Welcome, amazing friends!! I am so excited about today’s makeover! I’m going to use this antique serpentine dresser to show how to chalk paint furniture AND how to tackle all the problems that come with older pieces of furniture.
We’ll tackle how to remove veneer, how to get rid of musty odors, and more!
Okay, let’s get to it!
This dresser was part of my Mother’s Day Haul gifted to me by a lovely reader, Mary:
Isn’t she a beauty?
She was in need of a LOT of love. I worked hard on this one, y’all!
To start this project, I removed the drawers and gave it a good cleaning all over. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
How to get rid of the musty smell
It was very musty on the inside, so to combat that, I brushed on one coat of BOSS in clear on the entire inside cavity of the dresser:
It works amazingly well to seal in those musty odors!
How to Remove Veneer
Next, I tackled the veneer on the top.
Here is what I was working with:
Unfortunately, the veneer on this one was too far gone along the front and in some areas on top to salvage, so I decided to remove the veneer on this one. I learned the best way to do that from my friend, Larissa of Prodigal Pieces.
Lay soaking wet towels on the surface and leave them overnight. The water softens the glue.
The next morning, I was able to scrape the veneer off in strips with a large putty knife:
You can soak the towels and take them to your project, or you can lay the towels out (I used two here), and pour water on them from a pitcher, which is what I did.
I didn’t expect the top to be in pieces after removing the veneer:
I cleaned it really well with Odorless Mineral Spirits and then gave it a good sanding to smooth everything out with 220 grit sandpaper using my orbital sander.
This would have been an awesome top had this been more of a farmhouse style dresser, and I may have even stained the top instead, but that was not the look I was going for.
How to Fill in Missing pieces of legs, drawers, etc.
The next challenge I had was filling in the missing corner on this drawer:
Part of it was completely missing. I turned to a tutorial by my fellow fixer upper friend, Denise from Salvaged Inspirations because I have seen her fill in some crazy missing parts using a product called Bondo. You can read all about it on her blog HERE. Let me tell you when I say this is the stinkiest product I ever have used in my life!
But dang, it sure does the job!
I did as her tutorial suggested and splinted the area to be filled, and after mixing the two products included, I slapped it over the area with a putty knife:
This stuff sets up in about two minutes, so use it quickly!
When it was completely dry, about 30 minutes later, I sanded the area with 220 grit sandpaper using my orbital sander.
I was done with the stink, so I filled the rest of the imperfections in with Dixie Belle’s Mud in brown:
I sanded those smooth also once they were dry.
I ended up hand sanding across all the drawer fronts just to smooth them out a bit.
How to chalk paint furniture
My best tip is to choose a quality brush! My favorite is this Dixie Belle Brush.
I chose Caviar for this project and gave the dresser two coats, applying in long sweeping strokes being sure to paint in nice straight lines.
I did remove the drawers to paint them, but slid them in while they dried.
Fore a more detailed tutorial on how to chalk paint furniture, including a video, visit this post: How to Chalk Paint Furniture: a Step by Step Guide.
How to Apply a Transfer
Now for the fun part, the embellishment! I chose to add a transfer to the drawers. I’ve been hanging onto this one since last Fall and this it the perfect piece for it. Applying transfers is as easy as peeling off the backing, laying the top piece on your surface, and burnishing the transfer onto your surface using the included tool:
This one is called Somewhere in France. You can find it HERE in my Etsy shop. I cut this one up and used it in pieces. I only used the top two sheets for this entire dresser!
Once the image is transferred, peel the top layer off slowly. If any of the transfer remains on the top, lay it back down and burnish some more. You do have to be careful where you place it, because once it touches down, it is pretty much stuck!
Of course, deciding where you want to put the pieces is the hard part!
Fixing the Mirror
This dresser also came with an amazing mirror!
It was coming apart in three of the joints though, so I removed the mirror and took it apart. Then I used Titebond wood glue to put the pieces back together:
It and the harp that holds it also got two coats of Caviar:
Sanding
Then I sanded everything lightly with 220 grit sandpaper wrapped around an old foam sanding block. I even sanded over the drawers with the transfers. I vacuumed up all the sanding dust with my shop vac.
Sealing
Finally, I was ready to seal everything! I sealed all the pieces with Dixie Belle’s Satin Clear Coat, using their blue sponge applicator:
Here’s a tip for applying this sealer over darker colors like Caviar:
Add just a few drops of paint to your sealer and give it a good stir. Also, apply it from edge to edge without stopping, and don’t overwork it!
THe result
Ready to see the result of five days of hard work??
Ooh la la. Am I right?
She’s a sexy little number now!
You can see now why a rustic top just wouldn’t work with the beautiful details in this dresser. It needed to be sleek, and I am so pleased with how the top turned out!
Can you see those gorgeous details on the bottom?
Did you notice that some of them are missing?
Yep, but I don’t think it even matters. It is part of the story of this piece.
And the mirror with that harp…
It’s hard to see the details up close, but they are exquisite…
The original dresser did not have one salvageable knob unfortunately, but these glass ones from Hobby Lobby did the job…
That photo also shows how well that Bondo worked on the upper right corner of that drawer on the left!
The Drawers
Now, let’s talk about those drawers. The top three worked really well, but I had the hardest time getting the bottom drawer out. When I finally did, I realized the bottom of the drawer was coming apart in layers. I had to disassemble the drawer to get the bottom out, cut a new bottom with my jig saw, and then reassemble the drawer.
