I decided to get this too. It is already in my booth although it was very hard to part with! XO
Addie says
Nice transformation!!!! Yes, I do notice also, thrift shop are getting more & more pricey.
I also notice, you never use any other colors then the blues/grey/whites any reason? They all come out great and that is reason to hate you….but I don’t 🙂
Addie
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Addie! I guess I stick with colors I like myself and with what sells easily in my shop. It is hard to be creative when I stick to the same old color palette sometimes though. I just want to bust a fun yellow dresser one of these days! 🙂
Brenda Young says
Wonderful revamp, I’m a big fan of the blue shades as well, I’ll have to remember that conditioner for my next stain job, thanks for the tip!
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Brenda! Oh yes, love me some blue…and the wood conditioner is awesome. 🙂
Rose L. says
The change is amazing! New life given to that old lady!
Christy K. James says
Thank, Rose! She’s singing again for sure. 🙂
Ange says
Another great transformation.
You are very talented. Do you ever help readers with which color to use on their projects?
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Ange! Do you have a project in mind that you could use some ideas for?
victoria says
Fantastic Christy, as always…. love THAT blue, the top came out brilliant and beauty¡¡
You have to be very proud… work in what you really like and inspire many people as me…Congrats¡¡¡
Christy K. James says
Thank you, sweet Friend! XO
Tiffany says
Hey, Christy ~ Such a beautiful end result! I love how the top came out!! I found a dresser very similar to this one in a little better shape, and I just fell in love with it! Unfortunately, it was priced at over $300, so I had to leave it behind. Boo-hoo! But now that I’ve seen your makeover, I can keep my eyes peeled for a rougher one and know just what to do with it! :0) Have a great day and thanks for sharing!
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Tiffany! This was definitely in sad shape, but nothing a little TLC couldn’t fix. 🙂
Jenna says
Another fab transformation! thanks for the details~
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Jenna! XO
Paige says
Girl, this is just perfect! Great job!
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Paige! XO
Ange says
Christy, I have an old four piece book case that could use a new look. I was thinking black because I had our China hutch and table painted black. But also wondered if a color would work. I’m on the fence and can’t seem to make a decision, guess I don’t want to make the wrong decision.
Christy K. James says
I can understand not wanting to make a hasty decision. Is the book case in the same space as the hutch and table? If so, I wouldn’t go with black, but if it’s in another room, it might give your décor some continuity. I’d be glad to look at photos and make suggestions. You can message me with them on my FB page if you like. 🙂
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
So beautiful Christy! Love the blue, of course! Can never have too much blue! ? xo
Nancy
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Nancy! Never enough blue. Ever. 🙂
Malinda says
Love the dresser! Such a beautiful color. Could you tell me about the background “mesh” used on the wreath/frame on top of the dresser? I want to do one with chicken wire, but what you used there looks a little sturdier and pretty! This project is going in my ideas board for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Malinda! I did a post on that in the Spring that you can see here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/one-more-use-for-an-old-window/ Hope that helps! It’s the perfect backdrop for a wreath. 🙂