~Antique Victorian Dresser Makeover~

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love stores such as Pottery Barn and Ethan Allen. In fact, I furnished most of my home with pieces from those stores when I set out to decorate it 10 years ago.  

However, I gotta say, that furniture, although well made and beautiful, does not hold a candle to some vintage and antique furniture out there.

 I picked up this antique dresser from the sweetest man on Craigslist.  It was an estate piece of his brother's.  

It was in great shape even though it is over 103 years old!!  It is heavy, sturdy, and the drawers pull out easily.  

And though the dresser was beautiful, the finish was dull and gunky and in bad need of a makeover.  So, I pulled out my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint stash and settled on Duck Egg Blue. 

 
It is a lovely grey-blue with a beachy vibe.  

Orginally, the dresser had these solid brass pulls paired with ornate backplates.

 While cleaning them {using Kate from Centsational Girl's method}, I discovered that the pulls were solid brass but the back plates were brass-plated.  The pulls cleaned up beautifully but the back plates not-so-much so I decided to leave them off the finished dresser.  Much better, no?

I also stripped and then re-stained the top with my go-to Minwax stain--special walnut.  It came out great.  It still needs a coat of high-gloss poly, but it still looks pretty good in the meantime.

This dresser has fabulous storage--deep drawers and check out these dividers in the top drawer!  Perfect for for separating out your unmentionables. :D

 I love how this dresser turned out, and it's now ready for another century of service.

So what's your preference?  New or antique furniture?  What do you think about the makeover?