Hello amazing friends and welcome to Furniture Fixer Upper Day!! This is one of my favorite days because not only do I have a furniture makeover for you, but so do my talented friends! Be on the lookout for their furniture flips at the bottom!
Today I’m sharing this gorgeous dressing table that belongs to the lovely lady that blessed me with my Mother’s Day haul:
As we were loading up the items she was giving me, Mary asked how much I would charge her to paint this dressing table. Most of you that know me know that I rarely take on other people’s pieces. I just don’t like the stress that comes with redoing furniture for others. Of course, in this case, I was happy to paint this piece for Mary as a thank you!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
This piece needed some TLC. Before I could get started on this makeover, I needed to address the top:
Mary just wanted a simple paint job and I probably could have painted right over this, but you would be able to see all those imperfections in the final finish.
So, I sanded the top first with using my orbital sander and 120 grit sandpaper, followed by 220 grit sandpaper.
I knew this table might bleed through, so I went ahead and gave it and the mirror frame a coat of Dixie Belle’s BOSS in white:
I actually kind of like the white washed look of the top after applying the BOSS, but it didn’t really go with the style of this table.
You can see in the back there that I removed the mirrors to paint the frame. I almost always do this so that I can paint the back side of the frame. That way the mirror will reflect white and not ugly brown.
Here is what was holding the mirror in place:
I removed those wood pieces with a flathead screwdriver and saved them so I could secure the mirror back in place with them when I was done.
And can you see the layer of dust along the bottom edge? That was reflecting in the mirror and I knew I needed to clean that out.
I knew this set was old, but it is actually over one hundred years old! By the stamp on the mirror, it looks like it was made in 1917!
Very cool!
I could see pink peeking through the BOSS, so I ended up giving everything one more coat and let it sit overnight. Giving it plenty of dry time yields the best results.
I followed up with two coats of Dixie Belle’s Cotton and you can see that I taped off just inside the drawer area so I would have a nice crisp line, using FrogTape:
I hadn’t yet made it to the top with paint yet, but it did look pretty cool as-is, didn’t it?
I sealed everything with Dixie Belle’s Clear Coat in satin, using their blue sponge applicator. I gave the top two coats.
Another reason I was happy to take this project on is that Mary wanted my favorite finish…a simple white makeover!!
It highlights all those beautiful details so well!
I just love how this gorgeous piece turned out!
I grabbed one of our dining room chairs to pair with it here, and it works pretty well…
One of the original drawer pulls was bent, so I opted for these simple glass pulls instead:
The drawers also had a bit of wear on the insides:
So I knew I was going to line them, and I chose a dark fabric so I would not have to BOSS and paint them first.
I brushed matte Mod Podge on like a glue with a cheap chip brush:
Much better!
This table has been through a lot. It is actually missing the front of one of its legs on the right side…
Part of the ball claw foot is missing:
On the right side, it is also missing the pretty detail on the inside corner that you see here:
You might never know if wasn’t pointed out though, and I love that it has a story to tell!
The center area might be my favorite:
I feel so fortunate to have been able to redo this special piece for Mary!
Don’t go anywhere just yet…my friends have makeovers of their own to share!
I’m sad to announce that Kandice is no longer with the group. She is taking a furniture painting break!
If you want to see more of my Furniture Fixer Upper makeovers, you can see them all HERE.
I really enjoyed working on this gorgeous piece, flaws and all!
I’ll be back on Tuesday sharing the rest of what I got in my Mother’s Day Haul!
See ya then!
UPDATE: No need to come back! See all the goodies in my Mother’s Day Haul HERE now!
Have a fantastic weekend!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Petra says
So much better in white! The flaws only add to the character of the piece – fancy it being 103 years old 😮 They certainly don’t make them like they used to!!!
Christy says
Absolutely…it just sings in white! I agree that the flaws add so much character. I doubt the furniture we are buying today will still be around in 100 years! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
It is so beautiful now! Wow, I am sure Mary will love it! You are such a kind soul! I am sure she appreciates what you have done with that beautiful piece of furniture for her. Looking forward to seeing you work your way through your new stash!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! She responded in the comments and is so pleased with it…that makes me so happy! have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
Christina says
Christy, Mary has to be completely thrilled with this makeover. It looks gorgeous and the white makes all those wonderful details shine!!
Wow, nice haul in the trailer!!
Christy says
Oh she is and I am so happy! I can’t wait to share what else I picked up that day! XOXO
Janice Holt says
How pretty this turned out. It looks like a totally different piece of furniture. Your friend knew who to ask to paint it for her because who else does a better job. I’m sure she will enjoy it.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Janice! It really does look so different. I really enjoyed seeing this one come back to life! XOXO
Maryellen Webber says
Great job with giving this dressing table a new look!
