d*s reader brian kyle has been working on several projects trying to get a nursery ready for his first son. with an interest in cutting costs and reusing/re-purposing a many things as possible, brian decided to make over this dresser. the dresser was a free gift so he decided to create a modern dresser/changing table with it. first brian sanded the entire piece down to the bare wood, then he removed the old wood drawer pulls and filled and smoothed the holes. new handles were cut and sanded smooth and the interior was painted a sour apple green and the exterior a cheerful turquoise blue. i think the result is so clean and happy- great work, brian!
39 Comments
I am so glad to see this! I bought this amazing inspection stand (it’s hard to describe) which has a single drawer that I want to change to a cut-out handle. I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but this is fantastic!
Wow! How super cool is that? I would have never thought of getting rid of the pulls. Thanks for sharing.
Love, love, love
This makes me want to change my dresser. It really turned out great.
Very nice work – I especially like the new handles that were cut and the inside green color. How perfect for a baby boy!
Ooooo looks great!
adorable! i’m loving the cut outs =)
Really good thinking–you will want to be able to pull those drawer open with one hand. Nice cheery colors, too–
What a great transformation! I actually did something similar to my friend’s old dresser set: http://makeundermylife.blogspot.com/2009/01/where-i-work-part-2.html
-Jess!
love it – wish i could see the whole room!
Now this I love.
Rock on! I would have NEVER thought to make cutouts for the handles. I may have to mimic this with an IKEA dresser that I have. Bravo!
WOW! I love the color and the cut outs. Great job.
Yay! Glad this appeared here.
this is fabulous. can you please tell me the name of the paint color? i have a bookshelf i’ve been wanting to make over, and i just love this shade of turquoise!
that is the perfect combination of color.
What a great idea! Beautiful execution as well. Don’t forget to build some sides for that so the little one doesn’t roll off!
great job! the cut out handles and bright color really do make it a lot more modern. i’ll keep that idea in mind when looking for a dresser for my son.
You really need to be a carpenter to do this job…the holes he cut are perfect! No way I could do that.
I’ve just done something similar to some old white cupboards, a hat stand, stool, picture frame in a fresh bright aqua. Unfortunately do not have any before pics. I want ot paint a filing cabinet and drinks trolley in a lime green, similar ot the inside of the drawers. Can anyone tell me if I added yellow to the aqua I should get a light green, but what shade of yellow to a bright aqua can I get a lime green?
this is fantastic! love the colors and the drawer changes. so modern and clean. great to see people reuse…esp. when it’s free!
I’m stunned, this is beautiful !! The color, the lines…
Is it possible to have more explanations on how you cut the nex handles ? I have an awful piece of furniture that could use that kind of transformation.
@315thomas the turquoise color is ‘aqua’ from rustoleum american accents satin collection. I found it to be much closer in color to what i would call turqoise than to what i would normally call aqua.
thanks brian!
@Loora I made a paper template of the shape i wanted to cut out and traced it to each drawer. Then I used a jigsaw to carefully cut along the line. Then sandpaper around a foam block to sand the edges into a nice contour, and smooth out any jagedness in the cut. I would recommend practicing on some scrap wood before cutting up something that is important.
OOOH! nice work!
looks great!
Wowee! I’m not really a “modern” girl at all but this is genius! Well done, Brian!
Love it! what a great idea!
Oh wow! This is (to borrow from Victoria Beckham) MAJOR! I love the cut handles, the modernization, the way it’s masculine without being macho. Me want. :)
This project turned out beautifully! Nice work.
I’m loving the hidden pops of green :)
I love the pop of acid green on the inside, makes it so fun! Before and afters are my favorite.
as my friend jessica says, SURPRISE INSIDE! i love love love the green and the handles (very original, i know). acid green is me.
this may be my favorite before/after so far!!
what a transformation! i love it.
I have a very weathered old hotel-type desk that i have been wanting to paint this exact color. i love it.
fantastic! what a ton of work (the sanding, sanding, sanding) your hands must be raw! it is really great.
Yep! That is my favorite before/after too. Great work!
Great work – caution to ‘Pamela’ who was thinking of altering an IKEA dresser – DO NOT.
IKEA furniture is typically not wood – it is particle board and you do not want to cut it as the edges will be just ragged glued wood particles and not a smooth edge.
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