I've owned the "before" version of this bow front chest for several years. I fell hard and fast for the size and shape but I was never ever in love with the wood.
Painting it was an easy choice. But what next? Aside from the bow front, this chest couldn't be more blah. Then I found inspiration in hand painted furniture by Patina. Perfect.
The body of the chest was painted Cloudy Morning by Kilz.
I found the vintage bird graphics at The Graphics Fairy, printed them on card stock and used Mod Podge to decoupage them onto the front of the chest.
The original drawer hardware was bold and beautiful. However, it was a bit too distracting so I removed the back plate and painted the pulls the same pale blue gray as the chest.
Much, much better.
Details...
I love this look.
***
If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!
that's so very pretty. Well done!
ReplyDeleteMy most favourite project of them all so far! I even dream about it I'm sure.... I'd love to do something like that to my dresser!
ReplyDeleteIf I were ever to get so adventurous... any tips for success with the painting? I think you've done just an amazing job.
(ps becoming a follower!)
OHHH I love it. Makes me want to get my brushes out!!!! What a great job.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Heather H
Love how this turned out. I knew it was your's as soon as I saw it. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, Beautiful, Stunning! I love this piece too! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the birds! You did an amazing job!
ReplyDeletei don't think i could be more in awe of you right now! first of all.. to have the guts to try to copy that beautiful inspiration piece.. wow! but to pull it off so well is really something you should be incredibly proud of!! :) and FYI.. i L.O.V.E. the birds! i tend to gravitate towards them too! really.. amazing job! kudos to you!!
ReplyDeletecontinued blessings,
-Tracie
PS.. just might have to showcase this on my blog!
Amazing job, what a makeover:)
ReplyDeletebeautiful....lovein it
ReplyDeleteAmazing and so easy to do...it sure looks like an expensive piece of furniture!!! Kudos!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! It is so cute and so easy! Thanks for sharing your beautiful chest. It is quite inspiring!
ReplyDeleteGosh, Lindy...this is just beautiful. The great thing is that even ME, the craftless one, might could do this. Very pretty, indeed.
ReplyDeleteLindy, I am glad that is yours since that is the one I voted for in that contest! Yay! I love it. You are such a great artist. I couldn't make the branches look like that. Hope you link this up, too.
ReplyDeletebeautiful. Love it. Very creative and definitely not something you see around. Well done. liz
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous!Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteI must really like your stuff. I voted for you two weeks in a row. :)
ReplyDeletegood luck!
gail
gorgeous!
WOW!! This is beyond beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSue @ Beach Bungalow
xo
This was my favorite too. Voted 3 times for this baby! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBe sure to visit my blog! I have left a little something for you! :)
ReplyDeleteTo say I adore this chest would be the understatement of the century!!!!! This is just awesome, I love botanicals and birds. What a great choice for your piece.
ReplyDeleteLindy- OH MY GOODNESS! That is a phenomenal piece. Have you ever seen something like this for sale? We are talking MEGA bucks! I LOVE your version. Okay-This is my favorite so far....Hugs- Diana
ReplyDeleteI think that this is your best project ever...but you know how much I like decoupage...and this is so beautifully done. Excellent!
ReplyDeleteYou really did a fabulous job. The birds blend in so well they look hand painted, too.
ReplyDeleteseriously beautiful. good job!
ReplyDeleteAmazing job! I'm speechless. Very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThat is so pretty! And I bet a lot of work!! Love it!
ReplyDeletePlease come over and enter my giveaway!!
Thanks!
Amy
Lindy your are amazing! I am so in love with this piece. The minute I saw it on crafty with the stars I knew it was yours.
ReplyDeleteLacy
That is so beautiful!! I've been wanting to do something like that for a long time! You did a wonderful job as always :0)
ReplyDeleteI love this Lindy!! I knew this was yours the other day when I was voting for it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
Lou Cinda :)
Great transformation, you would never guess its the same piece. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJust started following you a few days ago and love, love, love this idea. Now to figure out what piece of furniture to use!
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely beautiful, Lindy!
ReplyDeleteThe before picture makes the end result look even better! Those birds look hand-painted, I had to read your description to learn they weren't. Way to go and I'm excited to see what you come up with in Round 3!
ReplyDeleteI so love that chest. It is absolutely amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous! You executed the idea beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThe chest is absolutely AMAZING! You are very talented and creative. I especially like how transformed the drawer pulls. So perfect! I love your blog too!!
ReplyDeleteKaren
I am sooo head-over-heals crazy about the chest transformation!!! I love birds, and this redo has made quite an impression on me. Just awesome, Lindy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to the party.
Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
Oh my gosh, Lindy--this is exquisite--WOW!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic piece!
XO
What a beautiful job you did on the dresser! Absolutely awesome, the birds look like they were painted! You have a great blog, it is such an inspiration and I will be a regular visitor. I am new to blogging, I would really appreciate it if you can check out my blog!
ReplyDeleteSherry
omg so amazing, can I send you my address as to where to mail this amazing piece lol?
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to link it in our linking party this week.
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/02/fun-ideas-for-valentine-day-2011be.html
Maggie
Very beautiful. Such talent!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. My mother would love this. She is crazy about anything bird related. I made her a bird lamp for Christmas and might think about doing something like this for her next year. ~~Sherry~~
ReplyDeleteYou did such a beautiful job! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty...it's the one I voted for!
