Hello beautiful friends! Are y’all ready for a furniture makeover today? How about six? It’s Furniture Fixer Upper day so that means that not only am I sharing a furniture makeover, five of my friends are too! Be sure to look for links to their makeovers at the bottom!
I am sharing this pretty serpentine dresser today:
This belonged to my old neighbor (from our old house, not that she’s old). She put her house on the market a few months after we did, and was selling many of the furniture pieces she had in her home, including this dresser. I love this style of dresser and had to bring it home with me. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
When I was deciding how I wanted to redo this piece, I knew keeping that beautiful wood grain would be fantastic, however this piece was not without its issues. It looked as though it may have been stored in a storage unit or somewhere that was not temperature controlled because several areas across the top had split:
The one towards the bottom of the photo ran the whole length of the top just about. I wasn’t sure that sanding would be enough to fix those areas because the split areas were pretty deep.
I started by filling the split areas in with wood filler, but then this happened:
At this point I already knew this dresser would be painted and the more I looked, the more areas that needed to be leveled before painting could begin. So I filled in as many areas as I could with the wood filler. Again, I don’t think sanding would have remedied the deep split areas, so I gave this a go.
This was the perfect candidate for a simple shabby look, and you know that makes my heart happy.
After a good sanding, and two coats of my DIY chalk paint (recipe HERE) in Behr’s Bit of Sugar, you can hardly notice there was ever an issue with the top:
You can see it isn’t perfectly smooth, but much better than it would have been!
The drawers also had several areas where the veneer had started to split, but those imperfections are what helped to add character to this lovely piece now:
I absolutely love how paint can highlight these beautiful carved details on the mirror support in a way that plain wood just cannot…
I removed the mirror to paint the frame and then sealed all three pieces with Annie Sloan’s clear soft wax.
I switched out the original pulls on the top two drawers for these pretty glass ones:
I spray painted the original pulls on the bottom drawer…
This would be so pretty in a little girl’s bedroom or perfect for a welcoming guest bedroom…
Here is a peek at what the insides of the drawers looked like before:
They got this pretty fabric I picked up for cheap when the JoAnns by me was getting ready to move locations:
To make lining these curvy drawers easier, I made a pattern with brown kraft paper first. I added the fabric using Matte Mod Podge.
I love how this pretty dresser turned out.
And of course, my sidekick was hanging around again…
He insisted I take his picture while he was on his “cell phone”.
In other news, I recently sold a few pieces from my shop including this desk and this chair and also one of my favorite makeovers, this hutch.
And guess what else?? Would you believe I sold the little whale table and chair set I just redid?
(See more of it HERE.) After sitting in my shop for well over a year in all its pink glory, it only lasted four days with its new look! Probably helped that the chair isn’t broken anymore either!
Since I have some space to fill now, I enjoyed working on a larger piece again!
This will be heading over soon!
Don’t forget to visit my friends below to see how they transformed their pieces as well!
Visit all of my Furniture Fixer Upper makeovers in one place HERE.
If you enjoyed this makeover, you’ll like this one too:
See how this was transformed HERE!
I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend! I’ll see y’all Tuesday with this $4 thrift store lamp:
UPDATE: See how I tamed this lamp HERE now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Bonnie Hipps says
Love the way it brings out the details of the dresser. I am glad you went with your custom white instead of some God awful color lol. Your baby is sure growing up. I didn’t realize how long I had been following you till I saw him and how he has grown. Have a great weekend my friend. Hugs!
Christy says
Thank you, Bonnie! I know isn’t the time flying?? He is growing too fast! Hope you enjoy your weekend as well!! XOXO
Laura says
Is there anyway I could purchase this beauty? I’m not too far from VA. 🙂
Christy says
Hi Laura! I was actually thinking about keeping it. It would be $349 if I were to sell it, and I can let you know if I do decide to let it go if you like.
Michele Branham says
Absolutely beautiful!!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Michele! XOXO
Michelle says
You are amazing! Love how this turned out. And the way it is decorated finishes it off perfectly.
Thx for sharing your time and talents.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Michelle! XOXO
Michelle says
P.S Are those roses real? If not, do you have a source for them? Gorgeous.
Christy says
Nope…shhh our little secret ha ha! I found them in the Spring at Michaels last year. 🙂
Christina in SW FL says
Congratulations Christy!! Wow, you saved this piece completely. It is, once again, a beauty. I adore the white finish with slight, character creating, distressing. 🙂
Your helper is adorable. 🙂
So glad to hear so many pieces have sold from your shop. No surprise because they all look wonderful.
I know you are going to be busy creating new pieces to fill up your shop.
Have a great rest of your week and weekend.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Christina! I’m so glad you like this one! Enjoy your weekend too! XOXO
JamieK says
Oh goodness ❤️❤️ I’d have to keep this one! Absolutely Beautiful! That detail and those drawers! ???? Love the shape! They don’t make em like that anymore!
Christy says
I know…I have been looking around to see where I could use it here and there is just no space boo hoo! Thanks, Jamie! XOXO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
I love the serpentine style – so beautiful! You gave this just the right touch, Christy. 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Larissa! XOXO
Debra Wise says
Just beautiful! Another great makeover.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Debra! XOXO
Barbara Holmes says
The dresser came out beautiful. I love the shape & the mirror is so pretty. I also joined your Make It New FB group. I love getting ideas.
Christy says
Thank you, Barbara! And thanks for joining our FB group! XOXO
Lisa A. says
Unsubscribing – nothing to look forward to – everything is always white and looks the same.
