It started out like all the other princess dressers in the world, off white with the gold trim. At $45, how can you go wrong? I painted it Annie Sloan Old White. That was perfect when it lived in the guest room. Then I moved it in to the entry because dressers want you to know, they are not just for the bedroom (The Nester said so at Becoming). In the entry it needed something, it just wasn’t right. After all, it was sitting across from this very brownish dining room:
Here it is after the ASCP old white:
It looked great, but not for this spot. So I used some dark wax:
It looked better, but I just could not leave it alone. It needed something else. I got out my quatrefoil stencil (purchased at Hobby Lobby). I held it in place haphazardly and used more dark wax to stencil with:
At first I just did the sides and I liked it. Then I did the top and I really liked it. To finish it off, I did the front and I loved it!
I sanded the stenciled dark wax as it was drying, to distort and age the look. I didn’t want it to be solid, I wanted it to look worn.
To jazz it up even more, like it needed more jazzing with that quatrefoil design. I changed out my Summer look and added some fall goodies.
I dry brushed on some more dark wax in areas to create more contrast. I bought new handles from Lowe’s. The others just looked too frilly
I took picture after picture really too many pictures.
I couldn’t wait for Mr. reFresh to get home. He’s one of the reason for the distressing. Cause he thought it needed it.
When he came home and looked at it for an hour 30 seconds, he looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes and said, “I think it would look better without that design.”
And I said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!@#%&#!@@, Well I thought the same thing and I kept looking at it and taking billions of pictures and then I started to Love It.”
Then he decided that if I would let him live he would learn to love it as much as I do.
And that’s how the dresser went from white to quatrefoil. What do you think, lie be honest!
We really do love it. But you know how easy it is to paint over stuff with that wonderful Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and they do have some new colors 😉
Sharing at:
Molly Susan Strong – Market Mondays
Primp
I love the quatrefoil pattern and the chalk paint and everything! Great job! I have that same white dresser… Hummmmm
Wow! Pure perfection. I must pin this for future reference. I will add it to my wish list:)
Debbie, I’m loving that dresser! I’ve not tried the chalk paint. I’d love to try it on a vanity. I better Mr. Refresh is loving it now, too. Thanks for the post.
The is both genius and gorgeous!
This turned out absolutely gorgeous!! Do you know that I’ve never stenciled? Big chicken is what I am! LOL I must get brave….
~ Sue
Debbie,
I am a huge fan of ASCP, stenciled furniture & now YOU!!!
I think it’s fabulous! I want to repeat it, it’s so great!
As far as the hubby goes, it’s sounds like my home… I never care as long as I like it. We just have better taste & creativity than they do. Blessings!
This is just beautiful! Absolutely fabulous…love that you just kept going…lovely.
~Pam
pamspaintparlor.typepad.com
What do they know?? I LOVE it, YOU LOVE it, I wouldn’t change a thing!
Big hugs, Sherry
Oh my GOSH – I love this piece! As someone has already stated, it is brilliant! You have inspired me…
I think the job you did on this is brilliant! This is a gorgeous piece and I’ms sure it was time consuming. Well, the time really paid off in a big way!
I applaude you for doing something a little different. I would like to try the wax idea with a stencil. That opens up lots of possibilities. Great job. Looking forward to checking out your blog for other good ideas. Thanks.
BEAUTIFUL!!!!
I am sooo stealing this idea…maybe with colored wax!
You did a great job; what a great idea to do the stenciling with the wax!
This is awesome! My daughter has a dresser like this that we’re going to redo. I’m going to pin a pic of this! Thanks for sharing. Visiting from Remodelaholic.
*** CONGRATS on a WONNNNDERFUL CREATION!!! I’m just thrilled I “discovered you by happy accident” just now (!!!) … for a “scaredy-cat” like me, it’s ENCOURAGING to think I just M*I*G*H*T be able to attempt some kind of project like this, “JUST FOR FUN” & to prove to myself I COULD do it (but smaller!)!!!
BTW, I so enjoy/ed your writing style~~~ lots of FUN CHUCKLES along with GREAT INFO!!!
Last note: May I suggest to your darling Prince that he “sleep with one eye open” after comments like that?!?!?!?! Biiiiiiggggggg smiles~~~~~
Best,
Linda in AZ *
[email protected]
Love the new look for your dresser! Your husband was right. Isn’t it amazing when they have good decorating ideas, too?
Well. . .I think it looks amazing. What talent you have.
~ ~Ahrisha~~
Sensational makeover. It reminds me of all the mirrored chests and tables I’m seeing in stores but BETTER. You’re good!
Hi Debbie. I just wanted to stop by and welcome you to Cotton Pickin Cute. I’m so happy that your the newest follower of my blog. I’m familiar with your next of the woods and love that part of Ga. My MIL who just turned 91 was born and raised in Millen, Ga.
Love your tiffany blue blog. I’m all into to the blues and greens now. The dresser came out wonderful and you have such a pretty dining room. I’ve been peeking around and enjoying your fall decor. The witch wreath is too cute.
Have a wonderful week.
Hugs…Tracy 🙂
Awesome job!
Don’t you hate it when they actually have an opinion? My husband hardly ever has one and then when he does I usually don’t agree! Oh well…hope he’s still alive. Have a wonderful week! If you have time link this up to my last linky party on Wed. night. I’d love to have you!
Wow!!! The dresser came out gorgeous!! Love everything about it!! My mind is walking thru every room in my house right now seeing what I could make over. Thank you for the inspiration!
OMG, I just got home and started checking blogs and my mouth dropped open. I LOVE it! I think you did a superb job.
Wow! I love it!! I was going to stencil a tray with dark wax but chickened out..I was afraid it would smear with use. Is that a problem? Thanks, JoAnn
I cannot even imagine the hours!!!
I am begining a new linky party on Wednesday ~ “Fall” In Love. Please join in on the fun.
Just found you on twitter and am following…will follow you here, too! Love the blog and the dresser! (What do men know anyway? lol)
xoxo
Kathleen
This was a a reaaly fun read…and very interesting, unique gorgeous piece!
I think it’s gorgeous. Looks like it’s always been that way. Absolutely beautiful!
that looks so cool! love the new look.
I didn’t love it in your first picture of the finished look, but the second one showing the front of it is AWESOME!!! It’s very beautiful. I’m just not sure I like the top of it patterned, I might have chosen to leave the top plain but that’s just nit-picking! You’ve done a beautiful job of it.
Enjoy!
and please forgive me for the critique, but you did say to speak your mind… 🙂
Anne, I love your opinion! Thank you so much for checking it out. Who knows what I’ll do to it next! I did think about painting the top solid…maybe dark brown or black! :)Debbie
I love it!!!!
I wouldn’t change a thing, either!
I think it looks great with the new design! I really like the new hardware, too. Now it’s a one-of-a-kind piece, which is always great.
That is simply fantastic. oh please come share at Market Monday. I love how fresh and new this is. Not seen before for sure.
http://mollysusanstrong.blogspot.com/2011/09/market-monday-with-linky-creating-from.html
Like I mentioned on FB, different but wonderful!
That piece is fantastic! So chic! You did a beautiful job. I wouldn’t change a thing.
The stencil reallly took it over the top. I love it. Fantastic job Debbie.
You are hilarious Debbie! I absolutely love it…no lie!! LOL! I think it really does blend in more with your dining room furniture and I think the pattern is fabulous! 🙂
Vanessa
I think it looks GREAT!! Love it!
Love the stencil and the change of hardware!
This is a wonderful makeover. You did an amazing job transforming it. I love the finish you gave it. It looks great! 🙂