It's not often that we see a before that looks so much like, well, an after. Natty admits that the dresser was in great shape when she got it, but she was looking for something more modern and personalized. After all, a dark stained wood isn't everyone's cup of tea, and sometimes even beautiful pieces can stand to be a new kind of beautiful.
Natty mixed her own shade of milk paint to the exact "silvery blue" that she knew would go beautifully with the sleek navy knobs she had picked out. She went for a handpainted look with the final product, and there's no doubt the project was nothing short of a labor of love:
You really can't beat pulling out a brush and hand painting. The feel is completely different than sanding and spraying — it's so much more personal. And on top of that, being able to custom mix different milk paint colors to fit exactly what you're going for makes it even more so.
Head on over to her blog for more info. Natty's projects are also viewable in her shop.
Thanks, Natty!
• See more: Natty by Design
• MORE BEFORE & AFTER PROJECTS ON APARTMENT THERAPY
• SUBMIT A BEFORE & AFTER PROJECT
(Images: Natty by Design)
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Four-P...
On Saying No to Paleo: Why Eating Isn't One Size Fits All
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
The after looks like a smaller dresser... ? I must admit, I loved the before so it's hard to warm to the white paint (it doesn't look silvery blue to me in the photo), but I do appreciate that others prefer a different look and commend her hard work to hand paint it!
I am very thankful that paint can be removed.
Im not one of the "never paint wood" crowd by any means,but this is a crying shame.
Unbelievable that someone would paint over wood that beautiful! I think you should have chosen another piece if you knew you were going to redo it, and left this one for someone who could appreciate its beauty. This is outrageous, and looks worse after the makeover.
I am not a 'never paint ' nazi....but this is just wrong,,,my opinion
I actually commend whoever did this. It's quite clear that the "before" didn't fit the owner's aesthetic and they did a beautiful job tailoring it to their own taste. Some of these comments are just downright rude.
My heart is broken!
I'm not opposed to painted furniture but why paint it to make it look old when the original look so much newer/better?
Yup, to each it's own but oh man...I would have love that dresser as it.
Normally I always hope that people don't paint over wood- but this looks way better painted in my eyes. So, well done!
Wow! you did a great job painting it to obtain the end finish :) Looks great.
I actually quite like it. The paint job did give it a much more modern 'shabby chic' look than before. Definitely not a bad choice!
never never never.. it was so beautiful
I'm gonna cry!!!
I have this EXACT same dresser and I'm going to redo it, I'm going to omg.. get ready for it.. PAINT it! LOL Anyways, i love that you've painted it white.