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Back Door

OUR 2nd HOUSE

The story goes a little something like this : Girl enters thrift store.  Girl sees weird chotchkes.  Girl sees beat-up dresser.  Six dollars later, girl owns beat-up dresser.  The end.

So after a little sticker-removal & cleaning, I put it by our back door.  I also decided to hang my mirrors-turned-window-panes above it for a little height.  The drawers need a little reinforcement still…but I think that they are definitely strong enough for random outdoor stuff like sunscreen, Will’s hats and our umbrellas.  My favorite part is the details.  The molding details on the sides were a nice surprise…as was the planked top and the beading on the drawer fronts.  I even liked the little knobs (although one of them is broken) but obviously you can see they weren’t original (there are more holes drilled in the drawers for longer hardware).    

The very best part is the fact that it is so beat up.  It’s like the Sean Connery of dressers.  Quality with it’s dove-tailed drawers and solid wood and totally sexy with the accents…and has aged well but isn’t all cleancutMrHairlessChest, if you know what I mean.  And I think you do.

Let me just remind you how much I hate the toothpaste colored walls.  I HATE it.  I abhor it.  It’s not my style.  It doesn’t go with the hideous tan trim color.  It is dirty.  And it’s very seasonally specific.  Pray for me as I deal with it on an every day basis.  Pray hard.

On top of the dresser I threw some random stuff…like the little brass Goodwill letter holder.  I love it’s simple wood handles.  I also had a Goodwill leaf plate that is perfect for our keys.  But the real star of the show is our big ole glass jug…which took a lot of brainpower to convert into a change jar.   

I’m saving up for Lasik 🙂  and bacon mouthwash.

The other side was a perfect spot for our Bowers Mints tin.  A few years ago I started collecting Bowers candy tins and my collection is up to three. 

Have you guys scored an old piece lately from thrift store/goodwill/yard sales that cost next to nothing?  Did you jazz it up or leave it as-is?

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Comments

  2. Looks great! I wasn’t quite sure what to think at 1st but it definitely has character.

    I need to start thrifting more. It seems every time I’ve been I’ve never seen anything even remote decent. I’ll have to give it another shot sometime soon!

  3. Oh I love it! I bought a dresser for $3 from a thrift store a few months back. One of the (dovetailed) drawers had fallen apart hence the steal of a deal. Using just a little bit of wood glue and a scrap piece of hardwood from the garage, I was able to repair it and it’s sitting pretty in my bedroom. I kind of love your idea of putting it next to the front door though. We have no storage over there and it would add a little somethin-somethin…I may be stealing that idea 🙂

  4. I bought an antique dresser for $19 at one of our local thrift stores. It is gorgeous – dings and all. It even still has the wire netting below each drawer. It currently serves as my linen closet in my living room. On top, I keep a box (with lid) for mail and change up the accessories to fit the seasons. It is definitely one of my favorite thrift finds.

  8. Hi Katie,

    I love your blog! I read it every day, but haven’t posted yet. You are one crafty lady. I’m moving soon and you’ve inspired me to hit the thrift stores. I think the dresser looks great. You’re very good at mixing old with new. Thanks for the great ideas!

  11. Hey, nice! Btw, methinks your “little brass Goodwill letter holder” is actually a 45 record holder. Used to have one alot like it. 🙂

  12. Katie I love it! I just saw that post about how you made those mirrors yesterday (using the Link Within feature)so I love how you incorporated them into this shabby chic hallway! Any way you will change the drawer pulls? Either way I still love this look so much! Well done.

  14. I kid you not…I got an almost identical dresser this weekend! The difference is that mine is on tiny castors and the top is one piece of wood, not slats. Other than that…they are identical. I paid $10! The big debate now is whether to leave it alone, paint it or refinish it…

  15. I love it! And I feel the need to say I am very jealous of your Goodwill finds! Every time I go into Goodwill I am accosted by the smell (how is it possible they all smell exactly the same?!) and am only met with walkers, potty seats, and furniture from the 80s! 🙂

  18. What a great discovery! Although, to be honest, the Bowers candy tins and sweet picture of you and your husband both stole my heart a little more!

