The Story of the Ugliest Dresser I Have Ever Seen

So I wanted my next post to be an update on my two drawer dresser but I made the mistake of moving it up to our bedroom. The reason that is a mistake is because our bedroom is kind of a black hole. Things disappear in there never to be seen again. The problem (this time) is that, until the sweet hubs has a spare 15 minutes to help me move out the old dresser I can't really get a picture of the new one. Hopefully I will be able to do that soon because I have a total crush on my little 2 drawer dresser.

I told you last time about giving up on the empire dresser. I have been on the hunt for something ever since. I have found a lot of amazing things. Most of them were over my $60 max budget or too big or both. I saw an ad on craigslist last week about a set of dressers that this woman was trying to sell and she was willing to split them up.

 

Just looking at the pictures I thought it was probably just a bad whitewash job.

I was SO very wrong! Somewhere along the way it was painted white. Then someone took gold paint and streaked it over the white. Seriously horrible. The look on the hubs face was priceless. He could not believe I was going to bring it home. For $45 I liked the shape of the piece (something I can't change) and just the paint job was awful (something I can change.)

I originally wanted to refinish it and leave it a nice natural wood finish but when I got home I saw this.

Darn crazy paint paint job tricked my eye! I figured with such a large piece of veneer missing that I was going to have to paint it. I (of course) wanted to have the top refinished at least so that became the plan. I tried sanding. Didn't work. It took off the gold but not the white. The dresser has a curved edge I couldn't use the sander on anyway so I pulled out the paint stripper. That barely took it off but I finally got a pretty good clean surface. I used dark walnut stain on the top and Miss Mustard Seed's Artissimo Milk paint on the rest.

Here she is!

 I switched out the knobs for a set of 6 vintage brass pulls I found on etsy for $12. With shipping that brought my total to my original $60 budget.  I think I may develop a crush on this dresser too.  What do you think?

When to Give Up and Makeover Part One

We have been pretty darn busy trying to get acclimated to our new schedule for this year. I still get confused as to which day dance class is and Aleena having school three days a week definitely makes for a busier schedule. We have even had a couple of illnesses already but I finally feel like we are starting to get adjusted!

Now that we are somewhat settled, we have shifted into purge and organize mode. Have you ever noticed when you try to organize it gets worse before it gets better? We are in the worst part right now. Just about a year ago, right before we got Hurricane Sandy I posted about an empire dresser that I had picked up.

I refinished the drawer fronts...

 and had big plans that came from beautiful inspiration.

source

We did a little more work on it around Christmas and then we moved it into the foyer and it didn't get touched again. My sweet and understanding hubby started to push for some kind of movement on the project as we came up on the one year anniversary of me bringing it home. Was I mad? Not really. I usually knock out a piece in a couple days. Having an eyesore in our foyer for a that long is not really what I was looking for.  I had a couple of other pieces that were taking up room with no finish line in sight and I found a good home for them. When I made the decision to let this one go I contacted the same girl and she came and got it and was SO happy to have it. She is starting her own business and doesn't mind taking on fixer uppers. I just have to find something to hold all the hats, mittens, and scarves that are floating around my house now.

While I was searching for a replacement to our empire dresser I came across something that I have been looking for for our bedroom. A two drawer dresser. Not easy to come by and I don't think they are in high demand. We have been doing some reorganizing in our bedroom trying to come to some design agreement. (anyone else have vastly different decorating ideas from their spouse?) My hubby has something against dressers. Not sure what, but he doesn't like them. We moved some tall cabinets into our bedroom that hold pretty much everything but I prefer drawers for my socks and unmentionables. Hence the 2 drawer dresser. So craiglist (close by!) for only $30 produced this for me-

This little maple dresser had seen better days. There was some pretty significant water damage to the finish.  and it was FILTHY. I am imagining it sat in a basement for some time. I love it now! I have been working on it for the last few days and I don't think you will recognize it. The finish is still soaking in (I used Hemp Oil) so the after will come in another post but I am excited to show you!!

Anyone else find something they have been looking for?