My $30 Craig’s List Dresser Revealed – At Long Last!

by | Dec 21, 2009 | Before and Afters, Furniture Makeovers, Hand Painted Furniture | 90 comments

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Can you believe that this…

…was this? I purchased this French Provincial dresser off of Craig’s list in October and have been chipping away at it at a snail’s pace. First of all, as you can see, it was missing most of the hardware. Normally this isn’t an issue, but the style of this dresser demanded specific hardware. I’m embarrassed to say that I shelled out almost $70.00 to buy vintage hardware that matched the original. It was an e-Bay bidding war that became very emotional. That puts my investment total at $100.00, which is high for me, but still awesome for a solid wood dresser of this quality, style, and size.

Since this piece is solid wood, I decided to strip the top and stain it in a dark walnut. I was ready to go to war with this thick polyurethane top coat, but it came off surprisingly easy. Check out my furniture stripping tutorial if you want to know how.

I then sanded the top to a smooth finish. I also removed the hardware, sanded, and applied a deglossing agent to prepare the body of the piece to paint. Using my Graco sprayer, I applied a coat of poly and 2 coats of Sherwin Williams ProClassic Semigloss paint in Creamy.

I applied a dark walnut stain to the top of this piece. It looked like it was soaking in beautifully, but after letting it sit for a while, I noticed the stain was resisting in a few places.
It is always so discouraging when this kind of thing happens. So, I had to sand it all down again and start over.
Luckily, all of the work on this piece and the expensive hardware was worth it. I stained it again and applied 3 coats of semi-gloss Wipe-on Poly by Minwax. I also sprayed the hardware in an oil rubbed bronze spray paint in order to unify the finish of the original hardware and the look-a-likes I purchased on E-bay.

This hardware was a royal pain to install as well! Each handle is slightly different, so I had to be very exact when I was drilling the holes. There is still a little tweaking that has to be done, but it’s usable.

I’m not sure that this piece is done, yet. I am thinking about adding some decorative painting and antiquing. I’m just not sure what I want to do, so I’m going to live with it for a while before I commit to something.

For now, I love, love, love it! The lamps were a freebie from my aunt with Wal-Mart shades, the pedestals and domes were $2.50 for 3 at a Salvation Army (those are another story), and my moss topiaries are in the center. The ironstone platters on the wall were $2.50 each and the antique gold frame was $1.00, all purchased at yard sales. I’m still playing around with the accessories, but I just had to share this dresser.
Miss Mustard Seed

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    90 Comments

    1. Suzan

      Beautiful! (And where do you yard sale hunt?! Love the ironstone!!)

    2. Kate

      Gorgeous! I love the dark top and hardware with the white drawers. You did an amazing job!

    3. bj

      This turned out very pretty!
      I bought one nearly like it for my daughter for $50.00..we sanded the top, as you did, and stained it…then painted the bottom in black. All the orginial hardware was there. I also bought one for myself and painted it all black. We both LOVE them and now we have so much storage….
      You did a marvelous job!!
      xo bj

    4. Confessions of a Plate Addict

      Wow! You did a beautiful job! I love that dresser! My mom had a similar piece…all white and then antiqued…and I can vouch for the amount of storage you have just added! Gorgeous! Merry Christma to you and your family!…Debbie

    5. fleurcottage

      terriffic…job well done! aren't we women amazing?!

    6. cindy the cottage chick

      Just gorgeous! The dark stain on top is beautiful, and the hardware??? Oh my. Lovely lovely lovely.

    7. Kirsty

      I love it!

    8. sissie

      Girl, I would say that you have definitely outdone yourself on this beautiful dresser. I love the curves and the two tones with the white and dark stain. I don't think that I would do anything else to it, it's so frenchy looking. Love it.
      If you tried to buy a dresser like yours, I would guess it would be over $2,000.
      Wonderful Job.

      hugs~~Sissie

    9. Gail

      What a gorgeous piece of furniture. You did an amazing job on it. I absolutely love it! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

      Gail

    10. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions

      This looks amazing! The lines on this dresser are fantastic. Love the stained top. Good idea to wait and see how you feel about the painting or glazing on top of it. Sometimes I feel I rush into a decision and {in my case} should have just left well enough alone. I think this is one of my top 3 favorites of pieces that you've done!

