Happy Thursday Fabulous Friends!! If you stopped by on Tuesday then you know that today I am sharing the reveal of the best thrift store find I’ve had in a long time.
I scored this gorgeous dressing table for a mere $30!!
Can I get a woohoo?? I actually thought I remembered it being $35, but then I looked at the tag again:
That Goodwill never has good furniture but when I saw this, I couldn’t pay for it fast enough. It could also be a writing desk, but the pretty curves make it a perfect place to sit and pretty yourself up in the morning!
It is very unique and beautiful, and I know everyone is probably hoping I didn’t take a paintbrush to it, however it was not without its woes.
Here is a closer look at what the top looked like before:
It was in terrible shape. The top is actually paper thin veneer. There are two seams on the top, one that runs vertically through the middle and one that runs horizontally through the middle, and it was puckered all along those seams. It also was starting to pop up here in the center…
I was unsure how to go about fixing the top. Do I remove the veneer and paint what’s underneath? Do I try to salvage the veneer? Is it thick enough to take a good sanding? I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I use.
Luckily I was able to squeeze some wood glue in there and fix that spot. Then I sanded the surface with my orbital sander hoping I wouldn’t mess it up by going too deep. I did take it down a bit too far on one side, but overall I was pleasantly surprised how well it did, and it smoothed the two seams right out!
Are you ready to see how it turned out?
Okay so I just could not cover up all of that beautiful wood even if it was veneer!
The drawers and top looked as though they had about 50 years of wax build-up on them, so I was so pleased that I was able to fix that and make them beautiful again.
The before felt very top-heavy to me, so I chose to paint the body to lighten it up.
I found a jar of Dixie Belle’s Buttercream in my paint cabinet, and I thought it would compliment the wood nicely:
I thought a more creamy color rather than a stark white was more appropriate for this piece. I sealed the painted areas with Annie Sloan’s clear soft wax.
To finish the top surface and the drawers after sanding them, I used Minwax Wood Conditioner, applied with a soft cloth to prep the surfaces for stain. Then I gave them two coats of Minwax stain in Dark Walnut, sanding lightly between coats.
At first I sealed with Minwax Wipe-On Poly in satin which is what I normally use on wood surfaces to seal. However, after two coats the top looked blotchy…a combination of dull with weird shiny areas…see the weird shiny spots?
That must be where I didn’t sand quite enough. You can also see where I sanded a bit too far on that front corner.
To remedy the horrible mix of shiny and dull on the top, I decided to use Zinsser Clear Shellac that I normally use to seal in pieces to prevent bleed-through. I always forget that I can seal pieces with that as well!
Here is the difference on two of the drawers. The left is with the shellac, and it has a bit more shine but looks so much better!
And you can see it worked beautifully on the top of the dressing table as well:
I also love that you can see these little squares. I don’t know if they are part of the construction of this table or if they are patches in the veneer, but I think they are pretty cool…
There are still a few deep scratches in the veneer and the drawer fronts aren’t quite perfect, but they tell the story of this piece.
What about those pretty pulls? I love when I don’t have to buy new hardware!
I did touch them up a bit with Rub n Buff in Gold Leaf. You can see the difference here:
The one on the right is all shiny and new now.
These look like beautiful jewelry!
And did you get a peek at the insides of the drawers? I decided to paint the bottoms. I added stripes in this pretty Inglenook color from Fusion Mineral Paint:
I sealed the drawers with a this matte spray sealer.
I did a chair to go with it, but I already have too many photos so here’s a peek and I’ll share more of the chair in another post:
I actually bought this chair to go with our Halloween display this year, and it turned out to be a pretty good match for this dressing table! Another piece I couldn’t wait to show my Hubby haha…”See I told you I’d find a use for that chair after Halloween!”
Well I hope y’all are okay with me painting some of this pretty piece. I tried my best to preserve the pretty wood parts.
If you enjoyed this makeover, you’ll love this one too:
See how I saved this forgotten treasure HERE!
I hope y’all have a fantastic weekend! I’ll see you back here Tuesday with my Trash-to-Treasure girls sharing how I breathed new life into this sad dresser:
UPDATE: See how this piece looks now HERE! 😀
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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ColleenB.~ Tx. says
OMG What a beautiful piece of furniture and was a steal for that price.
