Nursery

Pink Painted Dresser

The dresser for the nursery is finally finished. I never took a true ‘before’ shot, but it was a lovely wood dresser with a poor finish. It was in our garage for a while and then it sat primed in the basement because I wasn’t sure what color to paint it. White would have been a nice, safe choice, but I think pink is much more fun (especially since we left the walls of the nursery neutral).

Pink Painted Dresser

The doors in the front open to reveal two more drawers. They’re still the original wood color for now, though Brandon thinks they’re a good opportunity to add another (brighter/bolder) color.

Pink Painted Dresser

I lined the drawers with the crazy lady floral wallpaper that I bought for the dining room (and did NOT use). The teeny tiny baby clothes look really sweet against the lining.

Inside the Dresser Drawer

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  • Jenny
    January 14, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    The dresser turned out great! I like the choice of pink, it make is spunky but it still has a traditional feel to it.

  • Averill
    January 14, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    That wallpaper lining looks like you bought it especially for that pink dresser. It’s perfect.

  • vol25
    January 14, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    I love it! What a great find.

  • casey
    January 14, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    I love the pale pink. perfect for you and your house. can’t wait to see the final nursery!

  • Erin
    January 14, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    That dresser looks great painted pink – well done! I have a bright red dresser at home that I repainted years ago. It’s about ready for a new color – I doubt my boyfriend would go for pink… but maybe a nice bright green or similar.

  • Ashley
    January 14, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    adorable!!! the wallpaper lining gives it the perfect pop!

  • lori
    January 14, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    so nice! i’d love to see it with a “surprise” color in the inside drawers!

  • Jessica
    January 14, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    This turned out great and is totally inspiring! I’m really looking forward to seeing pics of the nursery when it’s finished!

  • Christy
    January 14, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    Love it! I totally agree with Brandon too. A fun green or even chocolate would be cool inside.

  • Kerry
    January 14, 2009 at 4:38 pm

    I think either the more acidic green or darker pink from the crazy lady wallpaper would be nice on the inside of the dresser — but at this point you probably don’t want to look at it anymore, nevermind start painting it again!

  • Desiree
    January 14, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    Very cute! I like the brown drawers with the pink paint but if you must paint it I would either use the same pink or white.
    -Desiree

  • Jules
    January 14, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    That wallpaper looks so much better in person. It looks even better in a drawer as a liner. I guess it was meant to be. :)

  • teresa
    January 14, 2009 at 4:51 pm

    What a great shade of pink – love the look! The wallpaper is so fun. I love it when the inside of drawers are given some attention. I usually paint mine, but I’m diggin’ the wallpaper idea (I may have to borrow it). I too have a dresser (from Goodwill) waiting for a coat of paint for our nursery. Ugh, so much to do still!

  • Desiree Fawn
    January 14, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    That pink is very adorable & I loooove the drawer liner!
    I’ve been moving things around and decorating our little one’s room for weeks now – I can’t wait for her arrival!

  • drey
    January 14, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    i love this nic! so classy, i especialy like the lines of the dresser, particularly the sides and legs… you did such a good paint job on it too! is it semi gloss?

  • Carol
    January 14, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    What a sweet piece for the nursery. You’ve definitely made that dresser lovely.

  • mrslimestone
    January 14, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    Love it! The perfect shade of pale pink.

  • Jen M
    January 14, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    Oh, it’s just lovely! When I saw the drawer fronts I immediately thought “wallpaper!” to decorate them – then I read about the wallpaper inside the drawers. What a pretty design.

  • Rosie
    January 14, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    Oh its so sweet! Love it!

  • casafroggy
    January 14, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    Beautiful job :) While I’m sure you did the priming way back when the pink paint is probably Brandon’s handiwork, bravo to him! I like the idea of a different paint color for the drawers, my vote is white to match the flowers in the drawer liner.

  • Amanda
    January 14, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    That dresser is absolutely amazing! I love the wallpaper you have lined it with as well!

  • Brad
    January 14, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    Nice work! Do you have any recommendations for minimizing brushstrokes? When I’ve painted furniture, I’ve used oil-based paint, and I’ve sanded like crazy, but I still can’t get it smooth enough! Advice?

