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Desperate Dresser {Our First Post!}

Before
This dresser was in my bedroom growing up and it was in desperate need of a makeover! As I was redesigning my master bedroom, I knew exactly what I wanted to do! Leave a comment and tell us what you think!
I used Krylon Ivory for the dresser and Oil Rubbed Bronze(ORB) for the handles (LOVE that stuff!)
This makeover cost me only $12 in paint! Makes me love this dresser even more! 🙂

Shop this project with text


Before you go...

July 21, 2010
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73 Comments

  • Reply
    Paula
    July 29, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    I’m gonna be following your blog for sure! I love your two projects! I can’t believe how you breathed new life into your dresser! Absolutely gorgeous!

  • Reply
    Jeff, Catina & the Kids
    July 30, 2010 at 6:33 am

    This is a great transformation!!

  • Reply
    Carol
    July 30, 2010 at 2:47 am

    You are starting out with a bang on this blog! Very impressive!

  • Reply
    Life in Rehab
    July 30, 2010 at 9:18 pm

    So naturally I decided to see what else you’ve done; imagine my surprise when I saw you’ve only got 3 posts! Your blog looks like you’ve been at this forever! I’m your newest follower, and I can’t wait to totally stalk you.

    • Reply
      Betty Whatley
      March 27, 2015 at 7:14 am

      Love your dresser make over. Ya’ll did a great job. Sow pictures of how you accomplished that beautiful piece. Did you spray it and paint the top black? Put me on your email list. Love it.
      Betty Whatley

  • Reply
    Autumn
    July 30, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    Great redo! I’m working on something similar. Fun and congrats on your first post.

  • Reply
    Sherilan
    July 31, 2010 at 1:21 pm

    Hey,
    I just found your blog and you did a great job on the dresser. I am trying to find one that I can paint so you gave me inspiration, thanks. I am your newest follower.

    Sherilan

  • Reply
    Christa @ Modern Vintage Interiors
    July 31, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    This turned out fantastic. What did you do to the top?
    Christa @ modernvintageinteriors.blogspot.

  • Reply
    Kimberlee
    August 4, 2010 at 3:59 am

    Gorgeous!

  • Reply
    Iheartnaptime w/ Chocolate Sundaes
    August 3, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    SOO cute!!

  • Reply
    Ann @ makethebestofthings
    August 5, 2010 at 5:36 am

    Yum! What a classy redo. You have totally kicked that dresser up into designer style territory. And the black and white theme looks gorgeous.

  • Reply
    Amy@My Front Porch
    August 6, 2010 at 1:10 am

    That looks AWESOME! Love the black and white!

  • Reply
    Pam @ diy Design Fanatic
    August 6, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Looks fantastic! I love everything about it!

  • Reply
    la maison LaFortune
    August 18, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    Gorgeous! I absolutely LOVE it!

  • Reply
    ♥ Sonny ♥
    September 6, 2010 at 10:27 am

    It looks beautiful and you’ve inspired me to GO FORTH and paint my secretary..
    well done indeed..

    Sonny

  • Reply
    Debbie (Meadowcrest Cottage)
    September 6, 2010 at 11:27 am

    This is right up my alley! I love the oil rubbed bronze paint. I have painted most all of my door hardware with it. I love the 2-tone dresser redo. Great job!

  • Reply
    Suzanne@thriftstoredecorjunky
    September 7, 2010 at 12:34 am

    I absolutely love it! I am a new blogger, too. Following you now.Stop by sometime…

  • Reply
    Kate@TwentySixToLife
    September 7, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    This looks great! I love the two toned look!

  • Reply
    Ann
    September 9, 2010 at 12:08 am

    Gawd I love the top dark–that makes it. Really great job.

  • Reply
    Classy Clutter
    September 11, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    LindaK!

    We’d love to help and give you some suggestions if you’d like! You are so sweet!! Thank you for your kind comments!

    Contact us at classyclutter4@gmail.com if you’d like any help! We’d love to help you create something beautiful!

    Mallory & Savannah

  • Reply
    Lorie
    September 11, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Another gorgeous piece! I need you to make over some furniture for my house!! ;D

  • Reply
    LindaK
    September 11, 2010 at 6:21 pm

    Omigosh! This is the best ‘before’/’after’ creation ever! Love the style and colors chosen.
    Do you make house calls? How about if we send you pictures of our (shudder) dresser, could you just give some suggestions?
    You have just been added to my Favorites. Great blog site!!

