Hello amazing friends! It’s Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday and I am so excited to share a makeover with y’all today! No I didn’t stop the presses here amidst the new house chaos to update a piece of furniture, I planned ahead for this one.
Remember when Jack wanted to go to the thrift store to find a piece to paint, and I ended up finding this cool sofa table and this pretty curvy dresser that were both half off? Well Jack found this desk, also half off:
He ended up getting it for $20. Then all of a sudden we found THE house. I told Jack he needed to get working on his desk asap so we could get it out of the garage because we would need to start packing very soon.
This desk looks like it probably came out of a hotel room, but it had what looked like a pretty pattern in the wood on top. Jack really wanted to stain the top and paint the legs, but while he was sanding the top down, this happened:
Pressboard. Booooooo.
He finished for the day and pulled the desk inside the garage. It poured rain that night and guess what got left outside?
The drawer:
The white you see is sawdust that came off of the top of the desk when Jack was sanding. The rain totally warped the bottom of the drawer and the pressboard soaked up the water on the bottom front:
What was supposed to be an easy update was turning into a real trouble-maker. I felt so bad for Jack and I knew he was over it. It sat in our garage for another week like that. Then the following weekend while Jack was staying at his friend’s house, I was sifting through the garage I came across this mirror I had picked up for around $20 last Summer:
I knew that desk was just what this mirror was waiting for, and it got me excited about painting it to go with the desk to make it a dressing table!
I called Jack and offered to pay him twice what he paid for the desk if he would be willing to let me finish it. He loved that idea since the desk had turned out to be a bit more trouble than he had anticipated.
I got right to work! It may have been a lot of trouble, but the results were so worth it:
And how about that pretty drawer?
I ended up taking it apart…
And replacing the bottom and the front panel…
Good as new!
I added one of my favorite pulls from Hobby Lobby to the front:
The chair was another piece from the depths of my garage. It was one of a pair I bought from a yard sale for $3 each a couple of years ago and it started out like this:
I wasn’t really interested in them, but I was already buying this antique folding table, and these chairs were so darned cheap that I decided to take them too.
I painted just a couple of the parts on the mirror white to coordinate with the chairs.
This color is Sunken Pool by Behr and I have used it a couple of times recently. It is so dreamy in person. I made it into DIY chalk paint using the recipe found HERE, but I did give it all a coat of white spray primer first so that a little white would show through when I sanded.
It’s a bit hard to see in the photo. I love this two-toned look for chairs because I can spray paint all the hard parts, and then go back and paint just the seat with a brush.
I had just enough of this pretty fabric from Walmart left over from this night table that Jack saved to line the new drawer:
I’m not sure what I’m going to do the next time I need to shoot a large piece of furniture without my pretty doors!
I love how these three totally unrelated pieces came together to make such a cute set. All three pieces, including paying Jack twice what he paid for the table, only came to $63!
Funny thing…this set didn’t last ten minutes in my booth! I had rearranged my booth to accommodate it and then walked around the antique mall for about ten minutes. When I stopped by the counter on my way out to get a printout of what I had sold so far for the month, someone came up to the counter with the tag! The girl who purchased it had also bought this dresser I painted for Behr.com. and it matches the dressing table perfectly! How cool is that?
Don’t go anywhere without checking out what my friends are transforming this month too!
Visit the links below the image to see the afters!
My house is a total hot mess right now ha ha…I’ll be back on Thursday to share pictures of it with the world. 🙂
UPDATE: Check out the HOT MESS TOUR of our new house HERE!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
Girl, I just did the same to a table as it was worn to begin with and I tried to save it. I hear Jack on this one! So cool you not only saved it, but took it to a new level. Yay for you! No surprise it sold so fast.
Christy says
Thanks, Larissa! It is always so frustrating to hit those roadblocks, but I think that is what pushes us to create something even better, right?? This way I was able to get two additional pieces out of the garage as well! XOXO
Christina in FL says
Christy, you saved it! Go you!!! It is a beautiful transformation. The chair looks perfect with it and I adore the mirror. Yay! If it is going in your shop, I know it will sell very quickly. 🙂
Christy says
Thanks, Christina!! I had my doubts lol…but it came together. I just loved that mirror when I saw it and knew it would eventually find its match! XOXO
Paula says
The mirror is the perfect addition to this table. Someone is going to love having this in their bedroom!
Christy says
Isn’t it? It’s like they were made to go together, and I am so glad I finally had something to use it with! XOXO
Debrashoppeno5 says
The set is gorgeous. I am not surprised it flew out the door. Don’t you love that when that happens?
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! Yes, I do love when that happens!! XOXO
Janice says
This is another one of my favorites. Love the two-tone. You have so much on your plate right now, not sure how you found time to update these pieces.
Christy says
Aww thanks, Janice! I actually painted and photographed this a few weeks ago and saved it for today. You are right…no time for painting furniture at the moment ha ha! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Wow, that turned out amazing. I am looking forward to seeing your new home.
Christy says
Thanks, Mary! I shared a tour of the empty house already, but on Thursday I will be sharing some real life messes ha ha! XOXO
ColleenB.~ Tx. says
Oh, how I love that color and what a gorgeous set to have in a tween girls room.
Don’t blame that lady for snatching it up so fast cause all pieces go so well together. That mirror is so pretty setting on top; just like it belonged and was made for it.
You done a great job in restoring the dresser after being rained on.
