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Furniture Makeover ~ Blue for Baby

It’s always so exciting when a baby is on the way. Our family will be growing in the next few months. Take a breath because I’m not the one who’s expecting. ha! My sister-in-law is expecting their first baby soon, and as far as we know it’s a girl. This new babe will give my 6 kids another cousin to play with, and someone for us to adore and love.  As a gift to my SIL, I offered to refinish a dresser for the baby’s room.  As it turns out, she had already found a dresser style on Pinterest that she loved and was hoping to replicate. Now we have a furniture makeover in the works. woot!

I’ve got to be honest that I had no idea how awesome this whole furniture makeover would turn out.  You see, this month’s themed makeover has the subject, “Inspired By” – meaning to redo a piece of furniture in the styling of another piece we’ve seen on the internet, movie, etc.  I had NO inspiration because I have NO time to peruse such frivolous things like other blogs, Pinterest, and… what’s a movie??

As it turns out, I was thankful to not only be able to give my SIL and her husband this gift, but also to fulfill the themed makeover quota. (she giggles wickedly)

LET’S BEGIN

Enter in this gorgeous aqua blue dresser by Sharon at Lilikoi Joy.  You know me and my Craigslist love, not to mention that it’s aqua! (My entire blog post about that color here – yes I LOVE it).

Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Furniture Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Sharon scored this piece on Craigslist and did a fantastic job of giving this lovely serpentine dresser a facelift to suit her style.  You just have to head on over to her blog to read the full story.
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

MY PROJECT

When my mother-in-law came over for a visit one day, she showed me the picture of the dresser that they had in their garage and was one that my SIL had used in her bedroom as a child.
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
How sweet it would be to give her back that dresser for her own sweet daughter – in a much improved state for sure.
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
This forlorn dresser was missing a leg, had a broken swag on one of the drawer pulls, and had been painted white so long ago that it looked yellow.

I don’t know about you, but that serpentine style is one of my favorites (I’m talking about that wavy look to the front).  Swoon!

Although this dresser needed some love, it is such a well-built antique and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. After doing a much needed wood putty treatment to the cabinet, I grabbed my best friend, orbital sander, and went to work.  It was hard to not want to yank all that paint off and restore this beauty back to it’s original wood state.  I mean, we’re talking solid oak with a grain to die for.

HARDWARE

Once I had given the dresser enough “teeth” for the paint to adhere, I set out working on the pulls.  It was such a shame that only one of them was damaged and we couldn’t put them all back on.  I normally don’t paint solid brass, but since the inspiration dresser had a painted chrome finish to it’s pulls, I went with a brushed nickel paint by Rustoleum instead.  Ouch…I painted antique brass….gulp. That’s a new one for me!  deep breath.  I mean, just look at those escutcheons.  So dainty and ornate.

Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Since the new nickel paint looked too new, I used my go-to ebony Rub ‘N’ Buff to create a patina on the pulls. This stuff is great, I tell ya!
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Back to the dresser… Since I was short one pull, I fill the holes in the top two drawers . Then, I drill new holes for a center-mounted pull instead.  I love the glass effect and was able to find some locally.  In addition to that upgrade, I had to repair a back leg so that it could hold a caster again. Thankfully, my in-laws had saved the pieces and I was able to grab yet another caster from that lovely rusty, crusty gift I spoke of here.

PAINT TIME

On to the fun part.  My SIL was hoping to use the exact same color that Sharon did, but since I already had a similar color in my stash that I used on my Mid Century Modern makeover. My $7 seconds paint wins again!  I brushed on several coats to the sides of the cabinet and drawers. However, I am using a foam roller to get a nice smooth finish to the top.  Yes, it’s that time of year, when snow flies and my house fills with furniture.

Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
To achieve the glazed look that Sharon used, I whipped out my homemade glaze that I’ve used on my garage door and several other pieces.  I don’t typically buy into the commercial stuff if I can make it myself – I know, I’m funny that way.
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
The typical store-bought glazing simply has an ingredient in it that allows you to have more work time before setting.  I’ve got glazing down so that I don’t need to worry about it drying too fast.  Just brush on and then wipe off until you get the desired effect.  No need for a $9 bottle. tsk.
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Blue Paint on Antique Dresser by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
For extra durability, I gave it a hand-rubbed wax topcoat. However, a hindsight was to have either taken the paint all the way down. Or, use a paint gripping primer instead.  Since the snow is flying here in the northeast, I’m limited on my outdoor time for sanding. Also, I didn’t want to use that highly toxic primer in my home.  So, if my SIL finds that that paint isn’t holding up, I’ve offered to redo it again in the summer.  Stay tuned.

