FREE artwork printables!

Cuckoo4Design

Budget styling ideas, decorating DIYs and cat friendly living tips for your small home.

You are here: Home / DIY projects / Modern Oak Dresser Makeover

Modern Oak Dresser Makeover

by

I can’t believe that my little man is turning 11 already today. He is growing up way too fast and I’m trying to hold on to his innocence in the worst way. He still believes in Santa Claus, which makes me smile, I have no clue how we achieved this 😉 but I might have to burst his bubble at some point soon so he a)  doesn’t get teased in school about believing in Santa and b) because he thinks Santa is magical and can get him anything no matter of the price tag. But I think it’s just too cute. And I did get the German layered cake done for him. I had some issues along the way, I hope it’ll taste fine LOL. I do it every year but this year it turned out a little funky!

I also worked my butt off to finish this dresser that I bought at Salvation Army right before we left for Germany. It caught my eye because it is heavy, solid oak and a mix between rustic country and modern. It was in really bad shape though, or should I say disgusting?!? Because that’s totally what it was. Look at that dirty brown and green stuff on it. Ugh, yuck!
oak dresser before
yucky oak dresser before
Yuck, look at the brown drips on the legs.

But I knew I could turn it into something lovable. I also really liked the scale of the dresser and I could picture it as a larger nightstand dresser or changing table. The height is actually perfect for a changing table if you attach the changing pad to the back.

My hubby sanded the dresser for me which removed all the yucky icky stuff. He is helping out a little here and there now if he has time isn’t that great? But I forgot to take a picture of how clean and nice it looked before I painted it.

And after it was sanded I painted it with Annie Sloan chalk paint (color: Paloma). Why chalk paint again? Well, because it has the somewhat rustic feel due to the grainy oak. Regular or glossy paint would have not looked nice with that wood in my opinion. I actually have another dresser in the garage which is up next and I will paint it with a more glossy finish again I think.

After that I applied Johnson Paste Wax which took the color from a light grey to a darker grey as you can see in the picture.

applying furniture wax
And here it is finished:
modern oak dresser after by Cuckoo4Design
modern oak dresser after
modern oak dresser drawer detail by cuckoo4design
modern oak dresser drawer detail by cuckoo4design
modern oak dresser in Annie Sloan Paloma Chalk Paint
modern oak dresser in Annie Sloan Paloma Chalk Paint by Cuckoo4Design
modern oak dresser in Annie Sloan Paloma Chalk Paint by Cuckoo4Design
modern oak dresser drawer detail in Annie Sloan Paloma Chalk Paint
gold vinyl heart wall decals by Cukoo4Design
gold, grey and white chalk paint dresser by Cuckoo4Design
modern rustic oak dresser makeover in grey white and gold by Cuckoo4Desing

I love it so much. I know I say that about almost everything but that’s how it should be, right? If I put a lot of work into it then I should love it!

In case you are wondering about the hearts, they are vinyl wall stickers and will be for sale in my Etsy shop as well. I’m hopefully adding them over the weekend.

So what do you think? Yay or nay?

Oh and hey before I forget it. The person that won my giraffe pillow cover never replied so random.org picked another. Congrats to Sabrina:

And I wish you all a great weekend.

Tschüß

(Youleeya)

See more of my furniture makeovers:

68 Comments
Related Posts

Comments

    • Julia Konya says

      Emmy’s is a very high dresser though right? You know what really bugs me is that I still had to pay for it. LOL I’m a cheapo but it was in such bad shape that I think Salvation Army still asks too much for it 😉

  2. Sabrina says

    What?! I was just going to comment on how beautiful your dresser looks and then I see that I won!!! Whoo Hoo!! Beautiful job!! I love gold and the vinyl sticker!

    I can be reached at:

    superfluousblogs @ gmail dot com

    Thanks so much!!!

  12. Brynne Delerson says

    I love it! Definitely a “paint it” 🙂 I can’t believe something so icky became something soooo lovely! And the gold heart is the perfect finishing touch!

  20. Geesha says

    Julia I really want to know about what you did to the inside of the drawers. Is it a drawer liner? Gift wrap? Where did you get it? I need aswers girl! LOL!

    • Julia Konya says

      Hi Geesha, it is contact paper which I found at HomeGoods. I love that stuff because every time I used wrapping paper and decoupage I had bubbles. I totally forgot to mention it in my blog post 😉

  22. Julia Konya says

    Yeah, they are close in age, but not in height LOL. Noa is on the shorter side like me.
    My daughter wants the dresser now. Maybe if it doesn’t sell I can use it in her room makeover. Thanks and have a great weekend too.

  23. Geesha says

    Thanks Julia! I have been looking every where for something like this. I hope I can find it at my HomeGoods. I have seen online scented drawer liners (how cool is that) but it is never in any cool geometric patterns.

  24. Sara says

    You did SUCH a nice job with it! And I love the drawer liners…such an expected and lovely surprise. Almost makes putting away laundry fun lol

  34. Jane says

    Love, love this dresser! Love the soft color, the gold trim. And the chevron liner – fabulous! Thanks for linking up to Frugalicious Friday!

  36. [email protected] says

    I’m in love with the gold touches 🙂 so beautiful and feminine 🙂 & wow what a transformation, how different and so happy your husband sanded this piece of furniture for you 🙂
    I love the heart you added to the dresser and around it to style it with the whale too! 🙂
    I hope your son had a beautiful birthday too and so adorable how he still believes in Santa claus, I love it when kids haven’t lost all their innocence yet! 🙂 & I’m sure your cake for him was delicious!

  43. Sheryll And Critters. says

    Wait a second…….. my pc died and I have worked to get back on the internet……for my favorite blogs…………. so are you hinting that you might be expecting? I mean a changing table????? I know I am so severely behind in everything, but I thought I might just ask what ……. did I miss?