We took an old drawer-less dresser out of the trash and turned it into a glamorous beauty, as revealed by the before and after photos…. 👇 😊 I brought to life a long-held idea. We thought it would be perfect for our porch 👇. ✨ The before and after photos are stunning – check them out by clicking on the link in the comments! 👇👇👇
Removing the old finish was incredibly simple: we used dish soap and a metal brush. Since plywood and pine aren’t valuable materials and the two missing drawers needed to be replaced, I chose to repaint the dresser. Even though some people disapprove of painted wood, I think it depends on the style and decor.
Here’s what I did to transform the dresser: I ordered the cheapest acrylic paint “Moss Green” from Ozon, but I wasn’t happy with the quality. I used leftover acrylic paint from the shoe dresser project and rust-resistant gold paint from restoring a Czech dresser.
As for the wire mesh, it was already here in our home. Wooden patterns and decorations. Construction glues, wood filler. The plywood is leftover from repairing an old garden table. I found vintage hinges and handle parts in a storage room. I used a furniture stapler, polishing discs, a saw, a circular saw, and a screwdriver.
I first took care of sanding the surface and degreasing it, then began applying the paint. I used some leftover paint from the shoe cabinet project to cover the interior plywood shelves. For the exterior, I went with moss green. Although the label says it’s acrylic enamel paint, it actually looks more like a thick alkyd paint with a strong odor, but it provides excellent coverage with just two coats.
To hide a rough joint at the top of the dresser, I added wooden molding, attached with construction glue and secured with small nails. To replace the missing drawers, I decided to make doors with ready-made moldings, which I glued, reinforced with brackets, and stapled. Unfortunately, the wood has warped and dried a bit since I bought it in August.
I used metal mesh for the door faces, which I painted gold, then stapled to the frame, folding the edges beforehand. Finally, I repaired the hinges and handles, using vintage brass models from my collection.
The renovated dresser is now ready to use! However, given its condition, it might find a more permanent spot beyond the porch.
