Elephant In The Room...

{Can You Spot It?...Here's a Hint: It's PINK!}

So I'm sure I know what you're thinking, "Oh look, Michelle found this hot pink dresser that they're going to makeover." I wish I could say you're right, but nope ~ this unfortunately, is the final product.

Here's how this hot pink mess went down:

While on a recent trip to a local trift store, I came across this old Sligh Furniture Co. Dresser. After searching for a primitive buffet ~ I figured this piece would work great in the dining room holding kitchen linens and silver flatware. I originally wanted to keep it in it's original stain, but there were too many scratches and dents to keep this piece as is.


We started with an oil based primer, then Brian went to work with wood putty repairing damaged edges.


The top of the dresser was also significantly damaged. Brian added a thin piece to conceal the damage while also adding a slightly more interesting molding.

Now this is where the project turned a bit crazy. After this post~ shown here ~ I was inspired to paint the dresser a bright bold high gloss color. I know, I know! The only way I can articulate my rationalization is by quoting Lily in How I Met Your Mother:

OK, yes it's a mistake. I know it's a mistake, but there are certain things in life where you know its a mistake but you don't really know it's a mistake because the only way to really know it's a mistake is to make the mistake and look back and say 'yep, that was a mistake.'

After contemplating color swatches ~ shown here ~ I decided on Eddie Bauer's Dark Mango {photo: top left} available at Lowes. Thinking it would be this rich salmon, it started drying a pepto bismol pink {photo: top right}.

We decided to change out Dark Mango {drawer on the left} for Laura Ashley's Marasca Cherry {drawer on the right} also available at Lowes. After brief deliberation Brian proceded to paint well into the night. It wasn't until the following morning that we realized how pink our dresser can look in certain lighting:

While I have nothing against pink, this is not what we had in mind for our somewhat mature dining room. We'll keep you posted on any dresser updates ~ in the meantime we're getting a good giggle over our pinkest mistake yet!

Have any home improvement mistakes yourself? We'd love you to comment about it!