I cleaned them really well and then I applied Big Mama’s Butta to the sides and back.
It hydrates and protects the wood and comes in three scents: Orange Grove, Suzanne’s Garden, and unscented. I tried out Suzanne’s Garden this time and it smells so beautiful! It smells like roses, which I normally am not too fond of, but this is lovely!
Then for the bottoms of the insides of the drawers, which I always save for last, I had purchased a fabric with some french wording on it, but I was not looking forward to cutting it to fit all those curves. I was Face-Timing with my sister (The one whose kitchen I helped make over HERE.), and I was showing her how the dresser was coming along, and I mentioned that I was getting ready to add the fabric. Then she suggested a black and white striped fabric would look great. I agreed, and knew right away that I didn’t need fabric to get that look!
I taped off the perimeter of the drawer bottom with FrogTape and then painted the bottoms of the two top drawers in one coat of BOSS in white, followed by one coat of Fluff. Then I added FrogTape to create my stripes! (See how I do that HERE!)
I removed the tape as soon as I applied the second coat of Caviar to paint in the stripes. I used Clear Coat in Satin to seal, but this time, I used a brush specially designed for polyurethanes by Wooster. The sponge is a game changer for applying the sealer to the outside, but it can be tricky to use a sponge on those inside corners.
I love how they turned out!
For the middle drawer, I painted the bottom black instead and used another part of the transfer!
I repeated the stripes on the bottom drawer:
Honestly, I think the drawers might be my favorite! No extra money spent!!
Whew! Wasn’t that a lot of work?
So worth it to see this pretty lady come back to life though!
Three of my friends have even more furniture makeovers to visit!
Thanks again to Mary for blessing me with the opportunity to bring these pieces back to life!!
Visit the others I’ve already completed at the links below:
I need a few small easy projects to work on now, so I’ll be back with a round of smalls on Tuesday:
Have a fantastic weekend, and be safe out there!
UPDATE: See how these smalls turned out HERE now! 🙂
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Karel Stockley says
I have followed you for a long time now and this is one of your best yet. Even I thought that this was ugly before you started and would have walked past it. You have made a fantastic job with an ever growing eye for what works.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Karel! It isn’t often I get such gorgeous lines to work with, and it was a real treat to be able to bring this beauty back to life! But I’m with you, had I spotted this in a thrift store, I would have passed on it too lol! XOXO
Sarah Bull says
Oh My Gosh Kristy, this looks AMAZING!!!
Such a lot of work to make her look beautiful.
❤️❤️❤️
Sarah says
Sorry that auto-correct changed your name Christie!
Christy says
Ha ha no worries! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sarah!! She was worth it! XOXO
Denise Cox says
Lol!!! Before I even got to when YOU said it, I was saying, “Ooh, la, la”… 😉!! GORGEOUS!!!! AGAIN!!! Alas, no surprise… 🤗😘👍!!!
AND… I’m sooooo glad your made it a set. That bureau is lovely, and what you did REALLY accents the lovely curves of the mirror.
Thanks for sharing this, Christy…. 😍.
Christy says
Oh ha ha! Thank you, Denise! I am so smitten with this one! It was a treat bringing her back to life! XOXO
Petra says
Wow wow wow! That Caviar is perfection 😀 And I didn’t even notice those feet until the “after” reveal. Yet I always look at the “feet/legs” of pieces!!! I also really love how you did something different in the drawers – I like to do that too, just a little surprise!!! Well done – you’ve given it a whole new life 😀 xo
Christy says
Thank you, Petra! Caviar saved the day on this one for sure! Oh and I took a close up of the feet and I totally forgot to share it…aren’t they cool? I am so happy I got to give her new life! XOXO
Linda says
WOW!!!!! That dresser turned out gorgeous. I really love the color and what you did with the inside of the drawers really added that extra something to it.
You are so talented!
I look so forward to your newsletters anxious to see what you do next.
Christy says
Thank you, Linda! I had fun with the drawers for sure! Thanks so much for following along with me! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
My oh my! She is so beautiful now, and so sexy too!! I LOVE how she turned out and I so wish I lived close so I could bring her home to me. You are so amazing, just like your redo of that dresser!! I am so amazed!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! It was so awesome to watch it come back to life bit by bit! I’m trying hard to keep this one lol! XOXO
Val says
Wow, what a beauty this old dresser became! I love the bold color, the insides of the drawers and the gold transfers.To sum up: you really nailed it! Gongratulations on another great work and thank you for the step by step, it´s so helpful!
Have a good day.
Christy says
Thank you, Val! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one and found the steps helpful! XOXO
Valerie Nirala says
This is beautiful and probably my favorite of all time!
Christy says
Oh yay! Thank you, Valerie! XOXO
Susan says
Well done, all that work was worth it ! Spectacular result love everything except the drawer linings, they didn’t do much for me on this piece. What a beautiful piece of furniture, saved.
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! It was totally worth the work! XOXO
Kelly Howard says
She is gorgeous! Just stunning now. I love when they have their own stories to tell…I am a hopeless romantic, haha! Another fabulous job, sweet lady! You never cease to amaze me!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Kelly! I too love when they tell a story! XOXO
Nancy says
Fabulous makeover! Lots of work but so worth it. That harp is amazing, and those drawers!!!! Wow! Great ideas…. as always. Just love it!