  22. The dresser is lovely! how do you find these things?? our thrift stores are either all junky chotchkes or the pieces are way too expensive (maybe I need to venture out of Dallas city limits..)

    and, I, this past weekend, started myyyy LASIK jar! Planning on March. Let us know how it goes if you get it before then. i’m scared outta my mind!

  25. Just posted about my $2 auction dresser today. Check it out–fresh paint and some new knobs, this baby is ready to roll! Yours looks good–nice rustic touch.

  26. Not yet, but I need to find a CHEAP dresser/nightstand/cupboard to turn into one of those cute DIY play kitchens for my kiddo for Christmas.

  28. Ok, I gave it about a week and tried on different web browsers and now I have to ask, is anyone else having issues seeing the pictures on this blog? I can no longer see ANY photos that are within the blog post, just the writing. HELP!!!

  29. Seriously, everyone else’s thrift stores are better than mine. You would think with a city the size of Dallas there would be tons of good bargains, but no. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

    I hope to someday have to eat those words.

    Love dresser though! We’re in the hunt for a longer, shorter one to use as a bar/buffet in the dining room (before Thanksgiving).

  30. I really wouldn’t hae thought to leave that peice as is… and at first I didn’t like it. Then after I saw it set up and ready to go… I like it! It’s not for me, but I like how you made it yours. Oh to have an eye for stuff like that!

  32. Um I found one of those tins! At an antique store here in NH. I should have bought it for you and mailed it, I’m such a crapper. If I see it there still, I’ll let you know.

  33. What a great find! I love going to Goodwill and finding something awesome. By the way, I just noticed that you need to update your To-Do list since you recently fixed the stone column. 🙂

  34. Absolutely love this dresser, what a fantastic find! And I JUST had lasik done 2 weeks ago and let me tell you it is AMAZING! My boyfriend watched the whole process and said it was increadible and the fact that I could see so clearly as we left the doctors office just absolutely amazed me! You will not be dissapointed!

  35. Actually, I bought an old “grandmother’s dresser” (at least that’s what they are called in Mexico) from an estate sale. It has drawers and a side door with an amazing leaf design. It too has lots of caracter. I am still debating whether to stain in darker or paint it. I should send you a picture and maybe you have some ideas.

  36. You keep talking about your toothpaste-colored walls and I’ve always thought they were a pretty color. But, I think it’d be pretty in a bedroom or as an accent color, and I don’t think I’d like it as my hallway/everything color either. But it doesn’t seem horrible in your pictures, if it’s any consolation. I’m lucky that our home’s dining room, living room, and hallways were painted a decently nice neutral color. Because we have coved ceilings in the LR and DR, and our stairs open up 20 feet or so, it’s all one color, walls, ceilings, everything. Not gonna be painted any time soon, so I’m glad I like it. Goes with pretty much everything. Love your decorating posts, you have an amazing eye and I love seeing you work your magic!

  37. I scanned the comments and don’t think anyone left a comment, but that photo on the dresser is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like you are Jeremy dancing. I love it!! He is looking at you, the same way you’d look at bacon!

    …And the dresser is perfect- Sean Connery perfect 🙂

  38. katie,

    can you please tell me where you got the awesome mirror above the dresser.
    love the little details that go on the dresser!! you do have an amazing sense of scale and design style:)

    thanks

  40. Are you kidding!? You got that for $6?! How!? Something like that would be at least $60 at our salvation army/restore around here… sad face. You’re so lucky!

  41. I got mid-century dressers from my elderly neighbor that was downsizing. And they were
    F-R-E-E. I ended up buying her flowers, because these dressers were mint. I plan on refinishing them in a darker stain because I don’t love the light finish.

    I also have another dresser that was inherited from my great-aunt, it also needs a little love. My husband thinks I have a serious dresser hoarding problem, but I do have plans for all three…I swear.

