For Jillian

All I have to say is Jillian is one lucky lady! Jennifer Francis, aka Brody's mom, (whenever someone asked me who I was doing these pieces for I would say, "Jennifer Francis," and after trying to describe her the person would eventually say, "OH! Brody's mom?." So I have figured that is what happens in the blogger world- your blog name/ subject becomes your alias- no lie this happened 1/2 a dozen times:)) Anywho, Jennifer- now Jillian's mom too, saw this post and wanted that dresser. Unfortunately I had already sold it, but I promised I would find her a similar one and get to work. I told my MIL this story (she is the one who taught me EVERYTHING I know about bargains and frugality) and she was on the hunt too. She found me 2 AMAZING pieces, and walked out of there with both for only $30- the woman is INCREDIBLE! Great deal, but ended up being lots of work too! But, I am so excited for Jillian to enjoy her dresser and side table!

The Before:

Notice, how the drawers do not shut, you can not see it, but the back is missing and half the hardware. Not to mention, tons of chips in the veneer and all the paint piling off (that I am at least used to though:)) I wish I would have done step by step pics, but we started by cutting a piece of plywood to fit the back. My fabulous husband- who would much rather watch a stock ticker than use a power tool- cut the plywood for me with only one disgruntled smirk or two:)! (He works the table saw, simply because he does not trust me with it:)!) I attached it to the back with nails. I also had to build new bottoms for two of the drawers, because they were warped and rotten. This was real fun and lots of work to get them to fit just right. I actually had these cut at Home Depot, because Josh was at work. I ended up sanding them down, because I could not find plywood thin enough to fit into the pre-sawed slits. I got it working though! I had to sand lots of paint and veneer down. Since, some of the hardware was missing, I filled in the 2 middle holes on the top drawers with wood fill, so each draw just needed 4 pulls instead of 6. This saved lots $$ on buying new hardware. So after ALL that I was finally able to be creative! Jennifer had given me her fabric swatches and this is what I came up with...

She wanted to bring the teal out in her bedding, so I did the whole dresser this teal color- which I actually got a gallon of at Home Depot in the messed up mixed paint for $5 and it was the Behr primer and paint in one- usually about $35/ gallon! It also matched PERFECTLY! (wrongfully mixed paint is a great place to find a color if you are not that picky- gallons are $5, quarts $1, and samples .50 cent.)

Up close and personal! I only took a picture of half of it, because the other drawer was not dry, and I was ready to put it on the blog:)! I spray painted the hardware white to match her bed! We decided not to distress the dresser, since her bed is so modern.

The glider is green, so I wanted to tie that in and I just L.O.V.E. how this table turned out!!!! Hope the whole Francis clan likes it and now Jillian's nursery can be complete!