How To Bring a Neglected Vintage Dresser Back to Life

I was lucky enough to find this fabulous old dresser

on a yard-sale page and I knew immediately that I had to have it. She looks like she’s seen better days and I would love to hear about her travels. However, I’m just happy to rescue her from the garage she was stored in and give her a new life and new look.

Yard sale find for $50. This dresser has so much character and charm but she needs a bit of a face lift.

Isn’t she Pretty?

This type of furniture makes me so happy…

and a $50 price-tag makes me ecstatic. I cannot pass that up, and since I needed a dresser for my very own…I didn’t. Just look at the details….those details are what sold me!

This vintage dresser makeover was super fun because of all the details.

Details, Details, Details!

This vintage dresser was just screaming for a makeover, she's quite the beauty.

Such Beautiful Details

This vintage dresser makeover was so fun and rewarding. The details make it so rewarding!

Details are the Best!

This old dresser had a lot of years of grime

on her so I used my Norwex Enviro cloth to clean her up. There were a few spots with minor veneer damage but those don’t bother me because I love the distressed, chippy look anyway.

I love the old dove-tailed drawers not only because they look cool but also because they hold up so well.

Functioning dove-tailed drawers

This vintage dresser makeover was more than just paint and hardware. There were a few spots of veneer damage but I don't really mind because I think it gives a piece character and helps them tell their story in a visual way.

Slight damage on a drawer front

Damage to the top which will be under the mirror…No big deal! 🙂

I was so concerned about painting around the mirror but it turned out it was super easy to remove which made this project even easier. a

Mirror removed. Yay! Look at those gorgeous details.

These pieces from the top of the mirror looked like a face to me when I removed them and laid them on my workbench. I was so thrilled that they came off so easily as it really helped in the painting process.

I couldn’t help it! I saw a face! 🙂

A surprised face??? 🙂

The drawer bottom was loose so i gave it a bit of wood glue and clamped it until it was dry. Now it's stronger than ever.

Clamping! 🙂

Now it’s time for the fun part….Paint!!!!

Chalk paint was my paint of choice for this project. I actually started making my own chalk paint using flat paint and calcium carbonate and I’m very happy with the results. For this dresser I decided on Behr’s Palais White made into chalk paint. This is so much more affordable than the brand name chalk-paints so I decided to give it a try on pieces that I’m keeping for myself so that I can monitor how it holds up. I got it all painted and realized the color was a bit too yellowy for my taste….so I started over with Behr’s Bit O’ Sugar, also made into chalk paint.

Finally, after 3 coats of chalk paint…

I lightly sanded the edges and the raised areas to really bring out the details and allow her age to shine through. I used Valspars Glaze in Asphaltum with a tiny artist brush to add some depth in the lines around the edges of the drawers and the design on the front. I also used this glaze on all of my kitchen cabinet doors. If you missed that post you can find it HERE. Then I waxed it with Annie Sloan Clear wax to protect it and give it a beautiful sheen.

Vintage Dresser Makeover is nearly complete.

Jimmy is my little helper. ALWAYS!!

I love the details on this vintage dresser. The ornate trim around the mirror is what caught my eye when I first saw this piece. So fun to make-over and give this dresser new life.

It’s all in the details!

They just don’t make them like they used to!

This piece has so many lines and details and I wanted them all to really pop so I glazed them to make them really stand out from the rest. The imperfections are still there and she wears them proudly.

Glaze really brings out the details!

Valspar Glaze in Asphaltum is just what my cabinets needed to get that beautiful French Country flair!

I love Valspar Glaze ! So easy to use!

The drawers needed some love too

and since they were pretty beat up inside I decided to cover the bottom of them with fabric. This dresser is going to be used for my clothing and I prefer the drawers to be fresh and clean so I used Mod Podge to line the drawers with this pretty Parisian print fabric. As a last-minute decision I removed the original hardware …after painting it…(on the two bottom drawers only) and replaced them with glammy glass knobs from Home Goods. So fancy!

The drawers on this dresser were in pretty rough shape so I cleaned them up and then lined them with fabric.

Drawer before Lining

Lining the dresser drawers with fabric using Mod-Podge is a very simple way to freshen them up and make them look fabulous!

Drawers need love too!

I don't paint the sides of the drawers unless they're in really bad shape. These drawers only needed a light sanding and then a coat of Hemp Oil to give them a nice rich look and show off her sexy sides. :)

Drawers are fabulous and functional!

Vintage DResser Makeover with chalk paint, wax, new glass knobs from Home Goods, and lined drawers with fabric and Mod Podge.

Even her feet are pretty now!

I painted this vintage dresser with home made chalk paint and then waxed it with Annie Sloan clear wax. I love the shine you get from waxing.

So shiny!

I love this transformation!

From the first day I rescued her from that storage garage I thought she was pretty…but now, she feels pretty! Results like this, which to me are great rewards, are what make me love finding old neglected furniture and giving it a new look and a new life. If these old pieces could talk just think of the travels they may tell us of, or of the changes in the world that they’ve seen. I love old furniture, I love the smell of the old wood, the craftsmanship, the architectural details but more than ever, I love their stories.

Here’s a reminder of what she looked like before….

Before

And After…

Now that her makeover is complete, she stands proudly in my room holding my clothes, giving me a place to display my pretties, and I’m pretty sure she’s reflecting on her life and feeling grateful for her second chance. 🙂