Ok sports fans, I am particularly psyched out of my mind about today’s post! Today I am teaming up with a group of very talented DIY bloggers in a
“Re-purpose It” challenge.
For my project I decided to take on the dresser that was banished to our guest room. It has been slowly falling apart and definitely needed a little lovin’ … Let’s dive in, shall we ?
DISCLAIMER: Let’s be real, this is NOT a detailed build plan, it is more of a basic breakdown of the process I went through. HOWEVER… here is general list of the tools and supplies I used.
Tools Suggested:
- Table Saw
- Nail Gun
- Drill
- Kreg Jig
Materials Used:
- 1/4″ wood paneling (4’x8′)
- 1×3″ boards
- Wood Glue
- (3) Ice Box Hardware Kits- Available at D. Lawless Hardware
- (1) Ice Box Sign
- Sandpaper
Alrighty, I started by dismantling that sucker! I kind of took it down to the bones. It had a decent frame, but it needed some MINOR improvements. 🙂
Once dismantled, I started constructing a frame out of cheap-o 1×3’s. (Pretty sure that is their technical term.) I made two of these frames (see image below) one for each side.
I then cut and attached a piece of 1/4″ paneling to the sides. I wanted to be able to give the exterior a nice stained finish. So I slathered it up with wood glue, and then tacked it in place for good measure. I then attached the newly constructed frames to the sides. (On top of the freshly installed paneling.) 
After the side frames were attached, I then needed to make it look pretty. It needed a face frame.
Looking prettier already! 
Going into this project, I knew I wanted to give this dresser some additional height. (Hence the constructed frame.) The reasoning? I wanted to create a lower shelf. I wanted to give it a rustic look AND I am also cheap, so yet again I turned to 1×3’s. 
Now I needed some doors on this sucker. I made shaker style cabinet doors. Its just a little more work and a lot-a-bit of math. The only thing that is different about these shaker style doors is that I needed to route out a lip on the edge to accommodate the specialty hinges.
Pretty right !?
I then added the hardware and a center board that would make it APPEAR as if all of these doors work independently. (Spoiler Alert: They don’t 🙂 )
Now it is time for the GORGEOUS hardware. I got mine from D. Lawless Hardware, and honestly it is the best price point I was able to find anywhere!
(So… you may have noticed in the mean time I stained my cabinet…I ran out of materials and my son was napping… ) Now for the cool part. Time to reinstall the drawers. I spaced my drawers a little differently than they were originally placed.
I then added my drawers. (I did decide resurface the drawers fronts so that it would all have a cohesive look.)
Last step: It needed a top! I scored a 1″ x 12″x 6′ from the 70% off section at Home Depot. Using a Kreg Jig I joined the boards together. I cut them down, and then routed the edge to make it pretty. 
Then I attached and stained that bad boy!
How fun is that !? AND the fun doesn’t stop here, make sure you hit up the other “Repurpose It Challenge” participants! They all did a stellar job, sneak peek and links below!
Amy from Her Tool Belt– Rustic Arrow / Mindi with My Love 2 Create – Succulent Planter /Donna from Funky Junk Interiors– Tray
Gail from My Re-Purposed Life– Desk / Corey from Sawdust 2 Stitches – Ice Box
Kathy from Crafty Chica– Jewelry Holder /Jamie with That’s My Letter– Card Catalog / Kim from The Kim Six Fix – Coat Rack
Thanks for reading and Take Luck,
Corey
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015
Corey,
That’s an unbelievable transformation of that old dresser! When I saw the teaser image, I was really wondering what this was in it’s former life.
great job!
gail
A compliment from the Queen of re-purposing. Color me flattered. Thanks so much Gail!
Shut the front door!! Corey. Lets talk, not only are you cute and fun, have awesome dance moves, and hilarious in your writing…you are killing it in giving furniture A-MAZE-ING facelifts. You are the furniture plastic surgeon IMHO!!! I can’t tell you how much I love this!! Pinned. Thank you so much for participating in the challenge girl!!
Mindi, you are such a doll, thank you! YOu better stop you are gonna give me an ego trip ;). Thanks so much for hosting, I loved participating!
Holy crap woman! That is amazing.. and I am so happy to see I am not the only one addicted to 1x3s because of their price point!
It is so pretty now! It is like the frog prince of furniture! <3
Gotta love the cheap-o’s! Am I right ! ? Thanks Lady!
Oh my gosh. What dresser? SERIOUSLY….
Such a gorgeous, rustic, high end piece now! Love the idea of doors on the outside. So stunning Corey! Beyond anything I’d even comprehend…
Whoa, coming from you I will take that as a HUGE compliment. Thanks so much Donna. FYI your pictures came out stunning!
You are so talented and skilled, I’m blown away. GREAT job!!!!
Thanks so much Kathy!
You are my DIY hero!!! What a beautiful job you just did, and what an inspiration! I got a similar job in Denmark, can’t wait to show you!!
I can’t wait to see it! Please make sure you send it over once you finish it !?
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Wow, Corey, beautiful job. I just know that had to take alot of math at which i am not good at. ) = I just can’t get over the fact that that was a dresser ! Amazing, just Amazing <3
Okay…so i just picked myself up off the floor so I could type. AMAAAAZING, AMY!! 😀
Okay…so that was supposed to say OH MY, not AMY…thank you to my toddler. Well, you get the idea.
Haha oh Larissa, you flatter me! Thank you so much lady!
Corey you are something else, how do you even think of these things!?! The new dresser is amazing and beautiful. I love the choice of hardware, it really pops.
Wow! I am Speechless! what a great transformation! You are so awesomely creative!
Thank you so much!
Completely and totally STUNNING.
This is a pretty amazing makeover! I am in awe and would love it if you would link it to our furniture only party Friday’s Furniture Fix, tonight at 9PM EST. Hope to see you there! http://www.patinaparadise.com/2015/09/fridays-furniture-fix-8.html
Wow, that is just stunning, love the stain/finish you’ve used.
Thanks Alison! I used Jacobean by Minwax!
Girl, you are so incredibly talented! This makeover is AH-mazing and probably one of my favorites! Great job on another fantastic repurpose!
Holy transformation, Batman! That is AWESOME! I love it. I more than love it. Really gorgeous.
That is insane!! Nothing more, nothing less! Love it!
Thanks so much!
It’s more than AMAZING! Great project re-love.
This is amazing, you are so clever! Would love to copy your creation but unfortunately I can’t purchase the hardware or anything like it in Australia. 🙁 I’ll either have to come up with a creative solution or wait till my next trip to the USA. Thanks so much for sharing your creation.
Oh I am sorry to hear that! If you search “Ice box hardware” you might have more luck?
Unbelievably amazing! Just gorgeous and I’ll bet this will be flooding Pinterest!
Thanks Michelle! Fingers crossed 🙂
I can’t say anything! I’m speechless! You must have a genius mind.
Thank you so much Nancy!
Could you pretty please include a more detailed tutorial of the cabinet doors? I want to make this so bad, but can’t seem to figure out the doors. If not, still a fantastic tutorial and drool-worthy piece of furniture!
I would really like to at some point, BUT if you are looking for something a little more immediate, there are some great tutorials available. I would suggest using a “shaker Style ” door. Here is one such tutorial. http://www.remodelaholic.com/shaker-cabinet-door/ best of luck!!