Four days, five hours and thirty-six minutes ago…..
…..I left the Better Homes and Gardens headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.
It was the trip of a lifetime for a girl who lives in the middle of nowhere and drives an hour an a half to shop at Target.
I will never forget a single minute of it.
And the giantest of thank yous to you and your votes that sent me.
This was it.
This was the final round of the make-over madness competition.
The challenge?
To transform this IKEA dresser into something amazing.
And with a little paint….new knobs….some washers from the home improvement store….a few pieces of wood and glue….
….it looks like this now.
Can you even believe it?
I know….right?
I wasn’t sure at first. The color was bright and the washers were graphic and the bookcase was striped and I sat and bit my lip and waited for it to dry….
….and worried if it would all come together like I imagined it.
And when I peeled off the tape on the back of the bookcase…and added the knobs….and slid the last drawer into place…..
….I just stood there.
Well….at first I just stood there.
I probably should have kept standing and keeping my cool and acting like I knew it was going to turn out just like this.
But I didn’t.
Nope.
Not even close.
I sighed and hugged myself and laughed and giggled and opened and shut the drawers about a million times….
…..and I may have mentioned in passing to anyone within earshot how happy I was.
Here’s a little behind the scenes on how I did it.
The beautiful color is SW Ardent Coral.
I’m going to post the actual tutorial next week….but seriously….
…this is a project anyone can do because I simply glued it all together. 🙂
And now here’s the giant favor part of today.
This is the last round of voting and the dresser and I are shamelessly asking for your vote.
(total aside: it’s always easier to ask for a vote when you bring a cute dresser with you)
You can vote here.
The voting is only for today and you can vote as many times as you want….once an hour.
Fingers crossed all day today….
…..and then I might make those knobs into earrings. 🙂
KariAnne, Great job on the dresser. It looks so cute. My favorite part is the book/magazine rack on the side. What a smart and creative idea. I am going to vote for you right now. I hope you win. Kathy
You are a genius!! This is spectacular. It's got so much sass! You are truly an inspiration. I just can't believe you turned that dresser into this work of art. I'm voting as soon as they start accepting votes!
Stephanie! The voting is live now! Happy day friend! karianne
I voted for yours, it's super cute!
I voted! Love this, you did an awesome job girl!
Ummm....girl! You were in Des Moines??? Darnit, I would've kidnapped you for a few hours to come to my neck of the woods!! Irishman Acres would love my sweet friend from Thistlewood come visit!! ~Kim
Voted! Love the color and everything about it!! (Sorry about the b-ball game, but the Wildcats can hold their heads up high!)
Love, love, love your cute coral dresser! Happy, happy...going to vote now! xxoo
Girl! So cute! So doable! I voted early and will vote often! Good luck, Buttercup! Have a rockin day!
Oh, KariAnne! I love everything about this dresser! The bookcase on the side is my favorite part! That was a genius idea! You can definitely count on my vote(s). :) You are one talented girl!
Of course I voted for you!!!!! Amazing!!!! I could do this!
OMG!!!!! I LOVE it and this is why your are the awesome possum!!! (that's my go to phrase when something is awesome cause I can't think of a better rhyming word although I am sure there are plenty) This is why we love you and want to be you!!! :)
I voted too! It's amazing what you did with washers, bright paint, and I loved the book/magazine rack on the side:) Will vote again later, kinda sorry about the game last night:(
It is just so precious I just love it! Will vote every hour on the hour!!
I love the dresser KariAnne! You are so creative! Voted and will vote again...more than once!
Wow! Amazing! I voted for you, baby!
You've got this, KariAnne!! We're all voting and pulling for you!! Can't wait to hear about the results :)
Call me blonde, but I can't seem to find where to vote when I click on the "here" part of your post.... Help please...cuz I want to vote for your madly cute piece!! Thanks!! (I'm on an iPad....would that make a difference??)
Perfect! LOVE everything about it! Life to the full! Melissa
Good Luck...just voted for you!
So great. I voted for you. I have a question. When you painted the dresser did you use a brush or roller?
I thought this looked great. But when I went to vote and saw your competition, I realized this was AMAZING. The best by far! Good for you - you deserve to win. Voted for you. Good luck!
Love, love, love it Kari....so very whimsical and yet sophisticated!....Off to vote!...glad you had the experience of a lifetime!!
yes indeed you'll get my vote..!!!! umm now- about you doing me a favor:):) I need 2 of those- side section facing in for my folders-- and a nice farmstyle woodtop over both- oh yea, leave a 28 inch gap in between for my desk chair.. awwww I know this is gonna be perfect... I need it by next monday but NO PRESSURE rofl rofl... ok ok..I'll do it myself I reckon.
Karianne, I don't what I love watching more - your video or your great project design! WOW! I think yours turned out uber awesome! I want one...I need one...NOW! How exciting!!!!!!!! Voting for you, chumley! Super fun!
wow,you are sooo talented KariAnne,love the dresser,you did an awesome job!!!!!!Just voted for you,hope YOU win!!!!!!!
