Raise your hand if you've ever finished a project you've had on your to-do list for months, maybe years, and after finally cleaning up the makeover mess and getting your new project nestled into place, it feels so fresh and exciting that you reprimand yourself for not having tackled it sooner! Yes! Over here!
I have had that feeling so many times that I should know better by now but sometimes it just takes someone else getting the ball rolling to find that motivation to get started. Enter our mid-century Lane dresser with beautiful dovetail woodwork and dresser handles that made perfect sense when we first found it on Craigslist. When Brett brought it home, though, we realized the place we thought was a watermark on one of the drawers was actually some sort of nail-polish spill. It ended up as one of those things you become blind to as the to-do lists only grow longer!
Then we moved it with us to Colorado and one of the handles snapped in half (see below) on the delivery truck. After searching for replacement handles for weeks, I decided to remove them and the dresser just became something utilitarian and practical. I couldn't in my right mind toss it to the curb knowing full well it was a keeper that just needed a little elbow grease.
Fast forward another move and another child needing a dresser and this little Lane number's number finally got called when Glidden paint asked if I had any projects that needed a coat or two. Yes! Yes, I did! It was time to bump this thing up the list and put some energy into making it beautiful again.
While I fully appreciate the beauty of those dovetail edges, the stains on the front of two drawers were too much for me to tackle without covering them up. I did keep the rest of the wood showing as I love the contrast of the two and knew I could fix my handle sizing problem by adding leather straps. I've currently got this dresser in my studio to corral projects but it might end up in either of my sons' rooms soon so it was important to me that it fit in with more than one spot in the house.
I chose the Glidden High Endurance Grab-n-Go paint in white because it claimed to be good for high traffic areas and had a low odor. Since this dresser will get used at least once a day, I knew it would need to stand up to lots of opening and closing, grubby hands, etc. I'm also pretty sensitive to strong chemical odors so I wanted to avoid high VOC's. I chose the white because it's such a clean, modern contrast to the warmth of the wood I was going to leave bare.
I prepped my drawers by using a power sander and fine grit sandpaper to get the finish off of the top and then wiped them down with a damp cloth. I was able to remove most of the nail polish that had made a stain on the surface with the light sanding. Then I used a soft roller brush to add my first thin coat and let it dry for the recommended amount of time before adding another coat. It is SO hard to wait in between coats when you want to finish your project but I knew it would look so much better if I left it alone!
I battled all the mosquitos the next morning with a second coat after giving it a good stir. I was sure to add thin coats as I've rushed paint jobs in the past with thick layers and have ended up with wonky lines in all the wrong places. Since I was covering such a dark underlayer, I ended up adding a third thin coat just to be safe and I am so happy with how it turned out. It was worth going with a third coat since it was such a small project and it looks as smooth as butter. It even wipes down well as I had some sort of bug leave it's mark when I left it out to dry after that last coat. I just used a baby wipe and it was as good as new. Perfect for all of the smudgy fingerprints it's sure to get when moved to one of the boys' rooms!
After my drawers were put back in place I decided it really did need handles to make it easy to use. I got some cowhide leather I have had since the days I made leather journals in college and picked up some brass screws and nuts from the local hardware store. Then I cut my leather down to size to about 2.5" longer than the distance between the holes, measured about 1" from each short end, and carefully poked a hole with my awl for the screw posts. They're thick enough that they won't tear or stretch out and have just enough of that oiled leather finish to feel exciting.
I've used several brands of paint for projects I've repurposed in the many years we've moved houses and needed something to work hard for us on a modest budget and was really pleased with the outcome of this project. The paint did its job and went on smoothly and there was no strong paint odor at all! I've become sensitive to strong chemical smells over the years and knew I didn't want to bring something into the house during the summertime when we wouldn't be able to air out the room with open windows so that was a huge bonus.
This dresser suddenly has so much more to offer than it did in its shabby state and feels like a new piece of furniture altogether. It really is amazing what a little paint can do for a space whether that be a vintage dresser, an accent wall, or an entire floor of your house. I've got so much paint left from the gallon that I had available that I'm ready to give our huge white cabinet that has served as both Ruby's wardrobe and our home office a fresh coat!
I know I'm not the only one with a project that has been waiting ages for a little facelift! The good news is that I've partnered with Glidden to offer one lucky Smile and Wave reader a $50 gift card to Walmart so you can pick your paint and finally check that project off your list and refresh your own space.
To enter to win:
* Check out Glidden's paint colors.
* Share in the comments what kind of project you'd love to tackle with $50 worth of Glidden paint.
* For an additional entry, write a review for Glidden here if you've used any of their paints in a home project and then leave another comment here to share that you have.
I'll be choosing a winner by Friday afternoon so be sure to leave your comment soon as well as an e-mail address or way to get in touch with you! Thanks so much for stopping by and catching up on another project over here. I'm so thankful for the chance to partner with companies and products I feel good about sharing with you so that we can all create a space we love!
