What do you do with a dresser that has drawers beyond repair?
You take them out and replace them with a couple of shelves, of course…or at least you have your husband do that and then you paint it.
The construction of these drawers were ok, but the veneer was in terrible condition. It was either put new fronts on or take them out. I opted to take them out. My husband built two plywood shelves and trimmed them in the original trim that separated the drawers. Isn’t he clever?
I painted the dresser in Creamy by Sherwin Williams and the interior in a pretty blue. (I will get the exact color of this piece and the dresser I posted about yesterday for everyone who asked about it.)
I found a galvanized box that was the perfect size for one of the cubbies. It’s for sale separately, but hopefully whoever sees it will love the box inside and have to buy both. That’s the idea, anyway!
I brought the blue of the interior up to the box mounted on the dresser top.
I really love how this dresser turned out…I think I may have to make another.
I apologize, again, for not having a tutorial or more details about my process on this piece, but I have been so busy getting things done, that I have not slowed down to take step-by-step pictures. Look for more details on these pieces once Lucketts is over.
I can’t wait to share all of the other things I’ve been working on. I have more signs, German glass glitter letters, more grain sack pillows, and lots of other great stuff. I also hit the yard sale jackpot this morning. We drove out to a sale that was advertised in the paper as having antiques. One never knows what that means. Will they have one antique…a reproduction butter churn that someone painted ducks on in the 1980’s and they want $400 for it? Or will they have lots of old stuff that they just want to get rid of. This one was the latter. Not only did they have awesome stuff, but I knew the people holding the sale, so they gave me a deep discount on top of their already low prices. It was almost embarrassing the amount of stuff people had to carry to my van! My finds include a window, mirror, wooden caddy, eleven feed sacks, a baby dress, walnut drop leaf table, to mention just a few.
I’ve done enough in the past week to post about for a month. Craziness.
Did I mention I spilled paint all down my leg and into my shoe while working tonight? I currently have paint between my toes.
Oh yes.
64 Responses
This latest piece is absolutely gorgeous!! I just love how you took the drawers out and hubby made the shelves for you. So clever, yet so practical. It turned out great! Love & blessings from NC!
This dresser/shelf is brilliant! I love the colors you used and the shelving (nice trim Mr. MS!). For all the hard work you have done, I hope Lucketts will be successful for you!! Wish I could come…
another ugly duckling you turned into the belle of the ball. love the idea of taking out the drawers and making into shelves…and oh my, paint down your leg and in shoes and between your toes..Sounds like you were having fun. : )
MMS,
You give me so many grand ideas! This re-creation is just lovely!!!
I will never pass up a good dresser with yucky drawers again!
When is Lucketts and where?
xoxo
~Kolein
I absolutely love what you did to that dresser! Gorgeous!
I think you need to make another, too! Pretty re-working!
What a great transformation! The dresser is like one my grandmother had…I absolutely love it!
marian, it is adorable! i love the colors and finish, and love the repurposing. i can totally see it in a bathroom with towels and lotions. fantastic job!! also, i am almst positive my mom and i will be at lucketts with my kids, so we will be sure to come say hi between pony rides and shopping!
So pretty. I just love the soothing colors you picked. I love your solution to the damaged veneer. Keep 'em coming!
This is so beautiful. I love it!!!
You have such an eye for picking the right pieces!! It is beautiful and most of us wouldn't have seen the potential.
Great piece!!
blessings
barbara jean
What a genius idea! You are brilliant. I never would've thought to do that!
I love this chest, it would even be worth a shoe full of paint!
The new dresser verson is inspired. Great vision.
Now for that shoe full of paint. Lay out some canvas, pull your painted foot out of the shoe & foot paint. Kinda like finger painting but just another body part. LOL
I agree with #14 Dawn. LOL!! Beautiful rendition, MMS! Your hubby and you make a great DIY team!
Donna
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time! What a joy to love what you do…it shows! Blessings to you!
LOVE the dresser, what a cool idea to take out the drawers, and what a clever husband you have 🙂 I love the distressing, the glazing, the colour of the blue, just love it all really! Can't wait to see photos of all your stock set up at Lucketts, it is going to be gorgeous, I can tell 🙂
xx Karen
What a clever idea to take the drawers out! I love how it turned out. Your husband is quite handy. This piece is really beautiful. Love that light blue color!!I The galvanized box is also perfect for it and I hope somebody buys both! Wish I lived closer to go to Lucketts.
Glad to know that I am not the only one with paint between her toes!! Ha! My dear hubby came into my studio from outside, carrying a carton of pop. The carton broke and the pop hit the concrete floor and ruptured several of the cans. Pop went everywhere. I was working on a commission piece and would you believe…the pop missed it completely??!! Ahhh! The Good Lord was watching out for it and for me and spared my husband certain death! Ha!!!!!!