Christy says
Thanks, Colleen! I just love this color too! Keeping my eye out for a place to use it in the new house. I agree that mirror looked like it was meant for that table! XOXO
Terry M says
Love the desk with the mirror, and the chair. It all goes together perfectly and the color is beautiful.
Christy says
Thank you, Terry! Who knew three totally unrelated pieces good be so happy together! XOXO
Amy says
That piece is absolutely stunning! What a transformation from what it started out as, then the “weather accident” and now WOW! Just beautiful!!
Christy says
Thank you, Amy! Yes it did have its share of bumps in the road ha ha…glad it came out the other side so well! 🙂
Cecilia says
That turned so cute! I can see why it got snatched up!
Christy says
Thanks, Cecilia! It was nice to see someone so excited about buying it. I usually don’t get to see who buys my pieces! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Beautiful work, Christy! I’m not surprised it sold so quickly. Not only did you get more stuff out of the garage before the move, but you created a fantastic vanity from a so-so desk.
I think Jack should have paid YOU twice what he paid for the desk, since he gave up on it and you made it a treasure.
Continued good wishes for settling into the new house, which will be fabulous, even with the incredible glass doors ????.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Marcie! The best part was definitely getting THREE pieces out of the garage! And ha ha yes…Jack was very grateful I took it off his hands! XOXO
Denise says
Beautiful! I can see why it sold in minutes. Thanks for sharing and have a great day Christy. I’m sure the new home is keeping you super busy. xo
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! It has been quite busy around here for sure. I did get started on the garage (aka my workshop) a bit…looking forward to getting back to painting!! XOXO
Debra Wise says
Beautiful! Did you wax this piece when you finished painting it? Also, what brand of white spray primer did you use?
You are such as inspiration and I love all the pieces you do.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Debra! I did wax it with Annie Sloan’s clear soft wax, and this is the spray paint I like best: http://amzn.to/2vhNYZJ It is around $6 a can at the big box stores. 🙂
Lori says
Love the dressing table – the color is great!
Christy says
Thank you, Lori! XO
Debbie says
Such a pretty piece!! I just love that colour. I have a night stand that I am refinishing for a friend and I think she would just adore that colour! You always do such beautiful work. Good luck with the move!
Christy says
Thank you, Debbie! You are so sweet! This color is a new favorite…trying to find a place to add it to the house! XOXO
Elise says
Chrissy,
Wow this Desk to Dressing Table makeover is a WINNER WINNER, Chicken Dinner! 🙂 And it is being enjoyed in a lucky someone’s bedroom already, fantastic! I too, will miss your “background” glass doors— but look forward to your creativity every time. Also love the extra you added with the pretty inside drawer fabric. I know that if I was “on the fence” about buying this piece, once I looked in the drawer, that would be the surprise that would make the difference. One of these days, I will travel to your coast from San Diego and you can bet I will make a special trip to your darling booth of goodies!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Elise! And thank you for such a super sweet comment! If you ever do make it to our coast…I hope you do visit!! XOXO
Marie says
That mirror and desk and chair were meant for each other – beautiful makeover, Christy! Pinned and sharing.
P.S. Sad to think that’s the last piece we’ll see photographed in front of that door. Hope you’re making great progress in getting settled in your new home. Maybe you’ll even have time to enjoy that lovely pool before Fall.
Christy says
Thanks, Marie! I have to agree… they make such a great team! And I know sniff sniff…I have no clue where I will photograph here yet…better figure that out, huh? Hoping to get the pump working on the pool so we can enjoy it soon!! XOXO
Marcia Banach says
Nailed it! No surprise that it sold fast. Must. Try. That. Color.
Christy says
Thank you, Marcia!! Yes…I am in love with this color lately too!! XOXO
Michelle says
What color paint did you use?
Christy says
This is Sunken Pool by Behr. 🙂
Cate says
Christy, you really nailed it on the 3 piece dressing table!! All I can say is, WOW! I especially love that the white accents are not a garish white. It all blends so well. Great job! Thanks for the inspiration.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cate! This was a fun set to work on! XO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Love it Christy! The mirror looks like it was made for it! Perfect! xo
Christy says
Thanks, Nancy! I know, right?? I’m so glad the original plan didn’t work out so I could pair them up! XOXO
Charlene Maximenko says
I have never commented on anyone’s DIY projects before, but this one took my breath away! It’s absolutely beautiful. I have my grandparents bedroom set that needs some love and I’d like to replicate what you did Thanks for the encouragement!
Christy says
Oh wow, thank you SO much for the honor of being your first comment, Charlene!! I am so glad you like how it turned out! It’s amazing what paint can do, right?? XO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
Christy, this is FABULOUS! Totally unexpected upcycle and one of my favorites. I’m not surprised it sold so fast! <3
Christy says
Thanks, Jen!! It might be one of my favorites as well! XOXO
Becky says
This is beautiful!!! I can’t believe it sold that fast… buuuut then again I can! : ) How cool for you to be able to see that! I keep wondering what you’re going to use for your backdrops now too. Maybe you should move back… HAHA!!! No, really, I’m sure you’ll come up with something beautiful. You have that talent.
Christy says
Thanks, Becky! I was surprised to see my dressing table sell so quickly as well! Yes working on finding a good spot to photograph. We do have great light, but not the best backdrop…hoping to figure that out as I go! 🙂
Best Loft Conversion Newcastle says
This is a wonderful looking dining table. I am honestly impressed you managed to make a desk look so good!