Spring is in the air! That means city cleanup is happening and you know what that means…#trashure. Yasssss… While I could easily spend four weeks of junkin’ bliss perusing my city quadrants, I don’t. Sadly, I would need 10 of me to tackle all I could find. However, I do shop Curb le Chic in my neighborhood for gems like this. Talk about a sweet find! This Art Deco chest of drawers looks as if it gave up. Not me!
If you follow me on social media, you saw that I found LOOT. {{happy dance}} This chest is one of several pieces I found. It looks like me some days…like falling down and I can’t get up. haha. Also, with this chest in this pile, I picked up a large, gorgeous, ornate wooden frame. Of course, I couldn’t leave this chest there. It is so solid and well-made. All it needs is some Larissa lovin’.
Peeling veneer, scuffs, scratches, but…no stink. SCORE! All of this fuss is superficial and is redeemable. Isn’t that just like us and how we need our Jesus our Savior? While some give up, He sees beauty.
DIY TIME
First, I grab my magnet to see if those pulls are brass. The are actually painted aluminum. The acrylic bases aren’t in the best shape, but nothing I can’t work with. Thankfully, they come apart so I can tackle them separately.
TIP: Always carry a magnet with you while junkin’. Brass, real silver (not silverplate), copper, and aluminum are all non-magnetic.
Next, I take my putty knife and pop off the beaded trim on the drawer fronts and remove the veneer. Lemme just say that I have spent HOURS on certain pieces taking off veneer, even with my towel soak method. When this veneer peeled off like a Post It note, I did a huge happy dance.
In addition, I have two drawers that had messed up veneer inside the drawers. This is not near as fun as the drawer faces. It took me hours to use my heat gun and chip out that veneer. whew! I have oodles of bruises and aches to prove it.
Here’s the wonky part. When you pull off veneer you don’t know what you’re going to find underneath. With that in mind, I feel pretty good about this because it is so super solid and built to last. With four of the five drawers I was excited. However, when I got to the fourth drawer in the stack it was a different wood…kinda green.
No worries though because it just means I can have fun with it. {{fist pump!}}
NEXT STEPS
Finally, time to put this Art Deco chest makeover together and add the finishing touches. First, I apply a Summer Oak Stain to the matching drawers.
The odd drawer got a coat of Hickory Gel Stain. Bonus fun, is that I decided to add a few masculine stripes. This chest definitely has a manly vibe, so I want to draw on that.
Next, I apply a custom deep gray/brown paint to the chest body.
Last, but not least, I clean up the brass hardware, but dress up the plastic backplates with Oil Rubbed Bronze paint.
I chose this to update the acrylic, but also a beautiful backdrop to showcase the gorgeous brass pulls. Then, after much tweaking to loose veneer, cleaning up drawers, and a whole passel of other fixes, I’m calling it complete.
REVEAL
Here is my masculine Art Deco chest of drawers made new. woot!
Much better! That snaggle-tooth veneer is gone, that worn feel disappeared, and now a new presence is made. Do you love it?
Classic pieces like this are hard to come by, so I most definitely wanted to see it revived. Now it is ready for many more years of use as a feature piece. If you’d like to make it your own, you can find it and much more available in my online shop.
Magic Linen Waffle Blanket ~ $130
Additionally, pin and share this Art Deco chest of drawers makeover to inspire others to see beauty in the worn.
Up next, these vintage candle sconces are about to get a change-up. See their new look HERE.
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Also, more furniture makeovers like this Art Deco chest of drawers:
Hi Larissa,
I’m actually running out of things to paint! But I do have my husband’s piano and I might be painting that! Love Zibra brushes! Thanks for the giveaway! By the way, how is your health these days? I hope you’re doing better.
Hi there! You’re welcome. I’m hanging in there. I hope you like my work on this project too! 😀
I have a dresser I want to paint for my daughter.
I hope you enjoyed my project today.
Hi Larissa!
Love this redo, definitely one of my favs! Would also enjoy the Zibra for getting into all those tricky places on my paint projects;)
Best wishes,
Kim
Thank you, Kim. 🙂
Wow! Love this redo! I have a small dresser that needs a redo too! Thank you for this giveaway opportunity!!
