We’re so excited to share this makeover with you today! For two reasons: 1) This is our first time participating in the Themed Furniture Makeover Day (TFMD). And 2) because I FINALLY finished this dresser!
Let me first give you a quick introduction to the TFMD. Last month, the TFMD girls asked if we’d like to join their monthly furniture makeover challenge. They come up with a theme each month, and all participants do a furniture makeover based on that theme. These girls are super talented at painting furniture and we’re so thrilled to be joining them.
November’s theme is “storage”, and I immediately knew I wanted to makeover this thrift store dresser for Max’s nautical bedroom. You might remember we already painted the companion piece to this dresser: The Ship Silhouette Chest. Soon after finishing the chest, I started prepping this dresser for paint…and then abandoned it for the entire summer. I just couldn’t decide on a graphic for the front. I finally decided to make my own graphic, and I’m including it here. You’re welcome to download and use it for free.
Here’s a before shot of the dresser.
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This piece is solid wood and super heavy. It had a few dings and scratches but other than that it was in great shape.
I started by filling in the dings and smoothing out the surface, then primed it with Zinsser 123.
I gave the whole dresser a few coats of General Finishes Milk Paint in Coastal Blue. This was my first time using General Finishes milk paint, and it’s important to point out that it isn’t like traditional milk paint (no chipping).
I decided to use Annie Sloan chalk paint “Old Ochre” for the graphic. That’s the base color I used to paint the other dresser and I wanted the two to look cohesive. I used my go-to method for painting graphics on furniture, which you can read about here. I watered the paint down quite a bit when I painted this graphic on. When I was finished painting the graphic, I attempted to distress it a bit and realized that the chalk paint did not adhere to the milk paint. I could literally use a damp rag to wipe the whole thing off. I’ve never had this happen before so just keep this in mind if you ever try to blend both paint products on the same piece.
Once I sealed the piece with General Finishes Top Coat “Flat” it was fine.
I decided to use dock cleats in place of traditional handles on the drawers. If you don’t know what a dock cleat is, don’t worry. Neither did any person at the four different stores I went to to find them. I guess that’s what I get for trying to find marine-type accessories in the middle of Ohio. Anyway, they’re those little metal things you wrap a rope around to anchor a boat to the dock. And yes, that’s the official definition :).
Anyway, I’m glad to finally have the dresser done! You can check out the rest of the Themed Furniture Makeovers below.
A huge thank you to General Finishes for providing the paint for this project!
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Ship Silhouette Chest Of Drawers
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This is stunning! Love, love, love..the boat cleats for the handles! You rocked your first month with the group!! Great job:)
Thank you so much, Wendi! Excited to be joining the group!
Love this, Amy! The dock cleats were the perfect touch (and yes, I knew what you were talking about and I’m in Ohio too.) 😉 I’m sure it will be treasured for years to come.
Thanks so much, Larissa!
GORGEOUS piece! The hardware is the cherry on top. Great job!
Thanks Lindsay 🙂
This turned out so well! The navy and white so so classic…and the cleat handles are just the thing! Pinning 🙂
Thanks so much, Erin!!
Love it! I’m sure this beauty looks amazing with the equally amazing Ship Silhouette dresser that I had such fun featuring! 😉 And wait, “middle of Ohio”? I live in the middle of Ohio! (New Albany, northeast suburb of Columbus) Welcome to the TFMD group!!
Thanks Kimm! I didn’t know we were so close! I’m not technically in the middle… just south of Columbus, closer to Cincinnati. But it’s less than 2 hours from you!
It’s beautiful, Amy! You sure do have a talent when it comes to painting furniture! Your little guy is incredibly lucky to have such a talented mama 🙂
Aww, thank you Katie!!! xo
WOW just stunning! I know why this was so hard…I would have a hard time following up that amazing ship silhouette dresser too. But you did a phenomenal job on this as well! SO glad to have you as part of the TFMD crew. 🙂
Thanks Christy! Hopefully it’s not too much going on in that room having two pieces of furniture with big graphics, but I figured if I can get away with it anywhere it’s a kids bedroom :).
Amy, we must be in a time warp because we have the same name and so do our sons! 🙂 This whale dresser is outstanding. I was in awe of its companion piece and now I’m swooning over this one.
No way!! That’s too funny! I have a son named Sam too, and my husband’s name is Chris. Please tell me you have a Sam and a Chris too!! Either way, we seem to have a lot in common and I’m thrilled to have found your blog :).
Wow! I love this. Whale of a good job! 🙂
Thank you, Jeanette! 🙂
First off, welcome ladies to the Themed Furniture Makeover Day group – thrilled to see you guys here! This dresser makeover is AWESOME – love everything about it. Such a clever idea using dock cleats for the hardware!
Thank you so, so much Marie! I’m thrilled to be joining the group!
NO WAY!!! It’s fabulous!!! You outdid yourself. The dock cleats are such a special touch! I can’t believe it.
Thanks Bre!! xo
Welcome to TFMD, yay! Your son is one lucky little boy, this is such a fun piece. And I love that you used dock cleats, such an awesome touch!
Thanks Bre! So excited to join the group!!
Amazing!! I love everything about this makeover! Using boat cleats as drawer pulls is the perfect touch for this piece and I love, love your whale graphic.
Thanks so much, Paula!!
I can’t believe it’s the same dresser! Just gorgeous! I love coastal style and your dresser has me wishing I had a little cottage by the beach! ;o)
Thank you, Lucy! A cottage by the beach sounds amazing. Especially since it’s so cold where I am this morning!! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
So gorgeous, Amy! It doesn’t even look like the same piece at all. That blue is stunning and I absolutely love those dock cleats! Well done!
Thank you, Sarah!!
How did we miss this post?! Oh my goodness – this is our favorite makeover! You are always so creative and you do such beautiful work! Well done Amy! We wish you and yours and wonderful, happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you SO much, Vicki & Jenn! Wishing both of you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving too!!
Themed Furniture Makeover is amazing. I loved this Nautical Whale Dresser, its blue color and the nice handles. Great work!
You did an amazing job on this! It would look perfect in my son’s room! VERY inspiring and creative. Thank you so much for sharing at The DIY Collective!
Thanks Brooke! 🙂
Awesome ! Just love the Whale graphic and the colour. What a fantastic statement piece definitely pinning.
I had the same problem trying to find boat cleats to make a towel rack. I gave up hunting and ended up ordering them on line.
I am obsessed with your dresser!! It is a must have for the room I am working on I thought that I read that you designed the graphics yourself. If so, can I pay you to slightly change it and allow me to use it? I’d like it to say Whaling Tours instead of Whaling Company. Thank you!
Hi Susan! I created it in picmonkey, which unfortunately means it doesn’t save in an editable format. You could easily download my version into picmonkey or even Microsoft, put a white block over the wording you want to change, then add your own wording over top. You’re welcome to change it however you like :). Good luck with your project and hope you’re having a good weekend!!
Thank you for your response! I’m going to give it a try!!!
Love the whale dresser and would like to duplicate this graphic on a shower curtain for my son’s bathroom. Is the graphic available somewhere?
Thank you.
Lisa
Did you soft wax over the whale graphic? I love the piece . It will be perfect in our front hall
Thanks! I sealed it with general finishes water based top coat. I can’t remember which version but I think it was the semi-gloss.