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    Home

    Aqua Painted Dresser With Ribbon Handles {Trash to Treasure}

    by Jessica 48 Comments

    Aqua Painted Dresser With Ribbon Handles  www.mom4real.com

    I love showing my readers how to decorate their homes without breaking the bank.  Today, I am going to show you how I turned an abandoned dresser that I found on the side of the road into a beautiful painted dresser for my daughter's new big girl bedroom!

    Wanna see what it looked like before I got my hands on it?

    dresser-before

    There I was, driving to Target when I spotted this beauty and a matching vanity.  I pulled my car over so fast, I'm pretty sure I almost gave my daughter whiplash.  I couldn't just leave it there, though...I mean look at it!  The mirror alone had my heart beating super fast!  Not exactly what I would call pretty...well, maybe back in the day, but not in this state, but I just knew it could be.  You should have seen me trying to wrestle all of these into my SUV...I'm 5 feet tall, so I'm sure it was quite the site!

    Ribbon Drawer Pulls  www.mom4real.com

    So, I got it home and let it hang out in my garage for a few weeks before I decided to paint it.  It came at the perfect time, because Kate was dying for a big girl room.  She wanted her room to match the rest of our home which is decorated in what I would refer to as a beach cottage style.  I had just painted her room, when my husband hauled it up the stairs for me.  Kate and I decided to paint the mirror white and the dresser the same aqua color as we painted her wall.  I used Valspar's paint and primer in one in Lake Breeze in an eggshell finish.

     The only problem was, the cup handles were in terrible shape.  Well, me being the thrifty girl that I am, decided to try and see if I could find something around our home that we could use.  I raided my ribbon stash and ran back upstairs to give my idea a try...ribbon pulls!  They worked perfectly!

    Painted Dresser With Ribbon Pulls

    Aren't they so simple and sweet?  And...they work!  Did I mention they were free???

    Aqua Decor in Cottage Style Bedroom www.mom4real.com

    We pulled together some things from around the house to dress her new dresser up, and added a new lamp.

    Isn't it just darling?

    Aqua Painted Dresser With Ribbon Pulls and White Mirror  www.mom4real.com

    I have to admit, I tried to get Kate to take the pom pom flowers down, but she quickly reminded me that this was her room and not just for a blog.

    Whoops...need to remember that more often.  So, the tissue paper flowers stayed, and Kate's room is one step closer to being finished!

    So...what do you think?  Would you give a roadside dresser a chance?

    Sharing at Between Naps on the Porch and Savvy Southern Style

    TDC Before and After

    jessicafollow



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    Comments

    1. Recreate and Decorate says

      March 01, 2013 at 7:53 pm

      Thats just too darn cute!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        March 01, 2013 at 8:31 pm

        Thank you! I kind of love it too :)

        Reply
    2. Starr @ The Kiefer Cottage says

      March 01, 2013 at 7:57 pm

      I have a similar dresser and vanity (it was my grandmother's)--I would've pulled over for something like that! Great find.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        March 01, 2013 at 8:31 pm

        Thank you...it sure was a mess, but we love it now!

        Reply
    3. Carlene @Organized Clutter says

      March 01, 2013 at 8:01 pm

      Great transformation. I love the color and ribbon pulls.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        March 01, 2013 at 8:32 pm

        Thank you so much! Kate picked out the color, and I gotta say...I love it too :)

        Reply
    4. jo says

      March 01, 2013 at 8:11 pm

      I love that lamp! Where did you get it from?

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        March 01, 2013 at 8:32 pm

        That lamp is awesome isn't it? I got it from http://www.lampsplus.com

        Reply
    5. Angelina - JoJo and Eloise says

      March 01, 2013 at 9:26 pm

      It totally softens the dresser and gives it such a SWEET look :)
      xo
      Angelina

      Reply
    6. Mel says

      March 02, 2013 at 12:06 am

      Really cute, I think the poms are fine :) I'm glad you let her keep them

      Reply
    7. Rondell says

      March 02, 2013 at 12:22 am

      Oh, my goodness, I'd definitely give it a chance! I used ribbon on my washstand and I still have it there. I think it's really sweet!

      Reply
    8. Dria @ Dio says

      March 02, 2013 at 10:10 am

      This transformation is awesome, I love the color and the unique pulls! What a wonderful job you did!

      Reply
    9. Gwen says

      March 02, 2013 at 2:00 pm

      Simply amazing! The color and ribbons are delicious... It is really sweet!

      Reply
    10. Shannon @Fox Hollow Cottage says

      March 02, 2013 at 2:46 pm

      This is such a great find! I can't believe it was free, just sitting there. Crazy!! It's so pretty now. Love that the detail on the mirror base shines now with the white paint treatment!! Super feminine with your smart choice of new hardware too.
      It's a win!! :)

      Reply
    11. [email protected] Designs says

      March 02, 2013 at 2:58 pm

      The dresser turned out beautiful...great choice of color and ya gotta love kids...they put everything into perspective!!...The ribbon pulls are so pretty...you are so creative Jessica!

      Reply
    12. Susan @ SunfowerHugs.blogspot.com says

      March 03, 2013 at 12:26 am

      I love it! You painted it the perfect color and I love the idea of the ribbon handles! Do I see the vanity painted in pink in the corner of one of the photos? Amazing job and the pom pom flowers are awesome!

      Reply
    13. [email protected] says

      March 03, 2013 at 8:59 am

      So pretty! I am loving the ribbon handles!

