Reluctant DIYer's Diary of a Dresser Makeover

oracle Keep the old handles. They look great even in their present condition. Or, spray them silver as you were thinking. Project looks great!!

bepsf I agree that the old handles were much better - leave them black and put the glass ones on eBay.

blfk The glass handles are nice, but they disappear against the white paint. The old ones look better. Shine them up with some Brasso and they'll be like new.

Sharon Darrow I like the glass knobs. They give the dresser a fresh clean look.

Janet Paik Thanks for sharing this project, Becky! I like the original handles as well, and on another note, absolutely adore your vintage jewelry holder. :)

Pascale Becky, you are cracking me up! Lots of memories of my own DIY furniture refinishing projects that progressed in a manner nearly identical to yours. (I'm a sucker for bargains at my local furniture consignment shops.) I've lost count of all the furniture I've hauled home in the back of my VW Beetle (it's amazing what I've managed to fit in my Bug) and dragged upstairs myself, thinking if I can get it in place before hubby comes home he's less likely to notice the arrival of yet another piece of furniture in our home! By the way, some metal plating shops will plate stuff like handles and knobs for a decent price, if you really want a true metal finish. I heard a local decorator mention she was able to have a whole house full of hinges and doorknobs done for $200 - much cheaper than buying all new hinges and knobs.

Tara Williams Love the play-by-play of this project! I vote old handles, spray painted silver. Return the glass ones and save that $$!

iluv2decor8 You fell in love with the inspiration dresser as it was! Follow your first instinct and go with the old handles!

ab33 I also agree that you should go with the old handles spray painted silver! It looks so beautiful, wonderful job! So, did you end up doing any sanding, priming, etc at all? I am considering taking on a similar project and don't know if I should bother sanding, priming, etc. Thank you

house_pretty Keep the original handles! I think they look great as is, but they would also look lovely if you spraypainted them silver.

Sheila Edmond Keep the original, they provide an air of elegance that is true to your inspiration. Also, I think the glass makes it look like you're trying too hard. I also think they would look good either as they are, sprayed black or silver but I personally would paint them black or that hammered oil rubbed bronze stuff in a spray can.

Nice job.

Sheila Edmond BTW, if you're dead set on the glass then how about putting your contact paper, or a similar wallpaper, on the drawer fronts?

bonnmom I think you definitely need the contrast of different color hardware. You'll find a use for those crystal handles elsewhere. Great job! I have a piece in my garage from my mom's house screaming for a makeover. You have inspired me.

chezlindy If you want to skip the sanding step (and having to haul your furniture item to a dust-friendly zone), go get thee some Zinsser "1-2-3" primer. Slather generously on your DIY target. Once dry, paint away. I've done several pieces of IKEA furniture, old office bookcases, and some gawd-awful bachelor stuff my husband brought to our marriage. 100% wonderful results.

Karen Heffernan I much prefer the old handles to the new ones (and I usually lean toward "new"). The contrast they offer is much aesthetically pleasing than the glass ones, which disappear against the white. I would do them in either silver to match your inspiration piece, or black for more contrast. If you really want something fresh and new, the old fashioned keys were really cute.

Carolann Sheen my vote is for the original handles - just like Karen, I usually lean towards new - but not this case. And yes, spray them silver just like the inspiration photo

ladymojo My vote, too, is for the old handles, they are much classier. The glass ones will look fabulous on something else....Good job

Becky Harris These comments are so much fun to read, thank you all so much! Wow, LANDSLIDE VICTORY for the old handles! I think I'll explain to Anthro and see if they are willing to take them back as-is; since I've already messed with them I don't want to try and pull the wool over their eyes or anything. I love the plating suggestion too, I never would have thought of that! The guys at Ace told me about Brasso but I completely forgot to buy any. I think they are supposed to be brass.

Oh, and PASCALE, laughing so hard at what you've fit in your VW; my friends call me "the spatial engineer" because if I want to make something fit, by God I will make it fit, whether a chair into a backseat or a kitchen table into the world's smallest kitchen!

jan boeckmann I agree with the others who said put back the old ones, spray them silver or even as they were.. The clear ones disappear.. I have an old entertainment center/book shelf that I was going to put out on the curb.. But had a brainstorm and now tomorrow I am going to paint it and turn it into a liquer cabinet/ storage for bar glasses etc..Glad now I didn't get rid of it. Also have a couple dressers in the garage that I want to redo also.. The planning is as much fun as the actual refinnishing.. he he!

cleannyc love it! The old handles are definitely better then the clear ones. I think Anthro will probably take them back if you go right away and explain that you tried them out and the look wasn't exactly as expected.

Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. The old pulls are much better. The glass handles kind of disappear and lack contrast. The vintage details make the dresser charming. Also, I think the glass handles next to the vintage-style keyholes are a bit off. Much better with the old handles which compliment the keyholes. I would plate the old pulls in polished nickel.
The plating will give the old pulls a sassy new look. Should be about $40-60 for the eight pulls. I do like the black and white color scheme, very fun!

inkwitch I'm not a fan of those original pulls because of the style. The cabinet has become "modern" with the color choice. But I do like the contrast as the glass, beautiful as they are, disappear. Send back the glass. There's websites with far more knobs/handles besides Anthropologie -- and more interesting. I could see something reflective and high-gloss. Do pulls exist made of mirror?

ebgodard Go with the old. Or find some jazzy multicolored ones. Your room is beautiful and you can use the pulls to tie it all together. $18.00 a piece plus the aggravation is not worth it. I agree all these new decorative pulls are incredibly long. You can't cut them without ruining the thread. My entire dressing room is black and white. Striped wall paper; closets done in a small toile. Furniture is white. I added pink glass knobs on furniture pieces and it was amazing how it changed the room.

Pam D. The old, the old, the old, please. I laughed at your play by play, because it brought back memories of this dresser I did about a month ago. I'm not sure why I chose to do this project when it is minus 10 degrees out and I have to do this stuff in my garage. Nevertheless, I'm showing you this dresser because the old knobs match the character of the piece, as I think yours would. Very cute accessories too, btw.

martieb I love your re-purposed jewelry box and I love Scott's. I clean my old brass with vinegar and salt. It really works! Go with the old.

smanly i love the old handles best!!

gail1946 Old handles for sure but then I like the chest better before the make over. It would have been easier to up date your lamp.

kberch I have to tell you this is one my favorite Houzz posts. Loved it! So reminds me on my adventures in DIY. I too, am a lazy DIYer. Lots of ideas, but lots of them don't get completed. The dresser looks fabulous! I loved the details of your journey to the end. Made me laugh.

Laurel Johnson Laurel - (I'm an artist) says: The old handles match the front of the blue desk hardware. It pulls it together for a more cohesive look. I like them dark -- more drama.

ashleyfrey40 I had an appointment to get to but had to find out how the dresser turned out. Plus a chuckle here and there. Have to say I love the transformation. But the clear handles are washed out by the white. You need something to off set it. GO back for the key handles as they make a nice compliment plus coordinate with the Key hole in the dresser. A "unlock my secrets" draw....

Lena C WTG, Becky! DIY projects like this can take more energy than one's optimistic mind can conceive. Last spring I decided to refinish a simple butcher block desk over a weekend. It took me three months.

taddpeake Keep the old handles or something similar. The glass ones nearly disappear and look wimpy next to the sharp contrast of black and white. Beautiful job, by the way.

Kristin Potenti I love your inspiration picture!! I saw it awhile ago and think of it whenever I see a dresser like yours. Sadly, the style just doesn't suit my house. Great project though!! Keep the old handles, they give the piece character. I think any time you attempt a diy project there are going to be hiccups. You don't even want to know my story with concrete countertops and sealers. You'd be 80 years old by the time I finished, lol! However, they're finally finished and they look amazing. :)

dloech713 Becky - I love your dining room chairs - can you tell me where they're from??

maryammedina The glass knobs look cheap. Spray the old ones silver.

Becky Harris Hey DL, Thanks! they are from the Sundance catalog and I LOVE them - they were on my wishlist for years. They are usually referred to as Tolix or Marais A chairs and several different places sell them in different colors, they are usually quite similar to one another. When I was in a Crate and Barrel a few weeks ago, they had a more rustic version.




Pottery Barn, DWR, and Anthropologie have all carried a similar chair before, and I think most or all of them do now.

patkins969 If you are a lazy DIYer, don't even bother buying the Brasso - you'll be sooo sorry when you realize how laborious it is to use!! Better & much easier to go with spray painting the old hardware. Also, a warning about prep (based on years of experience as a decorative painter): yes, sanding or priming is a pain, but far less of one than having your brand new finish literally bubble or peel right off an old surface that it won't adhere to - been there, done that :(

gerrycabc Vote for the old handles - they do coordinate with the table as well as looking best on the dresser.
Your posts are a lot of fun and inspiring, Becky.

