Restoration Hardware Inspired Dresser

Ashley Harding
by Ashley Harding
If you're anything like me, you wait all season for the quarterly Restoration Hardware magazine package to be delivered to your mailbox. You know the one I'm talking about, right? I refer to it as the RH phone book. It weights at least ten pounds and takes up your entire mailbox. On the days they arrive, my calendar miraculously will clear up, and I proceed to spend the rest of the day curled up on the couch hovering over these catalogs. It's slightly embarrassing to admit the level of intensity at which I scour through those pages and obsess about the new collections. I earmark pages, create idea boards, and by the end of the night, I have a brand new furnished dream home. And then I add up how much this newly furnished home is going to cost me. And then I cry.
Just because my checking account may not allow for a brand new, fully furnished home from Restoration Hardware, doesn't mean I can't get it...to some extent anyway. If you look on Pinterest, there are dozens of different examples out there of how to create your own reclaimed wood inspired furniture. Everyone seems to have their own technique and process. I think every time I come across one of these examples, I pin it, however, it was only until now that I built up the courage to actually try this technique on my own. I went with the following combination of products:


Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Old White


Minwax Stain - Classic Gray


Annie Sloan Dark Wax
Here is how the dresser started out.
I'm telling you right now, if you're a perfectionist, this may not be your thing. This is more of a 'just go for it and hope for the best' kinda process. I started by applying a light coat of the paint. I dipped my brush in water each time before dipping it into the paint to create a thinner coat.
As you can see, it's pretty streaky and uneven. I know, you perfectionists out there are probably noticing all the spots I missed. Don't worry, it's ok! Next, I wiped on the stain with a rag. I did this step just when the paint became dry to the touch. This step also took a bit of the paint off, which blended the two layers together a bit. The final step was wiping on the dark wax. Again, I did this sporadically over the piece, just to add another layer of depth to the dresser. Sorry, I got a bit caught up in the whole process that I forgot to take pictures of each step. Anyhow, after all that...here is the way it turned out.
This is truly a one-of-a-kind piece. No matter how hard I may try, there is no way I will be able to replicate this dresser exactly. But that's part of the beauty of it...it's uniqueness. Something you may not find at Restoration Hardware!
Every time I look at the dresser, I'm drawn to a different section of it and notice some new color variation.
It definitely gives off a rustic, industrial vibe, but I really think you can use it with so many different decorating styles.
For more details and pictures, visit http://www.vintagerefined.com/blog/2015/9/25/restoration-hardware-inspired-dresser
Ashley Harding
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Ashlyn Ashlyn on Nov 24, 2015
    This is beautiful! Did you have to sand or strip the bureau prior to painting?
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  • Dee Dee on Oct 08, 2015
    Wow I can't believe you painted over tiger eye oak! Such a beautiful wood, the tiger stripes glows in the sunlight, my dining room table seats 12 and is made of this wood. I definetly wouldn't have the hutzpa to paint over it. You were fortunate to come across this piece, they're hard to come by. As long as your happy with it that's all that counts! Good job.
  • Melba Jean Dobson Melba Jean Dobson on Oct 26, 2015
    great job & beautiful piece of furniture ! love it !
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