Dress 'Er Up!

Drum roll please.....

My dresser is finished! I'm so happy with the results.  It was actually a lot easier than I had thought. Here's the break down:
1. Found the ugly dresser at Goodwill for $70
2. Lightly sand the entire dresser. Also clean off goo and dirt if necessary.
3. Make sure to get a good primer! I used a spray primer.  This is the best kind of primer out there, so I've heard. Cover Stain Oil Base Primer. It seals wood and allows for you to not have to sand the heck out of it first.
Here's what it looks like after primer:
4. Start painting! Roll on your first coat of paint. Let it dry, then use a brush for the second coat. It helps get in all the cracks (:
5. After painting your second coat, make sure it's good and dry before you LIGHTLY sand the top, just to get any bumps even:
6. Then apply Polycrylic:
It seals the paint and assures no chipping! It's a milky consistency in the can, but dries clear.
7. Clean the hardware with Brasso:

8. Reattach the hardware:
9. Sand the edges of the top, some corners, and other surface areas to give it a more "vintage feel"
10. Done!
Such a transformation, right?!
I love the charming key hole:


And my new Anthro knobs for the top drawers:
I still have to line the dresser drawers with some cute paper, but that will have to wait until I'm home for summer.  I can't wait to get it in my room! Pictures coming soon.
I'm sharing this post with Centsational Girl.


Love and The Ugly Dresser all Dressed Up,

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61 comments
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61 comments

  1. UnknownMarch 31, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Dress er up and take her out! So wonderful. You did a great job. Such a charming piece. Proud of you, girl.

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  2. CandaceMarch 31, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    That turned out so good! It is pretty! It gives me hope that one day too I may be able to do this! Love it! Nice work:)

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  3. Lauren CaldwellMarch 31, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    your 'new' dresser looks AMAZING!! I love all the lines!

    xo! Lauren @ tickled.

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  4. Barbara MatsonMarch 31, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    That is one gorgeous dresser! Nice find! I had one too recently!

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  5. UnknownMarch 31, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    That turned out so good, I am loving the "little" details in the hardware! I am hoping to score a piece like that for my craft room for some additional storage.

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  6. BridgetMarch 31, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    huuuuuuge change. nicely done.

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  7. UnknownMarch 31, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    It looks fab!! Love the new knobs! And they keyhole is too cute!

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  8. Rhiannon BosseMarch 31, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Lovey!! It looks way fabulous!! So sweet and cute. You did an amazing job!! Very proud!!

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  9. LaurenMarch 31, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Wow it looks so awesome!!!!

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  10. KerryMarch 31, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Great job Michaela! It looks fantastic. The lines of the dresser are really great... I'm anxious to get painting the dresser we have for the baby! :)

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  11. SharstinMarch 31, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    serious chick? it looks amazing! and i love the knobs-it looks insane fab!

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  12. Simply LKJMarch 31, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    It looks amazing! Love that you distressed it a bit. And, LOVE those new knobs. Great job. It is a piece you will cherish for a long time.

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  13. Dana GastelumMarch 31, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Amazing job Michaela!!! It's gorgeous! Love the Anthro knobs with that cute little key hole :) So beautiful!

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  14. RissyMarch 31, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    looks awesome! great work girl!

    My mom always used to line my drawers with the excess wallpaper from my mom... and I thought they just came that way.... because I'm a silly goose!

    CarissaExplainsItAll

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  15. UnknownMarch 31, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    You did an amazing job Michaela! I love the distressed look with the knobs that you chose:)

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  16. ChiaraMarch 31, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    Love the end result!! Seriously great difference! Good job
    xo

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  17. jessica // union shoreMarch 31, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    awesome! enough said!! :-)

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  18. Carmen's Texas LifeMarch 31, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    It looks so good! I wish I had the patience to do something like this. The knobs are beautiful.

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  19. MichelleMarch 31, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    It looks awesome!! You did a wonderful job! Love the new dresser knobs!

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  20. Something Old, Something NewMarch 31, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    This turned out great, I love it!!

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  21. Something Old, Something NewMarch 31, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    This turned out great, I love it!!

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  22. Gail@Sophisticated StepsMarch 31, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    The moment I saw the first picture of "before", I knew it had great bones.

    Yes! Love that key hole and knobs.

    I know it's a lot of work, but so worth it. It looks fantastic!

    Sophisticated Steps

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  23. Virginia BelleMarch 31, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    It looks fantastic! I love the vintage look that you gave it with new knobs and the sanding!

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  24. ShannonMarch 31, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    i love it! it really did turn out so well!

