Craigslist Dresser Before & After

Remember this Craigslist dresser I bought a while back for John & Alice’s family room?

dresser 1 (2)

I finally got it finished!  I removed all but the two lower drawers, added shelves and baskets, painted the base, and refinished/stained the top.  Want to see how it turned out?  Here it is!

craigslist dresser transformation 1

The inside color isn’t quite that bright in person.  The sun was setting as I was taking these pictures, and it was doing funny things to the color.  The color is called Arrowroot, a Martha Stewart color from Home Depot.  This is the swatch from the Home Depot website, and it definitely seems more accurate.

martha stewart arrowroot

Here’s one more view of the before…

dresser 2 (2)

And the after…

craigslist dresser transformation 5

Those baskets are just place holders.  They’re shaped funny (they both slope down to the left) and I want to find some that are a richer brown.  But for the picture, these are what I had.

craigslist dresser transformation 2

I had originally planned on doing some sort of antiqued finish on this, but after making the factory cart-style coffee table out of old cedar fence boards, I decided that it might be too many old finishes right there together if I antiqued the dresser.  So I opted for a clean finish.  There is one small exception…the drawer handles.  I spray painted those, and then gave them a quick sanding for a touch of character.

craigslist dresser transformation 7

This dresser will go in front of the upholstered wall in John & Alice’s family room, and will hold the t.v.  I can’t wait to get it in the room and see how it looks!

craigslist dresser transformation before and after

So that’s it.  I’ll have to share the full DIY later.  Right now, I’m off to work on another project!

craigslist dresser transformation 1

By the way, the end of May came and went, and I didn’t even notice!  You know what that means?  It’s time for a drawing to see who the May gift card winner is!  I’ll announce it this afternoon, so be sure to check back!

 

I link to these parties:

Tatertots and JelloTidy MomThe Shabby NestFingerprints On The FridgeJust A GirlThe Shabby Chic CottageHouse of HepworthsFireflies and JellybeansFunky Junk InteriorsUnder The Table And DreamingThe DIY ShowoffFlamingo ToesBetween Naps On The PorchThe Girl CreativeKeeping It SimplESkip To My LouTip JunkieThrifty Décor ChickHome Stories A to Ztoday’s Creative Blog

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37 Comments

  1. Lovely!!! I have a dresser in my garage that needs some sprucing up! I really do like the baskets too…i don't think you should get rid of them!! 🙂 No one notices the slope until you mention it! hehe.

  2. You amaze me, you get so much done and it looks so good!  I really could use something like this!  I guess you just have some sort of a vision where I usually lack.  Thanks for sharing your wonderful projects!

  3. What a fantastic transformation!!  I think I had that same dresser growing up and it's now passed on to my niece.  I will have to forward your post to my sister so she can see the possibilities.  Great job!

  4. This is beautiful and such a great idea!  I love that your removed the drawers and added shelves.  I have been kicking around the idea of getting a new TV stand for the den and this fits the bill beautifully!  I am going to be on a hunt now!  Love it!

  5. That is gorgeous!  What a perfect way to reuse a dresser.  I would have never thought about that.  I'm not going to pass on the next old dresser that I can find for a bargain.  I can see it working well in my son's room to organize his collections; it's better than those too small cubby style things we use now.  Thanks for the tip!

  6. Love  it! And to think I gave a dresser just like this one away a year ago.   : (  It went to a needy family though….maybe they will see your blog and turn it into something fabulous.

  7. How you can take an old dresser and see an updated piece of furniture amazes me.  I can only see the "old" until you show me the "after".   It's wonderful and will be so useful for tv components. 

  8. I love it! I have a question! Where where where did you find baskets those lengths?! We have a dresser that we had to pull some doors off of, and I cannot find baskets long enough anywhere!

  9. I bought those years ago at JoAnn Fabric.  Each one was a set of three nesting baskets.  I think they still carry them, and if you have coupons, the price is actually pretty reasonable.

  10. VERY good work!! This turned out beautifully!  I saw you on Tatertots&Jello's Weekend Wrap-Up : )
    Jaimee @ craft-interrupted.blogspot.com

  11. This looks great! Thanks for sharing it. It is amazing what can be done with an old dresser. I found one at the Goodwill that I want to refinish for a buffet. I am a little scared since I have not done any furniture before. But for $25 I just might have to try 😉

    Blessings!
    LaVonne @ Long Wait For Isabella

  12. I LOVE this… I have been looking for a small dresser to fill a space in my office and now I think I might do this instead! 

  13. I love this and MUST use this idea in my office!  I need a small storage unit and a regular dresser wasn't it!  Thanks!

  14. Beautiful! I love the colors you choose. I have a old antique dresser I want to do this too. Thanks for the inspiration!

    justenoughstyle.blogspot.com

  15. It's called Intellectual by Behr (Home Depot).  It's one of the newer Premium Plus Ultra colors.

  16. love the makeover and i love the different colors inside. i would never of thought to do that , it looks fabulous

  17. I used to have a dresser just like that! Wish I'd been as clever as you because what you did is brilliant!
    Jeannie

  18. I am so glad you are sharing this post.  DH and I have been talking about refreshing our dresser, I was pulling for something gray with painted white handles.  He has been lobbying for a wood grain.  Not only is this the perfect combinations, but I'll have so much better luck of selling my vision with the pictures.  YEAH!  Kristi you seriously rock.

  19. Oh my goodness, this is amazing!  I have an antique dresser just waiting for a makeover and you have totally inspired me!

  20. Love this! The colors are amazing. I have a similar dresser that could use a makeover so you have inspired me! 

  21. It looks fantastic, what a creative makeover! Really caught my eye over at Stephanie Lynn's party.  I think the baskets look great as is.

  22. Kristi – This is such a unique and clever re-purposed piece. Love the dual tone finish – simply fabulous! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase Party. I am a little behind commenting – but I have featured this Sunday. Thanks so much for the FB mention – I greatly appreciate it! Hope you are having a wonderful week ~ Stephanie Lynn

  23. OMG! My husband's dresser is like from the 70's or 80's or something. Big ole clunky thing w the mirror & built in shelfs?… know what i am talking about? I am DYING to do a makeover on it but he isnt buying it… UGH! Something like this would be GREAT!!!

  24. the Before is 4 drawers high .. and the after is 3 drawers high. What happened to the top two little drawers??