Love the whole new make-over including the hardware.
Great job.
Christy says
Thank you, Colleen! I can’t believe someone donated it…no one they knew wanted it? Oh well, lucky for me! 😀 XOXO
Janie says
Beautiful
Christy says
Thank you, Janie! XO
Christina in SW FL says
Christy, I love the jewelry on, and strips in, the drawers. It’s a beautiful piece though I admit I am not sure how I feel about the white. It certainly makes the wood stand out beautifully.
Have a great rest of your week and an outstanding weekend!
Christy says
Thanks, Christina! If I were keeping it, I probably would have painted the drawers as well and just left the top. This is a different look for me, but fun to do! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Tamara Kenner says
Wow!! I love it. I think this is my favorite so far. You are amazing. Love your transformations & your photography. Thank you for sharing with us.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Tamara! Your kind words are very much appreciated! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
That is simply gorgeous!!! Well done! Did you decide to keep this beauty or sell it?
Christy says
Thank you, Sheila! Unfortunately I don not have room for it, so this pretty lady will be heading to my booth! XOXO
Carol says
That is beautiful!!!! Is this for sale ?
Christy says
Yes it is, Carol! It will be heading to my booth this weekend!
Cynthia Hilliard says
Wow. I don’t usually comment, but that table turned out beautifully! I wish I had a sander like that. I would do a lot more projects!
Christy says
Thank you, Cynthia! I’m so glad you took a minute to say hello! XOXO
kathy says
I didn’t see that coming! I was expecting it to all be white. Great job! I also love the stripes inside the drawers.
Christy says
I know I usually cover that wood right up without thinking twice lol. This was just too pretty to cover though. Thank you, Kathy! XOXO
Donna says
She sure is a beauty now! The drawer pulls are like jewelry and the stripes in the drawers are beautiful finishing touches. She appeared to be well loved and I wonder who owned her. I wonder what sort of mirror was used. A mirror on an easel…hand mirror only…? The dressing table may have been a part of a bedroom suite or maybe a gift from a doting husband. It could function as a desk as well. You hit the jackpot on this one!
Christy says
Thank you, Donna! I would love to know the history of this piece as well. I love the idea that it could’ve been a gift from a doting husband! XOXO
Vicki Wright says
OMG………..BEEEUTIFUL!! I love it, what a Great transformation (as always) 🙂
Christy says
Aww Thank you so much, Vicki! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
What a lucky find! I love seeing all the worn wood on the drawer edges. Did you disassemble the drawers to paint them or were they coming apart already?
Christy says
This was a super lucky find indeed! The bottom pieces just slid in from the back, and when I took the drawers out I noticed they had slid back a bit, so they were pretty easy to remove. 🙂
Suzan says
Absolutely gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Suzan! XOXO
Linda Eggleston says
You could clean all the built up wax off with lacquer thinner or denatured alcohol before & after sanding to avoid the blotchy look after applying a wipe on finish, which happens when there is still wax left in the wood or veneer. I have been refinishing furniture for 30 years as a hobby & I have had lots of similar situations but conquered most of them as the years went on & learning from others. I also never stain the veneer I use a wipe on tung oil & the natural color always come up beautiful. Hope this helps some.
Christy says
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with me, Linda! I’ll certainly keep your tips in mind in the future! XO
Michelle says
Love it, great job, Christy!
Christy says
Thank you, Michelle! XO
Janina says
Oh my gosh! The desk is so incredibly beautiful! You have a great “eye” and amazing skills.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janina! XOXO
Debra Wise says
Stunning makeover! Love love love it!! You are so talented. Can’t wait for the next makeover.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Debra! Have a great weekend and I’ll see you Tuesday! XOXO
Moriah says
I love it ???? great job!!
Christy says
Thank you, Moriah! XO
Josie says
Oh my goodness!!! You had me at the $ 30.00 price tag 😉
What a gorgeous piece. You certainly did her justice 🙂
Christy says
Wasn’t that a steal?? Thank you, Josie! XO
Billie Goodman says
You always find the most beautiful pieces of furniture! I love that table and want it! Thank you for sharing. You have such a great eye for detail.
Christy says
I really lucked into this one, Billie! Thank you so much! XO
Carrie says
That turned out beautifully! I rarely take the time to do anything with the inside of drawers, but this one is making me re-think that. I really love those blue stripes!