-Rachel
* This post was created in partnership with Glidden. I received compensation for my review but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Sorry, open to U.S. readers only. $50 USD total value. Winner will be contacted by email once comments close and announced at the bottom of this post.
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EDITED: AND THE WINNER IS.....
Isn't it amazing what some paint can do?? So fortunate that that handle broke! I love your solution. You have such an eye! I have a dresser very similar to this that I got from our neighbors when they were preparing to move. They were going to toss it out. It's a nice color, but a bit beat up, so it needs a fresh coat or two. The handles are the one thing I don't love about it, so now I'm picturing some leather there instead. Thanks so much for some inspiration! (I've had the dresser in our guest room for the last two years or so, so yes, my projects often...marinate...in my mind for a long time, too).
It's a toss up, though. I've been putting off painting our kitchen island for a year now. It's a hutch that we repurposed and it works great but I'm tired of the color, and it's also a little beat up now. It would get the 'blue-grey slate' I think. :)
I've got a 60ish dresser that I've been wanting to paint since I found it 1 year ago. It's got crazy 60s engraved flowers and it's big and perfect for games and puzzles in our living room. I'd like to paint it "Pacific Coast Blue" (since I'm from the Pacific Coast)or maybe 'Sunspot' to counter all the blue I have everywhere.
Posted by: Kirsten Young | 09/08/2015 at 10:33 AM
I am not a big DIYer but I have so many painting projects I want to try! My daughter's dresser is super cool looking but very dark wood. I would love to do something like you did with this dresser! I also have a coffee bar that needs painting and a bookshelf shaped like a boat (both which my grandma made for me). I need some paint color ideas and some paint! :)
www.sweetlytattered.com
Posted by: Alyssa @ Sweetly Tattered | 09/08/2015 at 10:47 AM
This looks so nice, I love that white contrast with the dark wood!
Posted by: Laura | 09/08/2015 at 10:59 AM
I love how you updated this dresser! It's so gorgeous and beautiful! I especially love the handles that you put on it!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Posted by: Paige | 09/08/2015 at 11:04 AM
Oh my word I've got THREE dressers that could use a paint lift!
Posted by: Sarah m | 09/08/2015 at 11:10 AM
Isn't it amazing what some paint can do?? So fortunate that that handle broke! I love your solution. You have such an eye! I have a dresser very similar to this that I got from our neighbors when they were preparing to move. They were going to toss it out. It's a nice color, but a bit beat up, so it needs a fresh coat or two. The handles are the one thing I don't love about it, so now I'm picturing some leather there instead. Thanks so much for some inspiration! (I've had the dresser in our guest room for the last two years or so, so yes, my projects often...marinate...in my mind for a long time, too).
It's a toss up, though. I've been putting off painting our kitchen island for a year now. It's a hutch that we repurposed and it works great but I'm tired of the color, and it's also a little beat up now. It would get the 'blue-grey slate' I think. :)
Posted by: Brooke Knipp | 09/08/2015 at 11:30 AM
I'd love to repaint our dining room table.
Posted by: Haley | 09/08/2015 at 11:47 AM
First, the dresser looks awesome -- leather strap idea is perfect!
We've just moved and my sons room is the only room we haven't worked on yet because the dollars are short!! He has walls and shelves and furniture begging for attention! This gift card would help so much!
Thanks for all your inspiration here!
Posted by: Cassi Werner | 09/08/2015 at 11:48 AM
Moved into our first home this year and we love it. But our kitchen has an orange counter top (which is actually kind of cool) and the previous owners decided to highlight this by painting the kitchen two other shades of orange and it make the counter top look terrible - it's just too much! I would LOVE to win and repaint the room to highlight the counters instead of drowning them out.
Posted by: Caitlyn Merwin | 09/08/2015 at 12:43 PM
Oh man, I love that dresser! The legs on it are killer. I would love to be able to redecorate (actually just decorate!) our master bedroom. Between having kids and trying to get our house in a presentable state before we welcome our third baby next month, our bedroom has been put on the back burner and a fresh coat of paint would get things off to a great start!
Posted by: Olivia | 09/08/2015 at 01:20 PM
I'd love to paint my kitchen table in SUNSPOT!
Posted by: Hayley | 09/08/2015 at 07:24 PM
I would repaint my kitchen table (I'm tired of how it looks now) and update both of our bathroom vanities. Glidden is a great brand. Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: Crystal | 09/08/2015 at 08:38 PM
Freshening up some of our already painted pieces would be a good project for me. And I just bought the kids a dollhouse off of craigslist that someone wrote on! Maybe white is a good choice? Clean and I can clean the smudges off!
