This is a Cinderella story if there ever was one! Last summer I picked up this poor cottage style dresser for a song at my favorite stand that sits along the side of the road. I brought it home, but my husband had a hard time seeing the beauty that I saw. He thought it would be great firewood for an evening campfire! But, I had fallen for it’s cute small size and curvy lines and thought it deserved a second chance.
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Look at the top! Mark thinks it was used as a work table top. There was even a hole drilled completely through. Initially, I thought about converting this cottage style dresser into a kitchen island. Mark removed the top and made a farmhouse table style top for it with an overhang, but it just didn’t look right. Then I thought about converting it into a hutch by adding shelves or adding a shallow plate rack above it . . . but nothing I tried seemed quite right.
Then, I went out into the garage to get something and walked past my little stash of other things I’ve brought home ( much to my husband’s dismay) and saw this curved architectural piece. I brought it in and sat it on top and that was it! I had Mark attach it to the back of the dresser with metal brackets.
The drawers and top of the dresser got sanded, the hole in the top was filled with a piece of wooden dowel, the old hardware was removed (it was not a matching set unfortunately), and the holes filled in with wood filler and sanded. Then, it got a good cleaning with TSP solution. Finally, it was ready for paint.
I used chalk paint, which makes it so much easier because you don’t have to use a primer. I decided to paint the top and drawers gray against the white background of the main dresser. It only took two coats of paint to complete and then was finished off with some clear wax. I found the mercury glass pulls at Home Goods.
I did paint the interior of the drawers and still want to line them with a pretty paper. In the process, I decided to move my water bench to another wall in the kitchen and replaced it with this piece. The finishing touch was a $25 oval mirror from TJ Maxx and some ironstone plates placed around it on the wall.
So, what do you think of this little cottage style dresser? If you saw this dresser in it’s before state, would you have given it any hope? I’d love to hear what you think!
Here are a few more furniture makeovers that you might like:
Wow, Doreen, that additional piece added to it is perfect. What a great save! Thanks for sharing at my place today.
Oh what a beautiful transformation! The architectural piece was the perfect addition. And I love dressers in dining rooms – a little more compact than a buffet and great storage. Your dining room is lovely Doreen!
It looks so beautiful! I love the two toned paint! The knobs are so pretty too! I would have saw the potential, but the hole in the top would have scared me. My husband would be thinking the same as yours! The poor dears lack imagination. 🙂
I popped over from Kim's and I am now following you via email. Love the changes you made to t he piece above. I would love for you to visit and follow back. We are building our new home now and you can take a look around at the progress.
Cynthia
Just lovely! Saw you at Savvy Southern Style today, and now I'm following via email. 🙂
-Revi
This turned out beautiful! You did a great job!
Wow. What a transformation! I don't have the skills you do but I might have grabbed that dresser. And it would still be sitting in the garage :/
Doreen,
This is absolutely gorgeous! I love everything about it! I love how the wallpaper behind it accents the dresser! I love to see dressers have another life in another room! And I LOVE what you did with the plates.
Linda
Stunning! Never would have guessed what she looked like before you painted on a new outfit for her 🙂
Beautiful dresser. Love the color!
I finally found someone that I can relate too..I have found many treasures as I am out and about. I am married to someone who thinks if it doesn't come from a store, it must be junk. I love what you have done!!
love your dresser, beautiful makeover,i would love to feature, let me know if its ok
lauren
Beautiful transformation! The architectural piece is perfect!~~Angela
really,really pretty!!!
I love the gray and white together! Looks great and what a fantastic save!
Beautiful! I just repainted one with a similar shape. I love the mercury glass knobs!
I think I would have seen the potential…especially if it was a piece I was looking for…like a smallish dresser. Paint is a marvelous makeover artist. 🙂 And when you get something for a song…a little extra hard work to make it gorgeous again is worth it.
Kelly
Wow the buffet looks awesome! You did a great job on it!
Great work Doreen !!! Love the color and what a brilliant idea to out the wood on the top/back. Looks like it belongs there all along.
Sheila