Monday, June 14, 2010

Dresser transformation: Before and After

Here's a little peek into our master bedroom.


It's not a very large space, and our bed, which I love, takes up more than its fair share.  Storage is at a premium until we are able to do our remodel that we have planned (that's a couple of years off at this point) and I've been looking for a small dresser to help out with our storage needs.  A few weeks ago, while cruising my regular thrifting route, I found a cute little dresser with good lines-- with a massive mirror-- for $50. 
I decided to sleep on it-- and low and behold, when I returned the next day, the set had been marked down--50%!  So for $25 the dresser and mirror were mine. 

The mirror I put aside for another project-- I'm not a fan of matched dresser/mirror sets.  The dresser itself was lovely wood, but the veneer was in pretty bad shape, and so I knew it needed a coat of paint.  After a lot of woodfiller, sanding and priming, I was ready to brush on the first coat of paint.  I always stop at the "mistint" table when I'm at the hardware store, and I had picked up a couple of sample-sizes of paint--one in a very pale grey with green undertones, one in a medium toned grey-- for fifty cents each.
I decided to mix them together, and brushed on a few coats of the lighter mix using a wide brush-- I wanted the brush strokes to be present to provide texture for the next step.  Then, using a wide, dry brush, I went back and added a very light brushing of the darker grey to the entire surface.  Over that I added another barely-there dry-brushing of the original paint color, this time running against the grain.  A thin coat of wipe-on poly, a couple of new castors, and some improvised knotted fabric handles (just until I can get to Anthro without my kids-- these are NOT permanant!) and here it is!
Finished off with a thrifted mirror, lamp and tray, and it's a great little additon to our bedroom.  Here's how the numbers shake out: dresser/mirror $25, meaning the dresser itself was just $12.50.  Paint=$1.00.  Lamp ($8) plus new shade ($15)=$23, tray=$1.99, mirror=$10.00.  Grand total for a new dresser=$48.49-- I'm pleased!  Heck, six knobs from Anthropology will probably cost more than the entire project!

Don't forget the giveaway-- leave me a comment for a chance to win your scrap bag!

9 comments:

Joy said...

Very nice! I had a very similar dresser when I was growing up but I wasn't crazy about the small drawers (and the tall feet seemed like wasted space to me). But it looks really pretty in your room and lightens the heaviness of the bed. Great choice for that space!

Anonymous said...

I think that 'back in the day' that paint technique was called 'antiquing'and your
Grandpa R was very fond of it in the 60s....

gardenmama said...

your banner is so sweet!
what beautiful style you have, i love the chairs!

paula said...

It's beautiful. really, how do you find all these deals.

Anonymous said...

WOW! I remember that perfume!!!! What's it called again? I forgot about that!!!! That takes me back to Jessica (said in the most souther accent ever) and tournaments! How funny!

Oh, and I do love the dresser! ;)

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

I LOVE YOUR BEDROOM!!!!!!! That looks like an IDEAL bedroom in my book. I have been brainstorming ours forever now... yours is the perfect combination of cozy, traditional, calming, and yet a little touch of suave and mod. AND THOSE CHAIRS ARE AWESOME!

And I LOVE those knotted fabric pulls! How clever!

Melissa said...

Thanks everyone. The perfume is Cabotine de gris-- I've been wearing it since high school. Smells very yummy. The chairs are a love of mine, as well. They are slipper chairs that my grandparents brought back from Japan in the 50's-- I don't know much about them, but we think they're pretty nifty. And our bed is from Lane's Gramercy Park collection, bought at the now-defunct Rose Furniture in High Point, although I'm sure you can order it from your local Lane distributor.

Haven and Home said...

Love the dresser/mirror combo!

Lacey (schoolhousefarm) said...

i love the space under this dresser--makes it seem more open. once again, proud to know you!