Becky Harris Patkin, thanks for the tip, and it's funny you say that - while I had the paint out, I decided to give a fresh coat of white paint to the icebox that serves as my powder room vanity. As soon as I removed the painter's tape, it went all the way down about ten layers to the original green color. It seems the pro painter who painted it originally was lazy as well!

sarito Most of all I loved your storytelling! Brilliant, made me laugh in that special way of "I know that one!" which is the essence of good storytelling. And I do freelance editing for a living so I should know. On the actual subject -- me too, I'd go with the old handles. And thanks for the inspiration (including all the nightmare aspects!) I've got a serpentine dresser I want to turn from its staid maple-ness to Chinese red, and you've persuaded me I can manage it.

bfrykman Please don't spraypaint those lovely old drawer pulls! Take them in to your Ace and ask how to fix them up properly - give them their own glory back. If you would like something extra, find some escutcheons to add to the front of the dresser. That will give it an added piece of glam and originality that is evident in that great inspiration dresser.

barbara_heinsohn Old drawer pulls but don't you dare paint them! (Btw, I had bought some at Anthropologie and returned them all due to similar issues esp the length of the bolts. Wth were they thinking?)

dotknot I like the old knobs because the glass ones sort of disappear on the white. However, seeing that zebra design pillow(?) next to your finished dresser made me think how cute it would be if made the white front of the drawers pop a little more by painting a zebra design on them- then the modern glass knobs would really look nice on it. All DIY projects I have done have had their frustrating "surprise" moments, but few have ever been non-recoverable. Great job!

chryssie I've gone the Brasso route on old brass pulls, and the earlier commenter is correct, it is a ton of work. It is especially hard and almost impossible to remove the old lacquer finish. I also tried, unsuccessfully, the salt and vinegar approach, so I gave up and spray-primed them and then spray painted them silver. Not the best solution either -- they look really pretty but the paint is prone to chipping. I checked out professional replating but could not find a source at the lower prices I read about here. How do you get a smooth finish on the wood without brush marks? I bailed and went for oil-based paint which i did with no small amount of guilt! Greatly enjoyed your account -- thank you!

Becky Harris Chrissie, there are brush marks, my lack of good interior photography skills just hides them in the picture! They don't really bother me though and they are not super-obvious.

Good to know about the Brasso and the replating. I'm going to look into it. I have no idea why Anthro would make their screws so long, and not include screws to boot. It's a bad mistake on their part.

Dawn I like the old handles - dark. I like the shape of them with the dresser & more true to your inspiration piece. Just a thought, though.... Does Anthropology have the glass handles in black? If you REALLY want glass, go with dark.

Debbie Marshall Your old handles really POP! I like them as is, but if you want silver, Home Depot sells a Rustoleum Hammered Steel that is just awesome and has wonderful texture. Great project and I love how you detailed everything.

Julia Hayes Old handles! And if you decide to paint them, do black or oil rubbed bronze. I did a desk with white drawers and the old black pulls really look awesome against them.

jacqlemon Keep the old handles and paint them and glaze them. Just spray painting them does not work with the style nor the era. I'm enclosing a detail of the handles that I painted and glazed so that they look like aged pewter. You can also view some other handmade pulls at www.portaverdestudio.com

lynandzoolings I vote to use both sets of handles and switch them out depending on what is on top of the dresser and to just have a quick change if you get bored. Love the elephant! What fun!

Jayne Slovick Well, I like the glass handles. I like the clean look.

Kim Uccellini I painted a console table black and white and the hardware silver and they just didn't look right. I think too many colors on one item. I choose black and they look great. ANother idea would be to do the handles in the same color as the drawers and it would have a modern edge to it.

lauriebee4 Where did you get that metal bistro chair in the seventh picture? I am hunting, hunting.

Karen Mccallum A solution I have used for loose hardware is putting washers on the back of the screws until they tighten. It works and is an easy fix. Good luck! The dresser looks great!

Becky Harris lauriebee, Sundance Catalog. They are new but made at the same factory that made them back in the thirties. I think ;)

Karen I will give that a whirl - Thanks!

