It’s always fun to redeem a piece of furniture or make cast-off items into something useful, but do you ever have one that just screams at you the instant you see it? Sometimes while perusing Craigslist, a listing will just make me sit up, make my pulse start to race, and I begin to pray that it isn’t already taken while I grab the phone and dial! This Art Deco dressing table was the one that did that to me.
$50!!!! Do you see why?
A gorgeous antique Art Deco dressing table in the waterfall style… just waiting for some love.
Thankfully, I was the first caller and asked how soon I could come over to see (needless to say I didn’t quite hide my excitement well). I grabbed my kids and we headed for our 20 min. drive.
FYI: Let me just tell you that when someone says “need to bring help to bring downstairs”, they mean it.
THE STORY
This beauty was located in a very old upstairs bedroom that was nearly impossible to get down because the stairway had a long banister. The mirror came off easily and I brought that down myself. But…the base is solid and my son and I have so much trouble getting it up, around a corner, and down a VERY narrow staircase (you know the type where you’re standing on the step facing backwards and you can almost touch the next steps up with your nose?) I have bruises and feel beaten up by the time I arrive home, but hey…it’s all worth it, right?
My favorite feature of the unfinished piece:
Need I say more? (Don’t you love my wardrobe for working out in my garage in zero degrees?)
Other than some minor wear to the veneer, she was only missing pulls and a matching bench. Never fear! Thanks to online shopping, my missing pieces problem is solved by a few clicks of my mouse.
DIY TIME
First, by far one of my favorite colors is light aqua. I knew instantly this piece has to be that color. Also, the mirror had an accent strip just below it with tiny gold mirrors and I wanted to draw that out. Likewise, the carved work on the drawers’ fronts, feet, and mirror are just begging to be noticed.
For this piece, I made my own chalk paint using a seconds gallon – score! Then, using an acrylic ivory and an antique gold, I added accents to those glorious carvings and a little distressing.
Antique starburst glass pulls with gold center really set the accents off.
The mirror was a dynamic 40″ diameter with the most beautiful etchings – just perfect for primping and studying oneself. Don’t you wish you wish you had one?
What is more, the bench is on Craigslist and I already have the perfect upholstery in my stash. My mother gave it to me, who also used it on her vanity bench.
Finally, the finish is in a hand-rubbed wax, both light and dark to give that luster I so love.
GOODBYE
Truth be told, I really hated to part with my painted lady… we all did, but I had nowhere to put her. Maybe I should just get rid of my bed!
To make a memory, I had my 3 girls dress up and pose sitting on the bench in front of the mirror – so precious and worth more than any dressing table I will ever have.
Once listed in my online shop, she sold in 3 minutes. I am in awe, and, honestly, sort of disappointed that I don’t get to keep her. However, the new owner said she had one just like it as a little girl and she knew she had to have it.Truthfully, there’ll never be another one like my painted lady.
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While you’re at it, more fun transformations for you:
Just beautiful…I can see why you had trouble parting with it!!
What a wonderful find. You transformed it beautifully.
It is stunning! Such a pretty shade of blue!
It’s gorgeous!
Oh, that piece turned out gorgeous! I would have had a very, very hard time parting with it. I’m sure the new owner is over the moon in love with it as much as you are/were.
Love the colors, the detail and that mirror…oh my!
Stunning. What a fabulous work of art you created. I paint furniture too and it can be so hard to part with the really pretty ones. I sometimes keep them in my staged lol garage/ workroom for an extra few day…ah heck sometimes weeks. It’s my weakness. But that one just might have been one that I would have found a spot for. You certainly have a great eye for detail.
She’s a beauty, for sure! I love to see new life in the oldies but goodies!
<3 Kim
What a beauty – well done!
WOW! Beautiful piece and great transformation!
Gorgeous! I have to tell you I’m jealous of your freezing garage – I’m sure mine hit 110 today. I’m featuring your dressing table in the PoPP Spotlight this week.
Absolutely gorgeous! What a transformation!
Beautiful!
Beyond stunning – a MUST Pin! I found it over at the Give Me The Goods party.
~Marie@InteriorFrugalista
Absolutely stunning!!!! Well done! I love it!
Smiles!
Terry
What a piece! I totally can see you hauling and pulling that thing down the stairs. But so worth it, I know! The details on the dresser is amazing, all from the carvings til the big mirror with flowers and the gold details.
FYI I would allso get rid of my bed if I could keep this! Who needs sleep?:p
Oh Larissa…it’s AMAZING! Perfect colors, detail and fabric….you have such a wonderful eye. Well done!
Oh my gosh that is absolutely stunning Larissa! You did such a beautiful job on this. Love the ivory and gold embellishments and that color is gorgeous. Lucky finding the vanity bench on Craigslist – I couldn’t find one for nothing over here. I can see how that would’ve been a hard piece to part with.
Can you imagine having one like that? swoon… Thank you so much for your sweet words. At least I know it’s only a 5 minute drive from me. 😉
I have one very similar, along with the matching bed and wardrobe , that belonged to my sweet mama when she was a little girl. It has lovely blue glass tiles, some of which are missing. Any idea where I could find replacements? Thank you for the beautiful makeover ideas!! It is a beauty.
Wow! Good for you! I would either try to remove one of the existing glass tiles and take it to an glass shop that could cut you similar ones or look on eBay or Etsy. Hope this helps and thank you for the love!
I love what you have done with these old vanity’s. I have one that now I want to fix up. My question for you is the mirror I have for this vanity is round like the one you show here. The mirror is so old that it has lost some of the clearness I am not sure how to explain. Do you know if mirrors are fixable? To give them the original clearness. This was my Aunt’s vanity and I am the second owner of this and I would love to be able to get the mirror fixed. I use this vanity daily.
Thank you
Kathy
Back in the day, there were artisans who re-glassed mirrors, but I don’t know of a single one who does it anymore. There may be one out there, though. Otherwise, you enjoy them as is or replace. Sorry, I’m not much help, but am glad to hear you’re enjoying that beauty. 🙂
Been looking for many years now. Please email me if you have or know where I can find an art deco vanity dressing table in white with large round mirror, waterfall design. Must be in GREAT shape. Would welcome homemade from someone who is selling a “beauty”. (such as Etsy, etc.)
I see them all the time in my searches. Feel free to email me so we can chat. larissa at prodigalpieces dot com
Omg, this piece is gorgeous!
Thanks!
That is absolutely freaking gorgeous. I can’t believe you sold it. I bought a similar one several years ago (no mirror though) and it’s still sitting in my garage….still needing the paint scraped off of it (the place that sold it had painted it), and the veneer is peeling off.
Believe me, I think of it often. I still have no room for it as I like to sleep. 😀 tee hee. You have a winner waiting to happen!
I had one like this when I was little too. I found one almost exactly like it, & like this one for $30 on Facebook. Problem is that the veneer on the middle part is discolored and bubbled up. I think something with oil was spilled on it. I have zero idea how to fix it.
That’s a sweet find. Just remove the veneer using my towel soak method.