Hey friends! We’ve got a buzz of excitement happening here with this weeks awesome DIY giveaway, it’s the perfect time to feed the creative spirit with a new round of furniture makeovers. That’s right, it’s time for Themed Furniture Makeover Day, and this months theme is storage and organization. My entry? I took a ratty and poorly painted mid-century modern dresser and transformed it into an awesome MCM dresser makeover for this months challenge.
It’s for sale in my shop now. I can’t tell you how fun it is to hear people say, well isn’t that the wood?
And I say nope:)
It’s a faux painted wood finish.
They can’t picture what it looked like before, but I still can:)
See where someone taped the drawer edges and then sprayed over and past the tape anyway. I think they walked away and gave up because the tape was still all over this dresser when I brought it home.
What the heck???
This MCM dresser makeover was a lot easier to do than it looks.
This is a simple finish to create.
All you need are a few ratty brushes, the rattier the better 😉 three paint colors, one small 4 ” foam roller and water. That’s it! No fancy glazes or anything else. Here’s a link to a full tutorial on the last faux painted cedar slab project I shared and you will want to read How to Paint a Dresser in 7 Steps if your are new to painting furniture. It’s a great beginner’s guide!
I used a white enamel spray paint on the handles. Wood knobs were swapped out for the original knobs since two were missing. But, I was able to keep the recessed metal cups under each handle which look stunning and unique. 
You saw how bad-off the drawers were. I had to paint the sides and insides white.
They look fresh and clean now:) The whole MCM dresser makeover turned out just the way I imagined it would, fresh and clean.
A few of my other Themed Furniture Makeovers that are perfect for storing things and organization
Geri Ann says
Wow, I’d never have guessed it was a faux finish. It looks gorgeous!!! You’re truly a master LOL…xoxox
Wendi says
Hi Gerri Ann & thank you! I don’t get the chance to go “all out” too often so this project was loads of fun for me. Plus my nephew loved it. Thanks for your note! It makes my day when I get one like yours:)
Megan says
I love this makeover!! The wood and white contrast is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Wendi says
Hi Megan & thank you:) This is one of my favorite makeovers ever. Especially because this dresser is such a quality piece and crazy sturdy. It just needed some love to bring it back to a “loveable” state! Thanks so much for your visit.
gail says
wow! crazy fabulous makeover Wendi! It’s hard to believe it’s the same dresser.
pinning!
gail
ps I use furniture dollies, but I need to get some of those caster thingies. 🙂
Wendi says
Thanks Gail! You know I love finishes, so this project was right up my alley:) You need the castors! There are 3 wheels on each and they’ll hold like 700 lbs each. There are life saver for moving heavy furniture around:) I have a dollie too, but seem to use these more:)
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
Wendi, what an incredible transformation. Just love the faux wood finish! Sometimes simple techniques give the best results! ;o)
Wendi says
Thanks so much Lucy! Your the first one to note how simple this was to do. It really was! I agree, the after looks so much better! Thanks for your visit!
Paula@SweetPea says
Amazing! Your technique really tricked me into thinking that I was seeing the grain of wood. This dresser looks so pretty now and I’ll bet that it will be quickly scooped up in your shop.
Patty says
Another fabulous job. I love this technique and I can’t wait to try it on a little table I have been wanting to paint. I learn so much from you and your tutorials are great. Thank you.
Wendi says
Patty! You just made my day, seriously, you did! Thanks so much and have fun with it. Also, I’m sending out a short reader survey this week. Please lok for it and fill it out for me? Thanks so much for following my blog!
Mary-the boondocks blog says
What a beauty Wendi!! When I saw the before I did a double take. It was really ugly! Was it wood underneath that black paint? Anyway you did an amazing job!
Wendi says
Hi Mary, Yes, it was wood. I didn’t strip it down to see what type. The before belonged to the ugly club…LOL Thanks so much & have a fabulous weekend!
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
Wendi!! Shut up!! This totally looks like wood! I never would have known if you didn’t tell us. You are so talented. I bet this won’t last long. I was also spying your casters that you have your furniture on. Totally genius! XOXO
Wendi says
Hi Christy! LOL.. This piece makes me laugh everytime someone thinks it’s wood. I sure hope it doesn’t last long too! Those casters make moving furniture around so easy and they save my back. They were like $10 at Harbor Freight. You need some girlfriend!!
Breanna says
What?! Totally looks like wood, that is unreal. I would totally buy this from you if I lived near you!
Wendi says
HAHA! Thanks Breanna:) Anything would have looked better than what it looked like when I brought it home!
DancingMooney says
That cabinet looks amazing, and I can’t believe that’s not real wood grain! Definitely going to have to try that trick on something!! I love to paint and re-do furniture pieces, but since we live in a small home, I don’t have room for anything new. It’s fun to have an excuse to swap something out though and, once we move, I will get to have my hands in all kinds of things! hooray! 🙂
Wendi says
I feel the artisit in you wanting to break loose Janell! We are in the same boat, if I add one more piece of my own work in the house we won’t be able to move! Thanks goodness I have a place to bring it & sell it off! Looking forward to seeing what you create!
Marie at The Interior Frugalista says
Holy smokes girl, I was sure that was wood! Hard to imagine that is the same dresser – sweet job with this makeover! Something tells me this isn’t going to last long in your shop.
Wendi says
Hi Marie… I sure hope it doesn’t last! I need the room to move it on out and put more stuff in!
Jeanette says
Oh My Gosh! I’m blown away. I have one of those rocker wood grain things and never got the look of wood as well as you did. I have to try this soon. Thank you!
Wendi says
Hi Jeanette… I didn’t use the wood grain rocker, although I’ve been wanting to try one! I did this finish with a raggy paintbrush and paper towels. There’s a link to the tutorial in my post. You’d have fun with it and it’s pretty easy to do!
Amy @ Highstyle Restyle says
Holy moly that is a crazy good transformation! It’s a statement piece for sure and a timeless classic now.
Wendi says
Thank you so much Amy! Painting the inside of the drawers was such a chore, s yes, it’s fresh all over now!
Amy | Canary Street Crafts says
Wow! What a huge transformation. I thought the finish was real wood too! You did such a great job achieving a wood grain finish with paint. It’s beautiful!
Wendi says
Thank you so much Amy! I love doing this finish. My desktop has it as well. So glad to have you on the tour with us!
Kimm at Reinvented & Roadkill Rescue says
Wow, that finish is amazing! LOVE the MCM vibe. And I have to say, this is the first time I couldn’t pick your makeover out from the thumbnails. 🙂 Great job!
Wendi says
HAaahaa! So funny, Kim. I was stumped this month too. A few that I was sure I knew who did them I was way off on. That’s such a fun game to play.
Lindsay Eidahl says
You had me fooled with the paint. Holy cow that looks real! I love it. I don’t know if I would ever be able to do it, but I would love to try.
Wendi says
Lindsay..you could totally do this technique! I made it up when I was playing around last spring. It’s loads of fun and a great way to save a piece of furniture that still needs a wood look.
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
ahhhh…I just love how fresh and clean it looks now, Wendi. You rocked the brush on this one! Faux finish is the best because it hides so many things. Thanks for sharing, and I’m pinning this one for sure!
Wendi says
Thanks so much Larissa.. and yes there is lots of u-g-l-y hidden beneath that finish! I love playing around with finishes:)