Christy says
Thank you, Nancy! It really was so worth all the work! It had so many amazing details that needed to be saved! XOXO
June says
WOW! I’m speechless by how beautiful that dresser turned out. Your hard work once again brought about an amazing change. Lovely.
Christy says
Aww thank you, June! I love that reaction! Well worth the work for sure! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
OH MY GOODNESS!! That is simply GORGEOUS!!!! Well DONE!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sheila!! I wish I could keep it!! XOXO
Jean Young says
Christy you did such a beautiful job!! It is gorgeous!! Every little detail is done so perfectly. I always enjoy reading and learning from your blog. I don’t know how you have been able to work out in your garage, I live in Virginia also and it has been very difficult to work out in my garage also.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Jean! I appreciate that! It was sweltering out there while I was working on this piece for sure , but I keep a large fan nearby and drink plenty of water! XOXO
Christina says
OOooo lah lah is so right! I think the transfers are perfect and, you are so right, the missing pieces add character. Absolutely stunning. The painted stripes in the drawers are just the ticket. Way to go!! I am always impressed with your skills and imagination. I know fixing that drawer was no easy task. Love how everyone in the community shares their ideas/techniques.
Be well and thanks always for sharing!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Christina! I had a lot of fun with the drawers! I too love that I can refer to my friends in this wonderful community when I have questions! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Laura Lane says
This is my favorite piece you have done to date!!!! WOW! I would buy that in a second. Great job!
Christy says
Aw yay!! Thank you so much, Laura!! XOXO
Cheryl says
Christy ~ I mean this most sincerely:
❤️**speechless**❤️
Cheryl in Charlottesville
Christy says
Oh I love that reaction!! Thank you, Cheryl!! XOXO
Laura says
Love this Christy. You have outdone yourself on this one. I am always inspired by you. Redoing a credenza for my daughter and finally got the nerve to use some overlays. Wish me luck.
Christy says
Thank you, Laura!! I appreciate that so much! Good luck…you got this! XOXO
Jerri says
This is jaw dropping gorgeous! You are so creative and do beautiful work! Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Jerri! It is always a pleasure to share with such an amazing community!! XOXO
Sandra says
You can’t charge enough for that beautiful piece to make up for all that work. It is lovely.
Christy says
Right?? Thank you, Sandra! I will be putting a nice price on this one for sure, and I don’t mind if it sits for a while at all! XOXO
Sandra Stone says
Well you’ve done it again! You’re a true master magician! I knew a transfer would be great on this piece but you went beyond great, truly beautiful. I wish you held a seminar, I’d sign up to learn your skills!
Christy says
You are the sweetest, Sandra, thank you!! The transfer really made this piece! How fun would it be to gather a group of us together to get creative?? XOXO
Janice Holt says
I have so many favorites of yours; that being said, this is really one of my favorites. Love everything about it. Good job again.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! This is one of my favorites for sure too!! XOXO
Pam Walsh says
Double WOW!!! I am tired just thinking about all the work involved, but so worth it. That is one gorgeous piece !!!! Love the stripes too !
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Pam! It was exhausting, I’m not going to lie, but it was SO worth it! It is still in my dining room and I smile every time I walk past. The stripes were a fun last-minute change. XOXO
Maryellen Webber says
Wow Christy, this dresser is stunning! You are a trooper working on this outside in the heat! Love the transfer and the stripes inside the drawers! Beautiful!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Maryellen! I was a sweaty mess ha ha, but I was so excited to see it come together bit by bit that I didn’t even care! This was a fun one! XOXO
Elizabeth Marchak says
Christy, That bureau is not my style, but it is utterly beautiful. I love how you used Bondo. Yes, it smalls awful. You have also inspired me to collect small items to refinish and sell in our island gift shop. Thanks for all the great tutorials.
Christy says
Thank you, Elizabeth! Bondo was a bit much for me lol, but it did work wonders. I love that you have been inspired to get creative! XOXO
Christine Ternus says
Gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you, Christine! XOXO
Cecilia says
Oh my! What a beauty! This one was worth the effort. I love the drawers too! Wowza!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! It was so worth the sweat ha ha! XOXO
Lisa says
OMG!!! This piece is STUNNING!!! You do such beautiful work!! Thanks for sharing!
Christy says
Thank you, Lisa!! I appreciate that!! XOXO
Gail says
I was guessing this would be gray with transfers! Well, I was half right! It really turned out exquisite and I can’t imagine anything other than the glass knobs! The interior-painted drawers were a real unexpected surprise! Lovely!