Christy says
Thank you, Carrie! I don’t know that I would take the time to line the drawers on a piece that I painted for my own use, but I always try to add something pretty when I’m selling one. I think it helps it sell better! ????
Mary says
That turned out beautiful! One of my favorites so far! You have such an eye for bringing new life to pieces that are dated or neglected. The price on that was amazing too-pieces like that would be sold for three or more times that amount in my neck of the woods. Have a wonderful day!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. And yes that was a steal of a deal on that piece for sure! XO
Marie says
First of all Christy, I’m still salivating over the $30 – talk about a sweet score! What you did with this dressing table is absolutely stunning! If you lived near me, I’d be at your door this very minute with cash in hand because my office needs this to use as a desk.
Christy says
I could not believe the ticket when I read it… $30?? I couldn’t pay for it fast enough LOL. And yes it would make a phenomenal desk! Have a great weekend, my friend! XOXO
Rose says
Now that’s AMAZINGLY beautiful ????
Christy says
Aww thank you, Rose! XOXO
Mary says
Christy that is just gorgeous. I am so glad you were able to fix the top and make those waves of wood shine. And the drawers also look beautiful now that they have been refinished. A truly one of a kind piece.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! I’m so pleased with how the top turned out, especially since my expertise is not with wood ha ha. Have a great weekend! XO
Melinda says
You did it again!!! I love your blog and your creativity is awe inspiring.:)
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Melinda! I really appreciate your sweet words! XOXO
Trina Price says
Christy- I have decided two things: First, you must never sleep. Second: your neighbors must all by lullabied to sleep on regular basis by the sound of your orbital sander and banging of hammers. You make me feel like a slacker! 🙂
Christy says
Ha ha…oh I could not live without my beauty sleep! ????
Denise says
Love this paint and stain combo… and $30… WOW! Beautiful makeover Christy! xo
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! XOXO
Wendy Somerville says
Hey Christy, Hope you don’t mind me saying my ideas for this piece.
When I saw the piece you were about to work on, I was in 7th Heaven. I am a big fan of natural wood and arching designs in a piece. I was soooo afraid you were going to paint the whole dresser. I must say however that you did a fabulous job repairing the top. I love that the drawers are distressed as I can see dings and bangs on them, but I am not a fan of the white paint. It does not pull on my heart strings. Perhaps a different color? I wonder what a bright mustard yellow would look like? It would compliment the wood coloring on the top and drawers I think? Just a thought… don’t mind me… I am a wood turner and artist (sculptor) so I do tend to love natural wood. Have you ever thought of dying the wood with aniline dyes or alcohol dyes ? I can also see this piece dyed in a translucent blue. It would require stripping it down to bare wood though. ;-(
All in all a great job.
Hugs to you,
Wendy
Christy says
Thank you, Wendy! I certainly do appreciate your honest feedback! If we all liked the same things, what a boring world this would be. ????
Lisa says
Hi Christy wow just unique and gorgeous! I like to follow your product links since I’m not yet a pro at this like you are. I didn’t see a link for: “I sealed the drawers with a matte spray sealer.” Can you tell possibly let me know what you used for that?
Thanks again, and really appreciate the step by step description with links and your thoughts about why you did or didn’t take certain steps! Easy to follow and helps us to really appreciate all of your hard work!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Lisa! I’m so glad you appreciate reading all the details behind each piece. Here is a link to that spray sealer: http://amzn.to/2noMauD. I must have forgotten to link that, sorry about that! I used that to seal all the paint on the inside of the drawers. Have a great weekend! 🙂 XOXO
Karen L Moore says
Great score. Turned out beautiful.
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! Yes this was a fantastic find! XOXO
Addie says
Great make-over!!! Love it!!!….as always!!!!
XXOO have a good weekend!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Sweet Addie!! I hope you have a fantastic weekend as well! XOXO
Susan Ronnfeldt says
It is Gorgeous!! You did an outstanding job bringing it back to life!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Susan!! XOXO
Carolyn says
I noticed the chair has the same type of feet as the dresser – how lucky can you get!
