I was thrift store shopping before thrift store shopping was cool.
That sounds just like a song. š
And my favorite part about the whole thrift store shopping this…..
….is the thrill of the hunt.
Thereās nothing like it.
When you are a thrift store shopper…..hope always springs eternal.
Truly.
You sift through random tea cups and old clocks and swag curtains from 1970 and blue ducks wearing straw hatsā¦..
ā¦.and you almost give up hope.
Almost.
Until suddenlyā¦.the skies part and the sunshine pours in and as twenty-seven angels sing the Hallelujah Chorusā¦..and you find it.
Youā¦.knowā¦.IT.
An IT like this small dresser I recently found for only $2.50. Ā It was dark brown and dingy with extra dings and dents and spider webs thrown in free of charge.
And hereās how I transformed it into a striped dresser with a little paint and FrogTapeĀ®.Ā
Step 1: Ā Prime and paint and add feet to the dresser
I lightly sanded the pieceĀ (after removing the spider webs)Ā and primed and painted the dresser white.
I removed the drawersĀ (we will meet up with them later).
Then feet were added to the dresser. Ā These are old curtain finials from another project. Ā Simply add them into the bottom of the dresserā¦..
ā¦..and welcome it to 2014.Ā
Step 2: Ā Tape off stripes on sides of dresser
Using the edge of the dresser as a guideā¦taped off a stripe on the top of the dresser as shown with FrogTapeĀ® Delicate Surface.
Continue taping down the front.
Hereās how the tape looked on the front of the dresser before I painted it.
Step 3: Ā Paint your stripe
I painted this with simple blue acrylic craft paint. Ā This is the first coat.
Because craft paint is thinner and the blue is so darkā¦.you will want to paint at least three coats to get proper coverage.
Let dry.
Step 4: Ā Add drawer handles
You want to install the numbers on the drawers before you paint.
Prepare to be amazed. Ā These drawer pulls are actually house numbers that we float mounted.
Can you believe it?Ā Ā Who knew house numbers could look so glamorous?
I kept looking at the numbers and pulling the drawers out again and again and telling random people that they should use house numbers for drawer pulls.
Step 5: Ā Tape the stripe on the drawers
Replace the drawers in the dresser.
Using the stripe on the top as a guideā¦.tape off the front of the drawers.
Paint with blue acrylic paint.
Let dry.
Hereās how the finished dresser looks in the room.
And to think it all started with a bargain hunt at the thrift store.
Who knew $2.50ā¦..
ā¦..could end up looking like a million dollars?
I received compensation to complete this project for using FrogTapeĀ® products. Ā All opinions, projects and ideas are based on my own experience.
Love the feet! Love the numbers! Love the stripe! Just love this piece! And a bargain too! Oh, my!
Love a bargain!!! Love the house letter handles. Are you yardsaling the longest sale this week?
What a transformation! The curtain finials for feet take this piece to a whole new level. The house numbers as pulls is just brilliant! Beautifully done.
Great job! So cute!
What a project!! It looks fantastic -- I'd love to go bargain hunting with you -- somehow you find the greatest treasures. Then you take it up several levels to lah di dah glamorous! And - is that the cottage wood wall I see on the left?? Pure genius!
Clapping!!!
Wow! Cool piece! ;)
Karianne, Curtains finials, but of course! You have a permanent thinking cap under your crown! Signed, Grandma Christine! Hehe
Another darling project Karianne! Great idea with the numbers love it! And I think I have those on my home ;-)
How do you come up with these genius ideas? House numbers for drawer pulls...who'd a thunk it?
You are right, it does look like a million. I love it, how fun is this.
Great use of unusual objects. Love it!
OMG! That looks phenomenal! Love the idea of using house numbers for drawer pulls - pure GENIUS!!!!!
I am in awe of your creativity! Curtain finials and house numbers! So clever. I love it. And the blue stripes...And the $2.50 price. You can create something out of nothing.
Love this and may do with my friend who is crafty like you do to my childhood chest. The feet made it rock by the way!
Love the look, just wondering what the total cost of this project was? (for those of us who don't happen to have a stash of finials and such)!
That is fabulous KariAnne, the house numbers as pulls took it to another level of genius.
Very cute! But am I missing the "before" picture? I love me a good before/after ...
Wow, from sad lost thrift shop duckling to glamorous swan! Love, love, love the drawer pulls with the classic nautical stripe. Clapping ~~~ Bwg
Curtain finials and house numbers - talk about thinking outside of the box! You are so creative Karianne - just love this!
You are TOTALLY AMAZING!
Very clever!!! I don't know what it means to float mount the numbers. Could you explain that for me? Thanks!
A great double-duty piece too. With its' size and shape (and the gorgeous new look) this could fit in many tight spots and be used in just about any room! Fun.
FOR REAL???? Only $2.50!? Girl! I LOVE IT! Nothing speaks more to me than a great deal that turned into something amazing!
Love it! I wish we had a before pic though. I have trouble figuring out what pieces of old junky furniture can be a masterpiece.
I am soooo lovin' the numbers! Such and idea! (Please say this in a Yiddish accent. My daughter just finished her summer school production of "Fiddler on the Roof" and I'm sorta stuck in the zone.)
Love, love, love this, KariAnne! If I were teaching, I would have one with numbers and one with the ABCD in my classroom! You are too clever! Deborah
What a great idea for the drawer pulls! Love the whole look!
You are the cleverest of clevers! Love the addition of the floating house numbers as pulls!! The finial feet are quite genius also. Love it!
KariAnne! This is so cool!!! I am in love with the house numbers for drawer pulls!! How did you do that? I read the 'we floated them' but how did you go about doing this? I'd love to hear more....one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a long time :-)
Love it! Looks great :) I found the most adorable chair for $6 today at the thrift store, I love the hunt!
Awesome idea KariAnn. You have an amazing blog. I'm a new blogger HELP! Any ideas to get followers? Anne's Attic- Design https://fulcolbaxia.wordpress.com Thanx Jo
I love the numbers! How clever!
Wonderful makeover, KariAnne! Even a $2.50 piece in your hands can be elevated to a stunner!
OMG KariAnne,I love this!!!!!!You must lie awake half the night,coming up with this stuff.I cannot believe the things that you come up with!!!!!!!Love this $2.50 dresser WOWand LOVE what you did to it,LOVE the drawer pulls,who would've ever thought(except for you)it looks absolutely beautiful(LOVE the finnials too)You never cease to amaze me,I'm telling you girl,you were a designer in a previous life,a highly popular and sought after designer(oh and a very RICH designer)!!!!!!!!! :-)
Wow, this looks fabulous! Great job! Thanks for linking up at the Creative Collection.
How did you use house numbers to make handles? I have a set that would be adorable for this!!
It looks fabulous!!! Kathy
When I first saw that gorgeous painted dresser, I thought, how great that you found a piece with "pretty feet"...and now I know...genious!...and those house numbers?....super genius...the MENSA group of geniuses would definitely be impressed!!!
I love the number handles. How cute!
WOW that is absolutely stunning! Well done, ma'am!!
If I were a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, now I'd say "Kanubawgo, dude!"
I can't believe no one has asked yet where you got the numbers. I'm imagining these to be about 6 inches tall; am I close? I've looked at both Home Depot and Lowe's and neither of those in my neighborhood had them. Can you point me in the right direction, please. Many thanks! Oh, and how tall is this piece now?