This might just be our favorite Dumpster Dive yet! We now have storage galore, we love how the dresser and hutch look in the bedroom, and this project was a great reminder to live in the world of possibility.
If you remember from our post a few weeks ago, Gwyneths persistance is what convinced me to haul this monstrosity upstairs. The words BROKEN! scrawled onto the dresser in Sharpie, the countless scratches on the particle board and the terrible fake frosted glass plastic panels seemed like three good reasons to pass on this piece. That we had zero floor space for another piece of furniture seemed like an even better one.
How would you like to have this sitting in your entryway?
Gwyneth reminded me that when youre short on square footage, you can always go vertical. It must be all the Nate Berkus Show reruns she watches while Im at work. And when she suggested joining the Dumpster Dive Dresser with the bookcase in the bedroom to free up closet space, I stopped questioning her judgement and started ordering supplies.
Heres how we used paintable wallpaper (and our bookcase) to turn the Dumpster Dive Dresser into our new storage hutch.
After we took off the drawers (and took them apart for what was an easy repair), we covered the body of the dresser with York Wallcoverings paintable wallpaper.
Gwyneth was a fantastic supervisor.
Then we removed the terrible plastic panels and covered each of the drawer frames with the wallpaper.
Next, we gave the dresser and the drawer frames two coats of paint, using Behrs Studio Taupe. If you havent used paintable wallpaper before, it drinks paint like nobodys business. (We used a full quart on this project.)
The wallpaper and paint marathon continued as we got to work on the drawer panels and our existing bookcase.
As I reassembled all the pieces, Gwyneth gave me her best I told you so look.
Our last step was to replace the original pulls with these from Martha Stewarts line for Home Depot.
At last, our makeover was complete!
And now we are officially out of room. Until we find something else amazing on the street.
xoxo,
mk & Gwynnie
Wow! That is absolutely incredible! It came out fantastic!! Your home is fab, love how you have it decorated.
I love this! I hopped over the other week from Southern Hospitality and am now a new follower.
Girl, this is amazing! So gorgeous! Love the pink and how you styled it!!
I cannot believe the effort you put into that! It looks like custom furniturewhat a genius idea!
OMG it turned out GORGEOUS!!! I love the color combo you chose. So pretty!!!
This looks amazing! I love what you did with it you would never even know it was a dumpster dive find!
holy smokes, i cant believe you fashioned that out of what looks like an ikea chest. this looks like a wood piece that you refinished! and you do all that in your apartment! super impressive!
Brilliant and Amazing cant believe it is the same piece so awesome!! You Rock and are so creative- of course we all know it all comes from Gwyneths inspiration ideas and prodding.
RaNae
Looks amazing! Great job!
Ditto everyone else!
I love, love love the texture! G needs an extra treat for convincing you to take a second look, and supervising!
I think it might be my favorite so far as well. Ive always wanted to live in NYC so I live vicariously thru you and Gwyneth.
Great job!! Thank goodness Gwyneth made you rescue this. What kind of glue/wallpaper paste did you use to make the paper stick to the wood?
One more question so, there was actually wood behind the plastic panel?
Hi JTC!
We used Rust-Oleum wallpaper adhesive. Heres the link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VBHB32/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
It worked really well for us, and our only complaint is that we needed about 10% of the container for the project, so we have a lot left over. (Future project?!?)
The plastic panels did not have wood (or anything) behind them. We poped them out, covered with wallpaper, painted and popped them back in when dry. Easy!
xoxo,
mk Gwynnie
I found you through Rhoda @ SH as well and just think your apartment is awesome. How on earth did you come up the idea of wallpapering the chest? That was genius!
I love the color combination as well. Really pretty and light without being fussy or sweet.
LOVE LOVE, please come to Park Slope and make my place pretty. Im so at a loss.
-Jessica H.
Great job M. Love the wallpaper ideaBWILLIANT! I pinned this projecttoo cool not to.
High paws to Gwyneth and you!
YAY! A fellow dumpster DIVER! I just posted a re-make of an old tool box today! Found you thru the once a month blog hopso glad I did!
Tif
Ramblings of a Southern Belle
http://www.her-southern-ramblings.blogspot.com
NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR!!! Once again, you Gwyneth dazzle and amaze us!!!
Oh my gosh, Meredith! Oh my gosh!! This is so beautiful! What an amazing transformation! Really great job. Tell Gwennie she has great vision.
And get the cute boy that helped you to come by and take a look!
Wow, would never have thought the before and after photos were of the same dresser! Fantastic makeover, well done
Girl you are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
It looks wonderful! I always try to go vertical even though I live in a 3 bedroom farm house. Thanks for sharing at the All Star Block Party!
Holly
What an awesome FREE treasurecome by and share it at my party. I have an awesome GIVEAWAY going on…like to shop? If you do…hop over and enter my $100 SHOPPING SPREE GIVEAWAY.
Blessings,
Linda
Gwyneth really knows her stuff never doubt her again! Love the wallpaper great detail.
Kelly
such an adorable dresser. although my favorite part of your apt is still that awesome pink and white door. dream to have a door like that
Youre SO good, Meredith, and patient!! This turned out awesome, I love seeing the before picture then BAM! amazing after picture!
About a week or so ago, I dropped in on your blog after being introduced to you by way of Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality!!
Have enjoyed reading your blog ever since.
You are one amazing beautiful young girl!
This dresser youve done up is just awesome!
I must pass your blog on to my 21 year old daughter.
Shes going to just admire you also!!
Youre a real inspiration!!
Take care!!
this is so prettyi want one
great work!
♥ much love
love, love it! you always have awesome dumpster transformations.
Wow, what an amazing transformation! I adore paintable wallpaper.
Thanks for sharing on The All Star Block Party!
Its party time over at Debt Free Mommy Blog and youre invited!! Please stop on in and link up with Making Space Mondays. We look forward to seeing any post(s) about making your space better. Hope to see you there. -Tabitha
Fabulous makeover. So nice to see your keep your babys hair long like I do on my dog instead of all shaved off. This will be one of the features at Wow this week. Thanks for sharing.
Its hard not to snag something we see as potentially beautiful!
I have the same problem!
Looks super great!
Thanks for linking up this week to the Creative Inspirations Linky Party!
Stacey of Embracing Change
It came out great! Thank you for sharing at our
Pinteresting Party!
It came out great! Thank you for sharing at our
Pinteresting Party!
You cute thing! Super cute find! Im featuring you on Saturday at Its Overflowing! XO, Aimee
what a score! the pink interior is divine!
what a score! the pink interior is divine!
What a cool project who wouldve thought? It looks like a unit and you cant even tell that those were two separate pieces =) Love this dresser!
Meredith, you are so completely and amazingly talented!
I always love waiting to read about your next big find!
Thank you, but all Dumpster Diving credit goes to Little G! Ill pass along the message, and I know it will make her day!
Big hugs from NYC!
xoxo,
mk Gwynnie
Gorgeous! I love the contrast of the two colors together! It looks fab!
Jenna @ rainonatinroof.com
Thank you, Jenna!
xoxo,
mk Gwynnie
Very pretty and a great repurpose!
Bet the old owners would want it back now!
THanks for linking up to the favorite furniture makeovers party!
Stacey of Embracing Change