Bold and Blue: A Dresser to TV Stand Transformation
When Carrie from Lovely Etc. first contacted me about taking part in her “Be Bold” challenge, I got nervous. I’m not so much a bold person. I’m a safe person. I like my comfort zone. I like things I can control. I also know that it’s good to push myself, though, so I agreed to do it. Here was Carrie’s challenge:
I think a bit more daring and risk-taking is good for everyone and that is why the Be Bold Challenge began. The challenge is to do a DIY project that is a bit of a risk– perhaps using a new power tool, trying a color you usually avoid, doing something you’ve never seen anyone else do, or just trying something you’re not entirely sure will work.
When I read her description, I knew just the project I would do for this challenge. I mentioned in my “State of Our Living Room” address on Friday that we are in desperate need of a new TV stand. Our old one is not only worn, it’s too short for the space, and the Cs are constantly climbing on top of it, which is not at all safe.
Incidentally, I had found an old dresser on Craigslist that just so happened to be the perfect size for that space. It had a ton of character and charm and was only $40 {!}, so one day when my dad was visiting, I convinced him to drive me the 45 minutes to pick it up, and I was the proud owner of a beautiful {albeit worn and a little bit smelly} old dresser.
There was just one problem: I forgot that I’m kind of a novice when it comes to furniture transformations. Oh, I’ve painted things before {like my chalk painted trunk and some racing stripes on the Cs’ dresser}, but never have I ever worked on a piece that needed this much help. The finish was very, very worn, there were cracks and chips in the veneer, and it was covered in dust and grime. {And did I mention the smell?}
Too nervous to do anything to it, I let it sit. And sit, and sit, and sit. Even though it was taking up a large part of my craft room, I couldn’t bring myself to start on it, fearing that I would mess it up beyond repair– that is, until I got Carrie’s email about the challenge. It was time to be bold and get started on this baby.
Before I did anything to it, I called my friend Christy of Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer, who is a master at furniture transformations. {Check out her stuff! It is awesome!} I kept her on the phone, asking her question after question until I felt like I knew what I was doing… at least somewhat. 😀
She recommended that I thoroughly clean the entire thing, fill the chipped areas with wood filler, do a layer of shellac to prepare the surface and help with the smell, then paint and add my protective coating. So that’s what I did.
I was thrilled to be able to try out a chalk-based paint that I had never used before– Country Chic Paint in Midnight Sky.
Isn’t it pretty? And the paint color was absolutely gorgeous too. Even after only one coat, my dresser was already looking pretty good.
Now, I know that distressing is the “cool” thing to do when it comes to furniture makeovers these days, and I had planned to distress this piece a bit after I had applied the second coat of paint. The paint brushed on so smoothly and beautifully, though, that I just loved the finish the way it was, and I couldn’t bring myself to touch it. Call me uncool, but I am just smitten with it. 😉
Because this piece will be in a high traffic area of our home where the Cs spend a lot of time, durability was hugely important to me, so I ended up using three coats of poly acrylic to finish it off, giving it a light sand between each coat.
Before I could declare my new TV stand finished, there were two more small details I had to take care of. First, we were keeping the top drawers out permanently to make room for our DVD player and Roku. That surface had cut outs (1), so I had to even it all out so that the electronics would sit flat. And when I say “I”, I of course mean that handy hubby cut some thin boards for me to fit into the slots (2) and I painted them. 😀
Once the paint was dry, we used Liquid Nails to glue them into place and set some weights on them while they dried for several hours (3).
The second little detail I had to work out was the hardware. It was old and grungy looking, and we couldn’t have that!
I used a vinegar and baking soda mixture to clean off the grime, hit them with a few coats of gold spray paint, and they were as good as new!
Actually, the whole piece was as good as new…
This piece definitely taught me that facing my fears of dilapidated furniture was definitely worth it. I am SO in love with the result! This also marks the first piece of furniture in my house that is completely painted a color other than black or white– I’m just getting totally crazy for this challenge! 😉
Have you done any BOLD projects lately?
