Trashy Tuesday – Country Style Dresser turned Industrial Chic
UPDATE! This post was originally posted in June 2012. This Free to Me Dresser is still going strong as my husband’s bedroom Dresser.
I originally used commercial (VERY STINKY) and toxic stain. Today, we have far better choices. I only use DIY Paint 100% Natural products. I have stained literally dozens of projects and I only use DIY Paint Dark & Decrepit. It is a water-based, 100% Natural stain and glaze that you can easily darken with more colorant, or make lighter just by adding water. The best part, you can apply DIY Dark & Decrepit directly over stained wood to make it darker.
Do you remember THIS POST, the one where I started stripping a “Free to Me” dresser, and thought I would have the whole project completed that day? This is what it was transformed into!
This is where we started. Country Style, all the way back to mid-1980’s
This dresser technically qualifies as “trash”. It was left behind years ago in a friend of a friend’s garage after the friend of the friend moved. One drawer had been painted green in an effort to transform it, then was abandoned and chalked up to the fact that it would always look like a Country Style dresser. I took the dresser and painted it white and cream, where it has faithfully served as a dresser in my bedroom for almost 7 years now.
Suffering husband and I are finally, FINALLY giving our bedroom a grown-up look. Being one that doesn’t like to throw out furniture. I “REDOUX” it, I wasn’t going to let this piece go without at least trying to give it another life.
I wanted to experiment a little with the finish, rustic, urban, and industrial. I wanted Industrial Chic. Here is what I did:
I stripped almost all the paint off but left some of it in the corners. I wanted the dresser to look like it had been around a long time. See the remnants of the paint in there?
After sanding the entire piece very smooth. I used 220 grit to get a nice surface, then I always finish with 320. This is the step that gives your furniture a velvety, smooth feel. I then used Minwax’s Prestain Wood Conditioner:
This time I did something different with the stain. I worked in sections, top, sides, then drawers. When I got to the drawers, I applied the stain, then wiped some of it off with a painter’s rag, and left some to soak into the wood a little longer. I did this because I wanted an uneven (Old look).
I had a lovely gift card to Anthropology for my birthday. I added these vintage-looking knobs. The dresser was finished, but I was waiting for the last perfect detail. These Vintage Casters I ordered online from Vintage Industrial I love how old they look! Perfect for an Industrial Chic Dresser.
The transformation was complete. When I look at this dresser, I don’t see Country Style anymore. I see a Country Style Dresser Turned Industrial Chic. Maybe an uber cool and hip grown-up would have it in their bedroom. Since I didn’t have an uber-hip and cool grown-up around, I moved it into our master bedroom.
It looks like it could have even been around when you took pictures with a camera that used film!
Can you believe THIS
Is it now THIS????
I am challenging myself to see if I can “Redoux” the entire room with existing pieces, or pieces I found for free. So far so good! If you missed my other “Le Junque” Redoux I added to my master, you can read about it HERE
Awesome. I may have to try that on a piece I own. Looks beautiful.
Simply lovely! You have such vision & creative energy, I LOVE it! 🙂
Awesome job Karen! This is my favorite look by far right now. Love it.
holy crap i am speechless! it is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
That looks like you would find it in Pottery Barn catalog for about $3,000! What a fabulous transformation! Love it! (and I do believe I could add 5 more exclamation points for this too!)
This is seriously draw dropping STUNNING!!! A lot of work went into that dresser and it shows! LOVE LOVE it!!
That look soooo good! I have an old dresser I painted white, I’ve been wondering what to do with it. Now I think I might have an idea, thanks!
I wouldn’t believe it – if it didn’t come from you! The casters are amazing and I love the different areas of light/dark stain!!
Kelly
Have they bottled your brilliance yet?
That is drop dead FABULOUS.
So seriously fabulous!!!
Étourdissement
Hi there “GTC”,
In my browsing around the big ol’ internet, I was pleased to run across your blog and just have to say, I love your ideas for saving furniture! I even had to share your site with friends on my own blog at Facebook. Thanks for sharing what you do very well :O) ~Molly from Mollykid Studios
That looks AWESOME! I love, love those caster wheels and think you smashed it out of the ballpark on this one! woot!
Absolutely beautiful!!! So awesome, as always. 🙂
Whoa! That’s seriously an amazing transformation! Love the casters and the industrial vibe! Found you through primp.
Susan
O. M. G-osh. It. looks. in-CREDible.
You out-did yourself!
Catherine
Your dresser looks awesome with our casters! Glad they worked out for you.
Greg
That is one of the coolest redoux’s I’ve EVER seen anywhere. If not THE coolest! LOVE what you did and it is even cooler when you see what you started with. I’m going to remember this stain technique – love the look you got. And the knobs are perfect for it. You could make a killing redoing and selling these things!
Lovin those casters. They are the perfect finishing touch. GREAT MAKEOVER. Im now your newest follower. Please come visit me at PICKINand PAINTIN.blogspot.com and hopfully you’ll follow back?? THANKS!