Evan Amusuing... I think this accurately describes the excitement, anxiety and eventually the frustration that goes along with any project. Although this is only phase one. I always find when I do design there is the vision, the reality, and then the revision. Don't be too proud to change anything when you actually see how it looks.

punkinhead I'd use the old handles, but instead of silver, I would actually paint them either black or a bright color, like turquoise. Not knowing the rest of your colors in there, another color may be a better fit... You CAN find shorter screws - I had a similar issue with some knobs I bought recently - but you'll want to take the handle and screws with you to a hardware store to find the right size.

Also, those glass handles in a bright color would be another option - but pricier than a can of spray paint.

Lina Crawford Interior Design I say old handles but spray them black! That would look great!

amy127 Old handles for sure! Spray them with whatever spray paint color you want. Trick: I have tried all sorts of spray paint brands and I find Krylon to be by far the best in terms of even spray look, color distribution and long lasting. Here is a link to their metallic brands http://www.krylon.com/products/general_purpose_metallic/

mermaiden At the risk of being an old stick-in-the-mud, I would never have altered anything my grandmother had refurbished for me. Then again, I never knew her. Being the 8th. of 11 children, she passed right after my birth. Guess that's why I'm so sentimental about stuff like this. The project turned out very nice, but I'd have bought an old dresser for the project, and saved the other one.

lessalt Another vote for the old handles, the glass ones disappear.

Carolina Girl Becky I had the same problem when I replaced my kitchen cabinet handles. You can acturlly cut the screws down and use them. Just measure the distance from the drawer to the screw head, cut that much off of the end of the screw, reinsert the screws through the drawer and back into the handle and walla! I am currently working on painting and glazing a cabinet that will sit below our wall mounted TV. In October I had the cabinet custom built to fit in a cove to the right of our fireplace. I purchased the paint and glaze in December and I am still waiting for the perfect day to paint and glaze as well as the nerve to get it going. It will someday be a lovely lindhurst jade green with cocoa glazing on the doors, drawers and possibly some other areas of the cabinet. I can picture it perfectly in my mind I just hope it turns out nearly as well.

bluejeanroy Your project turned out great! I love the inspiration picture. I have it saved in 2 of my idea books. One is for the bathroom remodel I am starting which is going to be black & white. The color scheme and the handles are what attracted me to the inspiration picture so my vote is for the original handles in but in black.

cherryhunsaker I love the old handles! They looked great! ..I too was inspired by the same photo.

Ali Jeez, you are popular! I was scrolling forever just to tell you: Thanks! Hubby and I were cracking up reading this, I was in tears many times. And that shot of your dresser with the one lone glass pull HYSTERICAL!

drbeanie2000 I would think that even painting the old knobs silver, they would still fade into the white painted background. I like the "pewter" ones shown that were just painted.

Becky Harris Glad my lack of DIY skills made you guys laugh Ali - believe it or not, I have actually improved. You should have seen me yelling "Serenity Now! Serenity Now!" in my old living room after I painted it that blue color that's still on that old paintbrush and the whole room looked like the bottom of a daggone pool! I thought it was going to be very light and pale, after all, the color name was "Serenity" :)

lsemartha I'd paint the original pulls either black or something unexpected....taxi-cab yellow, red????

callisondesigner Go with the old handles & spray paint to resemble the inspiration piece. Return the glass handles and take the cost of s/h as a loss. You may not have been able to recoup the charge on ebay anyway.

Laurie at Bird in Hand VTG I like the contrast of the old handles and they do go with the style of this old piece. The clear ones just disappear. There are tons of selections out there. I know you'll find something great.

Becky Griffin Take the glass handles back and use the money to buy a new drill. Paint the the old knobs black or another contrasting color - they look better with this piece.

Kathy Ellis So cute! you are funny and your dresser looks great. If you do the diy stuff more often it gets easier, you develop a system, and you eventually get the tools you need to do it right, like drills and cordless screwdrivers and such. I always use the old hardware and repaint it. new hardware is great but pricey, the old stuff is usually quality and it already fits the holes!

janicepink Love the play by play; the "key" drawer pulls; and your dining room (plantation shutters, gray walls) and added that room to my idea book.

juliasophia Thank you jacqlemon for the paint and glaze idea for hardware. I have an old china cabinet with ornate hardware that would be perfect for your technique. I have already purchased several replacement pulls but I'm not happy with any of them. Your idea solves the problem.

cjandkimmie I would have to agree with most comments about keeping the old original hardware. It will be a reminder of what the dresser used to be and keep your Grandma in mind every time you open a drawer. Old and new mix well together... Return glass knobs. invest in another DIY project for your other nightstand.