Christy says
Oh you were close! Thank you, Gail! It looked like it originally had glass knobs, so thought those would work well. And I did have fun with those drawers! XOXO
Holli Rhodes says
OMG!!!!! what else can i say? You are one talented lady! It’s gorgeous!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Holli! XOXO
Lorraine Castellon-Rowe says
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I don’t usually like black furniture but this is absolutely incredible! I love how you lightly distressed it to let the wood show through a little bit. Those details are absolutely fabulous and you don’t even notice the missing pieces on the bottom. Would have never noticed that unless you told us about it. Another amazing project buy an amazing artist. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity and all the tips and tricks and all the links to all of the tutorials. I love that tip about using the wet towels to get the veneer off. That’s an excellent tip for some pieces I have been putting off because I didn’t want to do all that work to get that veneer off. Thank you so much. Hope you and your family are safe.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Lorraine!! I don’t do a lot of darker makeovers, but I couldn’t imagine this in anything other than black. And I’m so glad you found the tips helpful, especially the tip for removing veneer. It works great! XOXO
Annette Santana says
Absolutely gorgeous. This piece turned out so beautiful. You are really creative. Love all your projects, it really inspire me. Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Annette!! XOXO
Jaye says
Wow!!! I so love this piece. You have out done yourself as we love to say for extraordinary performance in my family.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Jaye!! XOXO
Kathy says
OMG!!! Your vision and hard work really paid off. Just beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kathy!! XOXO
Joanie says
The dresser turn out BEAUTIFUL!!! It’s gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Joanie! XOXO
Desiree Korioth says
That turned out absolutely beautiful. I am doing my first head/foot board bench from your tutorial. I really enjoy seeing your projects. Thank you!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Desiree! And yay! I love the charm of a headboard bench…have fun with it! XOXO
Kathy says
Christy,
I’ve been following you for awhile, and I’m finally taking the time to send you a happy little message. I just LOVE your posts! I look so forward to getting your emails! I get my coffee in the morning and look at what amazing things you’ve done. I’m just retiring and getting my studio going, and I’m soooo excited! You are just happy inspiration! Thanks!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kathy! I appreciate you following along with me, and I love that you are embarking on your own creative journey!! Happy retirement! XOXO
Rosie says
Your hard work Christy shows how stunning this piece turned out! I love everything about this dresser from the style to the colour and the details. You have a good eye and that is why you are great in what you do😊
Christy says
Oh you are so sweet, Rosie! Thank you!! XOXO
Candy says
Absolutely gorgeous Christy! A lot of work but would say well worth it as anyone who gets this is a very lucky person. Love love love
Blessings, Candy
Christy says
Thanks so much, Candy! It was really worth all the effort and I truly enjoyed seeing it come back to life! XOXO
AJ says
I love this piece! I have a similar dresser in my guest room that I have been planning to redo. I had planned on painting it white but seeing your dresser I will change course and go dark. The drawers are the “icing on the cake” – would be hard to keep them closed, their so pretty.
Always love your projects
Christy says
Thank you so much, AJ! What I love about going dark is there are no bleed-though issues on these older pieces and the black hides so much! And the drawers are the most fun to do…I would want to keep them open too ha ha! Have fun with your dresser! XOXO
Debi says
I have learned so much from you! This piece is impressive! I enjoy all your projects, but this one is just on another level…….
Christy says
Oh I am so happy to hear that, Debi! Thank you so much!! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
This is gorgeous! So much work but well worth it. I loved it before seeing what you did with the drawers and then loved it even more. Your work inspires me.
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! It really was worth all the sweat…I didn’t even care because I was so excited seeing it come together! I did have fun with those drawers! XOXO
Donna Nance says
Wow, she is fabulous!
Christy says
Thank you, Donna! XOXO
susan says
Ooh La La ! She’s a beauty!
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! XOXO
Robin says
This antique serpentine dresser is your best work yet!! Fabulous!!!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Robin!! XOXO
Mary says
That is simply quite stunning. I’m in love with it!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary!! XOXO
Linda C Johnston says
I have to tell you, girl, you knocked this one out of the park!!! I do believe this is my favorite all time redo from anyone! I would love to own this. Wish I was closer to VA Beach. This dresser is absolutely gorgeous and so original. Great job!
Christy says
Oh yay! Thank you so much, Linda!! I appreciate that so much!! I wish you were closer too!! XOXO
liz duque says
WOW! this is definately one of my favs that you’ve done – beautiful!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Liz!! XOXO
Nancy says
Wow! That was a lot of work. I love it! It is one of my favorites yet. If I lived close to you I would want to buy it.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Nancy! I’m so glad you like this one! XOXO
Stacey says
Wow!!!! You are an artist, girlfriend!! This makeover is just an absolute work of art!! She is sooooo gorgeous!!! My daughter and I “oooo’ed” and “ahhh’ed” at every picture. 🙂 I’m not sure I would have ever had the guts to use a color that dark, but you just showed how incredibly beautiful it can be. I’m inspired!! Thanks so so much for sharing all that you do!! Just absolutely lovely!!!!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Stacey! You are so sweet! I’m so glad you enjoyed it…it was so fun for me to see it come together! XOXO
JoAnn Duncan says
awesome job on the piece. It is a lot of work and the heat makes for a long day also.
Christy says
Thank you, JoAnn! We had record highs here, but it was worth all the sweat for sure! XOXO
Roberta says
WOW! I never thought I would like anything black. This is really great! Worth the effort!
Christy says
Thank you, Roberta! Although my own home is very light, I do love a good black makeover too! XOXO
Carmen says
Wow! that black dresser is the most beautiful I’ve seen thus far of your transformations. This was lovely to follow! Thanks for sharing and did I miss the price you paid, always like to see what it cost.
Thanks
Carmen
Christy says
Thank you so much, Carmen!! I was given this by local reader who was moving and had several pieces she had to find homes for quickly, so it was free to me! XOXO
dodie says
definitely looks like a lot of work [esp in 100 degree heat and humidity -you are a powerhouse!] but so well worth the results. absolutely gorgeous!!! i want to do this with an old inherited dresser. will have to find some gorgeous transfers. thankfully, i won’t have to part with it, i.e. sell it.