Christy says
I know, right?? It was just a random lone chair I found at the thrift store to go with our Halloween display. After Halloween, I told my Hubby I’d eventually pair it with something, and this was just perfect! XOXO
Julie Briones says
A little side-step to your norm! Pretty! I have a question for you… I just finished a white garden bench that started our ivory/yellow. I can’t really distress it (because I didn’t think ahead enough to paint is a darker color first). Do you think a gray wax would give me a good affect? Do you have another project where you wanted to give it a little more ‘umph’, and used a colored finish? (I also have a black graphic on the front, just FYI.)
Christy says
Thanks, Julie! I did a dresser a couple of years ago that also started out yellow. I painted it white, then ran a VERY dry brush with some black paint over the surface, and moreso on the edges, and I was very pleased with the outcome. You can see that post here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/fleur-de-lis-dresser/ I have not tried gray wax, so I can’t give you any suggestions there other than to try it on a scrap[ piece of wood and see how you like it. Hope this helps! XOXO
Julie Briones says
PERFECT! Last night, before bed, I was thinking, “I wonder if I could dry brush it with some gray or black? Wonder if Christy has done that?” LOL! Thank you, AGAIN!
Christy says
Oh ha ha! Well there you go! Glad I could help, my friend! 🙂
Debbie in TX says
Really love the contrast on this piece, and the finish turned out nicely. I was hoping you’d change out the handles to make it a bit more contemporary, but it looks fine just the same. It could probably work as a small desk, too. Great job!
Christy says
Thanks, Debbie! To be honest, if I were keeping this, I would have switched out the pulls for glass knobs. They are my favorite! I had someone else mention that this could possibly have been a writing desk and I think you may both be right! 🙂
Karolyn Love says
Christy, the After shot actually, not kidding, made me gasp! I absolutely love it!! The extra shine just compliments the grain so beautifully!! You have a great eye for a bargain and an even greater eye for the finishing!! Thank you for sharing this.
Christy says
Aww you are so sweet, Karolyn, thank you!!! XOXO
Kathleen Rupp says
Oh I LOVE this one!!! The 2 toned wood is just gorgeous! That dark wood is beautiful with the white! Great idea. The inside of the drawers is like a little surprise too! pinned this:) Oh and I forgot to tell you…. after you suggested I get that rotary cutting mat for the fabric for the inside of drawers….WOW I use that tool so much!! Not only for fabric but also when I am designing patterns and I need exact measurements for lots of things. I want to give a shout out to everyone reading my comment if they don’t have one, GET ONE….and go through Christy! 🙂 Thank you so much Christy! I just thought it was for quilting and since I wasn’t a quilter I would never have bought myself one if you hadn’t said something- Not only is it amazing with fabric it works great for many crafts! Sorry, I know you painted these drawer liners but it just reminded me of the rotary cutter ..hehe…Just wanted to thank you!
Christy says
Thank you, Kathleen! And I am SO thrilled that you have found your rotary cutter and mat to be such a great tool. I was introduced to it when I was making quilts many moons ago, but you are right… it can be used for so much more! I also use it to cut paper! Thanks again for the great feedback…have a fantastic weekend! XOXO
Becky says
Wow. That is amazing! Very nice job! I think my favorite part is the striped drawer bottoms! I’m going to have to get some stripes in some of my drawers… hmm. That isn’t coming out the way I want it to, but hopefully you get the idea. : )
Christy says
Thanks so much, Becky!! HA HA HA! 😀
Heather says
Stunning! Love it Christy
Christy says
Thank you, Heather! XOXO
Cindy says
It is gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you, Cindy! XO
Mariele says
I love it!! I’m a bit of a wood purist, but I think you made the right decision in painting over some of it… if it can’t be saved, well, that’s what paint is for, right?? The end result is just perfect! So glad you were able to salvage most of the wood. 😀 The shellac looks better imo… adds a real classic shine to it, makes the wood look like it got a fresh coat of stain, too.
Not sure what those squares are from, but I bet you’re right, something to do with the veneer. 🙂 The pulls look much improved! And the stripes are darling… someone is going to be very happy with this piece!
