Color updates this mid-century find from Philly’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
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.
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”.
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Beautiful job Theresa! I love the colors you chose for the dresser. I enjoyed the video.
pinning!
gail