  • Caroline
    January 14, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    So pretty! While the brown drawers looks lovely as-is, if you want to paint them I think a nice tangerine would look pretty and coordinate with the drawer liners.

  • Lindsey
    January 14, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    Amazing! So beautiful I want one for myself.
    Your little one’s room is going to be so hip!

    { Lindsey }
    http://www.coveiter.com

  • Nancy Kay
    January 14, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    It looks great! I really love that wallpaper as well…now I want to wallpaper something…like this horrible desk of mine

  • dayna
    January 14, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    AH! that is fantastic!! I thinking about painting my dresser and desk and bed frame pink and this has convinced me to totally do it!

    xox

  • Bryn
    January 14, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    This is one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever seen! Seriously! Please do tell – what shade of pink is that?

  • Elizabeth
    January 14, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    I’d kill for a dresser similar to this one. It would go perfect in my little girls room!!! I’m going to have to hit a few thrift stores :)

  • Danielle Melnyczenko
    January 14, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    GORGEOUS… loving the pink and the brass hardware. I agree with Brandon that the draws need some colour. Can’t wait to see the whole room :D

  • Diane
    January 14, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    I like the drawers as is, but if you were going to paint, I would vote for a nice yellow (tangerine would also be nice as someone else already suggested).

    And does that wee baby tee say something to the effect of “I’m what happens when two people love each very much” or am I not reading the half that is visible correctly? Because if that is what it says, it would pretty much be the most awesome baby shirt ever.

  • Fiona
    January 14, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    I think that is so adorable. Great job! The lining paper is fantastic, too.

  • Nick Klaus
    January 14, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    I simply love it! Me being me, I’d paint the inside white. It’s clean, classic, and is a nice counterpart to the pink.

  • Making it Lovely
    January 14, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    The onesie says “When Two People Love Each Other VERY Much…” and it is pretty much the most awesome baby shirt ever! It’s from eggagogo.

    The pink paint is Aura by Benjamin Moore in “Powder Blush” satin finish. The way to minimize brush strokes is to always go from dry to wet (feathering out as you reach the wet paint), don’t glop the paint on but don’t try to stretch it out either, and use a good quality brush.

  • Melanie
    January 14, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    Nicole, I am still confused as to what you are saying in regards to dry to wet??? Sorry if this is a stupid question. Maybe I am just exhausted from work and my brain is fried.

  • Making it Lovely
    January 14, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Say you were painting something from from top to bottom. You would make your first brush stroke from the top down, maybe nine inches or so. Then for your next stroke, you wouldn’t start where you left off, you’d start another nine inches down and work up, feathering out your brush stroke where it overlaps with the previous. Does that make sense?

  • Krystal
    January 14, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    Oh my this is darling I love the dresser and the color is perfect!

  • Brooke
    January 14, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    LOVE the lines in that dresser! What a great find!

    Also – a trick for hiding the paintbrush lines: don’t overbrush, and make your last stroke the entire length of the piece. That way you don’t have any start/stop marks. You could also make that last stroke with a foam brush to illiminate the tiny lines you get from paintbrushes.

  • erin
    January 14, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    the dresser turned out awesome! the pale pink is so pretty. i think that coral/orange or the green from the wallpaper would be so cute on the inside drawers!

    cant wait to see the finished nursery!

  • tamstyles
    January 15, 2009 at 12:06 am

    I love what you did with that. I am offically gonna have one “old” room for my grannys furniture and old things that I have redone. Character…yep thats it. Man your blog is really great. I love reading it.

  • alivicwil
    January 15, 2009 at 1:36 am

    dammit!

    One of my new year’s resolutions was to not be so clucky! It’s a bit difficult when half the Internet seems to be pregnant, and people such as your good self post such beautiful things they’re doing for their baby.

  • alivicwil
    January 15, 2009 at 1:39 am

    Oh! I forgot to say that I really appreciate the way that you take the time to reply to commenters and offer advice and tips on how to go about doing things :)
    Thank you. (Even though someone else asked the question, I’ve always wondered about minimising brush strokes.)

  • A Thrifty Mrs
    January 15, 2009 at 6:05 am

    Ever so, ever so pretty.

  • christina
    January 15, 2009 at 8:36 am

    This is lovely.

