From $7.50 Dresser to Coffee Bar
A coffee bar for $7.50? Yes! Here is what happened….Once upon a time…no, not that kind of story!
I love to repurpose old, unloved, and unwanted furniture. It’s one of my greatest passions. Going thrifting, junking, yard selling, and treasure hunting is one of my favorite things to do. Like everyone else, I love a good bargain. I was in the Goodwill when I came across the ugliest dresser I’ve ever seen in my life. Ugly was an understatement. She was UGLY! But…She was the perfect size for a coffee bar.
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Supply List
- Dixie Belle 16 oz. Antebellum Blue Paint
- Dixie Belle Black Wax
- 220 grit sandpaper
- Dixie Belle’s blue Sponge
- S-50 Clingon Brush
- Dixie Belle’s Satin Top Coat
- 3 Lint free towel
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Dixie Belle’s White Lighting Clean
- 3 inch chip brush
- Can of black spray paint
- Dixie Belle Clear Wax
- 3 inch Artist Brush
- 600 girt sandpaper
- Water
Great Details Lead To Inspiration
The unusual hardware was the first thing that caught my eye. It reminded me of an old refrigerator handle, which was unusual for a dresser. I stepped closer and noticed the wood was quartersawn oak. You may not know, but this is pretty uncommon these days. She had saw marks all over which made her appealing to me. Was she worth my time? Could I make her beautiful again? Things like this go through my thoughts when I am deciding on a piece. She was heavy and very well built, with great bones and a lot of charm.
The possibilities of what I could do ran through my mind. Plus she was ONLY $7.50! Y`all know that’s a steal. Boom! Just like that, inspiration hit me. I never made a coffee bar before, so why not try? I was excited. SOLD! We loaded her into my van drove home.
Let The Coffee Bar Makeover Begin!
I got her home and unloaded her. The first thing I did was pull her drawers. I wanted to create shelves for storage and sundries. I removed all of the hardware with a screwdriver and set them aside. There were drawer tracks on the underside that had to be removed. So I took out my screwdriver and hammer. I slid the screwdriver under the track and whacked it with the hammer. Luckily for me, they popped right out. Other than that, she was in pretty good shape. My wonderful husband cut the shelves I needed.
Now she needed a good cleaning with White Lightning by Dixie Belle, which took off all the dirt, grime, and oils from years of usage. I scuffed her slightly with 220 grit sandpaper and gave her another wipe down removing all the sanding dust left behind.
I wanted to make her beautiful again after all the abuse she suffered. She deserved it.
A Beautiful Color For A Beautiful Lady
I choose a gorgeous color, Antebellum Blue by Dixie Belle, which is a deep rich blue. Applying two thin coats of paint using my favorite brush, a Clingon S-50. I prevented lifting by letting the coats dry completely in between coats, and then sanding each coat with 600 grit sandpaper, making the finish smooth as butter. Wow, she was shaping up nicely! I knew with some love and a little elbow grease it would come around. The saw marks still showed, which I liked. It showed her age proudly, like wrinkles on a well-loved face.
After the paint fully dried I applied clear wax. I used Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax in clear. I used a lint-free towel to apply. Buffing her with another lint-free towel to a beautiful shine.
This Coffee Bar Needed Something Special To Bring It All Together
She needed something more, something to dramatically highlight all of the beautiful saw marks. I decided to highlight them using Dixie Belle Black wax. It added some much-needed character to this old gal and brought out so much richness and depth. I did the same thing on the sides, but this time I shaded it in with a chip brush. It made the planks stand out. I was so happy with the results. Wow, she was beautiful!
I chose a black spray paint for the hardware to match the richness of using the black wax. In hopes, it would enhance this piece even further. Being my ugly duckling and she needed all the help she could get.
To my delight, the ugly duckling was turning into Swan right before my eyes. Buffing the piece with a lint-free towel once again. Wanting her to shine like the diamond in the ruff she was. I applied Gator Hide by Dixie Belle in a Satin for the topcoat using their blue sponge, just slightly dampened, being careful to let it dry completely between each coat. I wanted to make sure she would survive in her next life. Three coats and she was finished and she was absolutely gorgeous!
With a little work and a lot of much-needed love, my ugly duckling became the beautiful Swan I knew she could be. What do you think? Please feel free to leave a comment below and follow my journey on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also sign up for my email list to receive my latest blogs and tips.
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