Thursday, October 29, 2009

A dresser gets a little bling

I was so excited when I came across a bunch of house numbers at the thrift!



I started running through the house wondering where I could find a good home for them.



One place was the headboard turned towel rack. But where to use the rest?!? And then it came to me. I ran for the glaze and drill and the rest is history.



My salvaged $5 dresser from someone's barn in some weird shade of pink...



... recieved a fresh coat of white paint a few months ago. Lovely already! I just love the lines.



I took a sander to the edges for a bit of distressing for extra character. Not bad. I lived with this for quite awhile. Until I got the numbers. :)



I added a very small amount of glaze for further aging, and gave the little dresser some bling!



Notice how the glaze really warmed up the white? Yet it's still white. I am in love with glazing! I'll be doing a tutorial on how I glaze at a later date as this post will be long enough.



And the dresser got further dressed up with a canning jar hugging heart shaped rocks from our summer camping trip...



... with lots of texture in layers of course... the top is a mirror, 2nd is a galvanized framed mirror and the 3rd is an old barn window.



... and a little smattering of burlap. The platters make a wonderful key/loose change drop area.



The 'already ok but a little sleepy' before...



... to the dramatically enhanced after. The small changes of glazing and numbers made such an impact! It doesn't just feel like a lil' ol' plainted dresser any longer. It's now a 'feature.'

It's another one of those projects that makes me grin when I walk by. This dresser has spunk!



The dresser is on the left in this front entry.

Tip: Push it one level more.

As a graphic designer, I know about the rule to do something nice, but attempt to push things one more level. You can do this with virtually any project. Think a little outside the box, and your regular painted feature can become a piece of art with the smallest of details.



Dressers are like Barbie Dolls. You can redress them over and over again just because you can. And maybe even because designers are a tad anal... sigh.. I'm totally walking away from it for awhile. Thanks Survivor, for saving me tonight!

This post is shared with:



Furniture Feature Friday



Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After party



Trash to Treasure Tuesday, Nov 10



on Nov 11.

White Wednesday, Nov 11.





at

48 comments:

  1. Jacey Autumn PhotographyOctober 29, 2009 at 8:07 PM

    WOW! I LOVE HOW YOU PUT ALL YOUR ACCESSORIES TOGETHER TO CREATE SUCH A GORGEOUS VINTAGE LOOK. GREAT JOB! LOVE YOUR BLOG!

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  2. Sarah @ Hennessey HouseOctober 29, 2009 at 8:16 PM

    is there anything you touch that doesn't end up looking awesome? yet another stellar makeover. :)

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  3. Alisa D.October 29, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    Wow...that is seriously creative. It looks awesome! Love your style.

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  4. Michelle HughesOctober 29, 2009 at 8:44 PM

    Looks great! Very Funky! I love numbers!

    Smiles!
    Michelle

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  5. Room to InspireOctober 29, 2009 at 9:25 PM

    I just love the numbers! This is so creative - I just love it!

    Chelsea

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  6. PatinawareOctober 29, 2009 at 9:27 PM

    Love it ~ great job!

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  7. ShannonOctober 29, 2009 at 10:49 PM

    How fun is this! I love it. The numbers add serious pizazz! great job!

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  8. Catherine @ van Breugel DesignOctober 29, 2009 at 11:40 PM

    Beautiful dresser and for only $5! Wow, Lucky find! What kind of glaze you are using? I feel a painting project coming on.

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  9. AnonymousOctober 30, 2009 at 12:07 AM

    Wow Wow WOWWW!!! Love that dresser! Love your style, too! I aspire to be like you when we were close on our first home in 2 weeks! ;) Thanks for sharing and keep the inspiration coming! :)

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  10. GailOctober 30, 2009 at 2:37 AM

    Oh Donna, AWESOME transformation with the dressor but your choice of accessories just made that dressor POP!

    Have a wonderful day.
    Gail

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  11. UnknownOctober 30, 2009 at 3:12 AM

    Love the numbers! Thanks for the inspiration, this is why I love blogging. Now the next time I see numbers in the thrift I will but them. I have walked away before because I didn't need that number. But they did get my attention and tells me there is something there. I just need someone to push me. And you did.

