When Monica sent her amazing dresser makeover our way we couldn’t wait to share the goods. Here’s her letter:
I just recently found your blog and let me tell you, like everyone else around here, I’m totally in LOVE with everything you guys do, plus your How To tips are super! My boyfriend and I just moved to a new home (rental) and like anything that is not yours, we’re tying to put our stamp on it. I inherited my boyfriends dresser and I wanted to incorporate it into my kitchen nook, thus a PROJECT was born. While I love wood and before I paint anything I really think about it, I knew that the only way to make this BIG dresser shrink was to give it a coat of paint… or in our case 3 coats. We used the new Behr Premium Plus Ultra Interior Paint, which is paint and primer combined (in an eggshell enamel finish). The color we chose was “Energy Green” and WOW. We did this project INSIDE the house, and started at 11pm at night (I thought we would die from the fumes but the paint was orderless, no fumes, no smell) and the only reason we gave it three coats is because we wanted it to be a bit darker. But it really was great after two. We dressed the finished product up a bit with accessories and the results were amazing. I love how it came out and I hope you like it as much as we do! – Monica
Here’s a “during” shot (with Monica’s friend sanding away):
And here’s the amazing after:
Is that not a gorgeous transformation? It totally makes the room, and we love the contrasting hardware in the deep ebony finish (which looks great with the chunky chocolate mirror). We also have to say that hanging that mirrored sconce-type piece on one side of the dresser and balancing it with the luminescent lamp on the other side is totally genius. Thanks so much for sending the photos our way Monica! Oh and don’t forget to drip in on her blog to see what else she’s up to. Now what say you our lovely readers? Do you guys adore that shot of happy green paint? Are you ready to grab a paint brush and go to town? We certainly are.
Stephanie says
Beautiful! I love the green with the dark hardware.
Olivia says
Wow – I love the green! I wish I had an older dresser to DIY!
Jenny @ Words On Wendhurst says
Wow, that color is fantastic! They did a great job, and the accessorizing is absolutely perfect! I refinished an old wood dresser a few months back, and I love how it looks in our dining room! http://wordsonwendhurst.blogspot.com/2009/07/darling-dresser-refinished-beauty.html
Ashley says
That is absolutely stunning! I gasped out loud when I scrolled down to reveal the finished piece. VERY inspiring! Talk about putting a stamp on the place! Great job!
Kate says
Great job. I love giving new life to old furniture. I love how they went with a bold green to make it really stand out.
armchairdesign says
Stunning! It looks beautiful, Monica!
Kathleen says
Wow, what a statement the dresser makes after the update!
Laura says
Such a brave color and I absolutely **LOVE** it!!
danika says
so gorgeous!!
sedona says
Wow! I never would have been brave enough to paint that color, but I LOVE it!! It looks wonderful in the room and very high end!! Great job!
Erica says
Wow! What a beautiful piece and very daring of them to go for the bright green color..love it! This doesn’t look like a rented place at all, its so personalized and unique!
Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog says
That green looks great! It makes me want to bite the bullet and paint one of my furniture pieces a bold color!!
erika says
Love that dresser! Makes me want to go try to find some bargains to repaint :)
LauraC says
I agree with Sedona above; that’s the kind of color I see on a paint chip and think, “Who would ever use this color?” But Monica hit a home run with this one and it looks FABULOUS!!! Great job!!! (Love the living room too, her acessories are great.)
Annapolitan says
Great job! Like others who have commented, I gasped when I saw it.
Wish I had that kind of nerve. (Eyeing the big black gentleman’s chest in my dining room…)
Nick says
Looks great! Good job!
Rosa says
Green is my signature color. This is an amazing redesign for such a large piece. Congrats on making it very sophisticated.
micah says
I would never think to paint a dresser that color, but it looks so awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Lesley says
WOW!! Absolutely love this makeover.
Deb says
OOH! So nice!!! Great facelift!
Chelsea says
What a great POP of color! I love it!
Carrie says
Man, love love LOVE the scale and punchy green!! That was a good one!
Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise says
The dress looks great, but what I think makes it stand out more is the wall color. Everything in the room works well together. Love it!
City Chic - Jamie says
Terrific color! And the hardware is perfect! I love the use of bold colors in a neutral room.
Melissa says
Wow! I love it, it really adds some pop of color to the room!
Alexis says
a gorgeous color and such perfect hardware selection!