*A huge thanks to Country Chic Paint for providing the paint for this project! My favorable opinion of gorgeous blue chalky paint is completely my own. 😀 For more information, see my disclosures here.*
Abby, wow, you did a fantastic job on this and look like a pro! Between you and Christy, I’m starting to feel a little bit like I can try to take my first stab at a (small) piece of furniture this Spring. The color is amazing and the whole thing just looks beautiful – great job! Thanks for sharing and pinning! Hope you have a happy week!
You can do it, Cindy! (Believe me, if I can, anyone can!!!) Thanks so much for your sweet words! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Abby! That brilliant blue dresser/entertainment center looks fantastic! I love the color and the knobs and the detail on the bottom drawer. Perfect!
I’m got an army green hope chest with chipping veneer that needs lots of help. You have inspired me to get-it-done!
Much bloggy love!
Ashley
Thanks so much, Ashley! I can’t wait to see how your hope chest turns out! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
This looks gorgeous! I love the color and I love how you transformed the top two drawers into cubbies for electronics. I know what you mean about being scared of this piece. I have painted tons of furniture, but the cracked, unstable pieces still scare me sometimes. Great job!
Thank you so much, Carrie! It makes me feel better to know that even experiences furniture rehab-ers get nervous with pieces like this. THANK YOU for challenging all of us to go BOLD!!!
~Abby =)
This turned out great! This just made me determined to get out my chalk paint today! I love the tip about getting the smell out, I have a trunk I need to do that to!
Thank you so much, Kelley! I love chalk paint more every time I use it! Such a great look! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Love the color…Very fun! I bet it brightens up the entire room!
Thanks so much, Ariean! Heaven knows this room needed some brightening! 😀 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Awwww, thanks for the shout out! You are so sweet! I know you have to be thrilled with how it turned out! It looks amazing!!!! Honestly, I don’t think I would have the heart to distress it either. I think it’s perfection just the way it is! Pinning and sharing!! XO
Thank YOU for all of your help! I was totally clueless about how to go about it! Thanks so much for the shares, friend! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
The dresser looks great! Can’t wait to see the whole room put together!
Thanks so much, Kim! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I love it! You’ve mentioned so many great tips here!
Thanks so much, Corrina! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I’m so glad you went bold! And I don’t think your dresser turned TV stand needed distressing at all. You did an amazing job and I’m in love with a dresser!
Thank you so much, Alli! I think I’m starting to like this whole bold thing! 😀 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
LOVE it! My bold project isn’t so far off yours…. lol. Love the color and the lines of that dresser are amazing – definitely worth the extra effort taken to ‘save’ it! Fabulous and stunning- great job friend!
Thank you so much, Krista! I can’t wait to check out your project! I know it will be fabulous! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Love love love that color and your gold knobs are to die for! Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you so much, Amy! I probably had 3 panic attacks about the color before I actually started painting, but I am loving how it turned out, lol! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Amazing transformation!! I love when people transform a dresser into a t.v. stand!! Super cool! Love the furniture piece, the blue color and the gold knobs!
Thank you, Selene! I think I was holding my breath the whole time I was working on it because I was afraid I’d mess up the whole thing, lol! It’s nice to have it all finished now. Hope you’re having a wonderful week, friend!
~Abby =)
What a gorgeous transformation! I really want to try this with a dresser for our living room. My stand is way too short and the TV sits on it which does not make for good viewing. Thanks for inspiring me!
I say go for it, Sarah! We would totally still be in the “short-tv-stand-with-too-low-tv” club too if my son hadn’t knocked over the old TV and broke it, so I guess maybe I should thank him for making me do something about it? 😉 Hope you’re having a wonderful week, my friend!
~Abby =)
This dresser looks absolutely amazing! The blue is bright and cheery without being too much color. Fantastic job.
Thank you so much, Shannah! I had about four panic attacks about the color before I actually started painting, but now I’m loving it, lol! Thanks for stopping by, friend! Hope you’re having a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
that looks amazing! well done on your first furniture redo. we (and like you, i mean hubby) are doing one right now to an mcm dresser that i think will be perfect as a tv credenza when it’s done.