I really like how you handled the different coloured wood on the dresser. Very creative
Thanks, Myra. Totally made it fun for me. 😀
I would use the Zibra brushes on a child’s set of table and chairs for my Kindergarten classroom for when we get back to school! I miss them so much!
aww…I bet you do. That sounds like fun! 😀
Awesome! I’ve taken off many a veneer and stained. Love it!
Thanks! Yes, in some ways my nemesis, yet I always win. haha!
Love it! So nice to see stain and painting. It is a perfect mix.
Thanks so much, Lyn. I’m always a sucker for that kind of combo.
Hi Larissa! You saved it and you rocked it!!! I’m so happy it didn’t end up in the dump. That would have been a shame. You gave it some Larissa Love for sure. You were spot on making this a masculine piece. I’m even doing the happy dance!
awww…yahoo!! Thanks so much for the smile and affirmation. 😉
Hi! I lover your dresser makeover! I would love to try those brushes on a dresser I have in the garage! It is calling for a makeover!
Woot! Lisa, you sound like me. haha! I have more to come too. 😀
I LOVE seeing your rescues! So inspiring…yet I’m afraid to try. Zibra brushes might give me the confidence to try turning my old childhood desk into something new for (& with) my adult daughter ??
Hooray! That just made my day, Sheri! Thank you so much. You can DO IT!
This chest looks great. Got one with green wood. I appreciate the idea. I’ve got a waterfall wardrobe. New brushes would be great.
Thanks!! Yes, that stuff works great with dark stains. Have fun with it! 😀
I do love what you did! Your rescue of this piece is not only gorgeous, but stays faithful to its Art Deco origins! A magical makeover!
You got what I was after. Thanks so much!
Great renovation! You brought that poor thing back to life!
It was a BEAST of a job, but fun to. Thanks, Tess!
Thought you would paint the drawer fronts, especially because of the oddball, so was surprised how good the stain looked! Love how the funky drawer added style. The paint color is awesome with it also. Great save!
I need some specialty brushes for numerous projects. Thanks for the giveaway! The dresser looks amazing. I just did one for my niece, but it was pretty straightforward with stripping and restaining. Not too many surprises!
Good for you! 😀 They sure are well-made pieces. You’ll love the brushes too!
I don’t really like art deco, but I must say that this looks fantastic! I love the stripes, and the natural wood on the other drawers is perfect. I’m really glad you saved this jewel!
It’s such a funky fun era to work on. Thanks for the love, Becky.
Thanks for the giveaway! I would paint the buffet in my dining room!
You’re welcome. I hope you enjoyed my work today. 🙂
Gorgeous!! And I LOVE this set of brushes! ?
I think this is one of my favorite pieces you have done! I love how it turned out!
Sweet words to hear. Thanks so much!
It came out nice! Thanks for the giveaway. I can really use these to upcycle a vanity that I found at the curb.
Thanks! You will love Zibra brushes for sure.
This looks amazing!
Thanks so much for saying so, Kisti.
There would b no way my husband would stop to pick up something that looked like that sad of condition and I keep telling him that you have to picture on what it would like once finished.
Your transformation is Gorgeous..
I showed the pictures to my husband and said; “See there, look how fantastic she done to such a bad piece of furniture.” I so enjoy rubbing it into him sometimes; saying; “See, there, look what can be done.” :}
Thank you for this great giveaway opportunity.
Enjoy your day. Stay safe & stay healthy.
You are so right! Too many gems are there to be found. Love that you showed him! 😀 haha. Thanks so much.
I love the vintage look! It came out very nice!
Thank you. Art Deco era is fun to work with.
That came out fantastic! You and your work are so inspiring! I still have my kitchen table and hutch that need a redo so that would be what I would work on if I won the brushes. xo~A
Yay! Thank you for the affirmation, Alicia. It means much. I hope you can get to it soon! 😀
Love what you did here. I’m always afraid of what’s under veneer because I don’t think I would know what to do if the under-lying wood was a mess!!
It can be scary, but then there’s always paint. haha. Good rule of thumb though is if it’s an older quality built piece, that under the veneer is going to be good.
Absolutely amazing! You knew just what that dresser needed. Great job!
Thank you bunches, Jerri! 😀
It’s awesome! I like the simple lines and the masculine take on this piece!
It just had to grab it when I saw the lines and wood. So cool! Thanks, Kim.