  • Reply
    Jenny @ Embellishing Life
    September 12, 2010 at 2:37 am

    Love it! Love the frame layout on the wall, too! I have an old rocking chair I’d love to paint. I’m worried I’ll ruin it. Before you painted did you sand it down a little?
    http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com/

  • Reply
    Amber
    October 4, 2010 at 3:10 am

    I LOVE this dresser! I love the contrast yet it’s so beautiful!

    Great job!

  • Reply
    Tania
    October 8, 2010 at 10:29 am

    very dramatic with the black – looks great!

  • Reply
    Sarah @ Hennessey House
    October 8, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    holy crap, it turned out awesome. i want it!!

  • Reply
    Rita May
    October 25, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Didn’t think that ugly dresser could look so fabulous! Great job!!
    Cheers!
    Rita

  • Reply
    Rhiannon
    November 2, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    gorgeous!!

  • Reply
    Darbi
    November 3, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    I just happened upon your blog and saw this post. I have that same bedroom set and have been thinking how much I’d love to do something to it. I absolutely love this and will copying it immediately! Much better than spending a few hundred dollars on a new one! I can’t wait.

  • Reply
    tHe DoDd FaMiLy
    November 30, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    okay so i totally copied you!! thank for the idea. check it out here http://brittanyandjl.blogspot.com/2010/11/recent-projects.html

    thank you i love it

  • Reply
    lauren@WESTFURNITUREREVIVAL
    December 13, 2010 at 2:28 am

    LOVE THE DRESSER…GREAT COLOR AND THE TOP IS
    BEAUTIFUL

  • Reply
    Kim @ A Brush of Whimsy
    April 13, 2011 at 7:14 am

    You did a fab job~it looks gorgeous!

  • Reply
    Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
    April 13, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    it looks fabulous! it was outdated before, but now it is very cool and chic!

  • Reply
    Kahli
    October 21, 2011 at 5:35 am

    you did a great job. it looked very dated before but now it’s charming

  • Reply
    Christina
    October 21, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    Spectacular makeover!!! I just love how you updated this piece!

    Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    Take care,
    Christina
    designingbynumbers.blogspot.com

  • Reply
    { Repurposed By Emily }
    October 24, 2011 at 3:00 am

    Beautiful makeover and I love the hardware! I just found you through the Sunday Showcase Party and became a follower!

  • Reply
    Yay! DIY
    October 25, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    This is beautfiul! I love the antiquing, just the right amount. Do you use sandpaper, or a salt rub?
    Erin from YAYDIY.com

  • Reply
    Katie
    October 25, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    this is amazing. i’m dieing to find a new dresser and make it fabulous! Truly inspiring!

  • Reply
    becauseithinkican
    October 27, 2011 at 4:43 am

    What a beautiful dresser! You’ve just inspired me on a piece of furniture my mom offered to pass on to me! Thanks!
    Leanne @ Because (I think) I Can

  • Reply
    debbie
    October 29, 2011 at 5:11 am

    Just found your site. I have always wanted to learn how to do the distressed look. Can you give a step by step instruction on how you did the dresser (from your home) above? Thanks.

    adeb06@aol.com

  • Reply
    samaa @ Honey Sweet Home
    December 6, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    That looks fabulous! How did you manage to get the paint so cheap (or use so little)? I love the new look 🙂

  • Reply
    Sarah Grace
    December 27, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    I love that! I am painting my dresser this weekend with a similar theme… did you prime or sand first or just paint? http://preschoolparadisesgb.blogspot.com/

  • Reply
    Danielle
    December 28, 2011 at 12:29 am

    Great inspiration. Thanks for sharing it.

  • Reply
    Jaime
    January 3, 2012 at 1:44 am

    Wow, beautiful job!

  • Reply
    Amanda
    January 3, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    This is GORGEOUS!!! I love it!!!!

  • Reply
    Modern Frills
    January 5, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    Amazing!

  • Reply
    Jamie
    February 19, 2012 at 2:40 am

    what a difference!!! It’s absolutely gorgeous!

  • Reply
    butoijoh
    April 2, 2012 at 4:37 am

    Thanks for taking this opportunity to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and I take pleasure in learning about this topic. If possible, as you gain information, please add to this blog with new information. I have found it extremely useful.

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  • Reply
    Miranda
    May 12, 2012 at 7:30 am

    It looks fantastic!! I’m about to redo a very similar dresser for my daughter, and have been wondering if I should switch out those same pulls, but they look awesome the way you did them. ♥

  • Reply
    Stacey
    May 31, 2012 at 12:27 am

    That is just gorgeous! Love the black with the white!
    I would love for you to come by my party and link it up – the party just opened!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

  • Reply
    Maury Kilgo
    June 1, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    So pretty! I love the color. I’m pinning this!