Christy says
This is probably the most work I have put into one single piece, but honestly, it didn’t feel like work at the time. I was so excited to see it come together bit by bit, so yes, well worth it! Thank you, Dodie! Transfers can do wonders, and even better if you get to keep it! XOXO
Toby Peplow says
This is STUNNING! One of my favorite flips and lots of GREAT info in the blog entry that I will likely refer back to. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece and your knowledge!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Toby! And I’m glad you found it helpful!! XOXO
Imelda says
Christy, you never cease to amaze! This is a gorgeous piece. I love the way you staged it….the high heels, what a wonderful idea!
Looking forward to the next project.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Imelda! This dresser reminded me of a sexy black dress, so I had to pull out the heels ha ha! XOXO
Michelle says
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!! You are so creative, and I always enjoy your special touches to the inside and sides of drawers that make them that much more special. You are truly an inspiration! Thank you!!!!
Christy says
I appreciate that so much, Michelle, thank you!! The drawers were the most fun to do! XOXO
Joanne says
OMG!! What a transformation. You made it SO BEAUTIFUL! Are you keeping it or selling it? You are a true artist!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Joanne! I am so tempted to keep this one, but that would mean I would have to get rid of my sons bedroom furniture the minute he leaves for college LOL. I’m not sure I can do that to him ha ha! XOXO
Janet H Salmon says
That is my favorite piece ever! Beautiful job!!!
Christy says
Aww Thank you so much, Janet! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
It is obvious that you worked extremely hard on this piece. I love the color, the transfers, but I especially like what you did with the drawers! I believe that is your signature “finish.” There always seems to be a little surprise in your makeovers and this one, I think is my favorite. You must really have a great deal of patience and determination to transform this dresser into a beautiful piece of furniture. Thanks again for “taking us along” on your makeover journey.” Simply gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sue! I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to bring this pretty lady back to life. And I’m so glad you liked the drawers…they were the most fun part to do! XOXO
Donna says
Simply gorgeous!! I love those drawers. What an inspiring piece. I have a dresser like that in my household and this idea would be perfect for it!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Donna! I love that you are feeling inspired for your own piece! XOXO
Maia says
Ooh la la is tight! She is a stunning French belle! I would want to keep her. Those sexy carved details are just like a French woman.
.and yes, perfect with that night table. Oh my! Très belle!
Christy says
Merci beaucoup!! I really do want to keep her!! I will have to price her insanely high just so I can hang onto her in my booth for a while lol! XOXO
Becky says
GORGEOUS!! I LOVE this piece!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Becky! XOXO
Toni says
That dresser is drop dead gorgeous! At first I thought you might lose the details with the color Caviar but nope, It is truly stunning! Nicely done!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Toni!! XOXO
Elise Howell says
Christy! What a STUNNER inside and out. I love how you fancied up the inside of the drawers… I believe a person could style a whole room around this beautiful piece–So much stripping and renovating but a fantastic “home run” result!
Christy says
Thank you, Elise! The drawers were the most fun part for sure! My son leaves for college in two weeks, and I am so tempted to style his room around this dresser LOL. I don’t know if I can do that to him though! XOXO
Beckie says
She is an absolute beauty!!! And I’m so happy she isn’t white. I know it still sells, but I’m totally bored with it! I’ve used Caviar before and loved it, but it took me much more effort to get it right. You made it look simple!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Becky! Painting something black it’s so much easier than painting white, and I really enjoyed that with this dresser! XOXO
Christy says
Oops!! Beckie 😊
Diane Pianfetti says
What an exceptional makeover!! It is beautiful!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Diane! XOXO
Karen says
Absolutely beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! XOXO
Dee Kelly says
The dresser came out gorgeous. You really worked very hard on this project.
Christy says
Thank you, Dee! I sure did, but it was totally worth it! XOXO
Carol says
It just takes my breath away! I am jealous of this dresser! (Especially now that all the work is done! *smile*)
Christy says
Aww thank you, Carol! I’m pretty sure I would’ve passed on his dresser had I found it for sale at the thrift store in the condition it was in, but I’m so glad I was forced to give it a second chance! XOXO
Victoria Hempe says
Love, love, love! This piece is absolutely beautiful. You are such an inspiration! I have refinished and updated a few pieces myself after reading your blog and am so pleased with the results. I learn so much from you! Keep up the inspiration!
Christy says
Wow thank you so much, Victoria! I love hearing that you have been inspired to transform your own pieces! It is really addictive LOL! XOXO
Karen A Cronk says
Stunning! Your time and effort paid off tenfold! The missing pieces just add to the character of the piece. We all suffer bumps & bruises along the way, but keep that inner beauty shining through!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Karen! So true! And I love that it kind of tells a story. XOXO
Julie Ritter says
OHHHH man Christy this is by far my favorite piece of furniture I have ever seen you create. It is beautiful !! And that’s saying something because i love all your creative work.
The piece it’s self is amazing, but the way you patched it up and fixed all the parts !! WOW
The design and color are excellent. I have a couple of these serpentine dressers and this gives me such excitement to work on mine.
I love the addition of the transfers. Just perfection.
Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Yay!! Thank you so much, Julie!! It was hard work, but also such a treat to be able to make this beautiful again!! XOXO
Nancy says
Stunning!
Christy says
Thank you, Nancy! XOXO
Anne says
Christy! I have to say this is my favorite of your projects. The dresser is absolutely beautiful! You are one talented lady!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Anne! I appreciate that! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
What a beautiful piece. I love that mirror!! And I love what you did with the drawers. I love these black pieces. Is black the new white? Is black selling in your neck of the woods?
