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Before & After: An IKEA Dresser Goes from Elementary to Elegant

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Carolyn PurnellHistorian and Writer
Carolyn PurnellHistorian and Writer
Carolyn is a lover of all things colorful and quirky. She grew up in Texas and settled in L.A. by way of Chicago, England and Paris. She is the author of The Sensational Past: How the Enlightenment Changed the Way We Use Our Senses.
updated May 4, 2019
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(Image credit: IKEA)

Believe it or not, this dresser is not vintage. Nor is it a high-end retail piece. Thanks to the ingenuity of Sarah Sherman Samuel over at Smitten Studio, a basic, no-frills IKEA staple was transformed into a sleek, beautiful, and functional feature.

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(Image credit: Smitten Studio)

Hard to believe this dresser is not vintage or a high-end retail piece, right?

The IKEA Tarva is as basic as it gets. But with it’s solid wood construction, its healthy storage size, and its $149 price tag, it packs a lot of value into its simple aesthetic punch.

For some interiors, the Tarva would be great as is, but Sarah wanted something a little more elegant. Obviously, the color changed, as did the hardware, but the most dramatic change was one that I would never have thought of (and one that, in all my years of seeing IKEA hacks, I have never seen).

Quite simply, she cut the legs on an angle. With one small change, the blocky, modern IKEA style dramatically gave way to a more sophisticated, vintage vibe, which was only heightened by Sarah’s other aesthetic choices. Fast, easy, and sheer genius!

For more pictures and to learn more about the method and materials behind this makeover, visit Smitten Studio.

Re-edited from a post originally published 3.23.15-NT

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Decor & Accessories
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