Friday, June 10, 2011

Dresser reveal!!...by Juli

So for many many months I have been dying to get new non-ikea dressers. I wanted something vintage retro with a modern twist. I have already told you about my sob story of the dresser I lost (see here), can we just not talk about it? So for months and months I have been searching on craigslist and at the local thrift stores for the perfect dressers. Low and behold a pair of dressers popped up on craigslist within my price range and located in my city (that is muy importante). So I pounced on it like Lola (the bulldog) on Rowan (neighbor girl who often has food in her hands) and got me some dressers.

Here's the before:


We like to call it 1980's french provential

The hubster liked the original paint job, while it kind of made me gag. I went in knowing they would be a refinishing project. The amazing part was that these dressers were in excellent condition, barely used!

So after sanding and sanding and more sanding (with my new toy!) I had to buckle down and choose a color. I really wanted to go turquoise or bright green, but I feared that it would grow old and it would hinder my decorating. So I  went with Ace brand light gray and ivory. Nothing fancy! (oh and you absolutely have to buy the spray can attachment, so awesome)


Here's the after: 


 Do you love it?!?!

I drooled at how cute the hubster was when he helped me multiple times pull the dressers out into the yard, and then back under the porch multiple times {wind, heat and rain through June made this a loooong process}. And could he get any cuter marking out the chevron pattern to the T? Such a babe.




 Although a tad time consuming the chevron design was tooootallly worth it!


Here's a sneak peak into my spray paint station, a big concrete something that I found in my yard. At least it's good for one thing!


Now comes the literal blood sweat and tears tips:


  • Don't move giant heavy furniture in flip flops, goodbye little piggy that went home toe nail. {yes, i literally did the rhyme to see which one it was}
  • When you take the drawers out mark where they go back {Its like playing musical drawers around here}
  • To eliminate going to the hardware store over and over and over again, buy A LOT of the color you are using, and try not to get high on the fumes. Zonk.
  • When you buy the finishing glaze be sure you buy all the same kind {not 2 matte and 2 gloss} {and yes the wrong one was used, matte, only to find out after it started to dry funny, grrrr}
  • Don't spray gloss clear finish on gloss spray paint, it cracks the paint and ruins it. {grrrrr, drawer #2 ruined} This was found out as I sweatily ran the the hardware store, again in a panic. Thanks helper guy, too kind.
  • When you mess up on drawer #3 wait until the paint completely dries before you sand to ensure you don't have a goopy globby mess that requires more sanding and a few tears. {Jess that's when I had to take a break and eat something, I was loosing it baaaad}
  • Note to self there are two different sizes of pulls which include 2 different sizes of screws. Be sure where they go before screwing them all on the wrong drawers

All in all, this was a GREAT project that I love and I am so anxious to start the next one! The hubster got so into it that he suggested we pickup free furniture on craigslist , refinish them, and make a profit. We'll see. I think I would need a big workshop....hint hint....anyone?!?

6 comments:

Justine said...

The spray can attachment attaches to what?

Jessica said...

LOL, this is not at all what I expected the post to sound like! I seriously want to hack into your post and write the text conversation we had. I'll just post it here:

Juli: "Everything I did went wrong and in the end my dresser drawers grew and no longer fit in the dresser. Freaking out a little."

Jessica: "How do drawers grow?"

Juli: "I don't know. It might be that it's hot today and they are outside, but they don't shut all the way."

Jessica: "Maybe you should step away from the dresser and relax for a few."

15 minutes pass...

Juli: "Oh man I was getting so frustrated that I had to take a break and eat something."

Jessica: "Troups usually need a snack if they're frustrated."

Juli: "Agreed. An enchilada and some peanut butter m&m's are magic."

Oh I wish I was Lola this afternoon so I could have had front row seats when the drawers started to grow!!!

Jessica said...

and p.s. TURNED OUT GREAT!!! GOOD JOB!!!
Love the Chevron print and color choice!

Unknown said...

oh my gosh this is so great!!! i love the stiped top.. total genius!

~selina

ps... yay sisters!

Anonymous said...

They look awesome and I'm sure Kit will be able to get the drawers to close. I love how you make old furniture new again. Thank you for all of the good ideas and the reusalbe baggies. I use so much less plastic now. I really feel guilty when I use plastic now.

Anonymous said...

it look really cool Julie, great Job
if i see any old furniture i will text you