Christy says
Thank you, Maryellen! XOXO
Mary King says
I am in tears of JOY this morning!! The table looks lovely as I knew it would!! Thank you so much for my dream come true! In 1917 my Grandmother lived with her parents in a very large grand home in downtown Portsmouth. I am sure that is where she first had this dressing table. As her namesake that never got to meet her I will feel close to her every time I use this beautiful piece!! Thank you so much for fulfilling a long dream of mine. I look forward to the life you breath into the other items!!
Christy says
Oh yay! I am so happy to be able to do this for you and that you have a treasured family piece that you can enjoy for years to come! It is a truly gorgeous piece! I’ll be in touch soon! XOXO
Toby Peplow says
Beautiful Christy!
Christy says
Thank you, Toby! XOXO
Andrea says
Wow Christy, Mary is going to be so pleased with her furniture’s new look. Beautiful!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Andrea! She responded in the comments and she loves it! It belonged to her Grandmother who she is named for! XOXO
K says
I know this question doesn’t involve paint but I couldn’t help admiring the lovely rug under the vanity. Can you tell me the manufacturer name and pattern, maybe also where you got it? Thanks and I love exploring your site.
Christy says
Hi K! You can find that rug here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2B0ls4F The photo is terrible, but if you search that rug, you can see it elsewhere in other sizes. Thank you! XOXO
Micah says
This one’s beautiful! Can’t wait to see your new haul!
Christy says
Thank you, Micah! XOXO
sharon austin says
That turned out amazing! Now please tell me: if you were doing the same piece but not painting the top, what step(s) would you have taken for the top? Same? Or would you use stripper? What would you have used on the top? Staining cloths? Liquid stain?? Voodoo gel? I have an antique dresser I want to redo and I do not want to paint the top, and the top has about the same damaged look as this vanity, so I’m curious how you would handle it. Please and thank you!!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sharon! I would prep the top the very same way by sanding first with 120 grit and then 220 grit. You can also use Citristrip to remove the existing finish. I am impatient, so I usually sand. If you want a traditional stained finish, I would use the No pain gel stain. applied with a clean cloth and then seal with clear coat in satin after that has fully cured…about 72 hours. If you want a more non-traditional stain color for the top, check out the VooDoo stains. Good luck! XOXO
sharon austin says
Thanks so much! I feel better having a confirmed process in my head before starting. I’m impatient as well, so sanding it will probably be!
Christy says
You’re welcome! XOXO
Sue Cox says
You did that lovely little dressing table proud–it’s like seeing a beautiful old friend in a new and flattering gown. Very glad that Mary was so happy with the results of your hard work.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sue!! I am so thrilled that she liked it too! XOXO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
Love its new look!
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! A 100 years old!! Wow. It looks so pretty now and I see above that Mary loves it too. It has new life.
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! I’m so happy she is pleased with it! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
This turned out so beautifully, Christy! I love a plain makeover for this kind of table. I wouldn’t have noticed the flaws if you hadn’t pointed them out, and I bet most people wouldn’t. Now it’s fresh and bright and ready to face another hundred years. Funny thing about the chair – I noticed a chair in your primer picture and when I saw the finished table, I thought wow that chair looks great! Then I saw it was your dining room chair 😂 It really does look good with the table. Looking forward to seeing the other treasures you brought home.
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! The chair I was priming in the photos is one Mary had in her kitchen that she was getting rid of also. Although it doesn’t quite match the beauty of the table, I offered to paint it so she would at least have a chair for it that didn’t cost anything! XOXO
Julie Ritter says
This turned out lovely. Great color and love the sanding of various areas.
I have a question about the material in the drawer.
Do you ever have issues with fraying on the edges of the material?
Thanks : )
Christy says
Thank you, Julie! To cut the fabric for the drawers, I use a rotary cutter, straight edge, and cutting mat set. It almost alleviates the fraying issue completely! XOXO
Janina says
So beautiful… you do great work
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janina! XOXO
Addie says
New life and new beauty!!! What a lovely piece. I don’t mind the missing trims…..this piece has been around for a while and has a story to tell. If it was perfect it would look like a retro.
Question ???: I just got a great mirror for my bathroom. it would be impossible to take the mirror out. There are 75 nails!!! They are deep in and they break off. Also, it is so old if I took them out they may never go back. mmmm…….