THE REVEAL

Here it is!  What do you think?

Antique Serpentine by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

I don’t think they’re twins, but certainly related.
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
It’s all good.  My SIL has a new dresser for baby, and I was able to complete my furniture makeover assignment.  YIPPEE!
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpiecesBefore you head off, I want to invite you to go check out all these other fantastic “Inspired By” creations by my blogger friends.  It’s fun to see the initial inspiration as well as the reproduction.

Our last few themes have included:

Antique Serpentine Dresser Gets Much Needed Makeover for Baby with Inspiration by a Blue Beauty by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Until next month’s theme!
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Also, want to see another furniture makeover? Check these out:

Modern Chic Makeover of a Mid Century Modern Dresser Credenza by Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.comVintage Kroehler Vanity Gets French Country Cottage Makeover by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com

Comments

  1. Sharon B. says

    Larissa, your piece turned out gorgeous!!! I love it! I’m so glad you were inspired by my dresser. Our dressers are definitely sisters now and I bet your sister in law just loves it. 🙂

  2. Marie Blackburn says

    Larissa it’s gorgeous! Your SIL must have been so thrilled to get her childhood dresser back completely transformed to pass down to her children.
    Marie@The Interior Frugalista

  3. Christy James says

    Beautiful as always! How sweet that your SIL’s baby will be using her childhood dresser! I love that! XO

  4. Karin Chudy says

    Thats fantastic! and I have to admit my heart lept a little bit when I thought you were announcing a baby..LOL What a sweet gift you are giving!
    Hugs,
    Karin

  5. Rose L says

    I love the color. It looks so great with the new life you gave it! If you lived here in Oregon I would let you use my huge workshop where I just moved. The previous owner, a contractor, had built it with insulation, lots of electrical lights and outlets, and big barn door opening! My fee would be work on a few pieces for me!

  6. Jeanette Chaney says

    Love you piece better! The soft blue is stunning with the aged pulls. Fantastic! Jeanette

  7. White Lace and Promises says

    I like your piece better too. Great job. My grand girls are 9 months apart. I can’t wait until Christmas next year. Two under two and one four year old. Fun!

  8. Wendi Wachtel says

    What a beautiful and heartfelt gift! I love your version and I’m sure your SIL will too!

  9. Kim says

    What a beautiful piece! I watch your pretty pictures go by on Facebook and swoon…I am not a furniture refinisher, no talent there whatsoever, but boy, you make me want to be! 🙂

  10. Vicki Fenton says

    What a beautiful piece of furniture! I love that your SIL still had Her childhood dresser that her own child will now cherish. We can’t thank you enough for linking up to our party today…it means so much to us!

  11. Angie Forte says

    What a beautiful piece!! Love the handles too! Thanks for linking up to Something To Talk About!!

  12. Lisa Huff says

    Larissa, Congratulations on your new niece on the way. I can’t believe you have time to not only paint but do beautiful pieces like this with your kiddos and family. That’s awesome that she has a gorgeous piece of furniture in her dream color and it was what she used as a baby. Love that. Thank you so much for taking the time to link up the Party too. xo Lisa

    • Larissa says

      tee hee. Thank you so much, Gilly. She was very excited to receive it and baby should be here in a couple of weeks! 🙂

  13. Candy Walsh says

    You are truly such a talented artist!! Love the sentiment in this piece!

    • Larissa says

      Awww…you’re too sweet! You made me blush. 😉 Yes, it was so fun to give the piece back to her and now we just await the arrival of baby.

  14. Linda says

    Very nice! My daughter & I paint furniture also but haven’t made our own glaze. Does it matter if you use flat or satin paint? Thank you ?

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Linda. 🙂 It doesn’t matter the finish of the paint, just as long as you want the finish look you’re using. For this piece, I used a semi-gloss paint to glaze to match the semi-gloss blue I used. Hope this helps!

  15. Linda Clement says

    It is lovely. I love that you were able to use the original pulls and add some beauty with the substitutes for the broken ones!! Great job.

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