A few months ago I was driving through the neighborhood when I spotted a dresser in someone’s trash pile. I grabbed my Dad {and his minivan} and snagged a great piece of furniture. It’s amazing what people throw away! {I think in my neighborhood they’re quite sure someone will come and scoop it up before the garbage truck ever arrives.} I painted the dresser with DIY chalky finish paint and wanted to share this trash to treasure painted dresser and the technique I used.
This trash to treasure dresser is a new favorite piece of furniture in my dining room and I feel like I snagged a complete treasure out of someone’s trash.
The dresser started like this. Not bad at all, huh? It had a few scratches, some ill-placed stickers, and two missing knobs. Besides that, it was the sturdiest {and possibly the most expensive} dresser I’ve owned.
Knowing that I would paint the dresser and then distress it, I first painted some edges brown …
… and then painted a bit of green over it.
Once the edges were dry, I made a batch of DIY chalk finish paint and applied a couple of coats {the color is Haystack by Martha Stewart}.
When I was planning this project, I asked my twitter followers if they had any tips and I got a great tip from Dora the Restorer {isn’t that a great twitter handle?}. She suggested I sand between coats of paint and before applying the wax. I’ve always been nervous about doing that {for fear I’ll scrape off half the paint} but I sanded with an extra-fine sanding sponge and it made all the difference! It gave the dresser such a smooth finish and will definitely be the technique I use with all future chalk painted projects.
I distressed the edges a bit more heavily to allow the brown and green undercoats to show through …
… then rubbed the dresser with finishing wax and added some mismatched glass knobs.
The newly painted dresser looks great in my dining room and it’s the perfect place to store my tablecloths and collection of heirloom linens.
Not bad for a curbside find, huh?
Alexis says
Love it, great job. My kids get so mad at me…I stop for anything free on the curb!
Our Pinteresting Family says
So beautiful!!
barb says
I love it, Randi! You did a great job. This is probably a dumb question but can you use chalk on it?
Linda says
Awesome! I totally am livin’ on the wrong neighborhood!
Tonia L says
Lovely job! It turned out great!
Ginger Walls says
Nice job! It looks fabulous. I love the new color 🙂
Ginger
Theresa says
This turned out great! I love when that happens. I recently found some scratched up & in need of new seat fabric Pottery Barn chairs only 2 but, for the flee market price what a deal!! I have the post on my projects page. I love how they turned out. Just a little elbow grease & paint & definitely trash to treasure! Visiting from @ DearCreatives.com
Rebecca says
love this color yellow! i want to see all those doilies 🙂
found you at miss mustard seed.
there’s a party at my place if you feel like linking up!
Rhonda says
What a great find and even better makeover! Visiting from Jennifer Rizzo…
Rhonda @ home.made.
Jen @ Bungalov says
OK seriously??? What a lucky find. LOVe it!!! Sincerely, Super Jealous 🙂
Helen Graham says
Visiting from Jennifer Rizzo. I totally miss curbside furniture. I used to live in Canada and now I live in the UK and its just not done over here 🙁 you’ve done a great job with this find! thanks for sharing 🙂
must love junk says
I cannot believe the stuff people throw out! I love it! I just found you and am your newest follower-I’d love you to visit 🙂
Susan
Lizzie says
Gorgeous redo–I especially love the combination of different glass knobs! And what a great find to begin with! Found you via Roadkill Rescue.
-Lizzie