This silver glam dresser makeover was a fun challenge! I had to take a boxy plain dresser and give it some feminine glam style. This had to be done while I visited my daughter in only few days, without my own tools and supplies.
Most importantly this dresser HAD to turn out well. I was finally making good on a promise I gave my oldest daughter more than a year and a half ago which was to refinish her dresser. Every time I mentioned it I could read her thoughts, “ok..yeah Mom” …I’m sure she didn’t think I’d get to it.
As things normally do…it worked out just fine and in fact better. We worked on this together and that gave us some pretty special quality time. Had I not been so behind we wouldn’t have had the chance to do this and for that, I’m grateful! Here’s a few shots of our finished silver glam dresser makeover.
Here’s another one.
This is what it looked like before the redo. PLAIN and definitely not reflecting the personality of a fun, artsy, cool twenty something woman.
We’ve had two of these dressers in the family for years. They came from a bedroom set I had made for my girls when they were little. I’m glad that Blair has held onto it and so many memories came back to me as I worked on this with her. The dresser looks unfinished but it’s actually a white washed finish. Remember when that look was popular? UGH..! Here’s the makeover I did on the other one.
We spent the first night priming, prepping and planning. We wrestled with a stripped screw on a knob that just was not going to come out easily. Putting our minds to the task of pouring over our Pinterest files looking for ideas and a design we could both love took several hours. Check out my Bungalow Pinterest Board here for a few hundred good furniture makeover ideas and read How to Paint a Dresser in 7 Steps, it’s a great beginner’s guide and will definitely help you when taking on a project like this one 🙂
Furniture redos are my absolute favorite type of makeover. Together, we finally decided on a silver glam look and knew it would be a winner in Blair’s room.
Initially, Blair showed me pictures of furniture with ormolu detail and said that’s what she liked. Oh yikes, I thought to myself, that’s a completely different style than what we have to work with! Ormolu detail if you’re not familiar with it is a style of embellishment on furniture often in metal and gilded in a metal like gold leaf. What a surprise, I had no idea she liked this style. Ultimately, we got creative and found a pretty neat substitute that made her happy.
We took wood appliques and added them to the drawer fronts which worked out really well. They gave the entire dresser a softer, more feminine feel. We used a silver paint from Martha Stuart but it’s not made anymore so this metallic silver paint from Modern Masters is one I like alot. I used a foam mini 4″ roller to apply about 4 very thin coats of paint after a good coat of primer. My primer of choice is Stix, it works well on everthing!
We both liked the idea of a double row of knobs which also softened and changed the look of the dresser. We found these fantastic faceted glass knobs at Hobby Lobby, they are kind of vintage retro but not grandma like. From the side view they are clear but if you look at them from a front view they appear blue. Blue happens to be Blair’s favorite color. As soon as she picked them up I knew these knobs were it!
We added a white glaze to all the drawer edges, routered edges on the body as well as in the applique detail. It doesn’t show up well in the pictures but added some softness and age to the finished piece. I mixed some Modern Masters Glaze and white paint to make the glaze.
Liz Walker says
Hi Wendi, I found it. The color I was looking for is the one you used on the” Glam Dresser Makeover” Thank you for sending me the information to find it. It is gorgeous, love the knobs. I read your post and believe I can find the paint and primer. Your a sweetheart! With that being said my husband don’t think I’m one, bringing old furniture home. LOL He knows it’s my passion. Then when I’m finished with an old piece, he can’t stop bragging. How funny! Take Care. Liz
Wendi says
Hi Liz, I loved this makeover! It was my daughter’s dresser. It’s a fabulous paint color. You may have a hard time finding the paint, but Amazon has it and I’ve linked to it in the post. Have fun & I can’t wait to see a picture on the H2OBungalow Facebook page when you’re done!
Janet says
Hi Wendi,
I love your dresser! How special it is do a project with your daughter, I hope to do one with my daughter someday. 🙂
Can you please provide the specific silver paint color from Home Depot. The one I used Mecury, metallic glaze is not coming out quite nice like yours. Also did you use foam roller when you primed the dresser?
Thanks and Aloha from Honolulu.
Janet
Wendi says
Janet! So sorry to take so long to get back to you…we’ve had a huge group of family here for my son’s HS graduation and I’m a little behind. The dresser project was special and It felt good to have a project to work with my daughter on together. Unfortunately, I don’t have the paint color here. It was a Martha Stewart color, but I don’t think it was a glaze. I think there was only one silver paint. It goes on very thin. I’ve also discovered Modern Master metallics which I love for furniture. It’s sold in paint stores, boutiques and online so you’d have you do local search to see who carries it near you. I use a microfiber roller or a velour roller for the best results on all the layers including the primer. The foam roller may have been the issue if that’s what you used. Good luck! Please let me know If I can answer any more questions! You’re welcome & hello back from the FL west coast!
Iinda says
I love the dresser.
Wendi says
Thank you for taking the time to leave me a sweet compliment! They always make my day! Furniture makeovers are my favorite projects…please visit again soon.
misssrobin says
It’s absolutely beautiful! In redo-ing a dresser, it would never occur to me to change from one knob per drawer to two. It really gives it a more mature feel. And the knobs are wonderful!
Thanks for sharing. Happy Sharefest. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Wendi says
I think changing to the double knob was what really transformed the piece. I’m glad you like it & thank you for stopping by 🙂
Antionette Blake says
You did a fantastic job!
Wendi says
I’m glad you like it! I’m thinking of making another one…for me! 🙂
malia says
Wow this is a gorgeous piece! I can’t believe the transformation. You are so creative!
Wendi says
Thank you.. I love this dresser…especially since I made it with my daughter. I have another unfinished one just like it I may do the same design for mine! Thanks for stopping by!!