The Perfect Color for a Craig’s List Dresser
I am in love with those adorable french provincial dressers. The flourishy handles are what really get my heart pounding.When I saw this dresser on Craig’s List for $35 dollars, I pounced!
Oooo baby, don’t you just love that faux gold outlined accents and off white laminate top. Yes, I said laminate. But I wasn’t afraid of it. For $35 who cares if it gets messed up. If you never take the risk, you’ll never learn anything new, right?!
The drawers were still in good shape, but a little loose around the joints, so I squirted my new favorite Gorilla Glue into the joints and clamped lassoed them up!
Then I used newspaper to protect any of the areas I didn’t want sprayed.
After sanding all the surfaces to rough them up, I put a coat of primer on everything. Loving that crisp clean white, but the dresser told me to “Keep Calm and Carry On.” So, I cooperated and continued on to another color.
Next, I sprayed Rustoleum Heirloom White and distressed the surface with a wood stain.
The drawer pulls got their own treatment of automotive primer followed by Oil Rubbed Bronze paint. Thank goodness they were happy with their new color because – I’m telling you – that dresser was certainly acting like a diva! She was still demanding a new color.
I have seen many Nantucket Fog makeovers and decided to make a run to Ace Hardware to pick up a small sample of that blue gray color. And I grabbed a can of artistic glaze.
After two coats of the Nantucket Fog glaze, that little dresser still wanted something else. Sheesh! So I pulled out some leftover blue paint from my dormer window shutters.
Finally, she shut up! It’s a good thing too, because I LOVE this color. I love it so much that I hauled my tired hiney back over to Ace to match the color just for you.
The closest match is Buxom Blue from Benjamin Moore. Not too far off from Nantucket Fog, but you know those divas they want what they want!
Now, all important divas need something to wear that gets them noticed. Thus, I decoupaged some wrapping paper on the side (tutorial is here.)
And then because I liked the pattern so much, I blew it up and added it to two corners of the dresser top (tutorial for adding a sharpie stencil.)
I added some beachy blue glaze over the wrapping paper and the top graphic.
And I have to tell you that – halleluiah – I finally figured out the proper technique when using the valspar glazes (the tutorial is here.)
I finished up with three coats of a semi-gloss polyurethane.
And here is that stunningly beautiful diva of a dresser. Transformed from Cinderella to the Belle of the ball!
Now, I have to convince Pretty Handsome Guy that our master bedroom furniture doesn’t have to be all matchy matchy!
Any helpful hints on using Jedi mind tricks on unsuspecting Pretty Handsome Guy?
I am so impressed. beautiful piece, your attention to detail is fantastic. I just found your blog, and I am in love! you have a new follower! 🙂
I love the color. It is fabulous.
Thanks for linking up. We look forward to getting to know you and seeing more and more of your projects.
Cheri
So Martha Stewart. Wrapping paper idea and blowing up pattern is an incredible touch!
Oh yes! Love the new color, and you're right. Nothing to lose! It looks gorgeous.
This is absolutely to die for, love the color, love the wallpaper and the dresser takes me back to when I was a little girl when they were all the rage, way to amp it up to 2010!!
love it so much! I can't seem to find anything good on Craigslist. Maybe I will have to check more often.
Looking forward to all the tutorials you promised 🙂
WOW! What a transformation! Your handsome guy has to realize that you have a masterpiece now for a dresser instead of the old furniture store cookie cutter furniture everyone else has. That is truly amazing. Maybe we all need to have a chat with him about appreciating your talents. Thanks for sharing it turned out great.
Perfection! Can't wait to read your tutorials… 🙂
Wonderful do over.. the dresser looks great, especially the wrapping paper. It's a trick I use too.. it's so much easier to manipulate than wallpaper, and way cheaper.
There's a bit of the 19th century Swedish about it… I think that's the colour.
I'm right with you on the high boy too Brittany.
As far as PH guy goes.. is it painting over the wood that bothers him..? or the fact that the furniture than won't match the bed, because if its the latter then a dozen or so photos of the very best bedroom designs should be enough to convince him that matchy matchy is BAD !!!
If it's the not painting the wood.. well then I can't help you.. it's in their genes you know !!
Jo xx
Great makeover, it looks so lovely, bravo:))
Greetings from Europe, Biljana
Wow I absolutely LOVE that dresser! Great idea!
I just found your blog through another blog! Have a great night.
Amanda @ http://www.nutritionistreviews.com
I love following your blog. I am a carpenter also and look forward to finishing my many projects like an Ohia post for the porch. Love the dresser transformation.
You ended up with a great color. Are you wanting to swap dresser in your room or paint your tall chest in the same way? Either would look wonderful.
That's a pretty amazing transformation!
Looks great- so much more stylish now! I think you picked the perfect color!