    11. Brenda

      It is gorgeous! I am sure if you leave it as is or add your special touch it will be a great piece for a number of years.

    12. Jamie

      This is absolutely beautiful. My husband has inherited one very similar to this but it has a mirror that fits on the back. I am praying he lets me get my hands on it. I'd like to paint it and give it a good antique look. I can't wait.

    13. Judy

      Love, love, love how this turned out. I used all the products you recommended on my sideboard re-do (the water based stripper, frog tape, etc) and it's turned out great. I have a few more touch ups on that too but I'm anxious to get the sunroom painted and redecorated using things I already have after Christmas.

      Hugs!
      Judy

    14. Jane

      This piece is beautiful. I love it just the way it is! I also think you did a great job with your accessorizing (and great bargains too!)
      Happy Holidays.
      Jane

    15. Lisa@Pickles and Cheese

      Just beautiful!! Well done. And you have me inspired with this one. We desperately need a new dresser for our master bedroom….the one you just did would be perfect for us. I will keep my eyes open….would make a great winter project for me!

    16. Lexi

      I love the walnut tops, white bottoms on so many of your pieces. Williams-Sonoma Home has some pieces like that. I would pay huge $ for a dresser that big that is solid wood. I also would leave it "as is" because I think decorative painting would compete too much with the hardware.

    17. Design Esquire

      Gorgeous!! I LOVE it. You are so incredibly talented.

    18. Petit Design Co.

      excuse me while I ooh and ahh for another 20 minutes!

    19. elisabeth (bovagoods)

      just lovely! it reminds me of the dresser that michelle from three men and a lady did for her master bedroom. gotta love craig!

    20. Milk & Cookie Party

      Gorgeous!!! Absolutely love it. Great, great job!

    21. Six in One Hand

      I love it!!!
      That dresser is simply divine and your finds are amazing!!!!

      You did a jaw dropping, mind blowing job!!!

    22. sandra

      You got a really good deal!! And it looks great. I love that style and for almost a year I have been watching one like it at a nearby resale shop. It started out at $250, then $200 and now I think it is at $175, which is not a good deal in my opinion…Soooo, instead I bought a 1925 dresser with mirror for $30 that was setting next to it and after stripping to bare wood, sanding and painting it black, I love it even more. Maybe in a couple of years the other one will come down to a reasonable price and I can have it too!

    23. L.Duncan

      DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I"VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS REVEAL?!!! It's Beautiful! I love it! NO, I LOVE IT!

      Now if I can just find one for myself!

    24. Peggy

      That is a masterpiece! Absolutely gorgeous!!

    25. Anne

      Wonderful!

    26. Lisa

      That piece is stunning just as is now. It really has a simple beauty to it. Definitely worth the extra money spent on it.
      Lisa

    27. Sarah @ Hennessey House

      oh my word, it truly is beautiful.

      when you use a wood stain, did you use a conditioner before applying the stain? i found that helped with my last project, as far as the wood taking the stain evenly in all areas.

      your hard work definitely, definitely paid off. the lines of this piece, the colors…. wow. it's just stunning. well done!

    28. jodi

      absolutely stunning. I wouldn't add a thing as far as the antiquing or more painting. Just my opinion, but it may be over the top. Let those handles be the accessory.

    29. maribeth

      wow! you did a beautiful job! it is always so hard to know when you are finished with a piece and i know i am always so eager to start using it, especially when you have all those other fun finds to decorate with!

    30. dee dee

      This really turned out wonderfully! Worth all your extra work! Dee Dee

    31. The White Farmhouse

      This dresser looks lovely! What a great piece! You deserve a big pat on the back.

    32. Little Lizard King

      Hello, gorgeous! I absolutely love the finished project. Great vision. Great work. And what a payoff! Congrats, MMS on a job well done.

    33. Kendra@My Insanity

      Oh, I don't think it needs anything else. It is really lovely as is!!! You've accessorized it so nicely,as well! Your stamina amazes me!

    34. Stephanie

      You are amazing…..that looks fabulous!
      Merry Christmas,
      Stephanie

    35. Courtney

      beautiful. something you can be proud of for a very very long time!

    36. Flea Market Trixie

      That is so gorgeous, great job. I love how you displayed it too.