Christy says
Thanks so much, Cheryl! I am really loving black these days. It does sell for me, but I’ve only done a handful of pieces. I’ll tell you what, it is a heck of a lot easier to paint something black than it is to paint something white! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Rosie says
I am always impressed with all your do-overs. But let me tell you this one beats them all. I just adore the color and the transfers. You out did your self with this master piece. Good Job!!!!!!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rosie! I so enjoyed seeing this one come together! XOXO
Addie says
What a beauty this turned out to be!!! I didn’t know dressers can be sexy…I better watch out if the hubby gets too close to the furniture!!! lololo….
I was wondering if the Dixie Bell Mud could be stained over on a “small” repair???
Have a good safe weekend….you will having a big storm the week…eh?
Addie xoxo
Christy says
Thank you, Addie!! Oh yes…this one is super sexy lol! You can stain the mud, but you will see where the mud is if that makes sense. It would probably work best with darker stains. I didn’t hear about any storms… guess I shoulf check the weather, eh? Have a fantastic weekend, my friend! XOXO
Christy says
*should 🙂
sue says
Christy,
You are amazing and inspiring! You took a thrift shop trash item to totally vintage treasure, something some people might pay $3000 for, in the right shop, right city…and you saved it from rotting apart in a landfill somewhere. I am saving this yummy makeover to my “redeemed treasures” folder.
Some people think slapping a coat of spray paint on things is a makeover…you really devote yourself to re-creating, refinishing, reinventing pieces that someone once loved and treasured, so they can be that again for someone new.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Sue! I appreciate that so much! It was a treat being able to bring this beautiful piece back to life! XOXO
Leslie Smith says
That is GORGEOUS! You did such a beautiful job on that. Thanks for sharing your combination of tools that make this such a special piece.
Christy says
Thank you, Leslie! You are so welcome! XOXO
Norma says
This turned out gorgeous. I love it!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Norma! XOXO
Shirley says
Christy, tell me you have to keep this beautiful lady. You two have bonded in more ways than one. 😘 You have patience and drive. Keep sharing with us.
Christy says
I sure wish I could, Shirley! I would have to get rid of my son’s dresser when he leaves for college in two weeks to be able to keep this one. I’m not sure I can do that to him, but I sure am tempted lol! Thank you! XOXO
Mary King says
Once again I was teary eyed. Thank you Christie for another beautiful job bringing back to life pieces from my past! My old Barbie’s would approve 😉 Mary King
Christy says
Oh no…I need to stop doing that to you! Thank you so much! And ha ha, I’m so glad the Barbies would approve! Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to bring these gorgeous pieces back to life! XOXO
Gloria says
I have to say this is my favorite of all your projects. It is very beautiful🥰
Christy says
Yay! Thank you so much, Gloria!! XOXO
Sue Cox says
Gorgeous! A beautiful result. This piece looks like a step up in sophistication from your (still lovely) beach-themed pieces. I hope she sells and makes your work worthwhile.
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! Black is very sleek and sophisticated for sure! I hope so too! Thanks! XOXO
Ashley says
Odorless mineral spirits? Who knew? Love the idea of laying wet towels overnight to remove veneer. I typically lay wet towels, then apply a hot iron. Works the same way, but my way is added work, and who wants that?💕
Christy says
Yes! There is no odor at all! Your way may be a great way to get it done more quickly if you don’t have the time to let it sit! XOXO
Barbara says
What a treasure! That turned into a real beauty. You are so talented and patient. I love the dresser and mirror!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Barbara! They sure don’t make them like they used to! XOXO
M. Constance Colvin says
Oh Christy you did SO much work on this piece! And it turned out a beauty!!! I’m curious about how you’d price this dresser/mirror for your shop? You are a master! (Oops, not supposed to say that any more :/)
Christy says
Aww thanks so much, Connie! I usually price my dressers somewhere between $250 and $350. I like to keep them moving and that is a price that helps them sell quickly. This piece however with all of its gorgeous details and all the work that went into it, I would probably price this in the $500-$600 range. I hate to part with it though!! XOXO
Kathryn says
That is one of the most amazing transformations I’ve seen. LOVE it! That encourages me to tackle some of my smaller projects!!
Christy says
Wow thank you so much, Kathryn! I love that this is making you want to get to work on your own pieces! XOXO
Catherine says
This is one of the most beautiful transformations I’ve ever seen. You are a wonder!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Catherine!! XOXO
Becky says
Gorgeous! Those striped drawers…!!! That mirror!!! What a beauty! You did a fabulous job on this one!
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! The drawers were my favorite to do! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Camille says
This is seriously SO GORGEOUS. I would love to have this in my house!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Camille!! XOXO
Sally says
Gorgeous!! In love with that dresser and mirror! Wonderful job!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sally! XOXO
Stacie E James says
Hey Christy! I have been following you for about a year and I have to say, this is my favorite piece that you have ever done! It looks AMAZING! Thank you for sharing all of your work and inspiration- Stacie
Christy says
Yay! Thank you so much, Stacie!! And thank you for following along with me!! XOXO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
Giiiirrrlll…I am tired reading this because I KNOW full well how much work you put into this. Stunning doesn’t say it enough!