Christy says
I appreciate your input, Lisa, but it is about more than just a paint color. I share to show how to deal with different obstacles, how to turn something that might otherwise be tossed in the trash into something functional and beautiful again, but more importantly I share in the hopes of inspiring others to tackle something they never thought they could…no matter the color.
katie russell says
I almost never makeover furniture but yours is one of the few blogs that I read ever single word of. I don’t know why, bit its almost therapeutic I don’t care what color you use, i just love all of it. I really look forward to your app updates too. Your productivity is just so inspiring. I for you don’t let little bits of negativity get you down
Christy says
I SO appreciate your kind words, Katie! Truly, I do…thank you!! XOXO
Amy says
Loved watching your thrift-shopping video! I am jealous because yours had so much great furniture!
Christy says
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Amy! We do have some great thrift stores around here! 🙂
sharon says
I love it! The glass knobs were genius. It’s so romantic, I look at it and think “honeymoon suite”. *sigh
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! It is so romantic…one of my favorite looks! XOXO
Kathy Owen says
There is nothing prettier than white paint distressed. Yep, sometimes you just have to work with those flaws. Beautiful
Christy says
100% agree, my friend! Thanks, Kathy! XOXO
Mandy Smith says
That lovely old dresser should never have been painted, the slight damage on the top is known as character. Now it is gone along with the beautiful oak. So sad. Very surprised you did not recognize what a treasure you had from the beginning. Every piece of furniture is not supposed to be painted.
Christy says
I appreciate your thoughts, Mandy. The original was beautiful as well, but I personally prefer this style painted. XO
Mary S says
Very PRETTY!!! Love the pulls you used.
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! XOXO
Lani says
Ok, I love 99.9% of the makeovers you do, however in this case I have to say “ouch”. That antique serpentine dresser had beautiful tiger oak on the drawer fronts. Too bad that couldn’t have been preserved 🙁
Christy says
I truly appreciate your honesty, Lani! And I appreciate how nice you were about it too, thank you! This dresser was lovely at one time, and honestly after looking at it in my stash for the last few months, I was just tired of looking at it lol. I do try to preserve what I can when it comes to pretty wood, but I was wanting a softer look for this pretty piece. XOXO
Marie says
It’s beautiful, Christy! I think filling the cracks was a blessing in disguise. This one won’t last long in your booth, especially with that gorgeous mirror. Congrats on the furniture sales 🙂
Christy says
Thanks, Marie! I think so…I knew I might get some heat for painting this (and I did lol), but there’s no question it will sell better painted! XOXO
Lizzy Leff says
I love it!
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! XOXO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
You always do such amazing work on a piece!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rose! I appreciate that! XOXO
Denise says
Simply stunning Christy! Pinned. 🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, Denise! XOXO
kandice kullmann says
WOW this came out so pretty and romantic! Love it!
Christy says
Thank you, Kandice! XOXO
MaryJean says
The dresser came out lovely! I didn’t realize the mirror was part of it until I saw it finished! Duh! I have the same fabric in the drawers. I love it!
Gutting out my TV cabinet turned kitchen island. Yuck! I have to figure out how to put shelves in there and I just saw that the bottom has vent holes so don’t know what I’m going to do about that. Always something.
Christy says
Thank you, Mary Jean! I love this fabric as well! Good luck with your cabinet! XOXO
Julie Briones says
Beautiful transformation, Christy! Love the white with the brown wood peeking out here-and-there! And, SO happy you sold some large items recently… we knew that table and chairs would sell fast since you fixed the chair! Yay!!!
Christy says
Thanks, Julie! I sure wish I had a place for this sweet piece but alas I do not! And yay… yes so glad the little table and chairs sold! Hope you are enjoying your weekend! XOXO
Mary says
Christy you have turned it into a winner. Now it shines in its shabby chicness!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary!! You know I love a good shabby chic makeover! XOXO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
Christy, this is truly stunning! So romantic and feminine. It looks so much better in white – you couldn’t hardly see the lovely details before. xo
Christy says
Thanks, Jen! I agree…painting really highlights all those pretty curves! Have a fun 4th! XOXO
mariette losier says
adoré tout aimerait avoir vidéo pour débuter des ancienne porte de garde de robe svp
Christy says
Thank you! I’m not sure I understand what you would like a video for though? My French is lousy and google did not translate your words very well. 🙂
Dianne says
I love this dresser makeover! I am so glad that we are no longer afraid to paint wood.
Christy says
Thank you, Dianne!! Right?! ????
Wendy says
Hey Christy, Hope you and your family had a Wonderful Christmas and New Year. I just wanted to tell you that I was in shock when I found this makeover. My hubby’s Mother had this dresser on the farm and we ended up with it. I found the drawers always hard to open and close just due to it rubbing on the wood as the dresser had not runners per say. Not sure the exact age but at least 70 years old. The mirror part on mine, one of the brackets broke and Like an idiot I threw it out. DuH!! But kept the mirror and just leaned it against the wall.
We gave this dresser to my Hubby’s daughter and she loves it.
On another note: I am looking to possibly purchase either the Silouette Cameo or perhaps the Cricket air 2. Have you tried the Cricket? I heard it is stronger than the Cameo.
Wendy
Christy says
Thank you, Wendy! We sure did! I love these old curvy beauties…they sure don’t make them like this anymore! As for the cutting machines, my first one was a Cricket back when they used cartridges, but I haven’t used any of the newer models. I do love my Cameo though and it cuts just as perfectly as it did the day I bought it. Good luck with your decision! I’m sure either will work out great for you! XOXO