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  25. UnknownMarch 31, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    It's so fabulous and gorgeous!! I LOVE it-great job :) xoxo

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  26. Sam W.March 31, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    i've been eagerly awaiting this post!! it looks amazing :)

    great job!!!

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  27. Cassie BustamanteMarch 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    it turned out beautifully!!! love the crystal knobs- they add a nice touch of glamour.

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  28. JamieMarch 31, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    It looks GREAT girl! I love the new knobs!

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  29. Natalie {Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers}March 31, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    Michaela, that looks amazing! Such a transformation. Love it! Job well done my dear!

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  30. Whim Wham LifeMarch 31, 2011 at 12:52 PM

    You did great Michaela! It turned out perfectly. You've inspired me to kick my butt into gear and do mine:-) xoxo

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  31. NikkiMarch 31, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    It turned out great! What a steal for a quality piece of furniture.

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  32. NicoleMarch 31, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    Dying over this... You inspire me so much!

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  33. Julie @ The Smitten MintonsMarch 31, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    Wow it looks beautiful!!

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  34. christine doneeMarch 31, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    Yeah it's finished! And looks great. You, friend, are one awesome lady.

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  35. UnknownMarch 31, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    awesome! my best friend is also an interior designer and did the same thing with her ugly dressser!lol.

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  36. Marissa WaddellMarch 31, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    This is AMAZING! It looks so much more expensive than what it cost! Great transformation.

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  37. Perpetual Blind DateMarch 31, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    I am obsessed with re-doing furniture! This piece looks great!!!

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  38. Mandy@ a sorta fairytaleMarch 31, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    How awesome!! Can you 'dress up' a dresser for me now?? :)

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  39. JennaMarch 31, 2011 at 2:39 PM

    This looks great Michaela! - So professional and you make it look so easy!

    xoxo
    Jenna

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  40. Natalia LynnMarch 31, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    Beautiful! And sounds super easy!

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  41. simplyvonneMarch 31, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    i love the dresser in white now..you did great job!

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  42. Meredith!March 31, 2011 at 4:40 PM

    wow, it looks so awesome! i love it! i need to try a project like this!!

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  43. LeanneMarch 31, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    You did a fabulous job! Looks awesome!

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  44. natasha {schue love}March 31, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    OMG this is so amazing! And you did it all so quickly! Bravo! Love the charming keyhole too! :)

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  45. KristenMarch 31, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    love it michaela! what an amazing transformation!

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  46. MeganMarch 31, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    i must say. the title of this post is REALLY creative..almost as creative as the dresser itself..

    well done friend. well done...

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  47. Nicole DianneMarch 31, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    awesome job girl. I should have taken pictures of my dresser transformations too! oh well :) you did great!

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  48. Diana SmithMarch 31, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    Well done lady! It looks like you bought it! Like from Pottery Barn, amazing!
    Livy Love

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  49. KatieMarch 31, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    Impressive, looks great!

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  50. Cassie {Hi Sugarplum}March 31, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    what a great piece with great bones...and you did a fab job cleaning her up!!!! You'll have that for years!

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  51. Lisa @ MMTMarch 31, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Awesome job! I love the new dresser all dressed up :) Now that I see how you did it step by step, I'm thinking about redoing my living room table (my son starched it up). You made it look easy though, I dunno if I would have enough patience to sand it down all day lol. Well great job!

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  52. AnonymousMarch 31, 2011 at 11:44 PM

    I am so pround of you. It looks great and I can't wait to see the real thing.
    Designs by Belinda

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  53. MeganApril 1, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Oh my gosh, it looks SO SO amazing, Michaela!! : ) Absolutely amazing!

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  54. Sarah @ Upshaw - The Next GenerationApril 1, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Michaela it turned out sooooo good!!!! I love it. The anthro knobs are perfect!!

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  55. AshleyApril 2, 2011 at 1:57 AM

    Looks great! I knew it would turn out nicely. (: I even love the little details like the sanded corners... that definitely gives it a little bit of a vintage look.

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  56. HeatherApril 2, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    It looks fabulous!! You did an amazing job :).

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  57. emilyApril 3, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    FABULOUS! Love the key hole and the anthro knobs. You did a great job!

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  58. AnonymousApril 7, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Wow! It looks beautiful! And I love the new knobs!!

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  59. Emily A. ClarkApril 8, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Looks great, Michaela! Such a classic style. You did a beautiful job.

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  60. The Frosted GardnerApril 25, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    The white is perfect. Great makeover!

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  61. The Single NesterApril 28, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    I've been looking for a step-by-step. Thank you!

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Thank you for stopping by! If you have a specific question, please email me at hello@michaelanoelledesigns.com. I always reply to emails! Have a blessed day! xoxo

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