ReStore Makeover in an afternoon: New color for a mid-century dresser

MyFixitUpLife - Habitat for Humanity ReStore Dresser - After

Color updates this mid-century find from Philly’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

‣ MyFixitUpLife MyFixitUpLife - Habitat for Humanity ReStore Dresser - After Restore Makeover
A mid-century dresser from Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore updated in just an afternoon with Krylon spray paint.

 

Whenever I’m doing a ReStore makeover project that needs to be finished in just an afternoon, I think of paint and my local ReStore. It’s like a giant playground for design inspiration on a budget. I never know what I’ll find, and I’m always inspired by what I see.

Inspiration occurs every time. But for this makeover… I swooned. My heart literally skipped a beat when I spotted this dresser designed by Theodore J. Walczer for the Showers Brothers Company in Bloomington, Indiana. Before you are impressed with my knowledge of furniture history, don’t be. I knew it was mid-century, but the little tag inside the drawer gave me all of its little secrets about the history of the piece.

Priced at $60 at Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Philly, it was practically a steal. Especially when I asked Mr. Google about the piece when I got home. There same dresser is for sale at $300, and I found a video about the history of the furniture company. Let’s just say serious swoon-fest occurred.

While I love the original finish of the piece, I wanted to make it mine with color. And I wanted to update two other little finds: a little Buddha statue and a charming table lamp. It’s a ReStore makeover trifecta.

No matter the size of what I’m personalizing with a fresh color, I know that Krylon spray paint‘s quick dry times will make a makeover project fit inside the few hours I can squeeze out of my mommy-person lifestyle. Yes, Krylon is one of our makeover partners. And you can use whatever paint you like to do a makeover like this. I choose Krylon not because we’re friends. We’re friends because of Krylon’s ability to work with every kind of material in a short time, and have a factory-looking finish.

When I looked at the dresser, I saw Periwinkle. So after sanding, wiping clean, and priming, I delighted in covering the dresser with Krylon CoverMaxx in Periwinkle.

Unlike most dresser makeovers, this piece doesn’t have knobs or pulls. Instead of adding them, I wanted to retain the lines of the original design in this ReStore makeover. So to add a bit of interest and highlight the drawer openings, I chose Piston Grey and Pistachio.

And of course, Buddha shines in gold with the table lamp in a new lamp shade of pin-striped turquoise. Yes, I swooned once more.

I hope you enjoy this Habitat for Humanity ReStore makeover video. Please share comments below or send a note in email or over on Twitter.

‣ MyFixitUpLife MyFixitUpLife - Habitat for Humanity ReStore Dresser
Amazing find at ReStore. This dresser was designed by Theodore J. Walczer for the Showers Brothers Company in Bloomington, Indiana
‣ MyFixitUpLife MyFixitUpLife - Habitat for Humanity ReStore Dresser - During
I use a cut-off as a paint guard when I’m spray painting. Loving this shade of periwinkle from Krylon.
‣ MyFixitUpLife MyFixitUpLife - Habitat for Humanity ReStore Dresser - After
The dresser is done.  And the little Buddha shines in gold next to an upcycled light-fixture-turned-into-a-planter, and the charming table lamp found at ReStore.

 

author avatar
Theresa
A handy designer and writer, she shares DIY projects, tool how-to, and home makeovers as a book author, home show speaker, DIY workshop coach, and radio host. Plus, she has a degree in journalism with a minor in architecture, and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPs) and certified color consultant. She's created fast-paced makeovers for TV shows, and shares home trends and DIY tips as a freelance writer and guest on news shows and satellite media tours for TV and radio.

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Comments (3)

I love seeing what other people do with old things. I was restoring, reimagining, repurposing, and salvaging furniture from the time I was just a little girl in the 70’s, long before Pinterest or social media made it cool. My father managed the local dump/disposal area. I would pull my wagon out behind my bike and l8ad up everything that could be recycled and load the rest in my father’s truck. I could not stand seeing furniture thrown out because a little piece broke or it was out dated. I even built an entire tree house out of pallets and lumber I salvaged. I think we need to quit throwing everything away and repurchase it or donate it to a charity. Love the show, I’ve always l9ved watching Mike “Make It Right”.

[…] an upcycle idea struck me as we were cleaning up a paint project: My past-its-prime paint tray spoke to me a […]

Beautiful job Theresa! I love the colors you chose for the dresser. I enjoyed the video.

pinning!
gail

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