Wowsers, Larissa, you showed that odd drawer it’s beautiful potential! LOVE the color combinations! If only the former owner could see their curbside dump now. You rocked this one, girl.
P.S. Love the blog makeover too 🙂
Sweet! I’m glad you think so. I was kinda like…huh…them YEAH when the idea hit me. Thanks so much for loving on my blog too. Now for my shop… 😉
Love this makeover. You did a fabulous job. Thanks for sharing.
Nice job on that chest of drawers! Always enjoy your posts<
Thank ya! It was a doozy! Still sore. haha.
Once again your brilliant creativity shines. I would have looked at the odd drawer and thought, “Darn, Now I have to paint the whole dresser” even though I prefer the wood. You always such great ideas. Do you ever think about how cool it would be to pick up a piece of junk, fix it up, and then secretly return it to where you found it?
Right? I was kinda hoping to find junk under it and redo it with a funky fun graphic. Maybe the next one! 😀 I have debated on doing just that. tee hee!
Hi Larissa, Every Spring I am blown away by the pieces you find at curb le chic! The timing was especially good with all the store closures due to the virus.
Wow, that green colored drawer was something special, huh? I love how you worked with that curve ball and turned this dresser into such a handsome dresser. You really did a fantastic job on this piece.
Truly fun for me and sometimes overwhelming as there’s so much tossed out. Thanks for the love, Kaycee.
You amazed me again with you talents. Great job on the dresser. I would paint a small child’s dresser that I use for storage. Thanks for the open.
It was a fun rescue for me to work on. Thanks, Mary!
Gorgeous! It looks better than new. 🙂
I love the Art Deco dresser! I wasn’t sure it could be revived, but you did it! The first thing I would paint with my new Zibra brushes would be a sideboard I have in my garage patiently waiting it’s turn.
yay! It was just needing some TLC. That sounds like the perfect project piece, Jennifer. 😀
Hi Larissa – I didn’t see that coming! What a surprise to find a diff species of wood, but you are dauntless! You transformed it into a beauty! I so admire your ability to see the potential in a discard and change direction when you run into a challenge. I’m learning a lot from you! Thanks for your inspiring encouragement!
I would Love to win the Zibra brush set-up what fun! ☺
That’s so fun to hear, Susan. This was a fun challenge and even sweeter piece. Well-made and built to last. You will love these brushes! 😀
What a creative way to redo that dresser! So neat!!
Thanks so much, Donna. It really is a nice piece to begin with.
You have such vision! Would love to win the brushes!
Thanks, girl! You will love them as much as I do.
love the dresser!!!!!
Yay! Thanks so much!
Oh my goodness Larissa! When I saw the piece with that icky veneer I was thinking, what in the world is she going to do with this? And boy, I said WOW! out loud when I scrolled down to the finished product! You outdid yourself on this one – its contemporary, masculine and you restored life to this beautiful solid old piece! Kudos to you!! An amazing transformation! 🙂 Just like God desires to do with each of our beat up lives ♥️ Keep letting your light shine brightly! I’m very inspired by your projects ?
Your words make my day, Mary. Thank you for getting why I do what I do. I’m always happy to share, but most of all love hearing from those I write for (giveaway or no giveaway). Thank you!
I can’t believe how gorgeous that came out! I am just in deadbeat dresser shocked for lack of better words! This looks fabulous!
hahaha! You made me giggle, Shirley! Thank you!
Larissa, I didn’t think there was any hope for this chest of drawers, but as always, you worked your magic. It looks fantastic. What a great job you did, as always. I still have not tried my hand at furniture, but you inspire me with each and every one of your pieces. I wish you lived near me (Northeast Ohio) because there is so much furniture thrown away every week, you could make a fortune on it!
Thanks, Carol! 😀 It truly is a very solid, beautiful piece that just needed some TLC. I have oodles of furniture in my area, just not enough me to go around. haha. You aren’t too far from me either.
Wow! Great find, and now an amazing beauty! Just when I think I know what you will do to a piece, you throw in a real sUrprise! I have a whole summer of painting ahead of me. My first MUST DO is to finish my already prepped kitchen cabinets. Zibra brushes will be a real bonus to finish this project. I was ready to do them in March. Then I found that I needed to go to Iowa With my husband.for a couple of weeks. Well, we have been here two months and it looks like it will be the end of May before we get back to Arizona.