Love the dresser!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Great idea and it is beautiful! I can't wait to see you post about the glittered letters!!!
That dresser is amazing!!! I love it!! I swear you and I are so much alike, I have been doing all the same stuff this weekend, my shop opens on Friday! I love a good yard sale too, the cheaper the better! I think people must really wonder about the stuff I haul out of there!! Good luck at Lucketts! Wish it was closer to me, I would love to see more of your stuff!!!
I'ld like to see books in it – the box is great but is not functional inside the dresser. Very clever idea – great work. See you soon and I will be at Lucketts. YEAH Mom
Oh, that is so pretty! Keep these posts coming with all your great finds and projects. So inspiring. I hope that we will also get to see photos of your booth set-up at Lucketts!
What another GREAT idea!…JP 🙂
Very pretty!
Great job hubby and to you too. I love this! I know you are busy but if you get a chance, did you use the sprayer for the inside too?
I think this is my favorite piece you've done! So beautiful!!
Said it before, but GENIUS Marian!! I love this and definitely, would have to have the box with the dresser!!
WOW! Love the dresser. I had to look twice to make sure it was the same piece. Great job. I want to come to Lucketts. It's a little far from TX, though. 🙁
Beautiful, as always! We did this once, but kept the bottom drawer, and used the open part for our little TV. It was adorable!
Gorgeous! And I definitely know what you mean about doing enough in a week to post about for a month! A couple of weeks ago, I finished 13 pieces in 2 days! I've not even made a dent to post all that on the blog. Beautiful, beautiful work as always! -shaunna 🙂
A good pedicure is in order! I don't know how you don't keep everything..this is beautiful and the metal box is perfect.
Now this I just love. I like the color and especially with the galvanized box! Great job, Marian!
Fantastic!!
You never cease to amaze me!
Beautiful!
Enjoy!
Cathy
Amazing…. 😉
Darling! I've thought about doing this with an ugly old dresser I have. Now I've got some inspiration. As usual, I love this redo!
Nancy
I absolutely love this!!! Beautiful.
I absolutely love this!!! Beautiful.
Love your site! Gave you a shout out!!
http://johnhoodfamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/youre-gonna-go-wow.html
Such a great idea! I could see this in just about every room in your house including the kitchen!
Jeanine
Love this dresser-turned-storage-chest! This is exactly what JunkFest is about!
Sounds like you got some great loot! The goods are getting harder to come by around here!!
This turned out great!! I hope sometime you could do a tutorial (if you haven't already) about how to age a painted piece using stains and such. I've heard of people doing it, but I'm not quite sure how to do it myself, and I have a piece I would like "age" a bit. Thanks!
You have the best eye and are able to pull it off with a wonderful flair. Really enjoy your blog.
smiles, alice
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It's gorgeous! I love love love the colors!!!
Just found your blog from The Lettered Cottage… so glad!! I love your guest room and the prices you are paying for your antiques makes me jealous!! I am a new follower!
Thank you for this post! I'm having a garage sale this weekend, and was going to sell my dresser because the drawers are just insane and always fall out. But my dresser has nice curvy lines that I think would look really cute if I could pull something like this off!
Beautiful, Marian! I would have to buy the tin, too. I'm going to start junkin' in Gettysburg, I swear!
i love all your work and especially this latest project…such a wonderful idea. i wish i had a quarter of your energy. 🙂
Great, great idea ~love it,thanks!
such a good idea, i need your inspiration, I rarely can see past the ugly and imagine the potential . . . turned out beautiful!
I love it. Congrats on your recent features~you deserve it!! You know I love your style and your crazy creative mind 🙂
this is beaUtiful!! i love it!
I'm completely interested in the tutorial on this! I have been wanting to do the very same thing with our coffee table, and I haven't been able to find a tutorial yet. You could be the first!
It looks great!
Love what you did with this Marian!
I found a dresser on the curn last summer — it was out for a trash pick up. Hauled it home quickly only to find that two of the four drawer bottoms were missing…. and it was HEAVY!!
$50 later, they were replaced, but if I had only thought to make them open shelves…. you are so smart, gf.
Always love coming by to visit.
Inspiring and educational!
xx
Alison
can you share with us how to apply graphics to furniture?
I love this..I am looking for a old chest like this to make a little book case for my grandchilderns books to put in my sun room. I am excited to see yours..
Stephanie
http://theladybugsgarden-stephanie.blogspot.com/
Gorgeous!
So funny – paint in your shoe and between your toes! Aren’t you glad it’s not bare feet and sandals weather?!
A smaller version would make an awesome night stand…I will have to tuck this away in my Pinterest file and be on the lookout for a sad little dresser with bad shelves!
I mean bad drawer fronts! 😉