Welcome back, beautiful friends!! I am SO excited to be starting on my BRAND NEW HAUL! I’m also being joined today by my Furniture Fixer Upper girls, so be on the lookout for three more makeovers from them at the bottom.
Here is my project piece for today:
I spied it sitting outside of one of the Goodwill stores in our area a couple of weeks ago. It was priced at $65, which I thought was a great deal for such a cute piece. But THEN, as I was standing in line to pay for it, the cashier announced that all furniture was half off! How lucky was that??
As cute as it appears, it is not a very well-crafted piece. The drawers are made of thinner wood and no dovetail joints, but it sure has charm!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean and prep
The first thing I did was give this dresser a good cleaning with White Lightning. I mixed one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water, and used one of my terrycloth applicator pads to wipe everything down…
Then, I swapped out my water for fresh water to give everything one more wipe down to remove any residue.
Next, I had a few areas of missing veneer in the drawers:
I wood glued what was loose and then patched those areas with Dixie Mud:
Once those areas were completely dry, I sanded them smooth with 22o grit sandpaper.
Covering the Smell
This dresser came with a smell that reminded me of an old stick up. Do they still make those? It had an overpowering flowery scent to it that just did not smell nice. SO, I enlisted the best thing there is to cover any odor: BOSS!
I applied one coat of Clear Boss to the entire inside cavity of the dresser:
It goes on milky but dries clear on unfinished wood. It will leave a slight haze over darker stains.
BOSS Prime for Potential bleed-through
The next step in this dresser makeover was to apply a coat of White BOSS to the exterior. Because this is an older dresser, I wasn’t sure if it was a potential bleeder or not, but I decided to play it safe and go ahead and BOSS it just in case:
Not only will BOSS block odors, but it is a stain blocker as well and is the best thing for preventing the tannins from bleeding through your paint job. I allowed that to dry overnight.
Paint
Finally, it was time for paint. I chose Fluff for this one:
Fluff has excellent coverage for a white and it generally covers in just two coats.
It isn’t as bright a white as Cotton but more of a vintage white.
Adding a Transfer
I already had a transfer in mind when I found this dresser… this one is called My Heart:
However, when I laid it out, it was a tad taller than I wanted:
I decided to cut the floral part out to make it a better fit:
I started at the bottom burnishing it in place with the included tool…
Cutting the transfer where the gaps were with a razor knife to made it easier to apply.
I had to alter it in a couple of places once I removed the floral part, including moving this part down a bit to center it better:
Seal
Once I had the transfer applied, I sealed with two coats of Clear Coat in Satin using the Applicator Sponge:
I cut the top of the sponge flat across, so I could get right up under the lip at the top!
Gator Hide and Transfers don’t mix!
Now that Gator Hide has made a comeback, a note of warning…Gator Hide has been know to lift transfers. In the case of a dresser like this one, if you are adding a transfer to the front, satin Clear Coat is plenty of protection. If your dresser will get lots of abuse, you can always Gator Hide the top and stick to Clear Coat on the front and sides.
If you are applying a transfer to a table top or something that needs the heavy duty protection of Gator Hide, you can apply a coat of Clear Coat first, and then follow up with Gator Hide.
Gator Hide is back in stock HERE!
The After
Here is how this pretty piece turned out:
I have a couple more colorful dressers in my booth at the moment, so I was in the market for something in white to add to the mix.
I painted the hardware in the Fluff also:
However, I never cleaned the hardware ( I rarely do!) and I got a dingy color coming through. I was running short on time, so in the end I just spray primed them over the top.
I used my fingernail to scratch some of the paint off here and there to distress them, and then gave them a quick seal with Best Dang Wax in Clear.
I kept them white so they wouldn’t fight for attention with the transfer. Glass knobs would have been cute here too, but these pulls were too pretty not to keep!
And you may have noticed that the transfer isn’t quite centered top to bottom, but had I done so, the pulls would have covered the all the corners! So, I decided to move it down a bit.
The Drawers
Of course I had to pretty up the drawers too! And because I had to use Dixie Mud to fill some missing veneer on a couple of them, I decided paint was the answer.
