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,

61 comments

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

    xo! Lauren @ tickled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    great job!!!

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

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  23. It looks GREAT girl! I love the new knobs!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    xoxo
    Jenna

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

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

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  36. You did a fabulous job! Looks awesome!

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

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  38. love it michaela! what an amazing transformation!

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

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

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  42. 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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  43. 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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  44. 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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  45. Oh my gosh, it looks SO SO amazing, Michaela!! : ) Absolutely amazing!

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

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

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

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

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

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  52. 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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