Jen sent us this simple yet totally transformative dresser makeover and – as much as we love painting furniture white – we thoroughly enjoyed the fact that she took this piece back to its wooden roots for an awesome two-tone vibe. Here’s her letter:
I’ve discovered your site recently and love it! My faves are the reader redesigns, so I figured I’d share a little project with you and the rest of your readers. This is a hand-me-down dresser from a fantabulous neighbour. We’re working towards an adoption and people keep telling us that we’ll have no time when the baby comes, so I’m trying to get a few things on the move well ahead of time.
As for the work: I wanted to get the top down to the wood. There were a few coats of paint hiding under there. I began attacking it with a paint stripper… but only got so far. It was time for the big guns: the belt sander! (I may add that my shoulders got a little workout holding that thing steady- bonus!). I also picked up some new hardware and paint (from Home Depot). The paint is a soft celery colour – Behr Premium Plus 380F-4 Ground Ginger – and the stain on the top and front is Minwax Golden Oak. The little giraffes had a little paint makeover as well and their new colour is Behr Premium Plus in S-G-360 Bright Star. Thanks for taking the time to check it out! -Jen
Isn’t the new wood finish just gorgeous? All of Jen’s hard work and belt sanding clearly paid off big time. Makes me wanna go sand something myself. And those giraffes? As you can guess Sherry is ob.sessed. with them. You know she has a ceramic animal addiction, right? Anyway, you can read more about the transformation here on Jen’s blog – and don’t forget to check out the graphic treatment that she’s given the wall behind the dresser since submitting these pics. Fun, fun, fun.
Nicely done, Jen!! Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous! Such inspiration, I also have a free dresser that I need to redo for my baby’s room (he’ll be here in 3 months!!) and this is great inspiration. We’re going somewhat mod with the crib and other decorations, and this is PERFECT. Thank you for sharing with us:)
Gorgeous! And your neighbors must have great taste, too. Really beautiful job, and I love love love the giraffes.
This may be my favorite reader redesign. Nice job Jen!
I love this! What a cool piece, and removing the paint was indeed a great idea. I could comment entirely on those girafes, but I will spare you and instead just say that they are absolutely perfect for the room.
What I did want to specifically point out are the handles, what a great choice. I easily get overwhelmed with the options, but your choice was fantastic. I wonder what rules people try to stick by when picking out new handles? I have a dresser of my own that I’m going to redesign, but I’m currently stuck at picking out new handles :/
I wish you the absolute best with your soon-to-be new family! What an exciting time!
This was really well done! I love how she decided to do a two-tone look. I especially love the wood stain, and how she added hooks on the end for even more use!
Looks great, and I also spy a really cool bookend in that last photo!
GORGEOUS! Really love it. Great work Jen! :)
It takes a little bit of elbow grease to refinish a piece – Jen did a great job! I also love seeing natural finishes. Painting is a great option too, but the natural wood is really warm in this instance!
Maybe Jen would be nice and let us know where she got that lamp?
It looks like Ikea but I’m not sure.
Great job! It really looks beautiful.
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!
This is just fantastic! Great job, Jen!!!
wow! nice mid century mod flair!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com
Awesome job! I love refinishing things like this – they always turn out so great and you end up with a great one of a kind piece.
Her blog is pretty great, too! Thanks for the inspiration! I would love to know where her ‘Book’ bookend is from (or how it was made).
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/
Jen Here. Thanks everyone for all of your kind comments. Just wanted to give out a quick reply to Liz about the lamp. You are right, it is Ikea! (But it was purchased a couple years ago in the “as-is” section). Not sure if this particular lamp is still available. Thanks again!
Great job Jen! It was really a charming piece already, that you made a million times better!
It is a very nice transform! It amazes me how little changes can make a huge difference.
I am in love with this. You also must check out her site it is AMAZING. The paint makeover is to-die-for.
As another reader pointed out, I spy some very cool bookends. Will you stop by to share where those came from? Stopped into your site and I love the wall treatment … really eye-catching. Your new baby will love it!
great job on getting to the wood! It looks wonderful.
Honestly, I’m more in love with those giraffes! So cute!
