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
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Marilyn says
January 7, 2014 at 11:17 amI love the quatrefoil pattern and the chalk paint and everything! Great job! I have that same white dresser… Hummmmm
Karen says
February 17, 2012 at 8:27 pmWow! Pure perfection. I must pin this for future reference. I will add it to my wish list:)
Helen says
October 13, 2011 at 8:58 pmDebbie, 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.
Lisa says
October 12, 2011 at 8:39 amThe is both genius and gorgeous!
Sue says
October 11, 2011 at 10:58 amThis turned out absolutely gorgeous!! Do you know that I’ve never stenciled? Big chicken is what I am! LOL I must get brave….
~ Sue
Bonnie says
October 6, 2011 at 1:07 pmDebbie,
I am a huge fan of ASCP, stenciled furniture & now YOU!!!
Tam says
September 27, 2011 at 7:03 amI 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!
Pamela Manes says
September 14, 2011 at 8:05 pmThis is just beautiful! Absolutely fabulous…love that you just kept going…lovely.
~Pam
pamspaintparlor.typepad.com
Sherry says
September 12, 2011 at 8:04 amWhat do they know?? I LOVE it, YOU LOVE it, I wouldn’t change a thing!
Big hugs, Sherry
Brandy says
September 11, 2011 at 9:55 pmOh my GOSH – I love this piece! As someone has already stated, it is brilliant! You have inspired me…
Honey says
September 10, 2011 at 9:45 pmI 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!
Tricia Heliker says
September 9, 2011 at 10:25 pmI 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.
Amy says
September 9, 2011 at 4:23 pmBEAUTIFUL!!!!
I am sooo stealing this idea…maybe with colored wax!
Korrie@RedHenHome says
September 9, 2011 at 9:39 amYou did a great job; what a great idea to do the stenciling with the wax!
Suzy @ Worthing Court says
September 9, 2011 at 9:28 amThis 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.
Linda in AZ * says
September 9, 2011 at 12:55 am*** 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 *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
Upscale Downhome says
September 6, 2011 at 5:27 pmLove the new look for your dresser! Your husband was right. Isn’t it amazing when they have good decorating ideas, too?
~ ~ Ahrisha~ ~ says
September 6, 2011 at 10:48 amWell. . .I think it looks amazing. What talent you have.
~ ~Ahrisha~~
Wendy says
September 6, 2011 at 7:21 amSensational makeover. It reminds me of all the mirrored chests and tables I’m seeing in stores but BETTER. You’re good!
Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute says
September 6, 2011 at 4:40 amHi 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 🙂
sue says
September 5, 2011 at 11:27 pmAwesome job!
Ann says
September 5, 2011 at 10:00 pmDon’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!
Debbie says
September 5, 2011 at 7:28 pmWow!!! 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!
Kim says
September 5, 2011 at 6:25 pmOMG, I just got home and started checking blogs and my mouth dropped open. I LOVE it! I think you did a superb job.
JoAnn says
September 5, 2011 at 10:08 amWow! 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
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
September 5, 2011 at 10:55 amI cannot even imagine the hours!!!
I am begining a new linky party on Wednesday ~ “Fall” In Love. Please join in on the fun.
Kathleen says
September 5, 2011 at 10:37 amJust 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
kathy says
September 5, 2011 at 9:55 amThis was a a reaaly fun read…and very interesting, unique gorgeous piece!
Andrea @Oasis Accents says
September 5, 2011 at 9:21 amI think it’s gorgeous. Looks like it’s always been that way. Absolutely beautiful!
cassie says
September 5, 2011 at 8:56 amthat looks so cool! love the new look.
Anne says
September 5, 2011 at 8:50 amI 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… 🙂
Debbie says
September 5, 2011 at 9:28 amAnne, 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
Teresa says
September 5, 2011 at 8:21 amI love it!!!!
Scribbler says
September 4, 2011 at 11:18 pmI wouldn’t change a thing, either!
Jordan G @ The Happy Homebodies says
September 4, 2011 at 11:53 pmI 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.
mOLLY says
September 4, 2011 at 11:29 pmThat 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
Pamela says
September 4, 2011 at 10:48 pmLike I mentioned on FB, different but wonderful!
Hilly says
September 4, 2011 at 10:31 pmThat piece is fantastic! So chic! You did a beautiful job. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Rosemary says
September 4, 2011 at 10:19 pmThe stencil reallly took it over the top. I love it. Fantastic job Debbie.
Vanessa says
September 4, 2011 at 10:13 pmYou 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
Gina says
September 4, 2011 at 10:03 pmI think it looks GREAT!! Love it!
Katie @ Wildwood Creek says
September 4, 2011 at 10:00 pmLove the stencil and the change of hardware!
brandi says
September 4, 2011 at 9:55 pmThis is a wonderful makeover. You did an amazing job transforming it. I love the finish you gave it. It looks great! 🙂