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  12. Kathy @ Creative Home ExpressionsOctober 30, 2009 at 3:38 AM

    I do like the glaze, Donna, and the way you dressed this dresser up. I have a 3-drawer dresser in my entry and the drawers are great for storage.

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  13. ChristineOctober 30, 2009 at 4:00 AM

    I love it, great job.

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  14. Miss Mustard SeedOctober 30, 2009 at 4:36 AM

    Oh, Donna! I absolutely love that. The dresser has so much personality, now. And your arrangement is awesome. Well Done.

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  15. cindyOctober 30, 2009 at 5:47 AM

    Total amazement here. Would you just get your rear end down here and teach me to accessorize??? I am also now going to harp on you about the glazing tute thing. I need one so bad as I'm pretty sure I'm not doing it right. *tapping my foot* Is it ready yet?

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  16. Lou Cinda @ Tattered HydrangeasOctober 30, 2009 at 6:30 AM

    Donna! LOVE IT ALL!! The dresser, the numbers, the vignette~!

    Superb!! I'm gonna study this and learn!!!

    Lou Cinda :)

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  17. Lou Cinda @ Tattered HydrangeasOctober 30, 2009 at 6:30 AM

    Donna! LOVE IT ALL!! The dresser, the numbers, the vignette~!

    Superb!! I'm gonna study this and learn!!!

    Lou Cinda :)

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  18. ~ ReganOctober 30, 2009 at 6:34 AM

    Wow, that looks terrific! It's amazing what those numbers did to transform it! The burlap is a nice touch. It's rustic and toned down to let whatever beauty you put around it really show!

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  19. Danielle @ Transforming HomeOctober 30, 2009 at 6:39 AM

    Looks great! I really need to work on my accessorizing skills - you are an inspiration!
    Thanks
    Danielle

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  20. JackieOctober 30, 2009 at 7:07 AM

    The glaze and the numbers really add a "bling" to the dresser! Great job!

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  21. AnonymousOctober 30, 2009 at 7:24 AM

    Those numbers are the perfect finishing touch! She's sassy now. :-)
    pk @ Room Remix

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  22. JaneOctober 30, 2009 at 7:24 AM

    I really love this piece...you had me searching for numbers at the thrift store after I read your towel rack post...now I KNOW I am going to be on the lookout for them! I'm looking forward to your tutorial on glazing. Thanks for all the inspiration.
    Jane

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  23. Flat Creek FarmOctober 30, 2009 at 7:42 AM

    I love the idea of using the house numbers. It rocked the towel rack, and it rocks this dresser too! Thanks for the always-wonderful inspiration! - Tammy

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  24. Wendy October 30, 2009 at 7:44 AM

    That is seriously too much fun! What a great idea!

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  25. Funky Junk InteriorsOctober 30, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    Ah guys, you are making my DAY! You have no idea. NO idea. I just love how you get it. I love this family. :)

    Funky Junk Donna

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  26. TameraOctober 30, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    Love the new look for the dresser! Looks perfect with what you have going on in the entry way...you have great style!

    Tamera@doubledelight

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  27. Joyce @ The Craft BarnOctober 30, 2009 at 8:21 AM

    Looks beautiful! I'm doing some distressed/glazed/off white furniture projects over the weekend too.

    Well, in honor of you sharing all of your ideas, projects and creativity I am passing along the Kreativ Blogger award to you. I'll be posting a link to my blog shortly! Congrats and hope you can play along!

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  28. Tracy Wills October 30, 2009 at 9:13 AM

    So cute, I love that you used all different styles of letters. Great job!!

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  29. Grace @ Ruby Moon DesignsOctober 30, 2009 at 10:48 AM

    Wow, the numbers do make such a difference. I'm not exactly where I found your blog---but I'm just glad that I did! Thanks for sharing the "bling!"

    -Grace

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  30. elisabeth (bovagoods)October 30, 2009 at 11:22 AM

    ohhhhh. i love this. i can't wait for you to post about how you glaze!

