The Half Dresser: A Love Story
Just after Christmas, I was wandering through a charity shop (as you do), and there it was—the half dresser. A piece of furniture so stunning, it practically called my name. I had recently rearranged my kitchen/living/playroom area, trying to fix the flow (you know the drill), and while the new setup made the room more functional, it left me with an awkwardly bare wall. My beautifl shelves, which once hung perfectly above my dining table, no longer worked in the space. I needed something practical yet pretty, and this half dresser was like striking gold.
The best part? It was only £25. (Northern Ireland, I love your prices!) I couldn't believe my luck. Of course, being just after Christmas, I had no budget for supplies to get started on the project. So, the dresser waited for me for a few weeks, but once I had everything I needed, I was buzzing to get to work.
The Transformation
The dresser came with a pine varnish that wasn’t quite my style, so I decided to sand it down to reveal the raw wood underneath. My initial plan was to stain it with COLRON wood dye in American Walnut. I applied the dye, stood back, and… nope. It wasn’t quite the finish I’d imagined. (This is where my “go with the flow” DIY philosophy comes into play—expect that to be a recurring theme on this blog!)
I pulled some Frenchic white wax out of the press, thinking a whitewashed look might be the vibe. I slapped it on, only to realize I’d gone completely overboard. The finish just didn’t hit right. Cue mild panic and a rummage through my supplies for a solution. That’s when I rediscovered my browning wax—and oh my goodness, it was a game changer. The deep, rich tones it added over the white wax created the most beautiful, aged effect. It was everything I wanted but didn’t even know I was aiming for.
Hanging It Up
Once the dresser was finished, my amazing husband Anthony (aka “the muscle” of my DIY projects) helped me hang it on the wall. Let’s just say “happy” might be a bit of an overstatement for his enthusiasm levels, but he got the job done, and it looked absolutely perfect.
Dressing the dresser with decor was the cherry on top. I’m currently all about maximalism—it feels like the best representation of my brain these days: full and overflowing!
The Valentine’s Day Touch
Because I can’t help myself, I decided to take it a step further and style the dresser for Valentine’s Day. I scavenged the house for anything remotely romantic, and voilà—my dreamy, love-inspired half dresser was born. It turned out to be a little corner of joy in my home, and honestly, decorating it gave me the push I needed to finally launch this blog.
If you want to see more of the upcycling process, you can check out my TikTok video here.
Lessons Learned
This project reminded me that sometimes, the best results come from trial and error. It wasn’t a straight road to the perfect finish, but I loved every messy, creative moment of the journey. That’s what DIY is all about, isn’t it? Trying, learning, and turning something old into something new—and maybe making a little magic along the way.
What do you think of my half dresser transformation? Have you ever had a project that didn’t go to plan but turned out better than you’d hoped? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
Tina
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