      Reply
    14. Kathy, Petticoat Junktion says

      March 03, 2013 at 11:13 am

      Hey Jessica, young girls do have a mind of their own! I think it's great that she knows what she wants and asks for it. Wouldn't it be cute to have a video of you trying to get that furniture into your SUV :-)

      Reply
    15. Jennifer says

      March 03, 2013 at 9:13 pm

      I'm jealous I never find anything but road kill on the side of the road!! Gorgeous job and it's my favorite color too. That lamp is pretty stunning too!

      Reply
    16. Mary says

      March 03, 2013 at 11:42 pm

      You did a beautiful job! Just curious did you sand it at all before painting that color?

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        March 04, 2013 at 6:11 am

        Thank you! I didn't sand it. I just painted the edges with a brush and rolled the rest on. It has built in primer, so it went on like a charm.

        Reply
    17. Beckie says

      March 04, 2013 at 6:28 am

      That is UH-MA-ZING! You made it totally different and it's beautiful! You rock, I adore it!

      Reply
    18. Sarah Lynn | Sarah Lynn's Sweets says

      March 04, 2013 at 8:40 am

      That's adorable! I love the color and the ribbon handles, what a great transformation!

      Reply
    19. [email protected] says

      March 04, 2013 at 1:13 pm

      So pretty! And great idea about the ribbons....buying hardware is always the most expensive part of redoing furniture, it seems.

      Reply
    20. GrandmaMary says

      March 05, 2013 at 11:21 am

      I have a dresser almost just like that one! - well now that I think of it I have 2!! I was going to put one in the bottom of my closet to add drawers for storage and now I want to paint it - love the colors and the pulls. You did great!

      Reply
    21. Jamie says

      March 05, 2013 at 2:10 pm

      This is gorgeous! I love the color and the handles. And I love how your daughter is decorating her own room {or not letting you remove the pompoms}. They learn at such a young age ;)
      Jamie http://www.somuchbetterwithage.com

      Reply
    22. Jamie says

      March 05, 2013 at 2:10 pm

      This is gorgeous! I love the color and the handles. And I love how your daughter is decorating her own room {or not letting you remove the pompoms}. They learn at such a young age ;)
      Jamie http://www.somuchbetterwithage.com

      Reply
    23. [email protected] says

      March 05, 2013 at 8:16 pm

      Man, I am driving around in the wrong neighborhoods! What a fab roadside treasure! You really turned this piece into something beautiful, and I think the ribbon pulls seal the deal (along with the glorious color choice!). Love it! I have a Kate too, and am in the midst of a bedroom redo for her as well. She sounds equally strong-minded as yours, and I could totally imagine her telling me that it was "her room" and not just for the blog. :-)

      Reply
    24. Holly Lefevre says

      March 06, 2013 at 1:38 am

      The dresser has great style and you made it better with that color and those sweet handles!

      Reply
    25. Alicia says

      March 06, 2013 at 12:38 pm

      What an amazing furniture update! Looks great! I've been dying to paint some furniture in my girls' room for ages, but I'm always a little too afraid to take the plunge. :) Thanks for making it look easy!

      Reply
    26. Cheryl | That's What Che Said... says

      March 06, 2013 at 11:35 pm

      You know I am in love with this dresser! Thanks for linking up to Monday Funday with us! XOXO!

      Reply
    27. Jennifer Rollins says

      March 07, 2013 at 12:04 am

      Well, it's perfect! I have had the idea before for ribbon drawer pulls, but haven't had the chance to use them myownself just yet - so glad you did! And I had to laugh about it 'being your daughter's room and not just for the blog' - I've gotten that comment on more than one occassion - lol! Visiting from SSS and would love for you swing on by when you have a minute!

      Cheers - Jen

      Reply
    28. Kate says

      March 08, 2013 at 7:53 am

      Such a beautiful transformation of the dresser and I love the idea of ribbon handles - well done! Now I'm wishing I still had an old dresser similar to yours. :)

      Reply
    29. [email protected] says

      March 08, 2013 at 9:20 pm

      What a beautiful transformation!! Great job :)
      Thank you so much for joining the party!

      Reply
    30. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says

      March 09, 2013 at 12:29 pm

      What a huge difference!!! I love how pretty and shabby chic it looks now! And ribbon pulls...what a fun idea!!!

      Reply
    31. Roeshel says

      March 09, 2013 at 9:32 pm

      So pretty, Jessica! I love the color and the ribbon handles are so sweet! Great job!

      Reply
    32. [email protected] says

      March 10, 2013 at 2:48 pm

      What a gorgeous color, Jessica. The ribbon handles are PERFECTION!

      Reply
    33. jenny says

      March 10, 2013 at 8:34 pm

      It's beautiful! I love the color! Shared on FB!

      Reply
    34. Kimberly Patterson says

      July 25, 2013 at 1:21 am

      PLEASE, share the make and name of paint color you used for this BEAUTIFUL room! I am in the midst of creating a nursery in my home for my grand daughter and this is the perfect color for the walls and doors. I'm so excited I found your site.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        July 25, 2013 at 8:45 am

        Hi, Kimberly! It is Lake Cottage by Valspar (primer and paint in one) I am using it to paint my foyer floors right now, and love it! It's by far the best paint I have ever used! Thank you so much for stopping by!!! Congratulations on the grandbaby!!!

        Reply
    35. Mike says

      July 31, 2020 at 9:26 pm

      What would you use to clean and disinfect the inside surfaces of the dresser drawers?

      Reply

    Trackbacks

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    I’m Jessica, a mom on a mission to show other women that you can live well without breaking the bank. I like to share the thrifty, creative ways that I make changes in my home in the hopes that it will spark the creativity in someone else! I love to share DIY projects, crafts, simple recipes and cleaning tips too! Read More…

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