Ooh sounds like you have a great project going at your house! What would we do without these handy hubbys? 😉 Hope you’re having a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
LOVE that blue! It’s beautiful, Abby! So glad you saw past the chips and smell and made it into something you love. All the effort is so worth it when you end up with a gorgeous piece like that!
Thank you so much, Chaney! Once I got over my anxiety about it, it was actually a fun piece to redo, lol! Heading over to check out your BOLD project now! Hope you’re having a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
Very nice transformation, I love the colours!
Thank you so much, Lisa! The “Midnight Sky” color was great to work with! Hope you’re having a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
I love this! It is beautiful! You have inspired me to take on a dresser of my own that I want to pain coral. Thanks!
Ooh coral sounds so pretty! You’ll have to send me a picture when you finish it! Thanks so much for stopping by, Elysa! Hope you’re having a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
BEAUTIFUL, Abby! I love that color so much. I’ve never heard of that paint either – I need to look into it. It’s the perfect TV stand!!
Thank you, my friend! It was a fun one to do, though a little intimidating! I think I’m still dreaming of the mint dresser/nightstand you did a few months ago– loved that! Hope you’re having a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
This is really a fabulous project. The bold colour is what really brings it to the WOW Factor! Well done!
Thank you so much, Thea! You are so sweet! I hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
It looks amazing!!!
Thank you so much, Amber! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Love, love, love your dresser makeover, Abby! I love the use of a dresser for a tv stand and the color you chose is gorgeous. Beautiful job!
Thank you so much, Allison! You are the queen of beautiful furniture makeovers, so that really means a lot coming from you! 😀 Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
We’re looking to do this same thing! so it was perfect timing that I found your post! This looks great!
Yay! Have fun with your makeover! Thanks so much for stopping by, Louise!
~Abby =)
I am hoping over from The Blissful Bee and I LOVE this transformation and the color looks amazing! Great job!
Thanks so much for popping over, Summer! You are the sweetest! Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Super duper love!! Love the color, the style and the function!
Thank you so much, Emily! It was so fun doing this challenge with you! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
The color is beautiful! You did such a great job.
Thanks so much, Nikki! You are so sweet! Hope you’re having a wonderful day!
~Abby =)
WOW! I’m looking around for a piece of furniture to paint bold! This turned out fabulous friend!!! Happy to be featuring you tomorrow! XO, Aimee – ItsOverflowing.com
Thank you so much, Aimee! I’m honored!! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I have seriously been swooning over all of the projects in the BE BOLD Challenge and yours is no exception, my dear. That blue is just so stunning – – and I love the splash of metallic gold on the hardware. Fab work and fab entry into CWTS! Best of luck to you, oh talented Abby!
Thank you so much, friend! You know I totally adore your nautical room– I’m rooting for you! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I adore this idea!!! I use to have a chest like that and what a great idea for it. Love the color too. Genius!!!
Thank you so much, Tammy! You are the sweetest! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I think if there ever is a way to get me flowing with creativity, it is to be challenged. You certainly answered the call. You did a beautiful job and have proven so much to yourself I am sure!! Life needs to challenge all of us a little more, it seems to get you out of your rut that I know I get into often. Great job!!
Thank you so much, Debbie! I love that– we all need to challenge ourselves more often! Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I love that you DIDN’t distress it… I love the “solid” look and the color is to die for! You did a fabulous job!
Oh good! I was afraid everyone would be mad that I didn’t do the cool thing and distress it, lol! Thanks so much, Cher!! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
That is a gorgeous colour and a beautiful transformation. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! Hope you’re having a great day!
~Abby =)
It turned out beautiful! I love Country Chic Paint! I just had the opportunity to use their paint myself and I gave my old rocking chair a makeover. The color you chose is so pretty. You did a great job 🙂
Thanks so much, Lisa!
~Abby =)