When we saw the magic that Mindy worked on an old dresser we had to share the eye candy. Here’s her letter:
I love your website and eagerly look forward to reading it everyday. I just thought I would show you my dresser re-do! The hubs and I really needed a dresser but didn’t want to spend a lot. We like things that are solid and made really well. So, after finding this antique dresser on Craigslist I decided to fix it up. I took the handles off and filled the holes in, sanded the varnish off, primed it, then painted it with two coats of Behr’s “lime light.” Then I drilled the holes for the new knobs and lined it with contact paper. It was fun to do and I did almost everything in one afternoon (but left it to dry for 24 hours before putting the new knobs on). The dresser was $20, paint was $17, knobs were $19, contact paper was $5 which brings the total to around $60! Thanks for all your inspiration! -Mindy
Here’s the seen-better-days before:
And the amazing after:
Anyone who knows us knows that we like a crisp new paint job. And anyone who knows us well knows that we’re actively drooling over this fabulous transformation. Mindy, it looks absolutely amazing! You did a lovely job and the fun contact paper is the icing on the DIY cake. Thanks so much for sending the deeeelicious pics our way.
Wow! Love that. I am always inspired by other people’s Craigslist finds, but I feel like I have never noticed anything fabulous on there. I don’t think I would have recognized the potential in this piece though. Great eye!
WOW! Mindy you’ve got the magic touch. It’s beautiful and looks like a very expensive piece. Nice work; thanks for sharing :)
Beautiful! What a transformation.
Does anyone know where to find contact paper like that? Everything I find is dull and boring.
Thanks! =)
Hey everyone,
We’re so glad you’re digging Mindy’s dresser makeover as much as we are! As for where the contact paper is from, we believe we’ve seen it at Target so that’s our best guess. Hopefully she’ll drop in and confirm (and see all the praise she’s getting). Gotta love a quick and painless paint makeover!
xo,
Sherry
Great job! It looks like a completely different dresser! Off to Craiglist to find a dresser…
Amazing–it doesn’t even look like the same dresser!
That looks great!
J&S~You guys are in first place! Yay!
LOVE THIS!!!! After checking out all these AMAZING finds and finishes….I am off to check out craigslist! actually…I am off to vote for you all on hgtv, and THEN to check out craigslist! :)
I love seeing redesigns like this! When my friend moved into her first apartment during college I helped her paint an old dresser her dad had been keeping in their garage. The result was absolutely stunning and I was even jealous of her “new” dresser in comparison to the furniture I had just spent a hefty amount of money on. Needless to say, seeing rehabs like this are such an inspiration!
Beautiful, Mindy. where did you find that cute contact paper?
Just voted, you are in first place!!
I agree with Blayne — I’m not sure I recognize the potential in such “finds” on Craigslist and elsewhere…but keeping up with this blog is at least helping me to think about it!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the polka dot contact paper; what a fun and unexpected surprise.
WONDERFUL!
Oh that is just adorable! I actually just did my first redesign last night, it was quite fun and I love the results!
I think the new paintjob really makes the nice lines of the dresser stand out more. Great job.
It looks great! I’m jealous of everyone’s Craiglist or Goodwill finds. The pickings around here are slim. (I have that contact paper too in my hall closet!)
Hey you guys! I just voted and you’re in the lead again!!!
What a wonderful rehab! I’m totally jealous!
Love it! It turned out gorgeous.
Truly amazing! Simple changes can have such a big impact!!! I, too, would have looked straight past this chest in its ‘before’ avatar ;)
If you ask me, I think this is WAY cooler than buying a new dresser. You dont get character like that anymore- at least not within most of our budgets. Awesome job!
Wow. Just Wow!
Beautiful work! Looks like I need to do some Craigslist hunting myself :)
I love that contact paper! Where did they find it? It’s so cute!
Wow this is GREAT! Where is the contact paper from?
Gorgeous! I kept going back and forth, amazed that it is the same dresser. Nice job!
I’ve been trying to remember to vote everyday (including weekends) for you guys, and I did so today and I noticed you are now leading the race! Congrats, I hope you win, it would be totally deserved!
love. love. love the dresser make over. Mindy (you) did a fantastic job!
What a difference, it looks amazing. I especially love the little touch of funky paper inside the drawers.
Great makeover – I saw that contact paper at Target the other day! :)
And I just cast my daily vote and saw you’re back in first place. Woohoo!! I’m dying for ya’ll to win!
AAAUUUGHHHHH 1st place baby!!! {on BHG!}
Awesome dresser makeover, I love it!
Nice Chest!
OMG OMG OMG – You are in first place!!!
11316 vs 11193
KEEP VOTING PEOPLE!!
:D
I’m new to your blog – my sister sent me your link and now I have ALL kinds of ideas for our house. Any way – I’ve been voting and after I voted today I saw that you guys are in first place!!! Woo hoo! Just a congrats :)
Love it!
Just voted and ya’ll are in the lead! Good Luck!
Sherry and John,
I just placed a vote for you guys at BHG.com and you guys are AHEAD BY 123 VOTES!!! Woo hoo!!!
That looks absolutely *fabulous*!
Very inspiring. Great job, Mindy!
I have the same contact paper in my kitchen cabinets! It is from Target. I bought some in February, and it is still in stock at the store I shop at.
Please please tell us where the drawer paper is from!
Hey everyone! Yes, the contact paper is from Tar-jay!!! Thanks for all the feedback! :)
Great job Mindy! It’s so pretty!
I love that contact paper! I really like seeing old pieces become new with a little bit of labor. Some of my favorite pieces in my home are renewed goods. It makes them that much better!
Lovely! Wish I could find a dresser with such nice lines and style like that one!
Great job! The contact paper is from Target. I’ve used it to line all my bathroom drawers and cabinets.
This is totally awesome… I’ve got some old furniture that could use a modern update like this!
the dresser looks fantastic! do you mind sharing where you got your knobs? thanks!
I also got the knobs from Target. I believe they are an oil rubbed bronze and then come in a packaged set of 10. Thanks!
Thanks for posting… this is so inspiring. This has really made me consider repurposing some older funiture pieces I have.
On a side note, Sherry and John are still in the lead on the BHG contest!!! Keep voting everyone!
Love it.
and how can we send you something we’d like to share?
Hey Jen,
On our sidebar we have a button that says “click here to contact the youngsters” which will take you to a submission page with some extra info. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Hello,
Where did Mindy find the new knobs? They are EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for!!
Thanks,
Shannon
Hey Shannon,
Both the contact paper and the knobs are from Target. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Awesome job!
D’oh! Thanks Sherry! I should have read all of the comments before I posted – but I just got so excited!
Hey Shannon,
No worries! We’re just glad they’re exactly what you’re looking for. Happy shopping…
xoxo,
s