jpezzenti Your story telling was great.so much fun to read. The original handles look best. I agree that the glass handles just disappear against the white paint. If the original handles are solid brass (a magnet will not stick to solid brass) you can soak them for a few hours in generic green ammonia & they will look brand new..little to no polishing required. If the magnet sticks then the handles are only plated brass..forget about trying to polish them...they have brass and silver spray paint out now that give a realistic finish...Good luck...

pianta I agree with all the comments on keeping the original hardware. And thank you jpezzenti for the tip on how to clean solid brass hardware. I'm in the process of painting several pieces of vintage furniture, all with solid brass hardware. I used an entire bottle of brass polish on the dresser hardware alone. Your tip will save me time and elbow grease on the 3 remaining pieces.

Dube Fine Art and Installation Congratulations Becky... beautiful work!

Beth The problem with the acrylic handles is they are clear and make the dresser look like it is missing something. Clean the old handles and spray black so they have a crisp clean look to match the beautiful dresser.

team1s I agree with keeping the original handles. I would either make them silver, like the ones in your inspiration photo, or black as suggested by some others on here. My husband (because I don't do DIY successfully!) recently replaced some handles on an old set of drawers and they had really long screws, too. He told me they're designed that way so they can be cut down to fit. Our screws had little notches along the length specifically designed for trimming at the place most appropriate for the depth of the drawer. I can't remember what he used to cut it... the sharp bit on pliers or something?? Sorry, I must have lost interest and left the room to do something else about that stage...

bennk You are adorable. I vote for the old handles painted silver. And I hate DIY too. I'd rather work overtime and buy it. >;-)

newchapter1 Love it . I have two Dressers I'm in the process of over hauling . great ideas for handles.

alexisy Keep the old handles. They look great! I think they suit the style of the chest much better.

Sonja Hilliard, DVM Love the play by play commentary Becky! Made me miss my old Atlanta haunts as well. But, I just can't understand your distaste for DIY, it's so much fun and so much more fulfilling when you can say you did that yourself! The same pride you feel in being able to fit those large items in tight spaces! Anyways, I'm with the majority vote. Keep the old handles and either spruce up the originals or spraypaint them silver. The original handles look more like your inspiration photo.

Becky Harris OK, I am horrified that someone added my dining room to an ideabook in that state - Here is a not very good but better photo where it's at least clean (and as you can see through the window, they are tearing down the house next door that day. this was before I figured out to shut the blinds when taking these kinds of pics!):

debv8 HILARIOUS! Thanks for sharing that DIY Diary! You gotta have a sense of humour and have fun or what's the point???

ofelia Im thinking about a dresser makeover too. Mines is in good shape, I mean it has good bones, but paint, or stain is so sad. I still thinking about because, the dreeser is big and heavy, and Im living in a apartment, so, no much space for sanding-priming-painting, but I'll try. Maybe I will send you pictures about it. May I? Ofelia.

wgrosenthal Love the new dresser! It only adds more character to your absolutely adorable house. Care to share your paint colors, just noticed your desk with a federal style painted white. I have an old desk from childhood same style and hardware, you just inspired me to paint it.

Deb Kapteyn Wow! A lot of comments... I love the old handles. They are much more dramatic than the glass. I can't tell what color they are, but I think they would look good painted gloss black like the dresser case.

marylouburton I prefer the key...it is different and refreshing. I am partial to black. It grounds and gives demention to the layers of the room without being overbearing. Loved the fact that you took on a project and were honest enough to say it was more work than you thought it would be. You could get in line behind me on that one and I agree the finished product is a triumph of pride. thanks for sharing.
I have an inexpensive idea, being partial to tassels. Short black satin twisted tie backs would by unique and dramatic, secured with small pieces of wood on the inside of the drawer. To give a more dramatic look, stencil a motif behind the handle area and then ad very simple black handles. Over the years I have seen the clear handle in clear black, don't know where, but, try restoration hardware catalog and Hobby Lobby if you are near one.

jpezzenti @ pianta and all interested parties.. simichrome is the best metal cleaner on the market from chrome to brass to sterling...it is not wise to use it on plated surfaces. I purchased mine on ebay motors...

Lavender Hey Becky...great project and great post. Thanks for the play by play, it helps. For my 2 cents, I'd go with the silver plated treatment for some sparkle rather than the black paint on the old handles.