Jen Z. says
Awesome use of color. What a way to make a great statement in a room. Would have never thought to use such a bold color.
Jenny @ Making the Most of Money says
Gorgeous! I would never have though to paint it such an intense shade of green, but it really makes the space!
Amanda says
Wow. That looks great! I too have a fear of painting wood things, because you can never go back. But most of the time I think it is worth it. Definitely worth it in this case. Go Monica!
Carol from Indian Springs Village says
Wow! The color is beautiful in that room. And I love how it ties in with the print on the wall and the green on the table inside the bowl. Great job!
Amy E. says
i love the green! it’s my favorite color! i also really appreciate her comment about really thinking every time she paints something that’s wood. paint works wonders, but i grew up in cabin country and wood is life up there!
CaraStarr says
i LOVE this dresser. LOVE IT. Looks amazing. We should all make a bold move like this once in a while. Great job Monica!
Rachel says
I love love love the green. It totally makes the whole room and just pops.
Rachel Ridd says
Wow- I would have never thought about putting the dresser in the living room!
Erin says
Wow, that’s great. I think the piece of art on the wall really helps it relate to the space. Here’s a question for you, or somebody … when painting a dress, do you just paint the drawer faces or the entire drawer?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erin,
That’s totally your call. You’d obviously pull the drawers out to do the painting, so painting the sides would be simple enough- although many professionally painted dressers just have the fronts painted (since raw wood might slide more easily than painted wood, especially when you’re dealing with an older piece). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Stephanie S says
LOVE! Simply LOVE the color. Perfect with the neutral room. One thing I want to ask the group: I never seem to have enough dressers and some I’ve bought from garage sales are totally cheesy. Any suggestions? Craigs List?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Stephanie,
Definitely try craigslist and even freecycle. There are lots of great old pieces to be discovered! We also love thrift stores for gorgeous old dressers and tables that just need a little love to look as good as new.
xo,
s
Sarah @ Dream In Domestic says
It’s fabulous!!! What a bold color choice, but I think the payoff is huge. It’s definitely one-of-a-kind now. I love it with the huge mirror on top. Rentals really can look amazing!
Sandy says
Love, love, love the bold green. Now I am reconsidering the color I plan on painting my mother’s old china cabinet, which is sitting forlornly in my guest room along with a lot of other leftover/mismatched furniture. (I keep trying for your Monday re-design sign-up to get advice, but keep missing!) I had been thinking I was going to go black — which I ~had~ considered a bold choice until I saw this. Oh, dare I? It’s a very small room, and I have a hard enough time as it is now figuring out the right arrangement. *fret, fret, whine*
Christin says
Fantastic. That color wouldn’t have been my first choice – but it totally works! Great job! :)
Jessie (Vegan-minded) says
Love the color, love the oversized dresser, love the setup of the room. It looks great!
Amy says
I love this! I recently painted a green peice of furniture too:
http://design-aholic.blogspot.com/2009/08/reveal.html
I love the energy (pun intended!) that their green brings!
LOVELY!
Shannon says
Wow, I wish I had the guts to do that color! It looks amazing…the whole room looks spectacular, great job Monica!
Sunny Pritchard says
You’re a woman after my own heart! I went bold and beautiful with an armoire that greets visitors in my home first thing, and I get rave reviews. Going out on a limb is a good thing.
Amanda says
That dresser IS amazing! Love the bold green color they picked and it has so much character.
Amy @ Renovation Innovation says
Like everyone, I have to agree. I never would have thought that color green would work, but the transformation is awesome. The bold pop of color is just what the room needs to make it from feeling bland. Great job!
Rocio @ Casa Haus says
Wow! I would have never thought of green either… but the results are fab! Thanks for sharing!
Anita says
I have been trying to convince my husband that an old peeling chest in the spare room needs some loving upcyling. Being a firm lover of all things old/vintage/antique he has absolutely refused to let me touch it. This is just the ammunition I need!
Thanks Monica and congrats that room looks outstanding!
Kim at Yellow Brick Home says
Wow, a girl after my own heart. I can’t help but be attracted to the boldest colors out there! GREAT JOB, it looks wonderful in that room!
Jocelyn Stott says
Wow – that is really amazing. I feel inspired now to do my dresser that I have been putting off for ages. Thank you for this post!!!
Katrina says
Wow I love the transformation! The color green really pops – I wish could be more brave when choosing paint colors for furniture redos – maybe the next time.
BTW – I love the white ceramic fish :)