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

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.