I don’t like seeing the ugly brown reflect…what can I do? There really is no way to get that mirror out of there…I’ve tried. Is this a crazy idea…..I was thinking of shoving newspaper down and taping it in there. Then spray paint down in there…even though I am going to use chalk paint in the end. Any ideas???? I really don’t want to live with it wood brown.
Please HELP!!! the helpless!!!!
I hope you are not upset I am asking this on the blog but maybe someone else can benefit from your answer!!!…..XXOO
Christy says
Thank you, Addie!! Girl… I am never upset when ya’ll ask questions! Ask away! I don’t know what else you could do. You may find that the reflection doesn’t bother you once you get the frame painted? I would just tape off the mirror, paint it, and see. I’m sure most people don’t remove the mirrors, I’m just crazy like that! XOXO
Addie says
REPRO……..not retro!!!! Dang spell check…..I should proof read BEFORE I send!!!
Denise Zdziennicki says
Lucky Mary! You did a gorgeous job as always! All the detail in the middle is my favourite part too. They just don’t build them like they did back in 1917 do they? 😊💕
Christy says
Thank you, my dear! This is such a beauty…I don’t want to give it up lol!! And no…I am pretty certain none of today’s furniture will still be standing 100 years from now! XOXO
SandyB says
Beautiful as always!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sandy! XOXO
Lizzy says
I absolutely love it! Beautiful work.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Lizzy! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
Another win! I love the white and the glass knobs. I also love the fact that it is an antique and brought the beauty out! Additionally, a nice touch for the drawer with the fabric. I love how you pay attention to detail. Your friend Mary is so fortunate to have you as a friend. BTW you make your makeovers look so easy and fun! Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! The paint really brought out all those lovely details. I really enjoyed this one and I’m glad you enjoyed it! XOXO
Debbie in TX says
It’s nice when you can do something like this for someone that touches them so much. A bit of elbow grease and it’s good as new! Looking forward to the makeovers in your new stash!!
Christy says
Yes, it sure is! I really enjoyed doing this for her! XOXO
Nancy Wagner says
Beautiful sentiment and finish. Love how the white makes all the detail stand out. Maybe I missed it, but it looks like you did some finish sanding to make it slightly chippy. Can you let me know your technique (I’m new here), as well as sanding tool information? Many thanks … and looking forward to more eye candy.
Christy says
Thank you, Nancy! I sanded all over with 220 grit sandpaper that I wrapped around an old foam sanding sponge to help those beautiful details stand out more. You can see my tutorial for chalk painting furniture, which includes a video at the end that shows both how I paint and how I sand, that you may find very helpful here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/how-to-paint-furniture-using-chalk-paint/ And welcome…I’m so glad you’re here! XOXO
Dee Bell says
Boy is Mary lucky! Day and night difference. So lovely. Thank you.
Christy says
Thank you, Dee! Amazing what paint can do!! XOXO
Rosie says
I love love how it turned out!! It is exactly what I would have done. Fantastic job, it’s so feminine and pretty now. Your friend must be over the moon happy how it turned out😊
Christy says
Thank you, Rosie! I too love how feminine it is now! Mary loved it! XOXO
Becky says
THAT is GORGEOUS!!! I love it!
Christy says
Thank you, Becky!! If I could keep this, I totally would!! XOXO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
Such a gorgeous piece, Christy! How wonderful that you were able to give it a new life again! xo
Christy says
Thank you, Jen! I really enjoyed bringing this one back to life! XOXO
Madaline says
WOW! Over a 100 years old and in great condition! The white paint really brought this piece back to life. Can’t wait to try the fabric drawer lining as well!!
Christy says
Absolutely! White paint for the win for sure! You can see a video on how I line drawers with fabric here if you like: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/6-thrift-store-end-table-a-video-on-how-to-line-a-drawer-with-fabric/ XOXO
Marie-Interior Frugalista says
Beautiful! I bet Mary was thrilled with how gorgeous her antique dressing table turned out. Wow, that’s quite the sweet haul you got there!
Christy says
Thank you, my dear friend! We miss you!! I’m so glad she like it too!! XOXO
Karolyn Love says
She is sooo pretty and feminine!! So very nice!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Karolyn! She is lovely indeed…wish I could have kept her for myself! XOXO
Jean says
As always fabulous! I have a question about how to distress showing black when black isn’t the undercoat. Seems I recall you showing how this is done but I can’t seem to find the instructions.
Thank you for all the helpful videos!!!
Jean
Christy says
Thank you so much, Jean! To get black to show through, you can either paint a coat of black or dark brown first, then paint, or you can cheat using a distressing block like I did here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/shabby-mirror-makeover-how-to-cheat-a-distressed-look/ Hope this helps, and I’m so glad you enjoy the videos! XOXO