    I’m a new follower from Miss Mustard Seed.

  • Reply
    Erin Spain
    June 2, 2012 at 2:56 am

    Gorgeous! I did one similar to this and it is my favorite piece in our home. Great job!

    -Erin @ DIY On the Cheap

  • Reply
    Mrs warrick
    July 11, 2012 at 3:40 am

    You ladies have inspiered me to take in charachtered ( I don’t believ that’s a word) furniture and be creative. The only problem is making my husband belive they will look elegant at the end!!

  • Reply
    Peggy Bolyer
    October 12, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    It looks like a completely different dresser. I love, love, love it. Great job!!!

    Peggy @ southscapedesigns.com

  • Reply
    The Becker Bunch
    January 24, 2013 at 1:11 am

    Can you tell me exactly HOW you did it? Do you have any closer pics to see if it’s smooth? We never can get our spray paint to go on smooth. Any tips?
    Thanks, Nikki:)
    alohaqt4 at yahoo dot com

  • Reply
    Jessica
    April 10, 2013 at 6:49 pm

    Hi- i know I’m late to the game (by like years) but I love this! (came her via pinterest and your spraypaint review). This dresser is awesome, how did you get the rustic/warn down look around the edges? I’d love to do something similar. thanks!!

  • Reply
    Katherine Petrunia
    September 6, 2013 at 10:24 am

    STUNNING! I love that you made the top surface a different colour from the rest of the piece for contrast. What a transformation!

  • Reply
    Trish Jones
    November 30, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    Love the dresser. I was just looking for ideas for an old piece that I have. What type of paint did you use on the top?

    Thanks!!
    Trish

  • Reply
    Brandi Vinson
    March 8, 2014 at 10:57 am

    What did you do the top with?

  • Reply
    Jennifer
    April 2, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    I have my mother in law’s old buffet that looks similar to this dresser and I would love to redo it this very way!!!Can you give a little more specific detail on how you did the dresser? Was it all sprayed and how did it not spray all over? (I guess I am a messy spray painter…)!

    Thank you!

  • Reply
    Darren Seesochan
    July 2, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    what was the brand of the dresser which you renovated?

  • Reply
    Lauren hunt
    April 14, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    What did you use for the top? Is Krylon the brand for the oil rubbed bronze as well?

  • Reply
    Kristie DeMarco
    September 14, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    I just have a few questions. Did you strip the finish off the wood prior to painting the dresser? Also did you use spray paint or a brush? Thanks so much!!!

  • Reply
    Kristie DeMarco
    September 14, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    Just a few questions. Did you remove the finish on the wood prior to painting?? Did you use spray paint or a brush?? Thanks so much

  • Reply
    Vivian Anderson
    December 22, 2015 at 1:18 pm

    Your furniture piece turned out amazing . I am 63 yrs old and this year for Christimas I did 5 pieces of furniture fo my grandchildren. Krylon fusion was my pick. I did one end table black top hot pink bottom and it is beautiful. My granddaughter loves it. We do our Christmas early. Love your work

  • Reply
    obat aborsi ampuh
    February 14, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    The posts that I’ve been waiting for from fro to seek social bookmarking and met in this blog,

  • Reply
    Barb
    February 25, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    Did you sand the dresser before painting and how did you distress it?

  • Reply
    trish gladson
    March 2, 2016 at 9:55 am

    Instructions? It looks a bit distressed. Totally beautiful

  • Reply
    Sandy Kirtley
    April 22, 2016 at 9:51 am

    I am a newbie when it comes to chalk painting and can not get enough. My first project was to paint my sons bedroom suite and everyone was completely shocked when I finished it. I will have to say that I shocked myself. I used Annie Sloan paint in coco and old white for the base colors and I used General Finish black gel stain and the high gloss for the dresser top and night stand. Of course I used the Anne Sloan clear wax and I used the dark wax as well to bring out all the details. I changed out the knobs and I couldn’t be more pleased. I am totally addicted now so my next project will be a very nice bathroom sink that is in my workshop. It looks nice now, I just have some ideas floating around in my mind that will really make it pop. I think that chalk painting has created a monster. Needless to say there is nothing safe in this house now. I have my eyes on some other pieces in my home. I am a happy chalk painting women now!

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