Christy says
I’m so glad to hear your thoughts, Mariele, thank you! I love the classic shine for this piece as well, and I am so pleased I was able to leave some of the beautiful wood showing! XOXO
Annie says
It’s gorgeous Christy! I’ve been trying to find a vanity/desk like this for my sister-in-law. I sure hope one at a steal of a price like you did…lucky girl 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Annie! You always find things when you least expect, ya know? This was a prize find for sure. Good luck in your search! XO
Kathleen says
I must say I don’t think I would have thought of painting just the areas around the drawers and the top that white ~ and refinishing the remaining parts/leaving them dark! But I LOVE the “after” DRAMA of this piece! It is really beautiful now, Christy …
What wonderful choices you made ~ though I also can’t believe someone would donate this beauty! Such great work …
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kathleen! I can’t believe they couldn’t find anyone who wanted this beauty either…worked out for me though! 🙂 XO
Norma Rolader says
You are amazing it is gorgeous
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Norma! XOXO
kim says
amazing. gorgeous find and fab makeover. two tone has me all in love!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kim! XOXO
Naomi S. says
I think you did a beautiful job restoring/reclaiming the dressing table. I’m so glad you preserved some of the gorgeous wood. The top of the table is really amazing–the varied grain of all the pieces is beautiful. And I think the chair was meant to go with the dressing table. Good job, Christy!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Naomi! I am so pleased that the chair matched so well! XOXO
Eileen says
Wow! Stunning transformation!
Christy says
Thank you, Eileen! XOXO
Ellen Shook says
I think those square things might be wooden pegs which are structural. I have seen those on other old pieces, but I am not an expert by any means. I do like the burl wood look, and I am not sure I would have painted it, but the repairs you did to the wood parts look great. I am sure you will sell it very quickly!
Christy says
I think you are right about the square pegs, Ellen. I’m so glad I didn’t cover them up! Thank you! XO
Jan says
Beautiful, Christie. Great job, Wish it were mine.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Jan! XO
Jamie says
Wow, wow!! I’ve seen and done a lot of transformations, but this one takes a prize!!!! What a beautiful job you’ve done!! Thank you for sharing your gift and giving this old gal inspiration!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Jamie!! I appreciate your very kind words, and it is my pleasure to share…so glad you are feeling inspired! XO
Melanie says
Beautiful! I just re-did a similar piece made by Dixie that is red mahogany. I think mine is pretty, but the details in yours makes yours even more special. I actually spent a couple of hours on the internet trying to find out what piece I had….was it a vanity, desk, sideboard, etc.? and I finally determined it was called a writing desk.
Christy says
Thank you, Melanie! I had another reader mention that it might have been a writing desk, and I think you could be right. Thank you for passing that along! I’m sure yours is lovely as well! XO
Catherine says
Just LOVE looking at your site Christy! You always have something lovely and inspiring for us. This piece turned out beautifully, and it’s even better because you left some of the “character” to the aged piece. Good score, great job!
Christy says
Well thank you so much, Catherine! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this one, and yes I love that it shows some “character” as well! XOXO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
This piece is Gorgeous with a capital G!!! You are a professional!
Christy says
So glad you like this one, Rose, thank you!! XOXO
Brenda Young @Unique Junktique says
What a score of a find, so classic. Oh goodness, a beautiful job you did on this makeover Christy, I love that you kept some of the original graining it’s just gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Brenda! I was so happy I was able to show some of that beautiful wood as well! XOXO
Linda Petersen says
Elegant!! I love it & you did an expert job in the restoration. I’m amazed @ your talent. Actually, after all this time I’m not really amazed anymore. You have a gift❤. XO, Linda
Christy says
Thank you SO SO much, Linda!! You are always so sweet to me and I appreciate ya! XOXO
Phyllis says
Hello! When I first saw the picture of before, I thought – oh no – don’t tell me she painted that beautiful veneer.
The results are stunning! And I’m very impressed with what you did on the top using the clear shellac. I’ll have to try some of that myself.
Beautiful job! 🙂
Christy says
I’m so glad you like the results, Phyllis, thank you! Even I couldn’t paint over that gorgeous veneer! 🙂 XO
Cecilia says
It’s beautiful! I do hope you’re planning on keeping it! What a great find and it’s absolutely gorgeous now!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! This is one piece I really wish I had a space for, but unfortunately I do not. Hopefully someone will fall in love with it and cherish it for years to come! XOXO
Jackie says
THIS may very well be one of my all time favorite pieces you have done! Just phenomenal!
Christy says
Wow thanks!! This was such a beauty to start, so that made my job much easier! 🙂