How long should it take to refinish a piece of furniture? A few days? Maybe a week?
What if said piece of furniture you were refinishing was a $50 Craig’s list find that needed some work first? Some work as in repairs? Would two weeks be pushing the boundaries of procrastination?
If that’s true … if two weeks is pushing it … then what does it say that it took me 365 days to refinish my in-need-of-some-repairs-$50-Craig’s-List-find piece of furniture?
To which I have no reasonable response.
The dresser was parked in the family room last June and there is sat … collecting dust and and clutter … through a summer filled with camp and a weird foggy day at Lake Michigan and a family trip to Florida …
And there is sat … collecting dust and clutter … through a fall filled with a harrowing very first day of high school … complete with a very first solo “L” trip for my teen son … and batty door décor for Halloween and the launch of this blog …
And there is sat … collecting dust and clutter … through a winter filled with very little snow and unseasonably mild temperatures and my first link party and our first Christmas with the kids without the pretense of Santa being real …
And there is sat … collecting dust and clutter … through much of a spring filled with a teen boy’s first date and finals and end of the school year instrumental concerts and shows …
And there it sat … collecting dust and clutter … right up until last week when this blogger joined a weekly procrastinator’s support group, Make it Happen Monday, launched by this blogger …
I attended that very first support group meeting and threw my hat in the ring …
… a hat in the form of my in-need-of-some-repairs-$50-Craig’s-List-find that spent the past 365 days living in my family room …
… or, as I’ve affectionately renamed it, my four season dresser …
And I’ll share a tutorial on how I refinished my four season dresser soon.
Really.
I swear.
I promise I won’t wait for another four seasons to pass …
Sharing:
* Thrifty Decor Chick * Between Naps on the Porch * Get Outta My Head Please * C.R.A.F.T. * Keeping it Simple * Craft-O-Maniac * Joy 2 Journey * Coastal Charm * Today’s Creative Blog * Home Stories A 2 Z * My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia * Primitive & Proper * Sugar Bee Crafts * Not Just a Housewife * Creatively Living * The Winthrop Chronicles * Savvy Southern Style * Uncommon Designs * Domestically Speaking * The 36th Avenue * The Shabby Creek Cottage * House of Hepworths * Crafty Scrappy Happy * 52 Mantels * Serenity Now * Addicted to Decorating * Five Days Five Ways * Jenn Rizzo * Miss Mustard Seed * Funky Junk Interiors * Lolly Jane Boutique * I Heart Naptime * The DIY Showoff * The Shabby Nest * Making the World Cuter * A Bowl Full of Lemons * How to Nest for Less * Tip Junkie * Under the Table and Dreaming *
miss flibbertigibbet says
join the club…it’s quite large I’m sure! Turned out great and love the checkerboard knobs!
Blessings, Lorraine
NanaDiana says
Linda-That looks great- I LOVE the checkered knobs..it really adds a touch of whimsy! xo Diana
Laura from Top This Top That says
awesome! will it still sit in the living room?
Anne says
What a beautiful piece! I love those knobs – great job! Here’s to your next 365 day project 🙂
Eclectically Vintage says
Never thought I’d say this – but I love your great knobs!
Kelly
Debra from Bungalow says
I’m so glad you joined that procrastinators support group because it turned out lovely. I agree with Kelly (above commenter) you have great knobs!
The Cottage Market {Andrea} ♥ says
AWESOME linda — as usual — adding the linda twist the piece turned out extraordinarily FABULOUS!!!! love it…ENJOY!!! hugs…
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
Oh my Linda…the dresser is fantastic….Now if my attic could speak…if all the hodge podge of furniture pieces could talk, they would call the authorities to report “neglect”…and say they need therapy, for they feel neglected and rejected for years…So at least your dresser saw the happenings of the family…the changing of the seasons…feeling “part of the family”, sitting in the corner, not complaining that it needed a new “outfit”…
JOY 2 JOURNEY says
Wow! Great job finishing it!!! No worries that it took you that long … I still have things waiting for me to do. 🙂 in this case .. it was worth the wait!
Hugs,
Bj
Come link it to my party … I would love to feature it!
http://joy2journey.blogspot.com/2012/06/sundays-is-day-dedicated-to-you-where_09.html
At Home in English Valley says
Hi Linda, Sometimes things take time! The dresser looks great, and you had me at Four Seasons because that’s my thing! Love, Penny
Bliss says
It turned out fantastic. Now I want to know who got the mirror that went with mine.
~Bliss~
pam {simple details} says
I’m renaming it the ‘FABULOUS four season dresser!’ I think I may have some 8 season projects around here! 🙂
Kelly @ JAX does design says
Hey, don’t feel too bad about your four season dresser – I have an eight season table and an eight season set of chairs that it took me two years to refinish! Love how your dresser turned out, and especially like the numbers on the drawers (one for every season!) 🙂
Andrea@ourbluefrontdoor says
It was worth the wait, right? It turned out great and the numbers make it so unique. I have two coffe tables in the garage right now and we’ll see when I can get to those. You are not alone 😉 awesome job
black eyed susans kitchen says
You have given this dresser so much character! I love it!