Also, if the inspiration photo was what inspired you, perhaps you can kick up your own dresser a notch with placing a framed print with a black and white print or framed black and white wall paper sample (similar to your drawer liner) in one of IKEA's super cheap silver metal frames with large white mat. That's my 2 cents. :)

Nan Lewis I hate dyi too... I come up with the ideas and my hubs makes it happen. He is wonderful that way. BTW... I vote for the old handles painted silver.

flymoma42 As with the 263 others...keep the OLD handles, the glass gets lost. Contrast is key here! Yes, projects can be a Pandora's Box, but therein provides a learning experience (aka AFLE). I recommend red wine be consumed throughout the process to mitigate frustration...and try not to have a preconceived notion of a completion time. It'll be finished when it's finished...Enjoy the process and enjoy the end result!!!

Donna Madden loved your post. i agree to not use the expensive glass handles as they add nothing to the piece. maybe silver or black to the old ones. I would move the lamp to the right a little and the antique black jewelry holder to the left a little. they look like they are hugging the table edge a little too much. and, turn the lamp so the cord is coming out of the back of the lamp instead of the side as to not be seen.

maharraka Fun and inspiring! Great job! I agree that the glass handles are not doing much for the piece though.

brandyo71 We did a dresser facelift recently too!

http://midcenturymodernlove.com/2012/01/14/dresser-facelift/

Jo Clay I love your project. Don't have any suggestions, because I think one should use what is pleasing to them. That's my concept of what a DIYer. does. :) I like silver and use it basically whenever & wherever I can, whether it's "appropriate" or not. I painted two bedside tables black and white and used silver trim and handles.

Renee If you go the old handles (which I prefer) I think black or a darker finish would work better than the silver, it looks good on the inspiration dresser but that has a cool shape to add more interest. I think the extra contrast would give your dresser more pop. OR you could keep the glass handles and add a black and white pattern to the drawers with something like the contact you used inside. The glass handles would have looked great if you'd painted the dresser a jewel tone of some kind, turquoise maybe. It's a lovely dresser, nice job.

Summerhouse Style Thanks Becky, that was so much fun to read! I love your warning re getting it down the stairs. Reminds me of the time that I found a gigantic old dresser at the curb about a block away and pulled and pushed it up a hill using a little gardening cart!
I think I am the loan dissenter, but somehow I like the glass handles better. They probably show up better in person then they do in the photo, and they seem to go better with your style. Check out Van Dykes Restorers and see if you find something better-they have a BILLION different pulls When you decide which ones you are using you can just bring them to the hardware store with a drawer and someone will help you find the right screws. If any one should ever decide to prime first, KILZ is the best spray primer!

jules43220 i like the old handles the best. i related so much to your dyi escapade; i felt like i was right there with you in target on a saturday night for drawer liners/duvet covers that i didn't know i needed. anthropology kills me. i love their stuff-all of it....clothing, furniture, jewelery and knobs. i have bought some of their glass knobs....i've even gone so far as to spray paint them matte silver for my own little diy desk project that had very similar original hardware as your chest did. i should have kept my original hardware too. oh well.

Pamela D Beautiful job! I like the look of the traditional pulls on this dresser. Whether they are brass, silver, or black is up to you & depends on what other metals you have in the room. You can send metal out to be replated. We sent out our 80s brass Jacuzzi and bidet fixtures, as well as all the knobs in our master bath to be plated chrome. The cost was $220. The cost for new Jacuzzi and bidet fixtures would have started at $1800. Of course, my husband had to remove and reinstall the fixtures, which was not a small job. Still, even if we had paid a pro for installation, it would not have cost $1800. New taps and shower fixtures were reasonable so we installed new. We did all this to sell our house. It worked. Niagara Custom Plating in Niagara Falls NY. I have their #. Very nice & they do a lot of this kind of work.

samiaminc The clear handles look hideous....clean up the old ones and put em back

Ann Smitt Becky, pat yourself on the back, you did a great job. Save the clear handles for another project such as an old buffet or cupboard. Your origninal handles just need some TLC. I really enjoy your writing and DIY projects. ;-)

Becky Harris I am so happy to report that the old handles are back on (as was; I am too tired for Brasso, plating, etc and just wanted to take my undies and t-shirts out of baskets and put them in back in the drawer! Now I just need to go to Anthro and see if they'll take back the handles. I hate taking things back even more than I hate going to the mall! They really are a poor design - if you do clip them to the right length, it screws up the threads and makes it really hard to screw them in. They were really pretty though :)

Sarah Kerr The old handles, painted black or cleaned up with brasso, the new ones are nice but disappear, sorry :-S Looks great though.

