When our own before picture popped up in our inbox, we couldn’t help but do a double-take. It actually wasn’t our photo at all, but a beautiful dresser re-do that Desiree performed on the same piece that we scored and refinished for Clara’s nursery a few months back. Small world, eh? Here’s Desiree’s letter:
Technically this isn’t a Reader Redesign since you’ve already done it – perhaps it’s more of an homage? At any rate, I just wanted you to know that I followed your tutorial to a ‘T’ and then some! I was looking for a dresser for our guest bedroom and when I found one identical to the one that you redid for your nursery, I jumped on it because I knew that re-finishing it would be a breeze.
I wish I only paid $20 for mine like you guys, but everything is more expensive in the big city – even on Craigslist! I give y’all major credit, because I definitely couldn’t have done it without your tutorial… and because I think you’re kinda awesome! – Desiree
Well, right back atcha Desiree. We think your new piece is pretty darn cool (although it’s kinda trippy to see Clara’s changing table in someone else’s house!). It’s nice to know that the dresser looks just as good in a slightly lighter stain, and it definitely works in a room other than a nursery. Great job! Everyone, be sure to head over to Desiree’s blog to see more of the transformation process (not to mention how well it matches the rest of the room). Thanks for sending the eye candy our way Desiree!
What about you guys? Have you taken on any furniture makeovers as of late? Or found any amazing pieces on Craigslist that you just had to have? Do tell.
Looks great! The link to her blog is just taking me to a large photo of the dresser. Just FYI.
So cool!
(but the link to Desiree’s blog in only leading to the image, not her blog)
Thanks Vickie & Allison – we got that cleared up so now it takes you to the right place: http://desireesdaydreams.blogspot.com/2010/05/sincerest-form-of-flattery.html
Oops!
-John
Wow, small world! Who’d of thunk you’d have gotten your dresser emailed to you…again…by somebody else?!? Weird! I don’t think I’ve ever really considered “mid-century modern” looks until you re-did this dresser. It’s so fun to see it popping up elsewhere!! Desiree did a great job!!
xoxo,
L-blogger
I really love it!
I just put a teaser up of my new table yesterday.
http://house-of-boys.livejournal.com/101491.html
We followed all your steps for sanding, painting, and applying poly to the top. I took pictures of each step and plan on doing a follow-up post of everything! Thanks for all your help!
I’m about to re-do a dresser by using your tutorial. Just need to find the time (there is a picture of it in its current state on the most recent post on our blog).
Wow – very nice. Good to see people actually following the steps with a great outcome!
I think Desiree did a great job! I live in Dallas like she does, and there’s a big demand for mid century furniture here. I’m struggling to find a similar dresser to yours for under $250 on Craigslist. However, both posts have given me the courage to attempt some refinishing myself. Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow, what are the odds she’d find a dresser just like Clara’s? Excellent redo.
For my daughter’s first (mostly) solo make over, she took a 4 foot wide elaborately ornate gold mirror and did it in aqua. It turned out to be a true show stopper.
Desiree – great job, it looks gorgeous!
Sherry & John – I found a midcentury modern sidetable curbside last week and hauled it into my minivan and then into my garage. While I haven’t taken on the project yet, I just wanted to say thank you for the tutorial and of course, the inspiration!
I am tres jealous she found that dresser! What a beautiful job she did :)
Sherry, along the lines of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery….can you recommend a great organic everyday body lotion? I need a new one…
Thanks :)
Andrea P, we like Dr. Bronner’s lotion but when it’s hard to find we sometimes snag the J.R. Watkins stuff from Target. Hope one of those works for ya!
xo,
s
I just bought that same printer for work last week. I love the sleek design and great functionality.
Love it! Great work Desiree!!
My hubby and I own a dresser similar to the one shown. When we first bought it we had plan on sanding it down restain it etc but now we have grown to love the distress look it has. Since purchasing that dresser I have become addict to that era of furniture.
That looks great!!
Recently I transformed a very standard (read: cheap) Ikea media stand into something with some charm. The light colored wood didn’t match a thing in our house and the boxy style didnt go either, so I took a saw to the legs, painted the thing white and added new legs. It looks great now and fits the motif! You guys are very inspiring!
Holy my goodness I’m on your site!! I started getting comments on my blog and it didn’t dawn on me and then I came over here and oh my goodness!
(I just collapsed – rainbows and glitter)
Big squishy internet hugs to you both – you’re the greatest!
