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Young House Love » Reader Redesigns » Reader Redesign: Craigslist Quick-Change

| By Sherry Petersik | November 27, 2009 | 36 Comments

Reader Redesign: Craigslist Quick-Change

When Michelle sent over her fab furniture makeover we had to share her mouthwatering before and after pics. Here’s her letter:

About a month ago I found your site by accident and completely fell in love with it! You’ve even inspired me to start my own blog! I could go on and on but I don’t wanna waste your precious time cuz you guys are busy little bees. I just wanted to show you a piece of eye candy that I re-designed! I bought this dresser off of craigslist.org for only $20! Then I painted it white, slapped some new hardware on it and replaced those bar looking things on the doors with glass. Isn’t it amazing what a little updating can do? Hope you love it as much as I do! -Michelle

Here’s Michelle’s hutch straight from craigslist:

Hutch1 Reader Redesign

And here’s the same piece after a bit of primer and paint (click here for a full furniture painting tutorial):

Hutch2 Reader Redesign

Isn’t that amazing? Thanks so much for sending your photos our way Michelle! What do you guys think? Didn’t she do a fantastic job? Paint never ceases to amaze us- and we love that she added those panes of glass to open everything up. It’s like a whole new piece that could easily be sold at Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel for at least 1k. Love it, love it, love it.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for StefanieStefanie says

    November 27, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Wow- that looks great!

    Reply
  2. Avatar for PaulaPaula says

    November 27, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    Uau!
    It’s amazing!
    :)

    Reply
  3. Avatar for SusieSusie says

    November 27, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    Awesome! What a great makeover!

    Reply
  4. Avatar for Kristin @ Domestic EaseKristin @ Domestic Ease says

    November 27, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    How fun!!! Thanks for sharing–and enjoy your holiday!

    CONGRATS on the baby!!!

    Hugs!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for Meg LyttleMeg Lyttle says

    November 27, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    Wow, that is awesome!! Good job. It’s amazing what a little paint and vision can do. :)

    Reply
  6. Avatar for HeatherHeather says

    November 27, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    Great! But I liked the original hardware better… I hope they saved it for a future project!

    Reply
  7. Avatar for CaitlinCaitlin says

    November 27, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    Wow, it looks so much better! Great job, Michelle!!

    Reply
  8. Avatar for LindsayLindsay says

    November 27, 2009 at 1:15 pm

    dee-LISH! That is so beautiful!!! Great job, Michelle!

    Reply
  9. Avatar for LizLiz says

    November 27, 2009 at 1:19 pm

    WOW! I love it!

    Reply
  10. Avatar for JaimieJaimie says

    November 27, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    That really is an amazing piece!

    Reply
  11. Avatar for BromeliadBromeliad says

    November 27, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    Wow. That thing was ugly.

    The new fixtures are great.

    Reply
  12. Avatar for JoDiJoDi says

    November 27, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    Holy cow! That thing was HIDEOUS, and now it is GORGEOUS!! I totally envy people who can see something like that and look past what it is to what it can be. Great job Michelle!

    Reply
  13. Avatar for Jill StigsJill Stigs says

    November 27, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    Ah….mazing! I would have not seen the potential on that one. Great job…….thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  14. Avatar for micahmicah says

    November 27, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Gorgeous! Love the new hardware. Great job Michelle!

    Reply
  15. Avatar for Lisa in SeattleLisa in Seattle says

    November 27, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Neato mosquito! I love the new fixtures – they give it a unique contemporary vibe that you don’t usually get from hutches. The wood detailing on the lower half looks super in white. I will check out your blog for more info – curious to see how it fits in with the rest of your decor, etc.!

    Reply
  16. Avatar for jenjen says

    November 27, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    i think it looks a ton better!! good job :) one thing though…I think if there was a way to remove that whatever-it-is inside under the shelf…looks like a drawer? I think it would look better. but as it is still an amazing transformation

    ps–was just in the goodwill today and saw a great desk that could be really revived with a little fixing up…YHL has inspired me too!!

    Reply
  17. Avatar for LindsayLindsay says

    November 27, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    Oh. Wow. That is beautiful! I was thinking the same thing; $1299 at Pottery Barn would be my guess!

    Reply
  18. Avatar for PaulaPaula says

    November 27, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Fantastic change! What a difference, from the outdated, musty look of the piece in its earlier condition to how it is now. Great idea! Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  19. Avatar for AshleyAshley says

    November 27, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    That makeover is awesome!! That’s it-I’ve got the bug! I’m refinishing something this weekend! :)

    Reply
  20. Avatar for knoxville used carsknoxville used cars says

    November 27, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    OMG that is abolutely stunning! I want it!

