You guys, last week was such an amazing whirlwind. Thank you again for bring so incredibly supportive and amazing for the release of my book Amazing Furniture Makeovers: Easy DIY Projects to Transform Thrifted Finds into Beautiful Custom Pieces. I’m very proud of how it turned out and hope you are all inspired to go create something beautiful!
Today I have a brand new striped floral dresser makeover for Trash to Treasure Tuesday with my blogging friends. Check out this solid-wood score (that I brought home along with the Ethan Allen nightstand I recently updated):
It’s stamped Whitney inside the top drawer. And maybe the coolest part is that its built on these awesome casters that make moving it around so easy peasy. (Except when lifting it up over doggy gates.)
It did have a little bit of damage (see below), but nothing too serious.
*This post contains some affiliate links so you can easily find the products I use and recommend. Learn about all of my favorite tools and brands for DIY furniture makeovers Here. Also, this post is sponsored by Country Chic Paint but all my opinions are 100% honest.
One part that needed fixed right away was that the little curved detail on the bottom was missing from the right side of the dresser.
Guy in the Garage helped with this part – scoring it first with a box cutter knife and then cutting it straight across with a jig saw. (Always wear safety protection when using power tools and follow the directions for proper usage.)
Both sides were smoothed out with our random orbit sander and now they look identical.
Some areas also needed touched up with my favorite wood filler.
Finally, it was time to prime.
I used a shellac-based primer because I was worried about bleed through on this piece.
Then I got to try a new-to-me paint brand!
Country Chic Paint was kind enough to send me some of their clay-based furniture paint – I used Simplicity (white) and limited-edition Purrrfect (like cranberry) for this vintage dresser makeover. Purrrfect is part of the Furry Friends Collection, with some proceeds going to help pet owners with free veterinary care, emergency shelter, education, and more.
Country Chic Paint is manufactured in North America, VOC-free, and doesn’t have any harsh chemical additives. (I didn’t notice any bad smells, and clean up was easy!)
While painting the dresser in Simplicity, I took breaks while the coats were drying and wrapped the brush in a sandwich bag. This way I don’t have to wash the brush between every single coat, and it won’t dry hard. I do still wash it if I’m letting the paint dry overnight though.
The top drawer, which is curved, got some special attention with help from Frog Tape. I centered the tape over the drawer pull holes and then eyeballed the distance between the stripes. You can measure if you want, but that takes more time. 🙂
When using a paint color like cranberry or red (especially on top of white), be prepared to do several coats to get the deep rich color you want.
After the final coat, lift the Frog Tape while the paint is still slightly wet for crisp lines. If you do have little smudges, use a thin artist’s brush to fix them.
For the bottom two drawers, I used a Redesign with Prima transfer called Rose and Rouge (ordered from the wonderful Canterbury Creative on Etsy). I cut it into sections and only used a little of the entire big transfer.
When using rub-on transfers, cut out the parts you want and tape them in place with painter’s tape. Then carefully remove the white paper underneath and press the transfer down firmly. Use the included brown stick to rub repeatedly and transfer the image onto the furniture.
Be careful, removing the clear plastic slowly until everything has transferred. (Here’s another dresser I used a rub-on transfer on, and there’s also another project in my book.)
Another great thing about Country Chic Paint is that you don’t have to have a topcoat!
Finally I added some beautiful glass knobs from Hobby Lobby and this striped floral dresser went from plain to chic and magnifique.
The knobs are kind of a floral design but they’re flat on the front. Tres chic. 😉
I was debating adding some stripes on the sides too – what do you think?
The Rose and Rouge transfer is so pretty because it looks like watercolor – with unexpected metallic gold accents.
I spy with my little eye… some pretty amazing (pretty AND amazing) books!
Amazing Furniture Makeovers (by me!), The DIY Style Finder by KariAnne Wood, and Styled by Emily Henderson.
One last time, here’s a look at the before and after of this striped floral dresser makeover:
Now it’s time for one of my favorite days of the month: Trash to Treasure Tuesday with some of my talented blogging friends.
Below are the Before photos – visit the links underneath to see the After and to learn how they did it:
1. Confessions of a Serial DIYer
2. Artsy Chicks Rule
3. Bless’er House
4. Prodigal Pieces
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
What a fun new piece you both created. ♡♡ Congrats on the succes of your book too!
Jane Clelland says
This is beautiful!! Leave it this way.
Mari says
My favorite makeover this morning! What a great look!
Mary W says
No to additional stripes. Beautiful piece.
Christy James says
What a gorgeous makeover, Jen! It doesn’t even look like the same piece! XOXO
gwen says
I love the cranberry red and the transfers – it must feel wonderful to say “in my book!” congratulations again!
Ann E Bilyeu says
Wow that is adorable! so sweet and feminine. I’ve been looking for some rub on transfers – I do free hand painting also, but some of the transfers are just so pretty. Thanks for letting us know where you bought them!
Linda says
This is by far the best upcycle have seen in a long time. It is AMAZING! GORGEOUS! Super great job.
Yvette says
OMG! Absolutely beautiful! Love it!
Eileen says
Beautiful transformation.
Charlene Hansen says
One of your best projects ever! And I say, no, no more stripes on the sides. The top drawer is enough! Great job!
Jane Greene says
Beautiful dresser! It doesn’t need stripes on the side, love it just the way it is. Do you put anything like a sealer over the transfer to protect it?? By the way, am enjoying your book! I now have a sense of direction for a couple of pieces I have been storing 🙂
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much, Jane! 🙂 Yes I ended up applying clear wax over the dresser to help protect the transfers.
Glenda says
No more stripes. Now it is very elegant, more stripes would be distracting.
Barb says
What a beautiful piece of furniture. It definitely makes me want to redo a dresser in my bedroom. You didn’t mention whether or not you liked the Country Chic paint. It’s the only one I use – love it!!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
I do like Country Chic paint! 🙂 I’m planning to use it again on future projects.
Terri says
That piece is adorable! Love the stripes and transfer combo! In my opinion stripes on the sides would be overkill…nice little accent touch that makes it pop the way you have it.
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much Terri! I’m leaving it as-is. 🙂
Bonnie Schulte says
If I had not seen the before and after, I really don’t think I would have believed it! Wow, Beautiful!!!!!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much Bonnie!!
Marcie Lovett says
This is beautiful, Jen! Love those transfers. (I vote no on more stripes ?)
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much Marcie! 🙂
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
So pretty Jen! Love the stripes! 🙂
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule recently posted…Thrifty Coastal Wall Decor (easy and cheap!!)
Julie Briones says
Lovely… I thought the flowers were handpainted! Great decal/transfer for furniture!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much Julie! I wish I could handpaint like that! 🙂
Justina says
Wow! It is sensational. No additional stripes. It is perfect as is!!!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much Justina! I’m leaving it as-is. 🙂
Marie says
It’s perfect, Jen with the stripes just on the front. Love this makeover!
Carolyn says
This is beautiful! No on the side stripes; I think it would draw too much attention to the stripes and take away from the floral transfer. As it is, the stripes complement but do not command, if that makes any sense.
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
That makes perfect sense – thank you Carolyn! 🙂
Lynne says
Absolutely gorgeous!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you Lynne! 🙂
Denise V Cox says
This is my first time seeing anything you’ve done and the end table is lovely!!! I think it looks perfect the way it is without stripes on the sides. It may look bit too busy.
Again… a lovely piece.. ??.
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thank you so much Denise!! 🙂
Linda says
LOVE the front of the dresser. I would put stripes on the side to give it a finished look. LOVE the white and cranberry together! It is such a fresh combination! Congrats on the book sweetie!