And thanks for the compliments y’all! I’m so glad for the internet, because none of you have to know how dorky I am as I jump around the house squealing and clapping and kissing my dog and my dresser.
Wait, I think I just told you. Oops.
Desiree- You deserve it! We’re so glad everyone’s loving your makeover as much as we are!
xo,
s
It looks great, both Clara’s and Desiree’s. I have a $20 Craigslist dresser in my baby’s room as a changing table. SO much more storage than a typical table. It’s a solid dresser from the 60s that I couldn’t afford new. It was my first refinishing project. Love it!
Lovely! I really like the stain.
Love it! Looks just like the “original” :) Great job!
Cara
We did the same type of staining on an old set that my husband and I, up in Fredericksburg, inherited. Check it out!
http://finewire.blogspot.com/2009/07/diy-bedroom-set-staining.html
Great work!
That looks beautiful! You guys inspire so many people! Way to go!
Love this! It makes me want to get to work on some of our old furniture.
This looks great! Good job!
No furniture overhauls lately, but many years ago, I took a cheap, circular rather ugly white-plastic, two-level table (perfect size for phone on top, phonebooks and answering machine on bottom), and spray-painted it a high-gloss black. It looked great when I was done. And obviously, that was a very easy job.
Partly because I’m in thrall to the House of Turquoise blog, I keep thinking of maybe doing some paint job on a deliberately raw, deliberately roughed-up (knotholes, etc.) piece that I got from Sundance Catalog years ago (had a focus group voucher that brought down the typically high Sundance cost to a more reasonable price) — but then again, I really like the rustic look it has, especially since it’s a nice contrast to the more finished woods and browns I have in the living room. Or I could paint just the INSIDE of it a shade of turquoise, for that discreet flash of color when the front doors are opened? Hmmm….
thinking about adapting your “under the dest shelf made from stairs treads” to 2 nightstands stained black.
Not about this post… BUT
What size are the frames that hold the letters above your bed?
Thanks.. :-)
Hey Amy,
They’re 5″ x 7″ frames from Ikea. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I’m trying to score something similar for my little one’s nursery. What did you search for on Craigslist? Low dresser? Credenza?
Thanks! Michelle
We just searched “dresser” and looked at all the ones with pics until we found one that worked for our space. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Love that dresser. So, I went back and reread your nursery staining post. QUESTION. Can you do a similar application but can you do a high gloss lacquer? One that looks like a thick layer of lacquer? Can you do something like that with a safecoat product?
We haven’t researched all of the Safecoat offerings, but we’re sure you can hunt down something that’s super high gloss. Just google around to see what they have. Ours is a pretty high gloss finish (it’s actually called Acrylacq since it’s a green alternative to lacquer). You can read more about it here: http://www.afmsafecoat.com/products.php?page=3
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Okay! I’m back because I just finished revealing the whole “How to” post.
What’s funny is that I followed your directions in the first place. Is it too late to submit this for a reader redesign?!?
http://house-of-boys.livejournal.com/101880.html
Hey Audrey,
It looks awesome! Congrats on those great results!
xo,
s
Not a DIY project (not really), but I found our beautiful fur baby on Craigslist. She was free to a good home. We adopted her when she was 8 weeks old and now she is over a year old and the best thing we’ve ever found on the site!
Awww, congrats Erinn! No need to sand her or stain her in this case. :)
-John
speaking of deja vu… i was surfing the web looking for design groups in grand rapids, mi. i love designing and crafting, etc. so i was seeing who was out by the way of design groups. long story short, i came across this site of a “trusted interior design partner” that used your photos in her before and afters (bedroom and family/living room): http://www.reflectshinedesigns.com/rfs_website_-_official_008.htm
thought you should know.
Thanks so much for the heads up Lisa D! It’s crazy that she’s claiming our bedroom makeover as her own and using it in her portfolio! We’re on the case though, and we hope to have them removed asap. Ugh!
xo,
s
would you believe i saw this EXACT same dresser with a nightstand at a thrift store for 9.99? The only reason i noticed it sandwiched beneath piles of nondescript items was because I loved when you all refinished this for Clara. I would have bought it then and there (knowing what potential I could get out of it) but had just moved and could not add another piece of furniture to the present chaos.
Wow that’s amazing! And it makes me feel better that we didn’t offer John’s parents money for theirs. Haha. $9.99 is awesome.
xo,
s