    Reply
  21. Avatar for Beth@321home[email protected] says

    November 27, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    OMGosh, that is amazing! I LOVE it! Good reminder that beauty is in the eye of the DIY beholder.

    Reply
  22. Avatar for soniasonia says

    November 27, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    i have a suggestion: how about you wallpaper the glass panels to hide those drawers?
    good job btw, looks great!

    Reply
  23. Avatar for Jennifer S.Jennifer S. says

    November 27, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    It looks so much better! Maybe she could add paper to the inside of the glass like Sherry did to her storage amoires in the basement. That way she could keep the shelf thing in there, it would just be covered up by the paper. Just a thought!

    Reply
  24. Avatar for MollyMolly says

    November 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    I agree!! It looks amazing! Great idea from the above comments… adding paper to the glass could really make it fun!

    Reply
  25. Avatar for MayaMaya says

    November 28, 2009 at 5:03 am

    Gorgeous!! I don’t agree with the suggestions to wallpaper the inside… I think the drawers inside add some interesting detail to the cabinet. Wallpapering is better on a low-end thing like the cabinets in the basement, especially when unattractive things are stored inside. I imagine that the dishes that go with this cabinet are beautiful and it would be nice to display some of them, and the drawers look really symmetrical and intriguing.

    Amazing sleek result!

    Reply
  26. Avatar for kelly@TearingUpHouses[email protected] says

    November 28, 2009 at 8:37 am

    love how the white emphasises the depth of the panels on the bottom…

    kelly

    Reply
  27. Avatar for Jennae @ Green Your DecorJennae @ Green Your Decor says

    November 28, 2009 at 11:11 am

    I am seriously drooling over the after. I don’t think it needs wallpaper at all. I think the point is to use it to display whatever is inside. I’ve been looking for a chair on Craigslist to update, but I never seem to get lucky enough to find something with this much potential. For $20, I would’ve scooped this beauty up right away too!

    Reply
  28. Avatar for Paula GracePaula Grace says

    November 28, 2009 at 11:29 am

    Wow, well done. The detail just pops with the new finish. Cabinets like this are perfect for a make-over. My husband and I did one for our dining room. It came out so nice ~ I love it to this day because we rescued it from the back room of a consignment shop (the room pieces go to just before they are put to sleep) and did the work ourselves to refinish it. I wish I had before and after pictures to send you :( Happy weekend!
    Paula Grace

    Reply
  29. Avatar for RoeshelRoeshel says

    November 28, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    It looks awesome! Great job Michelle!

    Reply
  30. Avatar for T.T. says

    November 28, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    It looks nice, but I’m disappointed in this current fad that something must look like it comes from PB or CB2 to be “cool”. I personally find beauty in unpainted wood. I love the warm look of stained wood the best, whether it’s in furniture or window trims or molding.

    Reply
  31. Avatar for JacquelynJacquelyn says

    November 28, 2009 at 11:40 pm

    It really is a beautiful piece, I can never find anything good on craigslist!

    Reply
  32. Avatar for Greg StallworthGreg Stallworth says

    November 29, 2009 at 2:31 am

    Love it! The white paint and replacing the old handles with new and modern ones plus those chrome buttons made this work for me.

    Reply
  33. Avatar for Katie LynnKatie Lynn says

    November 29, 2009 at 11:12 am

    What a beautiful piece! It’s truly amazing what a community the two of you have created through your blog. I’m constantly impressed and inspired by not only what you do, but what your other readers do. I’m still a bit scared of trying my own redesign, as I’ve never done a thing like this, but boy does Michelle’s makeover make me want to try!

    Reply
  34. Avatar for MarshaMarsha says

    November 29, 2009 at 11:57 pm

    Excellent job on the redo. You did a great job.
    I find the inside of the cabinet, takes away from a great looking dresser.Too busy. I would put wallpaper either on the front or back of the glass. Fabric is another idea. Wooden dowels on the backside with gathered fabric.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  35. Avatar for tamstylestamstyles says

    November 30, 2009 at 5:51 am

    wow..great job.

    Reply
  36. Avatar for EricaErica says

    November 30, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    Wow Michelle thats beautiful! Is there any way to find out what color paint Michelle used on her dresser?

    Reply

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John and Sherry smiling against pink backgroundHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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