    37. mrso'

      love, love, love it. another amazing transformation! def worth the extra time/money!

    38. Beachbrights

      Simply amazing. I have dresser envy!

      XOXO

    39. Linda (Nina's Nest)

      What can I can?! It is just beautiful! I also love the way you decorated on it and above it. Clever! Linda

    40. Courtney Price

      That turned out heartbreakingly beautiful.

    41. Kara

      SQUEEEEEEEEEEEAL…….that is so fab. Excellent job and thanks for sharing!!

    42. Melissa Miller

      ~WOW!!!! I just adore this gorgeous piece. ~Lovely job! 🙂

    43. Shanade

      Absolutely Beautiful!!! I wish I had the time and patience to do something like this.

    44. Lenore

      What a great transformation….looks like a lot of work but the results are FABULOUS!!
      Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

    45. Traci@ Beneath My Heart

      This is fabulous!!!!! I absolutely love it, and it was worth the ebay war to get the hardware! I am hoping to re-do our bedroom at the first of the year, and I will be looking for some pieces like this. I showed this to my husband and it agreed it was an amazing re-do!
      Blessings,
      Traci

    46. Corn in my Coffee-Pot

      oh WOW!

      I love the contrast between the dark walnut and the white painted finish.
      Good job matching the hardware.

      It looks beautiful!

    47. { The Painted Home }

      Love it! Nothin' like a $1 yard sale find too!

    48. Debbie @ The Shabby Bungalow

      That is absolutely beautiful you have worked so hard on it and the results show. You really need to ship it to the UK as I have a wall that would fit on perfectly! LOL I absolutely love it 🙂

    49. Danielle @ Transforming Home

      Gorgeous! What a great find, and I love the hardware. Also love your display on top and on the wall!!

      Danielle

    50. Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas

      I ADORE it!!! It is absolutely GORGEOUS!! LOVE the top and the hardware! Awesome job!!

      Merry Christmas!!

      Lou Cinda 🙂

    51. Trish @TheOldPostRoad

      GORGEOUS!!!! Love the dark top with the creamy white!
      Merry Christmas!
      -Trish

    52. Michelle@Fromhousetohome

      I'm so glad you found me so I could make my way over here! Your dresser is stunning. I don't blame you for going high on those handles, they were so worth it.

      We are practically neighbors, I live in eastern PA.
      ~Michelle

    53. Cozy Little House

      So glad you shared! It's absolutely a beautiful piece, and now it's a gem! I need to shop Craig's List, I think.
      Brenda

    54. The Tidy Brown Wren

      I'm so glad you won that bidding war. It looks like that beautiful hardware is worth the tears you shed. Nice job.

    55. ButterYum

      Super stunning transformation!

      Thanks for visiting my blog. Small world – hubby works in the Sterling/Leesburg area, and we were married in Central PA.

      🙂
      ButterYum

    56. Calling All Sleepyheads

      That turned out beautiful and worth the investment. I'm going to check out your tutorial too bc I just got a piece this weekend from my grandparents house that I'm going to have to refinish. It's a buffet but very similar to your piece. Seeing yours gets me excited about getting started on mine. Have a Merry Christmas!

    57. Maureen

      Oh the lines! How beautiful!

      Sometimes you have to step back from a piece and live with it for a bit before you do anything else. IMHO this one is so classic that it looks perfect as it is.

    58. Centsational Girl

      That really is a fabulous outcome ! Way to stick with it even when your stain didn't cooperate ! I loved reading your step by step. Be proud !

      Kate

    59. Shilo

      It's beautiful! I'm so glad you didn't give up!

    60. Funky Junk Interiors

      Fabulous! Your signature two-tone never fails to disappoint!

      Also love that you showed the failure aspect. It makes me fear even less when attempting something new.

      Love your staging by the way. I think you're done here. NEXT! 🙂

      Donna

    61. Melanie

      Absolutely stunning and it is worth every cent that you spent on it! I love it. Your hard work paid off!

    62. bj

      I have a photo I wanted to email you but can't find your address…
      would you email me at
      bjconklin@xanadoo.com
      Thanks…

    63. Bette

      That looks beautiful. I love the contrast between the black and white. Great JOb.

    64. Rachelle

      looks amazing! 🙂 great work!

