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Blogger Tucson, AZ on Aug 10, 2012

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Mid-Century Modern Dresser Turned Entertainment Center

I transformed a 1960's mid-century modern dresser I bought off of Craigslist into an entertainment center by staining it and painting the laminate top white! Read more about the transformation on my blog: http://desertdomicile.blogspot.com/2012/07/m...

18 Comments

Becky Blair, NE

Awesome job! I'm happy you restained it. It would be such a same to cover the beautiful grain with paint. It looks to be walnut too. I love walnut! The laminate top is another story. I love that you painted it white.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile Tucson, AZ

Thanks, Becky! The guy I bought it from said the stain was "gunstock walnut" so you are correct! The dresser was beautiful as-is but it was showing its age in some spots so that's why I decided to give it a little makeover :)

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I love mid-century lines. Your makeover made this into a very useful, contemporary piece. Great job!

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile Tucson, AZ

Thanks, Leslie! I kept the top 3 drawers too so I can turn it back into a dresser down the line! Two pieces for the price of one :)

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

Walnut was a very popular wood in MCM furniture. Often mixed with Ash wood. I'm working on a dining set now using both. I'm also sitting a desk with both those woods. I found it and a surfboard (long not surfboard shaped) coffee table at a local thrift store recently. They're both from the Lane Acclaim line. My folks had three pieces from that line that my niece now has.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile Tucson, AZ

Oh wow, those sound like great finds! There's a surfboard coffee table and Lane chest on my local Craigslist right now that I've been eyeing but I think I'm going to hit the thrift stores this weekend to see what I can find since furniture is 50% off! Hopefully I'll have some luck like you did :)

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I know that Acclaim line, Becky! One of the better overall MCM designs. Can't wait to see it!

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

Oh Caitlin if I were in the Tucson area I'd be all over that lane piece.
Leslie, I'll have to share pictures later. Right now the room is a work in progress and not suitable for sharing. 8^\'

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I can understand that, Becky. My entry/hallway and powder room are currently stripped, but those are the last areas downstairs for us to finish....before we move upstairs and start gutting everything there....LOL

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

It's nice that you understand Leslie. So many of our friends joke with us about not being finished with out home yet. We've lived here over eight years. We were the contractors and have done and are still working on all the finish work, along with all the plumbing, electrical and installing all cabinets and bathroom fixtures. I guess it would be easier to list what we didn't do. We didn't dig or pour the foundation/basement, framing, siding, drywall and roofing. We did and are still ...»
working on everything else. We are even routing the window trim. We were lucky and found 6.5" baseboard we both liked.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 1
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I own a building company, Becky, and have finished eight million-dollar homes, a shrimp farm, 3 shoe palace stores, a hotel remodel, and infrastructure for an entire development, but I can't finish the tile in my hallway (we've been in this house for 6 years ourselves)....the cobblers children have no shoes....LOL

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 1
Becky Blair, NE

LOL Oh I hear ya! I have to beg my hubby to do anything with my computer. I find that if I call him at work I get more help since he's already in that mode. LOL Luckily I've learned enough over the years I usually understand what he tells me I need to do.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

As useful as it ever was. Nice finish.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile Tucson, AZ

Thank you, Peace Painting!

on Aug 11, 2012 · Like 0
SheilaG, Plum Doodles Acworth, GA

Caitlin, did you add anything for shelving on those top drawer openings or just use the dust liners that were already in there? I have a dresser I'm getting ready to do the same thing, and wondering what the best way is to add shelves.
Oh, and I had one of these exact dressers that my dad gave me- I sold it on Craigslist, so I would have sworn you bought yours from me if you lived in Atlanta! :)

on Aug 11, 2012 · Like 0
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile Tucson, AZ

Sheila - There was a piece of wood that was underneath the top 3 drawers and that's what the electronics are sitting on. It's pretty thin and I was worried it wasn't going to hold the weight of them but it hasn't bowed or anything so I think it's ok! If your dresser doesn't have something similar, you could always get a piece of MDF or plywood cut to fit :)
Too funny about your dresser! If you had kept it, we could've been dresser twins :)

on Aug 12, 2012 · Like 0
SheilaG, Plum Doodles Acworth, GA

Thanks, Caitlin- that thin piece is the dust liner (I think that's what it's called, something like that anyway), and mine does have that. I just wasn't sure about it holding the weight of the electronics. Glad to know it works!

on Aug 12, 2012 · Like 0
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile Tucson, AZ

Good to know! I had no idea what it was called haha Can't wait to see your dresser makeover!

on Aug 13, 2012 · Like 0