  44. It looks great and you took me by surprise by not painting it. I have a freebee dresser in the garage waiting to be painted but Ive never done it before so I’m avoiding. I am a thrift store addict. More of these posts please! You could start a thrifting finds linky party!!

  46. Great find! Ok…I’m going to date myself by telling you that I believe your letter holder is actually an old record holder. I had one like that when I was 12:)

  47. I totally feel for you on that ugly bluish paint. I think if go step by step with repainting and it might seem more doable? Like start with the hallway, and then the other areas in your house. I was just thinking about how hard it must be to decorate for fall with that color…and christmas? Paint it Katie! I’d help if I lived in Georgia! 🙂

  53. Are you using a heavy-duty firewall that blocks photobucket? Because that is who the photos are actually through.
    xo – kb

  54. And I thought I was the only one old enough to recognize that “letter holder” as a record holder for 45’s. 🙂

  55. I’m not sure. I saw that the back was painted at one time – so I figure this thing has been assaulted before. There is definitely some rustic charm to it…so I don’t think I would try to ever make it perfect looking…
    xo – kb

  57. It must be a firewall at work and they are not changeable (this has only changed in the last week or so, as I could see the photos before). Oh well, will have to read at home to see the photos! Thank you for the help! 🙂

  59. It looks so comfy! Probably a weird word to describe it but, it does look so old and warm and like it’s been part of the family for years, like you could snuggle right up to it.

  60. Hey Katie!

    I also saw a few of those Bower’s Mint tins on etsy. Some were just the plain tins but one person had filed it with soy candle wax and made it into a candle. Maybe that’s something you could DIY and not spend the $45 they were charging. Love your blog!

    Alison

  61. I immediately recognized the letter holder was, in fact, a record holder for 45s. I am plenty old to kow that. Love the beat up dresser.

  62. I loooove that dresser! It’s absolutely gorgeous with the planking on top. And so funny that you mention the Bower Mint tins…I was at an antique store this morning and saw 3 of them!

  64. Love, love, love the Bower mint tins. Awesome collection and yes, three is a collection. Cute little dresser and it looks great in your space. Please for the love of all that is decent, don’t paint it and put a bird on it.

  66. So I totally love your blog and think you’re hilarious…this is my first time commenting 🙂 I just had to because last week I bought a beautiful antique dresser at a thrift store for…wait for it…$3! It needs some work, so I can’t wait to refinish it and give it new life in our guest bedroom/someday nursery 🙂

    Anyway…just had to let you know! And thanks for having such a cute blog!!

  67. OMG. We moved into a rental in August and they painted the walls and trim all the same off-white color. Or, they painted the walls and left the trim whatever their original color was. Either way, it pains me immensely. My fried Carrie told me that there is some study about the amount of emotional energy used compared to the amount of actual energy it would take to fix something like this that I see (and dislike) on a daily basis. That still hasn’t motivated me to paint all the trim in our downstairs. But maybe one day. Because seriously- I despise all that off-whited’ness, from floor to ceiling. Ick.

  68. Is it possible for Goodwill to be overpriced??? I live in CT and NEVER find deals as amazing as this. That dresser would easily cost $25 at my Goodwill, even in that condition. Saw many pieces this morning priced over $100! Is it the difference between Connecticut and Georgia or do you have some tricks?

  69. Well, this particular piece was at a thrift store that has special half off deals and marks furniture all sorts of different prices…so it definitely depends on the store and if there was any discounts…I think that is why it is really important to become familiar with every thrift store in your area.
    xo – kb

  70. I’m reading this in 2018 so no doubt prices have changed. Last year I scored a round oak pedestal table with leaf for $33 (20% discount since it was senior Wednesday). I had to replace out huge dining room table when we moved into our downsized condo. It cost me some sweat equity in sanding and staining (table top was heavily scarred) but it looks fabulous now and I’m very happy.
    My old vintage Mahogany table always had to have pads on it to protect the finish. This one I topped with poly and nothing harms it. Not even my five year old grandkid.
    Good stuff is out there. You just have to keep looking.

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