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  31. Lisa @ Fern Creek CottageOctober 30, 2009 at 11:47 AM

    It's amazing how much more character the dresser has with the numbers added to it. I would never have thought of adding numbers to a dresser before I started seeing it in blogland. I am looking forward to your glazing tutorial!

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  32. BlueCastleOctober 30, 2009 at 12:45 PM

    That is amazing! The dresser looks so good. Isn't it great when you can combine things to make something so unexpected, but so fantastic? Love it.

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  33. Junk GirlOctober 30, 2009 at 1:20 PM

    This is SO neat! I just love numbers! Thanks for the inspiration. Andrea

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  34. mkelton24October 30, 2009 at 1:58 PM

    WOW! What a cozy entry way- I am working on something similar at my new home!

    www.thekeltonscozycottage.blogspot.com

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  35. savvycityfarmerOctober 30, 2009 at 1:59 PM

    you KNOW how I feel about this stuff!!!

    WOW

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  36. KammyOctober 30, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    Sorry , I am so late - I just joined this morning and then I had to go to WORK - ugh !
    Love your numbered dresser - way cute !
    Kammy

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  37. DiannaOctober 31, 2009 at 9:04 PM

    Very creative. I also love the rack in the picture. Looks like it was made out of an old fence.

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  38. Heather at Happy Chippy JunkNovember 1, 2009 at 7:52 PM

    I am really into numbers lately too!! Every door within the sound of my voice is sporting a number now. A little crazy? Maybe! A little Hip? Totally!

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  39. Diann @ The Thrifty GrooveNovember 2, 2009 at 2:28 AM

    That turned out great! Very nice redo.

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  40. SindyNovember 2, 2009 at 4:42 AM

    I love the numbers and the variety of vignettes you created! I need to figure out how to use this idea in my house!!!! Awesome!
    Sindy

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  41. Real Housewife of Broke CountyNovember 2, 2009 at 7:22 AM

    AMAZING! This looks like its straight out of country living. Gorgeous make over! Can you come to my house please???? Thanks for sharing! :)

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  42. Jennifer DeDonatoNovember 2, 2009 at 7:35 AM

    Looks wonderful...I love the numbers!

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  43. UnknownNovember 10, 2009 at 4:25 AM

    Oh wow, Donna, you are so freakin' talented! Girl, you've got such a way with the 'ole "vignette." Love it!

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  44. Linda@CraftaholicsAnonymousNovember 11, 2009 at 10:46 AM

    Love it! Looks so fab. The glaze sure does warm it up a bit. Can't wait for the tutorial.
    Linda

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  45. AnonymousNovember 11, 2009 at 10:53 AM

    I absolutely love this. You are so amazingly talented and creative. Only you could make rocks in a jar look like something I just must have!!! The color of the dresser, the letters, the accessories, the burlap -- you've brought all these elements together for one remarkable punch! I am going to be bragging about you all day long! Thank you for posting this at the boardwalk bragfest! I love to brag about such marvelous talent in blogland visitin my blog!

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  46. dmvoccolaNovember 11, 2009 at 1:33 PM

    I love that dresser. Even though I've looked at it several times, I still want to go back and look again. I'm going to have to copy that idea somewhere . . . it will come to me. :)

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  47. SarahNovember 12, 2009 at 8:46 PM

    Wow, I just found your blog and I love this look, the dramatic accents make it pop so nicely! I could so learn a lesson from you, I am a very black, white and gray girl typically...

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  48. GretchenJanuary 17, 2010 at 6:00 AM

    I just ran across your blog this a.m. while surfing. Gotta say I'm loving it totally. Thanks for the great insight, tutorials and oh, so fun home decor ideas. Love the thrifting and re furbishing you do to your furniture as well. I'm totally into this type of thing, and this is one wonderful site.
    Love the addition of you using the glaze on your pieces, as well as in this post the numbers. You've got my brain spinning as to where I can add some number bling. lol
    Thanks again for sharing your many talents. Time to go become a follower of your site now. Have a great Sunday!
    Gretchen
    http://mimitoriasdesigns.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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