Posted by: Erin v | 09/09/2015 at 05:19 AM
Capri Teal is just the color I've been looking for to paint the feature wall of our living room in the new house.
Posted by: Elizabeth F | 09/09/2015 at 05:54 AM
Oh man, I love it! We actually have 2(!) mid century dressers out in our garage that my hubby started priming for a similar effect 2 years ago while we were expecting our first born. Well, guess what? They're still there! Maybe we can get them finished in time for #2 to get here in March! :)
Posted by: mandie | 09/09/2015 at 06:32 AM
Oh I love that dresser!! Looks awesome. I'd love to repaint our front door - it is looking really tired and faded and has millions of kid scuffs on it. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Posted by: kristin | 09/09/2015 at 11:17 AM
I would paint an old upright piano I want to repurpose as a headboard in the Bright Teal Surprise or a Glossy black.
Posted by: Charity Lucas | 09/09/2015 at 11:35 AM
What a BEAUTIFUL dresser! I'm a big fan of white with contrasting wood, and the midcentury legs are gorgeous. We just moved, and I'm still debating colors or painting at all, but I do think eventually I'd like a chalkboard wall in the kids' room and at least one accent wall in the living room or our bedroom. I love the dark charcoal look (like their Deep Onyx or darker) but don't know if I'm daring enough. Otherwise maybe a yellow! Like you, I'm also worried about VOCs, so it's good to know they offer that option!
Posted by: Cait | 09/09/2015 at 02:01 PM
Where to start we all have those little projects that just sit for years. I have a small book shelve in my boys room that needs a nice coat of paint and a small mid century dresser that needs a facelift also have a pair of french doors by the kitchen that could use some help & list goes on and on. Thank you for the opportunity to get those projects going, love how yours turned out.
Posted by: jessica vazquez | 09/09/2015 at 02:56 PM
Good job! This is perfect timing since I just started my project. My husband and I found an antique dining room table at a yard sale just after we got married. Finally, after 7 years, I started stripping the paint and redoing it.
Posted by: kelly | 09/09/2015 at 08:43 PM
Pacific Coast Blue would be great to recoat some accessories in our master bath. I love the simple coastal theme of our bathrooms. :)
asimplewhim (at) gmail . com
Posted by: AngelaS | 09/10/2015 at 01:34 AM
We recently downsized our house and I am doing some updating of a couple of matching small dressers to use in our guest room. My color theme is yellow, gray, and white. The beautiful project you've done here Rachel is an inspiration to me! I love your work and blog.
Posted by: Jana Pearson | 09/10/2015 at 06:28 AM
So I've got the back entry to the house. It's just a small nook and it opens right into the kitchen. The kitchen/entry was painted years ago in yellow. Then, I hung a bulletin board on the wall adjacent to the back door. That became the repository for all our stuff as my daughter grew up. Fast forward some nearly 10 years since she's lived at home and the bulletin board looks horribly tired and the back entry is not inviting. Add the "Minions" movie this summer and an idea germinated for a redo of the entry space. I got a poster and had a bunch of friends who came to a party, pick a minion and sign their name on it. Then I framed the poster. Down came the horrible bulletin board and up went the poster. The space, just doing that, is so much happier. BUT, I would really like to repaint the area in in lighter yellow. I stenciled apples around the top of the wall and those are nice, but I think I'd like to redo the space completely. In my mind's eye, I see the walls, the back of the door and the ceiling in this light lemon yellow with scattered Minion stencils on the walls and maybe a couple on the ceiling. I wouldn't do this to the whole kitchen; that would be way overkill, but I think this would be fun and make the rear entry into the house much happier. I discovered that I'm going to have to repaint anyway because the paint at the bottom of the wall, next to the back door, is peeling. Here's my blog post on the space. I would need to get some caulking to fix the gap between the rear door frame and the wall, but I think a gallon of paint would be more than enough. http://www.debscupoftea.com/2015/08/framed.html Of course I may do this and go, "What were you thinking?!", but, right now, it sounds okay.
Posted by: deb 'n cats | 09/10/2015 at 07:57 AM
I've been wanting to tackle the walls in our bedroom forever! They are this green toothpaste color. Yuck! But I always seem to work on other areas of the house first since not as many people see our bedroom. We just had a baby and worked so hard getting her nursery finished. It's my favorite room in the house! So I would love to redo our room into a peaceful, moody space for relaxation. With a newborn, every nap counts! Ha! Oh, and I would choose either the Blue-Grey slate or the Rich Navy. With accents of white, black, and gold, I think that would look awesome!
Posted by: Whitney | 09/11/2015 at 06:37 AM
I have a breakfast nook that could use a bright white makeover :)
Posted by: Callie Tate | 09/11/2015 at 09:52 AM
I have a dresser/chest of drawers set that needs a makeover...maybe in a dove grey?
Posted by: charissa | 09/11/2015 at 09:25 PM