Some of my favourite things to recreate are vintage dressers. You can find them easily at thrift stores and yard sales usually for a reasonable price. Because they were typically built out of solid wood, they hold up really well and are very stable. 
I found this one last month at a thrift shop. Despite it being really scratched up, I loved its lines. 
The only part of the vintage dresser that I didn’t care for were the long handles. Handles are so easily updated though, this is never a turn off for me. 
To recreated this dresser, I began by removing the handles and filling the holes. It then got three coats of [easyazon_link identifier=”B01GWBLCZC” locale=”US” tag=”recredesig20-20″]Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Marzipan[/easyazon_link]. 
After the third coat I let it sit and it began to crack and chip naturally. One of the reasons I chose Milk Paint for this dresser is because I was hoping it would do just this.
I absolutely love chipping and cracking on pieces… there is something so beautiful about it. I think it really makes a piece look authentic; like the paint has been on the piece for years and years… *sigh*. It is one of those things that just makes me swoon ♥
To seal the paint and give the dresser a durable finish, it got two coats of [easyazon_link identifier=”B01HYPVLK6″ locale=”US” tag=”recredesig20-20″]Miss Mustard Seed Hemp Oil[/easyazon_link].
The only other thing this piece needed, beside the gorgeous paint, was some new knobs. 
I chose these beautiful glass knobs so that they wouldn’t take away from the paint and just seamlessly blend in. 
I couldn’t be more happy with this piece. This vintage dresser has many, many more years of life in it and now looks as wonderful as it is sturdy.
Pin for later…
**Please note that this post includes Affiliate links, for your convenience, for products that are used in this project that I have tried and use regularly. By using the link, it in no way increases the cost of the product to you should you choose to buy. However, by using the link, a small portion of the sale is given back to me to help fund this blog.**
Click here for a list of Link Parties I like to visit each week where this post is linked up…
Love your dresser. I made a book flower out of an old hymnal to hang above my piano!
That sounds beautiful Jeanne! What a great idea to use an old hymnal. I love it <3
Hi Lisa!! I just stumbled upon your Blog and I LOVE IT!! You do such amazing work and your pieces are absolutely beautiful!! I have a garage-full of furniture that I have high hopes of updating, and I’ve been reading all of your tips and tricks in preparation. Wish me luck!!
I was wondering whether you still had those “ugly long” handles from the above project? I actually think they are quite beautiful and would love to buy them from you. If you’re open to this, please contact me at “[email protected]”.
Heather
You are so sweet Heather! Thank you so much! There is always so much great furniture and not enough time 😉 I would love to see some pics of what you are going to recreate! I do still have the handles, will pop you an email. So glad you enjoyed the blog!
I love this piece and what you’ve done with it! So inspiring – I’ve signed up for the milk paint workshop that you’re giving on June 8th!
Thank you so much Lisa, you are so sweet! Can’t wait to see you in the class! and maybe before 😉
Love the look Lisa. I think milk paint is so versatile and can be used on a variety of pieces. The knobs are also very pretty.
Thanks Mary! I love how pretty the milk paint looks with clear knobs… It’s hard not to do that on every piece 😉
That looks stunning Lisa. Love the color and the chippy effect is so authentic. Such a difference between the before and after. It’s hard to believe it’s the same dresser
Thanks so much! Isn’t is amazing the difference just painting made? I am so in love with this dresser 😉
I love the transformation. I haven’t yet used Milk Paint, but I have some, so I’m looking forward to trying it. I, too, love the chippy authentic look! And I have to agree that the original handles were pretty ugly – the new ones definitely add to the look, but don’t detract. I have a set of dressers (they came painted) with wooden handles a bit shorter than these and have been thinking for some time about what I’d like to replace them with… this is some inspiration. Thanks!
Thanks Maia Lynn! Isn’t the look of old chippy paint just the prettiest?! I really did great dislike those long handles… they just did nothing for this piece at all. I have been using small glass ones quite a bit and I just love that they blend right in. If you decide to change the handles on yours… it will give the dressers a hole different look 🙂 Hope you are having a great week!
Hi, I'm Lisa!
Welcome to Recreated Designs... A place for you to find endless upcycling ideas, unique ways to use vintage finds and oodles of helpful tips and tricks for painting, crafting and recreating. I am so happy you are here and can’t wait to see what you create!
Continue reading about me here!