What can I do to repurpose this unique dresser?

Question

I bought this dresser at a garage sale. It has a lot of character and I don't want to change it to much. But it really does need some refinishing. Does anyone have any ideas? The top has a circle water spot on it.

Donna Dame · Answer

If it is just the drawers you want to save, there are several ideas for turning old dresser drawers into great storage by hanging them on the wall.  If you want to put the work in to re-finish the piece, you could add a roll out shelf for the missing drawer, add dividers to the remaining drawers, and use it as a tv stand/dvd center/entertainment center in a bedroom or family room.  Nice find....so much you can do with it!

Cindy Hagemann · Answer

I would sand down the wood exposed areas and refinish them and paint the painted areas another color using chalk paint.

Pamela Field · Answer

let me at it! Let your imagination go! This is a great piece with so much potential! I'd layer the paints and lightly wet distress. It's more than likely a thin veneer so be careful sanding. I made a dresser with a missing drawer into a media cabinet here. It's an easy fix! You can do it! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/how-to-make-an-old-dresser-into-media-cabinet-or-buffet-18910169...

Zoe Emiko · Answer

I can see why you want to keep as much of the original look of this piece as possible. It's lovely. I would remove the wood veneer insert on the top and replace with leather. Water stain solved and in it's place a lovely unique substitute. I would also take the drawers to my local paint shop and have the dark tone paint matched and repaint all the colored areas. The design on the drawers is a bit tacky. Also ask your paint store expert to match the color of the wood with a base stain and a wax you can buff off. This is the only way you'll be able to match the look of the wood. Carefully sand down just the the bad spots and re-stain using a small paint brush. This may take several coats to get the color to match. Let dry fully between each coat. This is not the time to get impatient. Then apply the wax and buff. You should get a close enough match nobody will notice unless they are conducting a very close examination and looking for your repairs.  I would also remove 1 drawer and place the remaining 2 at the bottom. Remove the drawer fill in section and any rails between the open space for the 2 drawers at the top then add a panel to act as the shelf above the top of the 3rd drawer. Paint the inside to match the painted wood and use that as a open shelf. This would be a spectacular china serving pieces buffet ( just one idea). You can maintain the original look of the piece as you've said you wanted to and give it back it's useful life.

Terry · Answer

there are ways to remove wet stain on furnature .google or pintrest .to find the way you perfer to try.id give that a try before  messing with the top.then id chalk paint the bottom black to hide the chips.and accent the side with a stencil  with a design you like ,useing black to blend the color flow.and accent black along the top incaved area.add a peace of smoked glass in missing draw area.add some greenary and flowers or trinkets in stead of flowers. lovely find.if the stain cant be removed.paint that black also.or maybe find a pretty decal to cover the stained spot.

Mpe7842489 · Answer

I would make a bathroom vanity out of it.

Rebecca Bender · Answer

Good suggestions so far! I too would sand and restain the wood parts and use black chalk paint on the drawers. Then find some French look stencils and stencil the drawer fronts in antique white. Thinking it would look fabulous!

Bap8229483 · Answer

Everyone has great ideas and the dresser has so much details and beautiful features. I think the pulls should be cleaned and given a gold finish, sand the wood details,  carefully clean the floral front piece, add some very fine gold lines as accents, then, a quality clear coat sealer.

Brenda Hand-Amunrud · Answer

I would place a shelf in the missing drawer to hold a DVD player or game system and then repaint it how ever you want to then use it for a T.V. stand.

NancyMaria · Answer

I would make it a desk, craft center, sewing table.  Put a pull-out flat surface in the missing drawer.  Clean the top and cover with favorite photos and a sheet of glass.

Julie Yeary · Answer

Myself I like the color of the drawers and the 'tacky'design in the middle so for starters I would try to refufbish that with a mixture of 3 part vinegar and 1 part olive oil try it on a painted portion on the back ist to ake suure it won't harm the paint. This recipie is for restring ood and might take care of the water ring. Basically what I'm saing is I ould clean it. Ifit needs it sart ith  a dry rag then water. Houshold cheaners might damage it.  For the missing drawer,I would either put a new drawer in pained black with a complimentary decal,or the pullout shelf already suggested. I would probably replace the drawerpulls but only because the back circle is missing on some of them. I'm not sure what I would replace them with it would take some looking to see what is available. Off the top of my head I'm thinking gold or brass. For the wood part I would start with the vinegar/oil mixture. Maybe leave the chips or try a scratch stick or some of the other repair suggestions or paint all of the wood black. Myself I would just try fixing it not changing it.

Pascale Mohr · Answer

I don't understand the obsession with stenciling French sayings or 'adverts' onto furniture. As a French woman, it has always confused me! It isn't done in French homes. I have never seen it!

PAMELA · Answer

What would you like to use it for? What setting a livingroom and bedroom? Do the original colors work? To change it's colors, what do you like? remove the handles and keep them, you may want to use them again, there are spray paints, like old bronze?  Think about a two color scheme..the outter design piece and the body.  Look around for inspiration..what do you want your room to be?

What can I do to repurpose this unique dresser?

How to Make an Old Dresser Into Media Cabinet or Buffet

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What can I do to repurpose this unique dresser?

How to Make an Old Dresser Into Media Cabinet or Buffet

Suggested Project Book