before-and-after

Okay….so I have some good news and some bad news.

Bad news first….

…..the dresser didn’t win.

It tried.

Truly.

It really did.

It painted itself the most beautiful shade of coral and added amazing knobs and a bookcase on the side and transformed itself with washers from the home improvement store….

…..and it will always, always, always be a winner to me. 🙂

dresser-bookcaseAnd under the good news category….

….I’m going to show you how to make your own bookcase dresser.

Then today we are all going to party like it’s 1999 with Better Homes and Gardens.

It’s time to link up your make-over projects so I can pin them to the Better Homes and Gardens pin boards….

….with a chance to get featured on the Better Homes and Gardens blog.

And partying and getting to hang out with you and discussing our make-overs and hanging out with bhg…..

….that’s better than winning for me. 🙂

coral-bookcase-dresser

How to Make a Bookcase Dresser

Supplies:

picture frame molding

1 x 2 boards

Elmer’s Wood Glue

1″ washers 

fancy knobs

painter’s tape

ProBond Advanced Glue

bookcase-dresser-diy

Step 1:  Cut boards for bookcase

Cut two long boards and three short boards.

The longer boards were 20″ long and the shorter boards were 12″ long.

This allowed the bookcase to be set in from the edge slightly.

You will want to adjust the boards to fit your own bookcase.

bookcase-dresser-glue

Step 2:  Glue boards in place

Apply wood glue according to directions and glue boards in place.

Let dry.

bookcase-dresser-moldingStep 3:  Cut picture frame molding and glue in place

Cut four pieces of picture frame molding the width of the bookcase.

Apply wood glue according to directions and glue molding in place.

Let dry.

bookcase-dresser-paintStep 4:  Paint bookcase

The color I used on the bookcase is SW Ardent Coral.

Let dry.

bookcase-dresser-washers (2)

Step 5:  Spray paint washers

You will need 24 washers for this project.

Spray paint them white.

bookcase-dresser-washersStep 6:  Glue washers in place

Using a piece of painter’s tape as your guide,  space the washers evenly between the two drawer pulls.

Glue in place with ProBond Advanced Glue according to directions.

Let dry.

bookcase-dresser-drawerStep 7:  Tape off and paint a stripe on the drawer

I taped this off with painter’s tape to create an edge around the drawer.

Paint the center of the washers where the drawer pulls will go.

After the paint dries….add the drawer pulls (which I got at Hobby Lobby).

Project note:  I also taped off stripes inside the bookcase….after I had already added the molding.  If you want to do this…do as I say….not as I did….and tape it off before you add the picture frame molding.

disclosure:  I have a working relationship with Pro-Bond Advanced….but this project and my opinions on glue are completely my own.

dresser-bookcase

Here she is….in all of her coral glory.  🙂

Want to see the winner and the other amazing dressers in the competition?

Just click on the links below:

in-my-own-style

The WINNER!

Dresser turned desk from In My Own Style.

To see how she made it….click here.

My Fabuless Life

Dresser turned bar cart from My Fabuless Life.

To see how she made it….click here.

city-farmhouse

Dresser turned bar cart from City Farmhouse.

To see how she made it….click here.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for pam clark pam clark

    Love the dresser KariAnne! Just and FYI, I keep the links to the blogs I read in a folder in my favorites. This morning when I clicked on yours, it took me to your old wordpress blog, very strange.....I'm guessing that it was because the title of the story it took me to happened to have the same title about good news and bad news! Again, love the little dresser!! ~ Pam

  2. Image for Marisa Franca @ All Our Way Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

    Your chest is wonderful. I love the color -- it's a make me smile shade. You certainly did a lot of work on yours and the bling sets it apart!! I wish I had a finished project to link up with but everything is still in flux -- except the cooking. Well . . . we HAVE to eat. The other stuff gets shoved to a later date :-( Have a wonderful day!

  3. Image for Terri Terri

    I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU DID NOT WIN FIRST PLACE!!!!!! I absolutely loved your idea and to be honest..... I saved that post and yes I am going to copycat!! It is perfect for a guest room !!! What guest does not want to grab a magazine and browse just before "lights out" !! Loved ... loved your idea!!!! ( not that the others were not amazing too... but YOURS.. well I was smitten!!! ) :) Have a blessed day

  4. Image for Anita Anita

    Your pretty coral dresser is hands-down the best. I can't believe it didn't win. Maybe if you had removed the top drawer and turned that into a shelf it might have made a more dramatic change, but personally, I love the way it looks as is. Now the real question is... which lucky room gets to have the dresser move in?

  5. Image for DEBORAH BURKE DEBORAH BURKE

    I was very disappointed that you did not win KariAnne.Truly love what you did with your dresser and was so sure that you were going to win.You are always a winner in my book!!!! :-)

  6. Image for Nancy Cox Nancy Cox

    Oh no!!!!! Your dresser was by far my favorite. I really had no doubt that it would win. I am a little disappointed.

  7. Image for Joetta Colquette Joetta Colquette

    I still love yours the most!~ I love your always positive outlook, especially when losing, though not really:D

  8. Image for Cynthia at herlovelynest.com Cynthia at herlovelynest.com

    I adored your dresser KariAnne! I think it's not only beautiful but truly functional and would be especially wonderful for a guest room because you could stock that side bookcase with current magazines, brochures for sightseeing....

  9. Image for Marie @ The Interior Frugalista Marie @ The Interior Frugalista

    Hi KariAnne, I thought for sure you were going to win. Your coral dresser was stunning! I didn't realize you used painted washers for the drawer detailing, I assumed it was an inlay. So creative! Thanks for co-hosting this awesome party and blogger opportunity and wishing you a Happy Easter.

  10. Image for Pat Pat

    Absolutely perfect! Can't imagine that you weren't the winner...so many details. Love the color and how in the world did you think to use those washers? Great, great piece! xo Pat

  11. Image for Diana Lucas Diana Lucas

    KariAnne, I totally loved your dresser and thought it would win for sure. I voted for it several times. It's so creative and unique and that beautiful coral is a color no one else could have thought of using. Thanks for sharing all your creativity with us.

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  13. Image for Debbie @Dewdrop Gables Debbie @Dewdrop Gables

    Ah, I'm sorry you didn't win, your dresser is wonderful. But all the ladies did a great job on their makeovers, it was an amazing competition with fantastic talent! And how cool to finish it all off with this linky party! I haven't posted in a while (or even made it online in ages!!), but I think I'll link up something I did last fall. Thanks for this! Debbie :)

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