Tastefully Transformed

By Kate Riley July 7, 2009

I am so proud, delighted, and flattered when regular readers send me pictures of their transformations.  I just had to feature this fabulous revamp by one of my regular readers.  Shea from California sent me this email: 

“Hey there CG,

I wanted to start out by letting you know how much I love your blog. It has inspired me in so many ways and forced me to think outside the box and repurpose things I already has around the house. Thank you for taking the time to share so many of your great ideas. I am grateful!

This project was inspired by you! It’s my guest bedroom and it’s always been a bit ignored. When my boyfriend and I moved in together, we combined a lot of our things and I inherited the ugliest pine dresser which I now absolutely adore! . . .

Before: 

pine dresser before 2

pine dresser before 

Now take a look at Shea’s final product:

pine dresser after

pine dresser after 2

Gorgeous, huh?  See how even knotty pine can become something so lovely.  I mean, doesn’t this look like something straight out of the Pottery Barn catalog ?

Shea described her project in this way:

“I used Kelly Moore Paint (my Dad has a painting business and it’s the only paint he will use).  Swiss Coffee is the color, and I used oil based paint and a foam roller, and a small brush for certain areas.

I replaced the knobs as well from Lowes at $3.98 each. I borrowed all of the necessary tools from my Dad so the entire project only cost $45 (paint and hardware).

I think the sanding was my least favorite part. Waiting a full 24 hours before applying the second coat wasn’t much fun either! I threw in a picture of the room just so you picture it all together!  Thanks again for being so awesome!”

Thank you Shea for reminding us how just a bit of paint can completely change a dated piece into something modern and fabulous.  Here is Shea’s lovely little guest room where her refurbished dresser lives. 

sheas guest room 

I’m starting a new series where I’ll occasionally be featuring revamps by regular readers.  If you’ve upgraded something special, perhaps a thrift store find, or a hand me down from a relative, and wish to have your project considered as a feature, please send it my way.  Please provide at least a few photos of your step-by-step, with a list of products used.      

So didn’t Shea do an amazing job on that pine dresser ?

44 comments

  1. That is gorgeous! What a great makeover. I have my tacky gold shelf makeover on my blog, and I'll be posting more of my office DIY makeover stuff tomorrow. It's pretty good in my opinion since I am a DIY newbie. :o) Thank God for tutorials/blogs like yours CG or else I'd be a hot mess.

  2. I love the dresser. I have the worst looking dresser and chest in my master bedroom. We purchased them in 1990 and I can't bare them now. Problem is that hubby won't let me paint them! Why? They are not high quality. It was a starter set from when we were first married.

    I think I shall paint them while he is at work, and he'll fall in love with them as soon as he lays eyes upon them. Hopefully?

  3. What a wonderful job you did. It looks terrifically different.

    blessings,
    Barbara Jean

  4. Wow! I wouldn't have even known that was the same piece of furniture! It's amazing how the wood texture disappeared with some paint. The cream color with black hardware definitely gave an updated personality! I love the finished product.

  5. I love that! Great job, Shea! And I love the rest of your room as well!

  6. Oh — what is Shea's bedroom color? DH is also a Kelly Moore fan and I want a yellow bedroom. TIA.

  7. She did a rockin job on that dresser! And you are totally right…it looks straight out of the PB catalog. Kudos to Shea!

    ~Amanda

  8. What a great makeover! It really does look like something straight from the Pottery Barn catalog (or any catalog, for that matter!). You guys are making me more confident to attempt a makeover myself!

  9. It never ceases to amaze me what a little paint and creativity can do! She did an awesome job! Thanks for sharing…

  10. YEA for SHEA! What a fabulous job she did. You're right. It does look completely out of PB. If you had told me that, I would have gone with it. :)

  11. Gorgeous! I've been holding off re-doing a dresser and dry sink til I found a color I love….this is the one! Thanks so much for starting this series, I'll be following faithfully for more redos.

  12. OOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhh, AAAAAHHHHhhhhhhhh……LOVE that transformation! I just love it!

    suzanne

  13. The dresser looks totally gorgeous now. It is hard to believe it is the same piece. She did a fabulous job. Love it. Hugs, Marty

  14. What a transformation! It absolutely looks like a $1k dresser from Pottery Barn. Do you have any tips on painting laminate? I have an OLD UGLY dresser that is in serious need of TLC!

  15. AMAZZZZZING! I love it! "GO SHEA, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!" (doing the cabbage patch)

  16. That dresser is fabulous. Its amazing how a little paint on a dresser can change the feel of the whole room.

  17. That's so beautiful! Do you happen to know the wall paint color in that room? I love that color!

  18. Wow! That looks like a completely different piece of furniture! So clean and chic. I love it.

  19. Lovely job, congratulations Shea. The hardware is definitely the icing on the cake.

    Stephanie, my hubby also has serious issues with me painting wood. He's never got over what I did to a cheap laminate piece while he was away one time. From other blogs I've read, a lot of men are the same about wood – no matter how ugly the original piece.

  20. Shea did an awesome job! It looks beautiful, it went from her least favorite piece in the house to her most favorite. Rock on!

  21. ADORABLE… and kudos for buying that piece in the first time around! That classic shape means it will be around through all the fads!

  22. It looks SO much better painted with those gorgeous knobs. Thanks for featuring the project…very cute! :)

  23. Kate, Thank you so much for featuring my transformation! It made my day to say the least!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you everyone for the sweet comments too. I have a permanent smile today. This was my first big project and I can't wait to do more.

    To answer the question about the color on the wall, it's Kelly-Moore "Sea Oats"in an eggshell finish. It looks lighter and tan-ish, not yellow in person. It definitely has a yellow undertone though. I think I may have added a little less than 1/2 of a quart of "Antique White" as well. I tested a wall and it was teeny bit dark.

    Thanks again everyone, and especially CG!!!!!
    Shea from California :)

  24. {LOVE} it! What a great job. One day I will paint all the bedroom furniture and bring some life to it. The furniture has been in my family since 1969.
    -Shannon in Austin

  25. I would have NEVER imagined!! I'm truly inspired! Gorgeous dresser — I'd BUY it!

  26. What a great feature, I can't wait for more of these! Shea did an amazing job!

  27. Wow that's beautiful! CG I have a question – have you ever used a de-glosser instead of sanding? I'm looking at Krud Kutter's, and wondering if it's worth it (would save a huge amount of time!) Thanks!

  28. Wow Shea, great job! What a beautiful room (want to come decorate my house?)!!

  29. LOVE this! I do a monthly blog post about my current "re-do" projects. Everyone loves it, and one of my readers actually told me about your blog!

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