Anne DeCocco That was fun to read and see!

frecklefrog Love love love the yellow doughnut (why is a doughnut called a doughnut....there are no nuts) phone....Great humour....Thanks for making me smile

weeblewoman I am soooo happy that I am not the only one doing this kind of "easy" DIY project!! I have a chifferobe that has been painted so many times, the doors wouldn't shut... I decided to remove the paint... the paint would not completely remove.. only the top 40 latex layers. I ended up sanding, and sanding and sanding it, finally getting enough of it smoothed out to paint... I am still not finished with it because now it is going to become a media storage cabinet. And did i mention this cabinet was my grandmother's back in the 50's? She saw it on the curb in the neighbors trash and made my dad go drag it home for her!! She was a pioneer in the "reinvention" business... Maybe one day I will have pics to post.. but for now, it is sitting in the garage gathering dust.

stillman5 The Key handles are a darling Idea However not black in color, The clear drawers pulls look okay as well. However I like the silver use of the old handles on the original piece that caught your eye to copy. I think the original designer got it right and your cute little piece might benefit from the old fashion hardware as the originators did with the silver handles. The black handles might be a little to blanton. Try them painted silver. Just a thought. Good job on your cute little re-creation.

stillman5 Well bum. you know I saw the little pewter handles that jacqlemon sent to you. Rethinking your present old hardware and although it is nice I kinda think the smaller hardware that Jaqlemon suggested would be better and not over take your piece in its size. Yours actually might be a little to large and along with the blk color stands out a little bit to much. Smaller siver handle might help make it the very cute centerpiece you might be looking for.

cupcakew I think the clear handles cheapen the look of the piece.Your original knobs have so much more character! In your design inspiration picture, the shape of the original knobs are echoed in the wallpaper which helps create the cohesive high design look. The original knobs finish the piece with pizazz.

suthurngurl I love the old handles and feel u should leave them black. I actually have an antique dresser and when I repainted it I misplaced the original handles and none of the new ones fit. Will have to fill holes and create new ones or see if someone could suggest a place to purchase antique handles, the ones with the scroll leaf design.

Jessica Berggren I was trying to find an email address for you because I had a quick question and this project was done 7 months ago. I love it and you specifics. I'm new to this site and wondered why you didn't use a small paint roller for the painting? Why a brush only? Also, how many coats did you need? I am starting this weekend so that's why I was hoping to find you on Facebook. I don't tweet (yet). I also wondered if you've found DIYing fun now that you've had success? Thanks in advance for your help, Jessica

Becky Harris Jessica, I used only a brush because I am the world's WORST DIYer and I'm lazy! Natalie is a much better resource - check out this ideabook:

peggymckee Definitely... the older ones, they make it pop and stand out against the white. Pulls the whole thing together : )

marlenas This cracked me up and the redo looked great! I did like the darker pulls.

mazyg Measure the thickness of the drawer fronts and take the clear handles and the old handles including screws to your helpful hardware store. Have them find the correct length screws and wide flat washers to take care of the wallowing effect the two things together will allow the new handles to fit just as well as the old ones. For under $3 you should be fixed up and be able to use and love your new chest and the new handles. It has a beautiful classic look.
And, yes, DIY almost always takes longer, costs more but leaves you both with experience and a one of a kind object that both fits your vision but also your room.

beecuz It would be blasphamy not to use the old handles. They would look super in either black or silver.

rosava Like the old handles as is.

rosava Spraying handles? Dont think so, they will chip with long term use.

Pam D. I don't know if I can actually comment I'm giggling so much at your comments. Perhaps because I relate so much. Home Depot trips at 9:00 at night. Friggin funny. I so relate to moving furniture up and down step ....on my own. I once moved a chest of drawers up two flights of stairs by myself. Funny thing was when my family got home and I showed it to them (all repainted and redone) no one seemed to notice how it miraculously got UP there, until I said, yeah, I moved it up here by myself. My husband's words, "your nuts".

Old handles get my vote BTW. The glass ones disappear into the piece. and the cost just doesn't justify it enough. I mean if they were BEAUTIFUL really "making" the piece I would say o.k, but they don't.

Pam D. Becky: Maybe you could bling up your old handles. I did it for this dresser set in my craft room and I love them.