    65. Terri

      A beautiful piece of furniture! I love it!

    66. Mary Jo

      Love it! I was wondering what type of paint you used for the body of the dresser? And did you use polycrylic or something on top to seal it?
      Thanks!

    67. Linda Jackson

      You restored this grand piece into a treasure! It looks better than it did in its original skin. You must feel very smug! I bet as you walk by it you sometimes just stop to look at it and pat yourself on the back. You should! You deserve it for rescuing such a great piece of furniture and turning it into something so beautiful.

    68. Jaime

      Hi there! I absolutely love this dresser transformation! I actually just came across a dresser just like this one and want to refinish it just like you did this one! I am having the same issue that you did while staining the top of it! It is very blotchy. What did I do differently the second time u sanded it down and stained it to make it look so good the second time around? I need the help!! Thanks!

      • Clair

        You can apply a wood moisurizer (Home Depot) prior to staining to avoid blotchy spots.

    69. nancy beckman

      What color are the walls in the room on the picture? They look light blue. My carpet is tones of beige and walls are SW 7529 Sand Beach and medium dark brown hickory wood trim.. I’m wondering if that is too much brown or should the wall be a different color than beige.
      Nancy

    70. misty brook

      I think it’s fabulous the way it is now. It’s classic and as the times change you can change the accessories, but the dresser will last forever.

    71. Linda

      WOW! You brought new life to that dresser!! Looks amazing

    72. Dora

      It is beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration.

    73. colleen

      rubbing oil bronze for handles
      Where do you purchase that?

    74. Lynda

      What a find for you and for me, why me because I own a five piece bedroom set just like your dresser. Back in the eighties I was looking for a set and came across this antique shop, told the keeper what I was looking for and he sold me a 5 piece bedroom set for less than $500.00. I never new the name of my set, but loved it and thanks to you I know the the name of my beautiful bedroom set.

    75. michelle

      This is BEAUTIFUL. ….. I’m in the mood to recycle and do a furniture transformation! ! I love antique dressers..it make the bedroom more cozy!!! I’m looking for one to start my project. ..thanks for the MOTIVATION! !!

    76. Yrene Cedeno

      Well done!!! It is a good example that with a little of imagination and hard work you can do anything!!!!
      I am very proud of you even not knowing you because you reminded me my self….
      Gorgeus piece!
      Yrene Cedeno

    77. Pammie Herrera

      I think you did a marvelous job, of course with the makeover, but you decor is precious! Very trending, yet elegant. I have a very similar piece, that belonged to my mother-in-law, and when the family cleared out her home, no one wanted it, or the 2 night stands that she had for many, many years, so I rescued them. I am going to check on the same colors you used, very classy. Fortunately I have all of the hardware, but will be doing repair due to it’s showing it’s age. But I’m excited about it, also will just chip away a little at a time! Thanks for posting and the inspiration!

    78. Ari

      It looks absolutely amazing, the hardware really works on it. I had similar issues when renovating my kitchen table, I found that using a pre-stain conditioner helps the stain soak in evenly. I had great success on my dresser top once I learnt that trick! Thank you for sharing such a success story. xx Ari xx

    79. Aubrychendora Leighton

      What a great job (and your hard work shows) you have done on your great find for $30! Congratulations on a job well done.
      A possible suggestion for detailing your project, should you choose to: raised stenciling using say wood putty or Fixall for a textured design. You can make your own stencils or purchase them online for this purpose.
      Period designs are available through Dover Publications for purchase or free on their website and also in stores and sometimes available in local libraries or interlibrary loan. Or you may like decoupage after seeing what Dover also has on their website, a French technique you might enjoy trying.
      Again, congratulations and “Believe in the beauty of your dreams.” –Aubry

    80. Vickie Randall

      MMS, I LOVE the dresser! It’s a good thing too when you can say I’m not sure if I’m finished. Living with it for a while is smart and good advice! I want to start my first in many years refinishing project. The big difference is that this dresser is veneer. Will check out your tutorial, but let me know if you have any words of wisdom for me. Beautiful work!
      Vickie

    81. Shelly

      You said you sprayed on Poly and two coats of paint. Why Poly first?

      • Carolyn

        I was wondering the same thing!

    82. Kieran Jackson

      Very impressive. It looks great the way you have it right now!

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