diy: lindsay’s dresser makeover

My roommate Lindsay, one of the two fabulous ladies at Cubicle Chic, ventured into the decorating and design world with a fabulous dresser before-and-after. You’ll recall that I’ve never found a piece of furniture I didn’t want to re-do (here are my dresser and wardrobe makeovers), so I’m a proud little DIYer knowing that I may have somewhat inspired Lindsay’s project.

I found the dresser with a friend on the street about a year ago, and it’s been in its chipped-paint glory since then. (I know, I know, oh, the horror! Oh, the bedbugs! Picking up free furniture from the street is common in New York. You can find some amazing pieces for free. Rest assured, we examined this dresser thoroughly before dragging it upstairs to be sure it was clean and pest-free. But, never, ever, ever take upholstered pieces from the street! Ew.)

When Lindsay moved in, she inherited the dresser and was inspired to re-do it after seeing this makeover on The Glamourai:

Here’s Linsday’s quick step-by-step on how she took a shabby street-find and transformed into Chanel-like chic:

WHAT YOU NEED

• 1 quart of paint in each color you want to use
• 1 sheet of coarse sandpaper
• 2 sheets of fine sandpaper
• 2 disposable dropcloths; one for sanding and one for painting
• Face masks for everyone involved
• 1 bottle of gold spray paint
• 1 flat head screw driver (for opening paint can) and hammer (for closing paint can)
• An assortment of brushes; one large brush per person and one small one for the detail-work

WHAT YOU DO

Step 1: Disassemble your dresser and sand. Remove all the hardware and sand every surface with coarse sandpaper. Finish with fine sandpaper. (Wear face masks if you’re doing this inside!)

Step 2: Paint. Note: Lindsay skipped a coat of primer since she was painting over existing paint, in shades that weren’t drastically different from the original. I, however, primed my dresser and wardrobe because I was going from dark stain to white paint. Use your judgment based on your individual piece.

To paint, use larger brushes or rollers for the big areas, and smaller brushes or foam brushes for details. You’ll likely need two coats.

To paint the hardware, Lindsay and her boyfriend Aaron came up with this clever system: Screw the knobs into a piece of cardboard so you can coat their entire surfaces easily. (Note: They did prime the knobs.) They then applied two coats of gold spray paint.

Step 3: Let dry and reassemble. This is important, and probably the most challenging part for Lindsay and me! Be sure everything is totally dry before you put anything back together, otherwise your drawers will stick. Once it’s dry, probably after 24-48 hours, put your handles and drawers back together and you’re done.

Be sure to check out Cubicle Chic for more of Lindsay’s (and Meredith’s) great fashion finds, style reports and the occasional DIY project. Enjoy!