When Holly's sister drove by this piece at a garage sale, it caught her eye despite the battered finish and missing drawer. $15 (and another trip to the garage sale) later, Holly had a project, a piece she knew could bring back to life even though she wasn't yet certain where in her new house it would go.
A few coats of paint later, and this dresser was no longer a sad garage sale piece but Holly still wasn't sure how to use it. Then inspiration struck and the repurposed dresser became a unique TV stand. The shape and scale make this media stand a focal piece in Holly's living room, and the curved legs and open space underneath lend a lovely old-world touch to a piece designed to hold modern conveniences.
For more pictures of this makeover, check out Holly's post — Life in the Fun Lane: Putting Our Life Back Together.
Images: Holly at Life in the Fun Lane.
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Great job! Pretty, and hides the wires.
Very creative solution to the missing drawer
Sweet.
Cute, but I hope everyone in that house enjoys neck strain. It's way too tall to hold a tv, especially one that size. Unless you watch standing up.
Looks great! I don't think it's too tall at all, it's perfect. Beautiful, really. Great job!
Wow! I really could not imagine how that old dresser could possibly be salvaged. Good for Holly for seeing the potential and creating a unique, functional and attractive piece of furniture out of a sad old eyesore.
I think it looks like a perfect height for a TV stand, but if it's too high she could always cut the legs down. Some people just can't be satisfied!
I'm not a huge fan of the shabby chic/ distressed look but I am a huge fan of repurposing that missing drawer and making it look like it's missing on purpose.
I'm also not sure how having a tv a foot or two taller than it would be on an entertainment center would cause neck strain since you're watching it from the other side of the room. I think it's great. Entertainment centers are generally pretty ugly and this isn't.
I keep my tv at home on an old repainted dresser as well and my neck's just fine.
How on earth can you tell that the TV is too high? Do you somehow have measurements? Do you know where the couch is located relative to the TV?
MAN! I have been looking for exactly that dresser for exactly that use. I live in Peru now and they have no garage sales/flea markets for finds like that. I am dripping with jealousy. Great work.
That turned out great! I love it.
It doesn't look like its a huge dresser, I'd guess its lower then my TV is and I don't have any neck strain.
I also don't think it's too tall for holding the tv. But, hey if it is too tall to be a tv stand, use it for something else. you did a great job giving this thing life again!
Great use of recycling a perfectly good piece of furniture! As for the height of the tv... what about all the tv's you see mounted over fireplaces? That location is much higher than this solution. I love the mix of old and new.
Great idea! Save for the faux distressing.
That's really clever and it seems the perfect height to use as an entertainment center. The finish wouldn't be my choice, but it looks beautifully at home with the room it is in.
That is really great! I love that the electronics fit perfectly in the missing drawer space. It was meant to be!
eh.... It's OK, but I expected better if it's going to be featured on AT. We've seen some spectacular makeovers. This you can find at any resale shop... Slap some white paint on it and distress it. It's been done. And done...
and done...
I think it's great! Also, we had a tv mounted 4 feet off the floor in our old house and never once had a complaint about neck strain! I think it's perfectly fine! I always get nervous with short TV stands, especially if there are kids present.
Strawpoll: has anyone here ever had ACTUAL neck strain from watching a TV that was a little higher than normal?
Or is it something that you just thought might happen?
My TV has been on an old sideboard for years, and I don't get neck cramp even after movie marathons. Butt cramp, sure, but not neck cramp.
I would have liked to see this in a glossy black - it would accentuate those voluptuous curves beautifully - but the shabby chic white is a definite improvement over the original. The knew knobs are very nice too.
I like shabby chic, so this appeals to me a LOT! It also looks like the perfect height! I hate it when a tv is so low I cant lay back to watch it :(
I might suggest taking a chisel to the drawer guides though...
I won't watch movies at a friend of mines house who HAD to mount their 50 inch over their tall fireplace, because it gives me neck cramps and eventual migraines. On the flip side this tv doesn't look close to that high. It looks to be about as high as my desk, which is a tad higher than recommended but nothing crazy.
lovely. It takes an artist to get distressed finishes right!
Were the castors original or added? I've noticed that table leg castors are a bit trendy now. I couldn't imagine having a tv stand that wasn't on wheels, though.
As far as it being too high.... it all depends on the furniture in the room and how far away the tv is. Impossible to judge just from a photo of the tv stand. I imagine its probably fine.
love how you made lemonade with a lemon.
How pretty. Thanks for the inspiration, it's tag sale season here and I'm all for salvaging products. You did a really nice job making it look beautiful.
The dresser is beautiful! Good on you for seeing the beauty despite the missing drawer and worn finish. I, personally, don't care for shabby chic and would have loved to see it painted a solid bright colour (or that glossy black someone else suggested), but nonetheless...you did great!
Beautiful! It has such nice lines (love the legs) - great re-use!
Well done, I love it! Great use for the piece as well; very clever all around.
IT IS JUST A PAINT JOB. (?)
But I applaud you for keeping it from going to the land fill.