The insides and outsides were painted in Silk Conch:
It looks light here while wet, but it dries as almost an exact match to Tea Rose from the Chalk Paint line.
I love Silk for drawers since they are often unfinished wood, so you don’t need to sand first, and no topcoat is required since Silk has a built-in topcoat!
And what did I do with the floral transfer piece I cut out?
It was perfect to embellish the top drawer!
I hope y’all enjoyed my first makeover of this new bunch!
SHOP NEWS
In shop news, Dixie Belle’s Newest paint line, TERRA CLAY PAINT, is here!
Terra Clay Paint is a clay-based paint that allows you to blend colors with ease, layer, and add texture to any painting project! It really has the furniture artists in mind. I can’t wait to play with it!
It’s available in 18 fabulous colors:
You know that Lani’s Lagoon has my name all over it!
See them all in my shop HERE!
It can be sealed with Terra Seal which has a flat finish or any of the Clear Coats. A new hard wax that is perfect for it has been delayed but is coming soon.
Don’t forget to check out what my friends are sharing today as well!
I’ll be back on Tuesday with this set of lamps I picked up for $5 each:
Have an amazing weekend!!
UPDATE: See how I remedied the shade situation on this pair HERE now!
XOXO,
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Petra says
What a lovely piece, made even better with white paint 🙂 I actually like that you took the pink flower out and then put it inside – that makes it highly original/custom. I also like that the back “feet” of the piece are plain and the front “feet” are rounded 🙂 We’ve moved to Tasmania and all our belongings arrive tomorrow (after a 5 week wait) so I’m going to be busy unpacking plus sorting through all my stash of paints – I’ve forgotten what half of them are – it’ll be like Christmas :D. Have a great weekend Christy.
Christy says
Thank you, Petra! Yes it’s an original lol! Good luck with unpacking! I remember when I found my paints and brushes after we moved…they had been buried in our garage boxes. I was like, ” Hello all my babies!!” Ha ha! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Wow it turned out so pretty. I love the surprise in the top drawer with the rest of the transfer in there! Someone will be so lucky to have this beauty in their home! I love piece number 1 and can’t wait to see what you do with the rest of the haul! So much fun!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I love how that floral part worked so well in the top drawer too as I wasn’t thinking that far ahead when I started! Gotta love when things just work out! Have a lovely weekend! XOXO
Janette says
I love this dresser, it looks stunning, and I always adore the way you take time to make the inside every bit as gorgeous as the out side.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janette! I’m so glad that floral part worked so well in the drawer! XOXO
Sandra says
Beautiful as usual…do you have a craft for fall this year like the pumpkins you did last year?..
Christy says
Thank you, Sandra! I usually join one of my friends who hosts the Seasonal Simplicity tour each season, and I create something new for that, but I haven’t heard from her yet. XOXO
Christina says
What a wonderful makeover! A LOT of work too! I love the hint of pink on the front and the sweet pink on the sides. Beautiful job as always !!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Christina! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy!! It came out so pretty. I have a question about putting the one piece transfers on the front. Do you cut it between the gaps before you start rubbing it on or do you lay it flat ,rub it on and cut it before you take the top off? Does that make sense? I have so much trouble when trying to burnish in one piece ? For example the America flag. I messed up so bad I had to paint over it I am so excited to try the new clay paint. Which color is closest to turquoise? Cerelean blue or Lani’s Lagoon?.
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! Sometimes I will cut it before I apply it, especially when I have molding to contend with. In this case because the front surface of the dresser was completely flat and there were virtually no gaps, I applied the first piece whole, but I cut it with the razor knife in between the drawers before burnishing. The wonderful thing about transfers is that you can cut it in as much many pieces as you need to because you can line up the pattern. I hope that helps! As for the Terra, Lani’s Lagoon is a gorgeous aqua blue!!! It will likely be the first color I use! XOXO
Janice Holt says
I knew we wouldn’t be disappointed with this new haul. Love the dresser and it’s no surprise that you do such sweet things with the drawers. What I admire about your work the most is you never cut corners and it shows. Another great job.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Janice! I was so excited that the floral piece worked so nicely in that top drawer…I hadn’t been thinking that far ahead when I cut it from the pattern lol. Have a lovely weekend! XOXO
Bev .W says
So inspired. Son has moved out and married so I get to redo his room , including a dresser very similar to this!! Yay! Thanks! (Without the pink of course!)