Christy says
Aww thank you, my sweet friend!! You know for sure how much work this was! I truly enjoyed seeing this one come back to life though, so totally worth it! XOXO
Tara C says
Absolutely gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you, Tara! XOXO
Mary Loveland says
Love the color, stencil, pulls, mirror and the dresser looks wonderful, great job! I think you should get some of that “woodubend” from Denise to keep on hand just in case you need it.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! Denise does amazing things with that woodubend! XOXO
Dianne Noffke says
Whew! That was some work. You did an excellent job of bringing that little lady back to life. Enjoyed seeing how you dealt with the imperfections. I just love that caviar. Would you say it is a charcoal gray? Not really black looking to me. Also, please let me know when the Boss is back in stock.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Dianne! I loved seeing this one coming together! Caviar is a true black. The light may be making it look lighter, but it is very dark. I do have the BOSS in clear in stock in my booth if you want to stop by! You might not recognize my booth lol…I did a thing!! 😁 Have an amazing weekend, my friend! XOXO
Alice says
Where do you find these lovely pieces?! I love old furniture but, maybe it is the new entland area, I have never seen anything like that dresser. I’m in love…
Christy says
Thank you, Alice! This piece belonged to a sweet local reader of mine who was downsizing and needed a home for it. She blessed me with several pieces! XOXO
Kathy Owen says
What a beautiful makeover Christy. I’m in love. I painted a very very similar piece years ago and the makeover doesn’t compare to yours.
Christy says
Thank you so much, my dear friend! I really enjoyed seeing this one come together! I hope you are enjoying your vacation! XOXO
Lani says
I love, love, love how this one turned out!! It’s gorgeous!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Lani! XOXO
Christie says
I’m speechless…. spectacular!
Christy says
Aww thank you!! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
Darker than I usually like yet I really love what you did with it. Lovely.
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! This doesn’t fit my style at all, but I love it too LOL! It was fun to do something different! XOXO
Karolyn says
She is GORGEOUS!!! Her details are so beautiful in that black caviar, her mirror and harp are so curvy and, as you said, sexy!!! I absolutely love what you did in her drawer bottoms with the stripes and the the transfer in the middle one….outstanding job on the elegant lady!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Karolyn! She had so many beautiful details, and I am so grateful I was given to opportunity to bring her back to life!! The drawers were the most fun for sure! XOXO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
This transformation is stunning, Christy! Bravo to you for putting the work into it to make her beautiful again. And I’m so glad you could save the harp and mirror too! xo
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend!! It was a lot of work, but totally worth it! That mirror and harp really make it! Really wish I had a space to keep her! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Lizzy says
This one is especially gorgeous. I hope you charge a lot for it!
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! I sure will! XOXO
Anita says
Dear Christy,
I look forward to your posts each week and I have to echo the sentiments of everyone who has weighed in on your post today — this is my absolute favourite transformation to date! It is beyond stunning! I absolutely love it! The drawers and stencils put it on a whole other level! Thank you so much for sharing your artistic talents with us. Truly perfect!
Anita
Christy says
I appreciate that so much, Anita, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. It was a treat to be able to bring it back to life! XOXO
Sandra Powell says
Oh my goodness that’s stunning! Beautiful job🙌
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sandra! XOXO
Lynda says
This turned out gorgeous!! Love it!
Christy says
Thank you, Lynda! XOXO
Elizabeth A Smith says
Christy!
This dresser is beautiful!! love love love!!
Beth
Christy says
Thank you so much, Beth! XOXO
Julia says
Wow, this makeover is stunning! Beautiful work.
Christy says
Thank you, Julia! XOXO
Lyn says
So I see from the comment section that I am surely not alone in my admiration of your dresser. I thought to myself….”why comment? A zillion people have said the same thing?” But…I just needed to join in. This piece turned out beyond the amazing work you usually do! If I walked by this piece in your booth I would have to stop and admire it, but if I opened a drawer…..I would buy it! Those drawers….stopped me in my tracks! The striped one especially. It is a work of art.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Lyn! And I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment! I love to read them all! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one…the drawers were the fun part! XOXO
Terry Moore says
The dresser had such good shape. I would have snatched it up in a heartbeat. You have turned this into a beauty and I love what you did with the outcome. I bought a dresser for $15 that literally was falling apart and had to rebuild it. I ended up giving it to my son and daughter-in-law and when I was doing it, I kept telling myself that it needed to go to the dump! I am glad I finished it as I know you are glad you did this piece. Just want you to know how stunning it turned out!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Terry! This would fit beautifully with your decor! And yes, it feels so good to have saved a piece that might not have been saved otherwise! XOXO
Robin says
Gobsmacked and drooling!
