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Home » special contributors

Dresser makeover with plaster paint

By Debbiedoo's Team Published: Mar 19, 2014 · Modified: Feb 4, 2025

Hi everyone!

I’m Shanna from Restoration Redoux here for my monthly contributor’s post.

Today, I am sharing how to makeover a dresser with plaster paint.

With Easter right around the corner, my hubby ,the unamed child, and I were doing a little reminiscing. My daughter was one of the last kids in her class that still believed in Santa. We loved that she still had faith in the big guy, and it made Christmas that much more magical to her.

So when she found out the truth … well, she was c.r.a.z.y, and told us that we were liars and how dare we trick her and she hated us for weeks.

The same year that she found out about Christmas, she was home with my hubby a few days before Easter. I came home to find her sobbing in the kitchen with my husband mouthing something behind her and making frantic hand gestures. I asked her what was wrong, and she said that the Easter bunny was dead. I asked her why she would say such a thing and she said “Daddy told me”.

Again my hubby was mouthing something, so I went with him in the other room.

What is going on here? He said she had asked him what the Easter bunny looked like, and he laughed and said you know there’s no Easter bunny (since she knew there was no Santa).

Apparently, she hadn’t made the connection.

He said “I didn’t want a repeat of the Christmas fiasco where she went around telling everyone I was a liar for weeks, so I panicked and said the first thing that popped into my head”. I said “So you told her he died? That was a better solution?”

In hindsight that was maybe not the best option, he said.

Yes now she is going to go to school and tell all the kids the Easter Bunny is DEAD! He said well… how are you going to fix this?

Oh no, I’M not going to fix this you are.

So it was quiet in the other room for a while, and then my daughter came out with a smile on her face. I asked her if daddy told her the truth. She said yes, and that she felt much better now that she knew the easter bunny really wasn’t dead … he was just in the witness protection program because the tooth fairy was trying to kill him.

Men!

I found this old dresser on Craigslist for $20.

Craigslist-Dresser

It was in rough shape. It was dirty and had been badly spray painted, and it had the ugliest handles I had ever seen.

I started by cleaning off the grime and sanding down all of the spray paint drip marks.

Using wood filler, I then patched in the deep scratches and the holes where the handles had been, and once it dried I sanded it smooth. Strangely, the handles I pulled-off were relocated from the original knobs. That meant two new holes to fill, and two poorly filled holes from the original knobs.

I then painted the entire dresser with an aqua plaster paint.

After two coats, I taped off stripes down the front of the dresser.

Taped off Drawers

Next I painted the front with white plaster paint.

Painted Over Taped Off Stripes

After two coats of that, I removed my tape and distressed the entire piece. I drilled new holes … because I wanted my handles in a different spot. I had a set of handles that I got at a church yard sale for $1, and I spray painted them white.

I coated the entire dresser in clear wax and buffed it off.

I then attached the handles.

I am really happy with how this piece turned out!

Turquoise-Striped-Dresser

Striped-Dresser-Closeup

Turquoise-Striped-Dresser1

Turquoise-Dresser

Turquoise Dresser

Turquoise-Striped-Dresser-RestorationRedoux

I hope you all have a Happy Easter! I will see you next month! If you would like to see some more of my craft or furniture projects please visit me at the links down below!

Facebook/ Twitter/Pinterest/Instagram

 Thanks Shanna, that is a gorgeous redo!

Please be sure to give Shanna a visit. I know she would love it, and I assure you, you will love her site packed with more furniture and craft ideas.

Want to learn more about Plaster paint?

Check out the details and where to buy it here.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Korilynn

    March 19, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Wow that looks great! I’ve been meaning to refinish some furniture around here myself.

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 19, 2014 at 10:26 am

      Thanks so much Korilynn!

      Reply
  2. Dawn

    March 19, 2014 at 9:32 am

    That turned out super cute, I love the color choice 🙂

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 19, 2014 at 10:26 am

      Thank you Dawn!

      Reply
  3. desaree martin

    March 19, 2014 at 10:07 am

    First off, that story about your husband is HILARIOUS! Men crack me up, that sounds like something my husband would come up with. Second. Holy cow what a steal of a deal and you did such an awesome job bringing it back to life!

    Reply
  4. Shanna Gilbert

    March 19, 2014 at 10:27 am

    Thanks Desaree! You just never know what’s going to come out of my husbands mouth!

    Reply
  5. Bliss

    March 19, 2014 at 10:35 am

    Guess I’ve gotta go read about plaster paint, that’s a new one on me and I’ve gotta try them all. Oh, and the dresser is marv!

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 19, 2014 at 10:49 pm

      Thank you so much! It’s great stuff and a lot cheaper than a lot of the other brands that are similar!

      Reply
  6. Darrielle Tennenbaum

    March 19, 2014 at 10:38 am

    What a Fabulous transformation! I love the stripes and the colors!