Christy says
Oh yay! That will be so fun! Enjoy! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
This is so feminine and sweet. I love the inside drawer details with the Tea Rose! XOXO
Christy says
Thank you so much, my sweet friend! XOXO
Shelley says
My first reaction when I started your post was “Oh no! She’s not going to paint that beautiful wood is she?” But when you described the poor quality of the wood I understood. I do think this piece turned out beautifully, I like it better than if you had been able to use the floral part of the transfer on the front.
Sometimes floral transfers make a piece more seem more limited, to me as is, I would be happy to put that piece in any room of my home!
Very well done!
Christy says
I’m so glad you like the end result, Shelley! Thank you! As pretty as this piece is, I was so surprised at the craftsmanship. However, that does make it easier to take my brush to it lol! And I agree about the florals. It’s harder sometimes to fit those pieces into your decor. XOXO
Roberta says
That top drawer is my favorite! And love that color!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Roberta! I wasn’t thinking that far ahead when I cut that floral piece from the design. I’m so glad it worked so well on the drawer! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Fran Blunt says
Again, you have hit one out of the park! The transfer layout is perfect and the rose in the drawer is an extra added surprise. I read somewhere that it isn’t good to paint the inside sides of drawers. But you blew that out of the water for me!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Fran! I don’t usually paint the sides of drawers or the insides except for the bottoms, especially if they are in good shape. These ones however weren’t that nice, so I figured painting them fancied them up a bit lol. I’m so glad you like them! Have a lovely weekend, my friend! XOXO
Val says
That is so cute inside and out! I would love to have it in my home. I look forward to seeing your transformations. Someday I might actually try doing it myself. You give such good instructions.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Val! I really appreciate that! Yes, you can totally do this! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Love what you did with this. I think I would pass on $65 because I couldn’t sell it for my standard 3x mark-up; you got lucky with 50% off. Our GW doesn’t do those kind of sales.
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! Our Goodwill rarely has deals like this in furniture since the pandemic. That day however, they had a ton of furniture on the floor and I think they were just trying to move it. That’s probably why this one was sitting outside lol. It was a great deal for sure! Hope you have a great weekend! XOXO
Peggy says
No way! I couldn’t look past that ugly orange varnish! This is an absolutely incredible makeover. Good eye, Christy! Best save, ever! (and half-off!)
😁
Christy says
Aww yay! Thank you so much, Peggy!! Paint saves the day lol! XOXO
Niki says
This is a sweet little dresser Christy. I like how it turned out with the soft pink on the drawers to compliment the flowers in the transfer.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! This is one of my favorite pinks! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Ellen Shook says
This is so pretty! My rusty French enabled me to more or less translate it, and I looked up the rest. So sweet! I really do need some Gator Hide, so I hope I have done all the right things. I did not get the email till you had already sold out. Maybe I will be luckier this time? I love the pink shade on the inside, too.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Ellen! I tried to translate it myself, but I didn’t recognize a few of the words, so I looked it up too lol. Very sweet, indeed! I’m sorry you didn’t get my message in time about the gator hide. I will message you myself via email as soon as I get my next order in just in case. XOXO
Addie says
Ohhh…what a beauty. Perfect for a new baby girl room!!! What I like most about your redos is the fact that you make the insides just as pretty as the outsides. Love the floral used on the inside….the extra touch!!!!….look at me being all nicey nice! xxoo
Christy says
Thank you, Addie! Oh yes… this might even be low enough to put a changing pad on top of! I love it when you’re nicey nice lol! XOXO
Addie says
Don’t hold your breath….it won’t last!!!
Christy says
Ha ha ha…
lynda says
hi, i always love your paint projects…ur the best makeover person ive ever seen….but not a big fan of transfers…i love this dresser in white but maybe a little transfer in drawer like u did….probably just me…love all your work..
Christy says
Thank you so much, Lynda! I’m loving the transfers at the moment mostly because they are so easy to apply and can really dress a piece up, but this would certainly have been cute in a simple white as well! XOXO
Cecilia says
It looks wonderful. Never noticed the transfer not higher up until you pointed it out. It’s good the pulls aren’t hiding any of it. Great makeover!
