baby’s first furniture makeover

We’ve been working on putting together a nursery (I think I’ve mentioned this before) and in my hunt for a changing table/station/dresser I’ve been astounded at how much furniture can cost. It seems like the fashionable thing to do these days is to have a changing station with open shelves and keep everything in baskets, but I liked the idea of a dresser that can be used for much longer and which is less likely to have its contents dumped out by a curious toddler. after much internet poking, i found inspiration in this furniture makeover, this “changer” by amy coe, and the color combo of this crib (which we’re thinking about purchasing).  then, i went hunting at the local thrift shops.  dig & save wins again (and did you know that they’re in the process of fixing it up so it feels a little less… dumpy?)!  For those of you who aren’t local, the Dig & Save is sort of like an outlet store for a local thrift store chain.  What doesn’t sell (or isn’t nice enough to sell, or sometimes just if there’s overflow) at the full-price thrift shops goes to the Dig & Save where it’s priced by the pound (for clothing, linens, housewares) or by the piece, but CHEAP (furniture).  I’d been there once earlier this week but wasn’t inspired by anything.  This time, when I went, I found a 3-drawer dresser that looked promising.  With a price tag of $10, I was willing to gamble that it might be awesome… with a little fixing up.

here’s the before picture:

it’s got some chips in the veneer, the varnish on the top is sort of crumbly and it’s got some strange guk on the top corner, but i like the basic bones.  and, like i said–$10.  so… after two afternoons of sanding, patching, drilling and painting, here’s the after picture:

i love it!  (btw, those darker grey shadows at the tops of two of the drawers are just shadows–not a strip of gray paint.)  i even had the paint in my basement.  I also had the 1″ circle drill bit to make the holes.  i didn’t have to invest anything except the cost of the dresser.  and now i’ve got a piece that’s got a good story (better than, “i bought it online”) and if someone in the future colors on it with crayons, i know how to fix it without getting mad and if it’s not fixable…. well, it was cheap!  now, I just need to buy a changing pad.  I’ve got an idea for another little modification, but I’ll tell you about that when/if it happens.

5 comments ↓

#1 Sarah on 08.03.09 at 8:52 am

Awesome makeover!! Love it and totally looks a lot like your inspiration.

#2 Mom C on 08.05.09 at 9:05 am

Love this makeover! You have a tremendous talent for seeing beyond the first impression. I need to spend more time shopping with you–maybe at the dig and save again!

#3 momma on 08.05.09 at 9:11 am

terrific! What color are the drawers inside?

#4 sarah sister on 08.05.09 at 7:10 pm

Cool beans! Looks great. How does it feel height wise? Has Laura ever told you about her dresser/changing table not so good combo? She had to kind of reach up to change a diaper.

#5 Katie on 08.07.09 at 9:14 am

Wow. I’m super impressed. It looks amazing!!

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