It turned out really nice! This is so modern and funky, better than anything out of a catalog, well done. And I just heart the cat print and giraffes.
Is it OK to confess I like the giraffes best? They’re gorgeous.
This looks great! It’s such a unique take on how to fix up an old piece and it looks fabulous!
Great job, Jen!
xoxo,
Lindsay
Its’ a really great makeover!
P.S. I think that one of the things that makes your blog stand out is that you invite, welcome, your readers to participate. Love that!
The dresser looks very nice but I LOVE!!!!!! the giraffes!!! :-) Perfect for a neutral nursery.
Hello again. You all have me blushing over here. Just wanted to let Cristina know that the bookends came from Urban Barn (urbanbarn.com). Thanks John and Sherry!
No, thank YOU for sharing your amazing makeover!
xo,
s
It looks amazing – great job! I love the wood tone with the white. It really adds a lot of warmth and interest to the dresser.
These furniture makeovers have inspired me to do a couple of projects of my own!
lovely–I love the light stain paired with the white drawer fronts, one of my fav. colour schemes for furniture, so fresh and fun.
hope all goes smoothly with the adoption and that your new little one is safe and sound in your arms soon!
Love it! Beautiful. Makes me want to tackle a redo project.
All of you people (John, Sherry and all guest posters) have such an incredible vision – truly artistic.
If someone had tried to give me that dresser in the “before” state, I would have questioned their friendship!
I had to keep checking the after to make sure we were looking at the same dresser and not the “magazine” inspiration for the after!!
I am in awe of people who can “see” the after in the before!
Also, I am a lover of exclamation points today!
Unrelated to this post, but I recall when you tried to make the string lamps..I found instructions and they seem to work! Wanted to pass it along!
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/diy/how-to-make-a-bubble-yarn-lampshade-108481?image_id=1134223
Thanks so much for the link! We’ll have to check it out!
xo,
s
Now that’s what I call simple fabulousness.
Looks great! Kuddos to you for going from paint to wood instead of the other way around! I used Ground Ginger on my living room walls in our last house, it is a great color!
Fantabulous. I like the idea, although I’m a bit wood’ed out over here. *stairs angrily at wood panel.* I wouldn’t be opposed to doing that. Just subtle hints of wood are nice.
That’s the way to finish a dresser! I just posted “It takes a village to finish a dresser” on my blog. A very different experience!
Hey Sherry,
If you love giraffes, you might get a kick out of this website – http://www.onemilliongiraffes.com. Enjoy!
Hey Kristy D,
Love that site! Thanks for sharing the URL. Funny!
xo,
s
I love the mid century mod vibe! Great job!
Hey,
Totally off the topic, but I know you guys featured Canvas on Demand as a giveaway recently. I saw that they are doing a big daily deal on Groupon (San Francisco) for the next two days if anyone is interested:
http://www.groupon.com/san-francisco/area/san-francisco/
The deal is $45 for a $127 canvas. I’ve had great luck with all of the Groupons I’ve purchased in the past!
Oh, and I should mention that the deal is for their website, so it would work for your readers not in the San Francisco area!
Thanks so much for sharing!
xo,
s
It turned out beautifully, I love the wooden finish. Great job!
What a lovely transformation, the paint colour goes so nicely with the wood.
XO
Lenore
Wow! Great job! I love her blog too!
Do you know where she got those adorable giraffes??
Thanks!
Perhaps she mentioned it on her blog or you can post a question there? Good luck!
xo,
s
Jen – AWESOME JOB! Love it!
John & Sherry – I was just checking out the flickr pics of Clara! Keep adding them! I’d love to hear how your adjusting to parenthood, Sherry’s recovery etc. – Just 1 post atleast… or maybe a whole Clara blog? ;-)
Hey Jillian,
There just aren’t enough hours in the day! But we are working on a plan to share some of our parenthood experiences on another site (since we’ve vowed to keep YHL home improvement and decor focused). Here’s hoping we can get it together and make it happen! Of course without losing any of that precious time with Clara that we treasure!
xo,
s
This is really pretty! I’m going to do a dresser the same way. Thanks for tips!