😊
Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cecilia! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
You are a master at stenciling! Lovely piece!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Rose! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
It had a beautiful shape before but now it’s magnificent! Clever use of the stencil, Christy (BTW, you’re the only one who notices that it’s not exactly centered).
Christy says
Thank you so much, Marcie! I just figured I would point that out because someone out there might notice ha ha! Just wanted them to know it was intentional. Have a lovely weekend, my friend! XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh my gosh it is fabulous!!!! That is amazing, Christy. Just wow!!!!
Christy says
I’m so glad you like it, Michele! Thank you so much, my friend! XOX
Sue Mellette says
Perfectly lovely makeover. I love the white, transfer, and the special treatment of the hardware. However, the crown jewel is the silk-painted drawers and the transfer in the first drawer. As I have mentioned several times before, I love to see what you do to the inside of cabinets, drawers, etc. Each one is a special surprise. Thanks for sharing all the details! Enjoy your weekend!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sue! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one! I think adding a special touch to the insides might just be my favorite! XOXO
Janice says
Beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! XOXO
shan says
That turned out so cute. I absolutely love the surprise in the top drawer. I always put a small butterfly in the back of drawers when I redo them. Just a little 3D butterfly but it always gets a reaction when they see it.
Christy says
Thank you, Shan! Oh I love that little detail! Those small things are what makes pieces really special! XOXO
Lizzy says
This is beautiful! I love everything about it.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Lizzy!! XOXO
Bonnie Hipps says
Hi girl. Another great beauty for sure. Look at her shine.
I have a question to ask. Is it my memory or does it seem like there is more steps how you do it now to how you used to do it? Hugs!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Bonnie! There were a lot of steps because this piece had an odor that needed to be dealt with and it was likely an antique which I was fearful might have tannins that would bleed through so it needed to be primed. Then I was able to get on with it. If a piece is more current and it has no smell, you can get right to painting! XOXO
Mary says
Another beautiful treasure you have created Christy! Thank you for giving new life to yet another “rejected” piece – She is the “belle of the ball” now 🙂
Just curious – Have you ever had difficulty with painted drawers not sliding well and sticking? Thank you for sharing your expertise and process with us!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! I don’t often paint the sides of drawers for that reason, but I do try to make sure they slide well if I’m going to. The top drawer of this one was sticking just a little on one side, so I rubbed where it was sticking with a candle and now it’s sliding nicely. Big Mamas Butta is supposed to be good for that too. XOXO
Kay says
Gorgeous, creative transformation! I’m always inspired by your projects! Thank you!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Kay! XOXO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
This turned out so gorgeous, Christy (of course)! Hope you’re enjoying the rest of your summer! xo
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, my beautiful friend!! I can’t believe it’s August tomorrow already…this is about the time in the summer when we say, “Ok let’s do all the summer things!!” ha ha! XOXO
Susan says
Very nice!
Q: Did the Boss really stop the smell?
I inherited a beautiful, hand painted, armoire from my mom. My sisters had been using some horrible smelling detergent or fabric softener on her clothes and I cdnt get the smell out. I am allerglic to it. I washed it w all kinds of things. I put an entire bag of charcoal inside and left it for months. I rewashed. Didn’t help. So I put two coats of Minwax poly on every surface inside. Still didn’t work. I could not put my clothes in there and had to remove it from my bedroom. Now I have my sewing stuff in it, but unless I leave it wide open with the air purifier aimed at it, as soon as I close it, the smell comes right back!
And if the Boss really and truly got rid of the smell, what would it look like over dark stained wood w/ multi coats of poly already on it? Thanks so much!
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! Boss really and truly got rid of the smell! I’ve used it on the mustiest of musty pieces as well. The trick is that you have to cover every single square inch of the interior cavity…any surface that will not be painted. The boss will dry to a slight haze over darker stains. XOXO
Dalila says
Love the rose transfer inside the drawer! Beautiful.
Christy says
Thank you, Dalila! I’m so glad I could as able to use that leftover piece in such a cute way! XOXO