furniture diaries: a moody green makeover

This week’s project was such a good one — a sweet little dresser-slash-vanity table that my client wanted to use as a bedside table. She had previously painted it herself but it was time for a refresh so she brought it to me for a makeover.

This piece has definitely lived a life — lots of marks, dings, and character — and I could tell right away it was an older, well-made piece (dovetail joints always make me happy).

stripping it back

First step: hardware off. The original hardware was super cute, so I set it aside to see if it might work later.

Then came sanding. This part is weirdly one of my favorite steps — especially sanding the sides and top edge of drawers. They get so grimy over the years, and just a few minutes of sanding brings them back to life, all smooth and fresh, but still with that vintage charm.

As I sanded, I discovered multiple paint layers: black, then yellow, then white, and finally bare wood. Normally, you just need a scuff sand before painting, but when a piece already has multiple layers of paint, I like to take off as much as possible so I’m starting with a clean slate. (Chemical strippers are… not for me. Too smelly, too messy, and you still end up sanding. Might as well just sand and skip the goo.)

I hand-sanded the details too, because those spots always make a huge difference when you take the time to do them right.

time for paint

The client chose Everett by Fusion Mineral Paint, a gorgeous, desaturated green that’s neutral enough to go with anything but still feels like a statement. The first coat went on like a dream, and by the third coat, I knew it was perfect.

hardware & details

This is always my favorite part — choosing the finishing touches. The client and I debated two totally different looks:

• Option 1: Champagne gold knobs + clementine-print drawer liner (modern, bright, happy).
• Option 2: Brass scoop pulls + earthy mushroom-print drawer liner (vintage, witchy, grounded).

You can probably guess which one I was secretly rooting for — and she picked the vintage combo! The brass hardware with the mushroom liner completely transformed the vibe and gave this little dresser so much personality.

Hardware on, liner in, final touch-ups done.

the reveal

I sent the finished photos to the client and she loved it. I’m always so happy when clients choose to repurpose a piece they already own instead of buying new — it’s better for the earth and it gives your home a story.

Now they have the perfect moody beside table with a cute suprise inside, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.