    What about painting the drawers the same colour or brighter pink, then glue a wallpaper panel to the flat edge ? Either the exact dimensions of the wood bit or w/ a thick border of the newly painted wood exposed.

    :O)
    christina

  • Marybeth at www.babygoodbuys.com
    January 15, 2009 at 8:56 am

    So sweet! What a gorgeous piece of furniture!

  • homedotmade
    January 15, 2009 at 8:58 am

    I vote for the lovely orange color to coordinate with the drawer liner wallpaper for the inside spots. A little unexpected bit of “pop” that will be awesome yet not overwhelming since you’re not looking at it in the room all the time.

  • Kristin
    January 15, 2009 at 9:16 am

    I had a dresser just like from baby to teen! I have no idea where my parents put it (tossed out?!?) but I loved that sweet swing door dresser! Very cool. I like the paper lined drawers too. mine where lined with violet…everything was violet from my mom. hence why I don’t love the color now.

    I like the idea of painting the drawers a suprise color. Bright pink, or soft orange color from the paper?

  • April
    January 15, 2009 at 9:46 am

    This is so pretty!

  • teresa
    January 15, 2009 at 9:53 am

    I already left a comment on this beautiful pink dresser, but I have a question for you…I’m about to start on my own dresser project and I’m wondering if you primed or sanded your piece before you painted. I know that Aura paint (I’ve used it on my walls) doesn’t really need much prep, but I’m wondering what you did to the wood surface before you started to make sure the paint wouldn’t flake or peel over time? Thanks so much!

  • Lisa
    January 15, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Gorgeous! From my experience with friends and families babies, drawer storage is very useful with babies. Just a thought, you should use the liner paper on the front of the drawers ;)

    Take care,
    Lisa

  • nikki
    January 15, 2009 at 10:11 am

    love it. love old furniture. great idea.

  • xin
    January 15, 2009 at 10:34 am

    Gorgeous piece! Cannot wait to see the finished room!

  • Amy@OldSweetSong
    January 15, 2009 at 10:39 am

    Excuse me while I clean up the drool that is now all over my keyboard. That is one gorg piece of fruniture. Well done!

  • L
    January 15, 2009 at 10:49 am

    I love it! I really like brown and pink these days. So I’d go for the chocolate color or a light brown on the drawers, but the green is also a nice color. I think white would be anticlimactic given the drawer lining and the outside paint.

    I love the tshirt! I have a few friends who are expecting and they’ll be getting that tshirt!

  • teresa
    January 15, 2009 at 10:53 am

    I’m an idiot – I just re-read the post where it stated that you had primed the dresser before you painted it. Please disregard my previous question. I think I’m getting “pregnancy brain”.

  • seesaw designs
    January 15, 2009 at 11:24 am

    this is really gorgeous! great job.

  • Kelley Lilien
    January 15, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    totally TOTALLY inspired to re-fab a few of my furniture pieces! You’ve got magic, girl – everything you touch turns to gold! Love your stuff – every single morsel!!!

    inspired…
    Kelley

  • Patricia Fontes
    January 15, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    Love the dresser! I am also having a girl, didn’t decide yet for furniture! Good ideas! Which crib did you get?

  • Krysta
    January 15, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    The dresser is gorgeous! I want one for myself in the same pink!

  • Hilary
    January 15, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    Oh wow i love the dresser, its gorgeous.

  • Cindy
    January 15, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    Beautiful dresser. I love that even though you painted it pink, it doesn’t scream “Kid’s room”, so it can grow with her.

  • Amanda
    January 15, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    That pink dresser is so sweet!

  • JLC
    January 15, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    Maybe paint the drawers a fern green?

  • Kristin
    January 15, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    i’m in my 20s and i would love that dresser in my room! wonderful.

  • Miss B.
    January 15, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    I LOVE everything! Is it weird wish you were my mom? Oh how lucky this little girl is!

  • kristen
    January 16, 2009 at 10:41 am

    ohhh, this is so SWEET! i love that wallpaper, and LOVE the dresser painted pink. what a sweet little girl’s room! and, it’s great that you are making a room for her to grown into..i am a nanny, and it seems so many parents want to do an “infant” room and then do a “kids'” room, when really the two should be able to go together…after all, they aren’t an infant for very long.

    so cute!

