When Melody found this white painted dresser on her local Craigslist, she knew that it could be transformed by a little TLC. Despite the peeling paint and damaged top, the dresser had great lines and was solidly built, making it an excellent candidate for a makeover. Best of all, Melody had a spot and a purpose all picked out for this piece once the transformation was complete.
Melody's first step was stripping and sanding the top to see if she would be able to restain it vs. painting. Thankfully the wood grain under the white paint was lovely and virtually undamaged so she was able to preserve it. When the initial stain choice (Red Mahogany) turned out too red, Melody topped it with a second coat of a different color (Jacobean). After a couple of coats of Annie Sloan dark wax, the top was finished.
The base of the dresser was also sanded down to allow for better paint adhesion before getting three coats of DIY chalk paint made from Behr's Happy Camper. The dresser was painted to match Melody's kitchen table because it will be replacing a too large china cabinet in her dining room. Some light distressing and two coats of wax (one clear, one dark) and this piece was finished. The dresser is destined to hold her son's craft supplies once that china cabinet finds a new home.
• See More: My Passion for Decor: White And Neglected Craigslist Dresser Turned Green Beauty
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I actually was hoping to see it back to it's orignal wood but I must say, this is super cute. Love how the green turned out. I would like to see a picture of it again once it's in it's proper place in the home. That always makes a difference on how the piece looks...but again, very nicely done.
Very cool. Nice Job!
Pretty!
Oh it was cute before :(
Oh stop it, it was NOT cute before!
Love the color. Awesome.
It was most definitely not cute before, not in my opinion, anyway. It looked like someeone's tragic interpretation of shabby chic (god I hate shabby chic).
I love it! So whimsical!
The natural top and green body of the dresser are a cool combo!
Wonderful job! The green is very rich looking. Like the hardware too. A+
Queen B Vintage
It's so cute! I love it!
I love the green. It looks so much nicer than a solid green shiny paint. It was worth the extra work and that wood top makes it really perfect! Good work!
Looks great. That particular green works well with the wood color, and the hardware was well chosen.
Not my style, but I appreciate the outcome anyway!
(And I agree, the battered white paint was not "cute". At all.)
Lovely paint job and nice decorations on top too. Personally I prefer the rough white but it desperately needed that new coat of paint and restoration love you gave it.
Love it!
I'm usually one of the ones that pooh-poohs paint on wood, but this was very well done. That green is beautiful and I like how it contrasts with the stained top.
Very well done. I'm just not keen on that particular shade of green. But hey, it's gorgeous compared to the before, which was NOT cute at all.
LOVE!
Aw, I ♡ the before!
I preferred the white color, but the new paint job looks good.
If you have a look at the actual post on my blog you will see the white before dresser is not in great condition. This is not the best before picture. The paint was peeling and the top was a mess. I know everyone has their own opinion and I respect that. There are lots more pictures on the blog. I'm just thrilled to have this piece features on Apartment Therapy! It's a big deal for a blogger like me! :-)
perfect green!
good bones, great makeover... 2 thumbs up!
Great job! I looked at the step-by-step via the link to your site, and you clearly took care with this project. I would have preferred the green to be more solid (as opposed to milky/distressed), but I think you achieved what YOU were going for, and you did excellent work. I love the top, and the reveal of the brass key holes. Having done similar projects, I know how much work it is, so I sincerely congratulate you on your hard work and a wonderful restoration of a nice piece of furniture. :)
Color is purely a matter of taste. In the end this was beautifully done.
I think it is lovely. The dresser before was a mess!
jacobean is my favorite stain besides ebony.
i'd really love to hear a little more detail about how she went about distressing the body, because i really love the outcome!
Stripping paint is a bear. The fresh green works well with the dresser top. Great job!
The after is perfect, and I'd love to spend time in a kitchen designed around it. It looks as if it would be at home in the protagonist's apartment in the movie "Amelie," which is a high compliment.
I clicked on over to the blog to see the top. What a lovely wood that is. I like the treatment.
I like the before....