Anonymous says
I have a china cabinet that’s been in my house for 18 months. I swear I’ll finish it the week of July 4th (when I’m off work). It will be its independence day from being sad and ugly. Your dresser is lovely. It was worth the wait.
Gypsy Heart says
I love it! I always love black & white anything. I have pieces that I’ve had for eons and haven’t painted yet…wanna come help? 🙂
Pat
Lynn @ UpCountry Olio says
I don’t care how long it took, definitely worth the wait!
Denise at PinkPostcard. says
SO cute!! I love how it turned out!! Just adorable. saw this at Met Monday!
Jessica @ Stay at Home-ista says
Linda- I’m loving the numbered drawers and the black! I know how sometimes life can get in the way, I might have to join the suport group, but not until after summer is over and the big kids are back in school:)
Jessica
stayathomeista.com
Jean @ www.thebackyardbungalow.com says
Nicely done!
Amy@BuffaloRoam says
I don’t care how long it took – it was worth every second. Just look at it! Gorgeous!
lynn says
adorable!
Meredith and the New Yorkie says
Rome was not built in a day! It looks incredible! Just love it!
xoxo,
mk & Gwynnie
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
fabulous job! the knobs are so fun, too!
Kim @ La Belle Époque says
What a fun and entertaining post. And, the results were certainly worth 365 days!!!
Olga@Stardust-Decor&Style says
Stunning transformation! Good job!
Kirby Dunton Carespodi says
Oh, gosh! I absolutley love the knobs (and enough people have done all they can with that statement, so I’ll just leave it at that). It looks great!
melissa @ daisymaebelle.com says
Love this dresser! Those knobs are too cute! I am your newest linky follower!
susan@avintagefarmwife says
Well now, this is very cute!
chateau chic says
Your dresser is sooo cute! I love the knobs, numbers, and white top. Beautiful!
Mary Alice
Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating says
That turned out beautiful! I love the whimsical touches added to a piece that looks antique. Congratulations on finally getting that project finished!!!
Oh, and thanks for the linky love. 🙂
Kara at Petals to Picots says
Great transformation!
Sarah Grace says
Looks awesome!
Cristina Garay says
I love how it turned out! The numbers and knobs give it personality! It was worth waiting all that time!
reFresh reStyle says
Just the right amount of time for it to turn out beautifully! Love it!
Erika says
Gorgeous dresser, can’t wait for the tutorial, very beautiful, a masterpiece.
Karah @ thespacebetweenblog says
This came out so great, Linda … at first glance I thought you’d put a marble top on … great choice with the white paint. 🙂
Refinishing Furniture says
I can see this dresser in a little boys room…race car themed. Love it!
Anonymous says
Santa’s not real? 🙁
Shelby says
Love this piece – don’t worry it took me a long time to refinish mine to – you can see in the before pictures there were leaves on the ground!! Stopping over from Not Just a Housewife – I shared my glass door cabinet makeover! I just love what a little paint can do to a piece of furniture!!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says
You are not alone! But I think this one was worth the wait!
Between Blue and Yellow says
Very cool! I’ve had pieces that sit around for months before I get to them 🙂
Budget Design Girl says
I think you just took your time so that you would end up with this truly beautiful dresser!!
Gah! It looks gorgeous!!!
xo-Lisa
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
That looks awesome! Worthy of a year long wait! 🙂
Heidi @ Decor & More says
Gorgeous, of course! The lines are unbelievable, but the finished product? Magnifique!!
xo Heidi
Kelly @ View Along the Way says
Sometimes it takes a year for a piece to be ready to be finished. It’s not your fault. The furniture just wasn’t ready yet. It was worth the 365 days though: beautiful result!
Deny says
It might’ve sit there for 4 seasons, but it was all worth it. It is stunning!
Ivy and Elephants says
This was well worth the wait because that dresser is absolutely fabulous now. This was such a wonderful post. I would love it if you would share this at our WIW linky party. I hope you can join.
Paula
ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Stacey says
That was a long time in the making, but it came out stinkin’ awesome!
I would love if you came by my party to link this up – the party is happening now!
Stacey of Embracing Change
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com
Jen says
Cute dresser!
debra says
This is so attractive and love the checkered knobs!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
It turned out beautifully, Linda! I love the shape of this dresser. The numbers and the knobs were a great touch!
Junky Vagabond says
Love everything about this dresser…some things are worth the wait 🙂
Haydee says
beautifully done…you’re making art here…speed is not required. Bravo!!
Brandi says
Oh wow, you did a great job on your dresser. I love the checkered knobs.
Brooke says
Maybe it took a while for you to get started, but holy crap, once you did it came out fabulous! I love it with those cool knobs!
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says
Linda, cute look on this chest. Thanks for sharing at Wow.
JOY 2 JOURNEY says
Linda,
I just featured your dresser and pinned it on Pinterest. The “Sunday Stop” has just started. Come by and link up what you have been working on 🙂
Hugs,
Bj
Cindy says
That is really gorgeous, Linda! I love the black and the numbers with the black and white knobs, perfection!!