Could you share with me what size casters you used? I’m in love with them and they are just what I need for the kitchen island/cart I want my husband to build for me. Thanks!
Amazing transformation. I love it. Love the uneven wax, the knobs and the industrial casters. Fantastic!
That is awesome Karen! Thanx for linking up to THT! Cant wait to see your completed room.
I just picked my jaw up off the ground. I fully can’t believe that those were the same pieces! AMAZING job Karen!
Oh it’s gorgeous! I absolutely love it. And kudos to you for stripping it, it paid off big time.
I love the casters! What a great idea!
Amazingly better. It is refreshing to see furniture that is stained verses white. You really did a good job transforming that piece.
I. Love. This.
What a gorgeous piece ! And from “trash” to boot!
xo,
Shannon
Such great transformation on the dresser. I am in love with the wheels.
Hi! I absolutely LOVE your dresser makeover. You did an amazing job!
LOVE this dresser! he finish looks so stinkin great!
Saw you featured and P&P- and just had to pin this guy!!
I’m off to poke around your blog!
xo Becca
Utter fabulousness. I love it! Especially the casters!
Stacey of Embracing Change
I think I just fell in love with a dresser. It’s amazing! You did a fantastic job transforming it!!
This is my favorite, favorite, favorite piece ever!!!!!! You rock!!!
Fantastic! You know it’s good when one adjective is all that is needed to describe it.
~Bliss~
Wow! What a change–love it.
I love it! Especially the casters!
I love the dresser! I would also love some advice :). I’m currently staining my kitchen cabinets (a project I’m a little over my head in), I have stained the frames without using a wood conditioner, overall I’m happy with the result but have noticed a little uneveness, so I decided that a wood conditioner would be useful for the drawers and doors. I used the wood conditioner on the back of a front, to test the area. I noticed that it yellowed the wood considerably. When I stained it it still looked yellowed and the stain still did not take evenly. Basically I’m very disappointed now not only does it look uneven, but also yellow. (I used the Minwax conditioner) Please help! Thank you!
Oh, you meant to say that is my house warming gift, right!? I love how you aged and revamped this dresser. All of the finishing details truly make it spectacular! When is the next Paris Flea Market!?
What a fantastic transformation! I can’t believe it’s the same piece. 🙂 Megan
I love this dresser! The industrial casters make such a difference. I may have to copy this on a truly boring dresser in my sons room.
What a gorgeous looking dresser – you’ve done a beautiful job! I have this linked to my dressers post as well today, for inspiration!
WOW. That dresser is gorgeous! You did an knock out job on it – a total transformation!
LOVE THIS! i would love to feature it on a special im doing on dressers , if that would be ok with you please let me know,
lauren
I would love to feature your dresser, im not sure if my comment went through, please let me know if it would be ok with you,
lauren
Test
One of my all-time favs! I will be featuring it later in my next post – love it!!
Thanks for sharing at the Favorite Furniture Makeovers of 2012 party!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Hi! I loooove the last dresser and i am wondering what color stain you used? I have bought 5 different colors and they dont look like yours, lol also what kind of wood is that? Any info would be very appreciated!
Hi! Beautiful dresser! Can you tell me what color stain you used and what kind of wood it is? Thanks!!
Thank you so much! You have helped me tons!!
Omg that dresser is perfect!!! I love it and I’m going to check out those casters!
susan
Amazing look you have here. Do you mind sharing what color stain you used for this piece? thanks!
Thank you so much Emmy. I used Minwax Dark Walnut. One of my go to’s.
Great job. I have been covering everything in paint, but I’m loving the stained look of this dresser……and the wheels make the dresser so unique! Love it!
Adorable and LOVE the casters. Pinning this!
Hi! I think this is the nicest, masculine, looking dresser redo. I would love to do this with a dresser for my son’s room. I have done some furniture stuff in my lifetime but not recently and am hoping the products have gotten loads better. So I have a few questions:
1. What paint stripper do you recommend?
2. How long did you leave the stain on for the lighter coat and then the darker sections?
3. Did you add any sealer or wax at the end?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Sheila, If you can find a good natural paint stripper, I would go with that. Zinnser used to make one, but I just did a search on Amazon and I couldn’t find it. Otherwise, I would recommend Jasco. It is very toxic, but does the job. Be sure to follow the directions carefully and wear eye googgles.
I let the stain sit for a while in the darker sections, approximatey the amount of time recommended on the can, for the lighter sections I wiped it off right away.
I used CeCe Caldwell’s 100% Natural Wax to seal it. CeCe Caldwell’s also makes a fabulous all natural stain in four shades now, but I haven’t tested them to see if you could get the same results.
Beautiful piece! About how long did it take you to do this piece? I’m getting ready to do a cherry colonial dresser and nightstand, my biggest worry is the stripping.
Nice read. It is amazing how wooden dressers can be reworked upon again and again as per the theme you like over the years. It remains fresh forever. Thanks for sharing.