Yay! It makes it fun for me, Sonja. Thanks! Sounds like you have list of stuff like I do. I hope you can get back at it soon!
That chest of drawers looks absolutely amazing now!!!! Thanks for the chance to win. I would paint a desk that has been waiting for some attention for a while.
Such fun for me to hear, Amanda. Thanks so much!
What a great giveaway and one I can certainly use. I have wanted to try the Zibra brushes for a lone time.
You will love them. 🙂 I hope you enjoyed the work I shared too.
Love, love, love this dresser! I have a funky little, old wooden cabinet that I saved from a “free” pile at a yard sale last summer. It’s just waiting for me to experiment on it!
Sounds like fun!
I love this dresser. You did a great job!
Thank you so much, Lorene.
As always – just a stunning transformation! I have a question though — what was the type of wood underneath the majority of the dresser and what type of wood was the “green wood”? Or was the green some sort of chemical reaction? Keep it up! You are truly amazing!
Thanks, Penny! The wood was just more veneer and the color difference was a different species. I’m assuming maple for most, but not sure on the off color. It could have just been the way the veneer was made.
I would have given up upon seeing the greenish drawer; it would NEVER have occurred to me to do it like that, and it’s gorgeous! I am so glad I can see your ideas for inspirations. Thank you.
That’s the spirit, Amy! I was so glad to see that funky drawer because it meant I could have fun with it. 😉 Thanks so much.
The dresser came out beautiful. I would never had thought about doing one drawer like that but I really like. The brushes would work perfect doing a couple of antique chairs. Thank you for all you inspiration
I just love, love, LOVE that you refinished the wood under the veneer, and what a very clever way to deal with the green wood drawer. Doesn’t it make you curious as to the history that created that difference?
Beautiful job.
And if it’s not too late I’d love to enter your paintbrush contest!
Thanks!! Not too late at all. Many times builders use less quality woods under the veneer, but is still very solid. In this case it was a win-win.
It turned out so great! That green wood drawer – how odd!! I have an old dresser that belonged to my gram. I stripped it several years ago, but then moved it into the attic to work on other, more pressing projects. I recently redid our living room and found the perfect spot for it so I think it’s time to bring her out of the attic and bring her back to life.
Right? Always fun to see what’s under veneer. haha. Sounds like your project is calling you! 😀
Love what you did with this piece, even if it’s not my style. You have such a gift for saving old pieces!
Thank you, Alisa. 🙂
Great job! I have a vanity I’d like to paint.
Thanks!
I love this piece!!! You’re so creative and have the best ideas!!!
What a fun gal you are, Sheryl. Thanks!
So many projects… and now I have extra time to do them!
Woot! That’s the spirit.
That turned out beautiful. The brushes look like the a re comfortable to hold. Most brushes cramp my hand after using them for any time.
Thanks! You are so right. Most have a very narrow handle that make it horrible on my hands. These are such a blessing!
Oh my goodness! You took an ugly duckling and turned it into a swan. So beautiful. You never cease to amaze me!
aww…thanks so much for the smile, Janet. 😀
I am about to tackle my kitchen. Thanks for the opportunity to win those great brushes!
You bet. I hope you enjoyed the work I shared too. 🙂
i have a few project pieces as we are moving soon and will be redecorating our bedrooms (mine & my daughter’s) – i’m most excited about my thrift store find bedside table, so that will likely be first! i’d sure love to try these brushes, as i know you love them!
Would love to win some good brushes.
That turned out amazing!!!
Thank you so much, Sandi.
Thank you, Sandi.
I’d paint my daughter’s armoire!
Hi Larissa,
I love the pop that special drawer gives that dresser! I enjoy all your makeovers you make from these castaways. The brushes would be great to help makeover a little glass front bookcase I rescued.
You did an extraordinary job on this piece! I would not have the courage to do what you did. Your work with veneer always fascinates me. ?
Thank you for the sweet words, Dale. It really does lead you on an adventure and almost always ends in fun. 😀
I thought for sure you would paint it. What a surprise!!! It is beautiful! I wish I had even a tiny fraction of your vision of what to do to a piece (furniture or otherwise).
As for what I could use a new brush for…there isn’t room enough to list them.
Stay well. God bless.
Thank you for the love, Kim. This was a quality piece that just needed some TLC.