Seriously You are not HUMAN! Its Brilliant!!! It hurts my head imagining how yours works to create such a piece. ..... and I used to think I was creative, but girl, you are beyond creative.....I don't know what they call it, but you got it!!! Wow. (I love it just a little, can you tell he he)
Great project Karianne! Love the washers...so unexpected! Now, don't forget to show us the shoes...we're all waiting! Good luck! ;)
Love it. You received my vote. You are the Rock Star of 2014, 2013, 2012, etc. And I predict you'll Rock 2015 too. Love your blog!
You do realize that this is the color that I am obsessed with right now - mainly for WEARING, but I do so love it!! So pretty! Sunshine? Please? :) Happy Day, my friend!!
OK, that color AND the beauteous GREEN that I found in shoe form the other day for FIVE DOLLARS! ;)
First, so sorry about Kentucky's loss last night. 2nd, love the coral dresser; you have my vote. Your vision and the ability to bring it together astounds me; incredible, incredible! Good luck.
Voted! LOVED IT!
VOTED!! Your piece is spectacular. Amazingly gorgeous. Will be voting for you every hour, hope you win you piece is just too lovely.
Love it..What an imagination you have..Good luck.
You are a rock star Karianne! Love it!
Dang, KariAnne! First things first. I just voted, and now to comment. And, once again, Dang, KariAnne!!! That is spectacular. I mean Really!!! Left the voting screen up to remind me to vote again in an hour.♥
Great job, Karianne! I was blown away! It turned out lovely! I voted for it for sure. :)
Super cute. I voted. I'll try to go back and vote again in between working. ;) I sincerely liked your the best!! Great job!
Seriously? You are a SLAM DUNK IMHO!! All four are very creative and useful but yours? LOVE IT, LOVE IT! Love the color, the graphics, the fancy knobby things, the magazine holder on the side...GOR-GEE-US!!! I will try to vote again today.
I voted! Beautiful job!
FABULOUS!!!! I just went and voted for you and will all day!!!!
loved the video! good luck!
Lovely! I join the others in saying I love the side book rack. You can never have too many storage places for books. Hope you win!
You are an absolute genius! Love this dresser! Well done, KariAnne!
We mothers of twins need to stick together - you got my vote!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! Totally awesome and an inspiration for me to get busy with a dresser I've been trying to decide what to do with!! Thanks for sharing! Teresia
beautiful outcome - love your vision! added my vote & best of luck!!
Okay, I've now voted twice for you. Good luck!
I voted for you -- yours is by far the most original. Sweet Husband said that you are not one to follow the herb. Right on, Sistah!
I would have giggled and been giddy too! The color, the details, magnifique! Going over to vote!
Absolutely marvelous!! Sheer Genius!! I am giggling with you. I am going to vote right now -- everyone needs a choral colored chest of drawers!! I have a plain little dresser that is begging for attention. I love what you did on the side. I'm looking forward to the tutorial. Big Hugs
Love it as I do all of your projects, and I voted!!! :)
Awesome as always KariAnne! Love the industrial vibe the washers give this!
Hands down you got this one. Really creative idea
Oh WOW my sweet friend! Is there ANYTHING you can't do?!?!?! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! Voting for sure! P.S. Let's carpool that hour and a half drive to Target sometime
Awesome job, my dear!!! Love the color and the bookcase on the side and, well, everything about it!!!!~~Angela
That is the cutest thing ever! Great job KariAnne!
KariAnne-- The BH&G's dresser is so you! Colorful, unique, and shouting "look at me!" And always in a positive way as you exude enthusiasm and joy. What a wonderful job you did on the dresser. No playing it safe for you, eh? Good luck!! Vicki
Just voted. The color is gorgeous and that storage on the side knocks it right out of the ball park. So creative and useful. Good luck, I hope you win and you look so cute at the BHG contest!
Hello! This is my first comment and the first and only blog I've subscribed to, you had me at "hello, I've got a great artcraftandbuilding style:)" and boy, you can write to all your readers like you're talking to a good friend! Its heartwarming and takes an, "oh its just another day to a bright smile sprinkled with unicorns and puppies!" Yet I digress, I didn't expect the make-over to be THAT fabulous, but it is! The magazine rack-genius and the washers, I never would have imagined those. Its T-rex with a gopher reaching tool awesome and I wish you the best!
This is stunning! I voted!
wow, it looks amazing!!! you are SO talented & deserve to win!! Just voted:) Good Luck! Wished I could vote all day, but will be at a taping of Last Comic Standing all day(with no cellphone allowed) ha..so, I am sorry in advance! lol have a great day! I just love your blog & your awesome stories! *here is the confirmation it gave me when I voted: Thank you for your vote! The winner will be announced tomorrow on our Facebook page.
Oh wow Karianne, I'm seeing this for the first time. What a stunning makeover - the color, the inlay, those gorgeous knobs, the stripes, and especially the magazine rack on the side - gorgeous! You would've had my vote for sure. Now I'm signing up for email notifications of your blog posts so I don't miss another.
That is so cute I laughed out loud. What a great, imaginative job! You're just ahead of the crowds girlie! :) I hope you win.
I voted! And voted! I'm sorry you didn't win - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this color. One look in my closet and you would believe me - just a great color all year long. Sigh. I do love your inspirational projects. You keep up the good work girl! You da woman!
Love the dresser, wish I could see those super cute shoes :)