Becky Harris UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

Y'all, I followed your advice and kept the old handles, as-is (as-was?), thought i have to admit, it was mostly out of exhaustion.

Pam D. THis is both pieces with the hardware. This craft room is blingy and girly and over the top pink, red and ivory but we have fun in here. I have a 9 year old and she wants to sleep in here she loves it so much....LOL

reereejandro wow, I love how you write, great read.

The old handles look much better, put them back :) Use the glass ones in the kitchen or something :)

lovemrmewey I would never ever have painted that beautiful old piece!

Lavender I disagree with the above comment....I would paint a piece if it had no historical value or of some sentimental meaning to me.

Colour is fun and lifts the spirit.

Becky Harris Lavender, what makes me laugh about comments like that one is that pieces like these were originally painted. It had been stripped and refinished many years after it was originally made, and had not been refinished since 1972.

Lavender Becky, no one more than I, loves a beautiful wood grained piece who's patina becomes only more translucent over time. I have a love-love relationship with wood.

However, the painted piece, I would whole heartely agree with you, Becky, was not one of these...likey made of inferior wood and destined to be painted originally.

I would also like to add to this that, until recently, I was not a fan of overly ornate wood veneered or carved furniture, but a great many brilliantly painted pieces have been popping up on the blogs and I am now a huge fan. Case in point:

Beth lovemrmewey if you state you never would have painted the dresser in the beginning as seen in the all wood photo, should we assume its because it would have fit into your decor plain wood? That's fair. But it wouldn't fit in with the owners decor and that's the point of the article I believe, and why she needed to do it over in some way.

Pam D. But if you don't paint some of these pieces, even if they are old and in great shape and are of a quality wood product, they just end up looking like your grandma's furniture sometimes. Most people don't know how to accessorize to minimize that look. So, if you have an old piece, new paint and possible fabric or handles is the best way to make it look fresh and new again. It brings new life to an otherwise discarded, overlooked piece. Who can disagree with that? Not me.

Lauren Gries What a fun post!!! I'll agree with the majority that the old handles are better, I'm not convinced about the spray paint though. I would suggest keeping the old and if you find some better ones along the way purchase those. You can always reuse the Anthro ones too, on a piece where you want the handles to "disappear".

There are always a few speed bumps in my DIY projects. It's never as easy or clean as it looks and a lot of times I don't save a TON of money but at least I get the satisfaction of having a piece that is exactly what I want!

One of my latest projects started over a year ago and was just finished two weeks ago, and that was for a vintage Danish Modern chair, all I wanted to do was reupholster and refinish. But every aspect of the piece was torture. :)

Congrats on a job well done!

(The chair is on the left in my photo)

Vickie Thomas I personally like the old hardware and would give them a black coat of spray paint to keep the theme going. Looks great!

evmielke I would spray the old handles silver, they resemble the hardware on the inspiration dresser quite nicely.

joanmmaguire I just scored an antique dresser for my husband's new office for $15 and was looking for inspiration. I came across your post about redoing your dresser and was laughing out loud!! I think you should spray the old handles and return the other ones....

cranberri99 I have two dressers that are the cherry stain that were so popular with multiple pulls if the same type. Way too busy and thinking of sanding in holes and painting fronts. Thanks for the inspiration. I'd go with spraying the old pulls a deep metallic. Have you thought about a single hole pull with similar metallic treatment? So many ways to enhance your beauty! Thx great piece!

Carolina Girl I love the look of silky black painted furniture with natural wood tops. You could just paint the drawer fronts which is what I plan to do. Add a mixture of knobs like glass knobs on a couple of drawers and metal on the rest; makes for interest. (Enlarge picture to see top of chest)

valleygirl47 Great job, Becky! Not that you asked, but I think you could use a smaller lamp. Home Goods has cheap/stylish ones.

A. Peltier Interiors Your inspiration photo was AMAZING! But I either like the dark handles or painting them silver. The clear ones seem to disappear on the white. But great job on making the dresser look fantastic!

pixiebabydoll The old handles polished up would look just fine I have a antique dresser with some kind of striped wood and glass handles its been passed down in my family forever my nonna gave it to me when I was 16 and wouldn't part with it for the world but wish id be brave enough to paint it. May move it to guest room and get a cheaper solid wood one.....and paint!!! Im finally after many years doing a MBedroom just to please me im using some creams and off whites with lil bits of girly all over it,my notion is you design for you not others so do what makes you smile the minute you see that piece or any other!