  • Kelly
    January 17, 2009 at 8:03 am

    Very Sweet!!!!!The play area is a great use of that space. In just a few years it will get lots of use.

  • pve design
    January 17, 2009 at 10:09 am

    who would not love playing and reading there or opening those drawers with that lining. It reminds me of my wallpaper when I was a child. Flowery, girly and lovely.

  • ruby
    January 18, 2009 at 1:55 am

    the pink is utterly perfect. i love that you went with that over white, i think it is so pretty and feminine… and the fabric in the drawers? i think i might be in love!

    your little one has the most beautiful nursery i have ever seen :)

  • Making it Lovely
    January 18, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    Patricia, I went with a black Jenny Lind crib. Brandon and I each slept in the same style when we were babies – I love that it’s such a classic design.

  • Kathy
    January 19, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    ADORABALE! i love it, i have a baby girl – 7 months. Before I found out, i wanted a boy, but i have been so blessed with my precious daughter, i love having a girl. Congrats to you!!

  • Anne @ The City Sage
    January 19, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    What an amazing job you did refinishing that dresser–it was a lovely piece to begin with (love the shape and the detailing!) but you took it too a whole other level!

    And I’m smiling ear to ear at your egg-a-go-go onesie. i bought that for a co-worker who just welcomed his first child and it is simply adorable!

  • kandice
    January 20, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    um, i want that.

  • bungalowbliss
    January 21, 2009 at 10:22 am

    That is just the sweetest color…not sickeningly-sweet pink, just perfect. It’s a beautiful piece, and I really, really like the wallpaper you used to line the drawers. Beautiful!

  • Sarah
    January 22, 2009 at 12:28 pm

    I love the pink dresser! Its beautiful!

  • midcentury furniture
    January 24, 2009 at 12:26 am

    almost every women loves pink, if someone says she doesn’t like pink then maybe I’ll need to shoot her down with truth serum!!

  • Down Pillow
    January 24, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    I love how the doors fly out and expose the internal drawers.

  • Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land
    January 31, 2009 at 10:00 am

    What a beautiful piece! I linked to you today.

    Kimba

    http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/01/saturday-linky-love_31.html

  • Kara
    January 31, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    This is just gorgeous, I love the shade of pink! Using wallpaper to line the inside of drawers is such a fabulous idea!!

  • Dee Carden
    February 2, 2009 at 10:20 am

    Another paint question. I am in the middle of painting a desk with Aura paint and it’s not looking so good! I usually brush back into my strokes as I’m laying on the paint, usually oil based.
    But from your suggestion above, I take it the best way is to brush only in one direction as you lay on first strokes? And then as you recommend, go the other way, feathering into the wet paint?

  • Amy Story
    February 5, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Hey that dresser looks wonderful. I have one that I want to do. But I have no idea where to start. CAn you help me please.

  • jen
    February 9, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    o, i love that so much! the perfect shade of pink.

  • Erica
    March 6, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    I love, LOVE that dresser – both the style and color! It has completely inspired me as I change my daughter’s room from a baby room to a girls room. Do you know what the style of that dresser is? What would I call it if I tried to google search it? I want to find something as unique and cool. I am completely unappreciative of all the flat-front furniture that is being manufactured today :(.

    Thanks.

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  • Adriana
    May 26, 2011 at 4:29 pm

    What process do you utilize for painting furniture and what color is it?? Thank you!!

  • Samantha
    June 27, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    i love the dresser. I am stuck with a primed dresser as well and have been looking for the perfect pink! what color did you paint yours? its gorgeous!

  • Christina
    July 24, 2011 at 10:43 am

    I just found your blog through Honest to Nod and love this dresser. You have inspired me!! I have a little girl 8 months old. I have the nursery all set except this armoire that I want to paint. It was passed down to me and has a painted farm scene on it…not our taste ;) So I wanted to paint the armoire pink…but some said I should just paint it white…so after deciding on a pink…I started looking at white samples…well…you have have convinced me…it is being painted pink!! You did a great job…any tips how to paint the furniture? What finish did you use, brushes, etc…this will be my first time painting a piece of furniture.

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