Christy says
Aww ha ha thank you, Robin!! XOXO
Carollynn says
Christy,
I love all of your projects but this one…va-va-va-voom! Such glam and beauty! If I lived near you I would snatch this up. Amazing job well done.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Carollynn! XOXO
Cate says
This Lady is such a beauty!!! I adore how she turned out, what a fabulous transformation job (and repair job!) you did for her!!! And even the insides of her drawers sing!!! I’m so envious of your talents and creativity!!! Fantastic job Christy💕💕💕
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cate! I’m thrilled that I got the opportunity to work on this beauty! And the drawers were the most fun! XOXO
Marie-Interior Frugalista says
Oh my word, Christy, the makeover is absolutely gorgeous! It’s stunning painted black with the wood look French transfer and distressing. But the surprise you added inside is so elegant! I love your furniture makeovers and the extra touch you always add to your pieces but this has become my favorite❣️
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Marie!! I sure miss having you in our FF group! Hope all is well!! XOXO
Kathy Schmitz says
As many others have said, this is my favorite of ALL the projects I’ve seen you do in the 2-3 years I’ve been following you! The black color is stunning with the gold transfers, and the drawers are perfect inside and out! Although I’m always impressed with your repair and rejuvenation skills, I’m amazed at your repair of the harp and the drawer fronts. You ought to use black more often, I think!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Kathy! I do love black as well…always adds elegance and sophistication to just about anything! XOXO
Teresa Westcott says
Christie,
I have been following your channel for several years now and I don’t ever comment, though I love your projects! That being said, you have outdone yourself with this makeover. It’s one thing to re-store a piece of furniture and another thing to take a hot mess and turn it into a piece of art and make it shine. At first I was a little disappointed that you chose to paint the top (I was rooting for stain), but when you said it wasn’t what you had in mind, I waited it out to see what you did “have in mind” and it was so worth it. The repairs, the paint, the hardware and the stencils are just the most beautiful I have seen from anyone. If I had an award for the “Most Badass Makeover” you’d get it.
Christy says
Wow, thank you SO much, Teresa!! I too loved that farmhouse feel of the top, but it wouldn’t have felt right with the beautiful details of this piece. I’m so glad you liked the final outcome! Thank you for taking a moment to comment. I appreciate every single one, and thank you for following along with me!! XOXO
Carly D. says
Wow! Just Wow! You have done such beautiful pieces before but this is just the most beautiful thing ever. Who would have thought of black being this elegant and classy? Just YOU! I am so inspired by your work. You are a true artist to transform this duckling into a beautiful swan. Thank you for the Thursday blogs they really keep me going during this stay at home order. Look forward to it every week.
Thanks so much.
Christy says
Thank you SO much, Carly!! You are so kind! For some reason, I couldn’t see this in any other color, and I’m so thrilled it worked out! Thanks again for the love! XOXO
Cheri Bryant says
This dresser is absolutely stunning!! The Caviar black as a backdrop for the metallic stencil, just beautiful! You have inspired me to get going on some of my own projects. I want to also say that I am so grateful that you outline every step that you do in your projects right down to the sandpaper grit that you use. It is so helpful. Thank you! I look forward to seeing what you tackle next!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cheri! I am so thrilled that you find the details helpful…I know that part is boring for some, but the doers need to know that info lol! XOXO
Lisa says
Love it all❤️ Dresser is perfection😊 Could I be added to the list for the next availability of the product Boss? Thank you so much Christy. You are such a pro👍
Christy says
Thank you so much, Lisa!! And yes, absolutely…I’ve added you to the list! Dixie Belle was having issues with one of their suppliers, but have switched to a new one, and they have assured us it shouldn’t be too long before the clear BOSS is available again! XOXO
Debbie says
Absolutely stunning!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Debbie! XOXO
Heidy says
Sooooooooo, gorgeous! The piece has so much beautiful detail…I love it! So strange to see veneer on the top but that color paint is just stunning and the transfers always look perfect. The drawers are so special. Someone will be getting a masterpiece with this one. This one was so much fun to watch come alive and I never cheat and look ahead even though I can hardly wait to see the finished product. Can’t wait to see what’s next! Have fun and take care!
Heidy
Christy says
Thank you so much, Heidy! I love that you waited to see it unfold bit by bit!! XOXO
Regina says
I was so surprised to see the word bondo in your post. You are too young to remember but in the sixties growing up bondo was used in car repair to repair dents and dings and wrecked cars. This dresser is beautiful!!!! Thanks for the great post!!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Regina! I think it still is used for repairing cars LOL! It is stinky stuff! XOXO
Carrie Simmons says
WOW!!😍 What an absolutely stunning piece and I just love everything you did to it! Every detail added so much character…& that color is gorgeous!❤️ Sooooo beautiful…I’m not sure how you’re going to give that piece up!😊
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Carrie! It will definitely be hard to say goodbye to this one! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
I am catching up on my bloggers and almost missed this! I am so glad I read it and saw the amazing transformation you did to this piece and in just a week!! It would take me a year to finish something this involved and not produce nearly the beauty you have done. I finished a table with a Navy blue top and put some of the navy paint in with the sealer but it left streaks :(, so I sanded and sealed with wax which left smudges…Seeing how lovely this dresser turned out in Caviar, I am going to use just the DB sealer. Your dresser has such a beautiful silky sheen. Cheers to another beauty!
Christy says
I’m so glad you didn’t miss out on this one, Cecilia! Thank you!! Did you do two coats of the sealer? It will often look streaky, but a second application usually fixes that. XOXO
Marie Pearson says
This dresser is a masterpiece, a fine piece of art. Thank you for sharing your creativity and talents with the world.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Marie! I really enjoyed the entire process of bringing this one back to life! XOXO
Mary says
Hi! I love how this turned out! You have several serpentine dressers with mirrors in your collection. I love them all. I have used your pieces as inspiration for the one I am working on now. When I acquired it, the harp and mirror were not attached. Well, all the pieces are finished and it is time to put it all together, Do you have any advice or pictures of the back? I can’t figure out how it was attached. The mirror is very heavy. Thank you in advance.
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I love serpentine dressers! I don’t have a photo of how the harp was attached and this dresser has since sold, but it was held on by a strip of wood that was screwed into the back of the dresser and then the back of the harp. You can also buy metal strips at home depot that have holes in them for screws that you can use to secure the harp to the dresser. XOXO