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 19, 2014 at 10:46 pm

      Thanks Darrielle!

      Reply
  7. Laurie S

    March 19, 2014 at 10:43 am

    Amazing!! I am in LOVE with it!! Totally inspirational too. Thank you, time to dig out my paint 🙂

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 19, 2014 at 10:45 pm

      Thanks Laurie!

      Reply
  8. Cindy

    March 19, 2014 at 11:02 am

    What a fun makeover! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:48 pm

      Thank you Cindy!

      Reply
  9. Kris

    March 19, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    Wow this is super cute. I love the colors. Awesome relove of this piece.
    Kris

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:52 pm

      Thank you Kris!

      Reply
  10. Cynthia

    March 19, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    First of all, what a priceless story. I was laughing when you hubby asked you how you were going to fix this??? Typical question but you daughter just warms my heart. Kids are so innocent and say the funniest things. This dresser came out great. I never hear of plaster paint. Is it readily available and how does it differ from chalk paint?/ Thanks.

    Cynthia

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 3:04 pm

      Thanks Cynthia! I have been using Annie Sloan chalk paint for years. While I love all of her products they are pretty pricey. Plaster Paint is almost identical to chalk paint in my opinion. The main benefit is that is costs much less than chalk paint. Here is a link to their FAQ page if you have more questions http://www.theplasterpaintco.com/FAQ.html/. These are the states it is available in Oklahoma

      Arkansas

      Missouri

      Texas

      Illinois

      Kentucky

      Kansas

      Louisiana

      California

      Canada.
      You are able to order it online though. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  11. Felicia Harris

    March 19, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    This is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day! Thanks for sharing. The dresser, of course, is adorable too!

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:58 pm

      Thank you Felicia!

      Reply
  12. Linda

    March 19, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    I swear, it has been 15 minutes since I read the story and I am still laughing! O.M.G. No
    one could have made that up and have it be as funny as picturing it unfold. Well told! Keep on sharing. It was my day’s bright spot!

    I love the dresser. However, I’m ignorant about Plaster Paint too How is it different than chalk paint? Does it work as well? I would really appreciate a response to this. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:57 pm

      Hi Linda! Plaster Paint is almost exactly like chalk paint in my opinion. I have made my own and used Annie Sloan’s for years. While I love AS it is pricey and Plaster Paint costs much less. Here is a link to their FAQ page if you have more questions http://www.theplasterpaintco.com/FAQ.html. I get no type of kickback or benefit to using their paint, I just genuinely love their products!

      Reply
  13. Dee

    March 19, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    I love the dresser and the beautiful stripped drawers.

    Reply
  14. Tanya

    March 19, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    It looks great! Looks like a whole new dresser now 🙂 Awesome job.

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:50 pm

      Thank you Tanya!

      Reply
  15. Lorna

    March 19, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    That dresser is absoloutely gorgeous – I love the stripe detail. The story had me crying with laughter. My DH says the same sort of terrible stuff to the children.

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks Lorna! Have a great weekend!

      Reply
  16. Jane's Adventures in Dinner

    March 20, 2014 at 9:42 am

    Wow! What a fantastic redoux-I just love seeing old pretties getting a new life.

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:46 pm

      Thank you Jane!

      Reply
  17. Christine

    March 20, 2014 at 11:51 am

    I spit my coffee.
    Usually, I can catch myself (unlike catching my inner voice) but this time, it got away from me.
    Keyboards & coffee? Not a good thing. Witness PROTECTION!?! OMG. Don’t let her watch any of those fairy movies with The Rock in them. She’ll be traumatized for life — but she’ll understand the Easter Bunny’s fear of that GIANT tooth fairy.
    OMG.
    SO HILARIOUS!

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:52 pm

      Thanks Christine! Sorry about your coffee lol! You never know what’s going to come out of my hubby’s mouth!

      Reply
  18. micki

    March 20, 2014 at 3:53 pm

    I love this so much!

    The Easter Bunny is a whole ‘nuther issue in our house. Last year, my oldest child worked as the Easter bunny at the mall. Something little sister knew about. So she thinks her big brother is the EAster bunny. She calls him the Easter Brother LOL

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:50 pm

      Lol! Thanks Micki!

      Reply
  19. Harumi at Washi Kawaii

    March 20, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    I love what you did with that dresser! It looks great!

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:49 pm

      Thanks Harumi!

      Reply
  20. Amy @ StowandTellU

    March 20, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    ..and the easter bunny has now been relocated to the house next to the great pumpkin patch… What a funny story, that was a good save on your husband’s part, lol.

    The dresser has such great bones, like those old dressers do, but jeepers, it needed a makeover and you gave it a gorgeous one at that!!

    Reply
    • Shanna Gilbert

      March 21, 2014 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks so much Amy!

      Reply
  21. Shahid

    April 01, 2014 at 8:34 am

    wonderful color and design. its simple and dashing.

    Reply

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