ReplyDeleteLindy Congrats! I love this piece and I am eyeing a piece of furniture right now that could work with that very technique! Can't wait to see what you are gonna do next! By the way you got my vote!
ReplyDeletebeautiful, just beautiful:D
ReplyDeleteAmazing Lindy!! Your painting ability is astonishing. I love the dresser, and the change in the pulls was well done too. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome it looks like something you would see in the French Palaces. Be sure to check out my blog for a big geveaway.
ReplyDelete:) Michelle
I loved this redo on your dresser! I love the birds and this looked very difficult but once you showed us how you did it, it looked much easier! Love it! I am your newest follower! :)
ReplyDeleteWow Lindy! How beautiful! You have done an awesome job!
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness! Your chest turned out so beautiful! What a great idea! At first glance I thought you had handpainted it all. The decoupaged birds was genius! It gorgeous! You deserve a chocolate milkshake! :)
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia;)
@Shelia
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone (and thanks, Shelia, for the milkshake). I really need to do a tutorial on the branches and leaves. I'm a painter, I know, but there really is a super easy way to do them!
That is STUNNING!! I'm REALLY LOVING it!!! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteDenise
Extreme Personal Measures
that's adorable!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful..I love it and admire your creativity! JenT
ReplyDeletewow! This is beautiful! Great idea to print out the bird images and mod podge them on instead of painting them yourself. You can't even tell! It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love it! I've bookmarked your blog and the Patina website for future reference. You did a fantastic job. I love how your branches turned out. I did a similar treatment on a hutch after seeing yours, and I like how yours turned out better.
ReplyDeleteYou have a load of talent...love this look!!!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
Lindy,
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! I actually thought you painted the birds onto the dresser! Fabulous. I'm following, follow me when you get a chance.
Susan
I LOVE this chest! I actually voted for it to over at CWTS! It's gorgeous and fun and would work in so many places! Congrats, looking forward to seeing what you do next week!
ReplyDeleteAnother absolutely gorgeous creation! I am just amazed at your talent. Well done indeed!
ReplyDeleteA really stunning piece. You did a great job with the makeover. Love you blog and will be coming back again!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL! You just keep amazing me.
ReplyDeleteThis is breathtaking! I love nature and decoupage, so this is right up my alley! You are one talented blogger and decorator, my friend.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Hi Lindy, I was over at Feathered Nest Friday, and usually I visit my "linky neighbors" to each side of my entry, then peek around, this time I went right to the top, and saw your gorgeous dresser. It's to die for, truly is! It reminds me of something Dore would paint over at Burlap Luxe, birds are my favorite and this is just so beautiful. Hand painting is not easy in the sense that, we want what we paint never to go out of style , and birds, well, it's the perfect choice. Love it, xoxo tami
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely!!! I am inspired! I would love to try this on just about anything. Love the birds.
ReplyDeletewell, could ya use just one more comment? all i can say is wow! I have a wavy front dresser that i want to make asini vanity. i think i'll slow this idea away!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this is incredible! I would be delighted if you would link this up to my VIP party today =)
ReplyDeletehttp://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/02/vip-party-3.html
I love it, and I especially love that you painted the pulls the same color. I am facing that dilemma right now and wasn't sure if painting them anything other than typical nickel/bronze/whatever would work.
ReplyDeleteThis is AWESOME Lindy!!! Well done- I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, unbelievably gorgeous! You are so beyond talented and I could see that being in a boutique somewhere with a very large price tag! Thanks so much for linking this up to Inspiration Friday this week!
ReplyDeleteVanessa
SO PRETTY!!! Did you seal it with anything besides Modge Podge?
ReplyDeletewelcomedtempest.blogspot.com
Oh WOW! That is just stunning!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Beautiful. I think this piece is going to inspire me... :)
ReplyDeletepretty and whimsical and amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow! I don't think I have enough patience to paint the detail that you do. Great job!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, I am following
ReplyDeleteMy goodness! This is truly beautiful, Lindy! I gasped! You rocked this one!
ReplyDeleteDonna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
Another Lindy original! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJust saw your mantle post. I'm right there with you! The only time I really like my mantle is at Christmas! So it tends to stay the same the rest of the year because I never know what to do with it! Love the new changes you made!
I just found your blog and I am blown away with this piece! It's beyond gorgeous! I am truely inspired now:) Just gotta find the piece of furniture to paint!
ReplyDeleteSo Pretty! Would love for you to add to my Thursday Treasure Party @
ReplyDeletewww.the treasurista.blogspot.com
Thanks,
The Treasurista
Finding and Creating FUN things...
That is to die for just fabulous and what an eye catcher
ReplyDeleteOMG love it what else can any of us say since i am #82 on comments i would say we love it all of us
Janice
Fabulous job! I just did a small chest with a bird, I never thought of the graphics fairy...to add some more...just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSimply stunning, Lindy, as always! I love decoupage, and when combined with paint? Perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking up to Passion for Paint
Beautiful Job!! Looks amazing! I’d love for you to link it up at I Heart Nap Time
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, as usual! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this, what a creative idea and it turned out beautifully!!
ReplyDeleteLoving the bigger scope of sky for watching birds from my new Conservatory.
ReplyDeleteHave long known, the birds may land in my neighbor's gardens but they are still MY birds.
Adore your chest.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Hello there Sweetie! You did a fantastic job! I am 'following' now, and look forward to future inspirations from you!
ReplyDeleteWOW! great job! beautiful piece!!
ReplyDeletewould love for you to take a peek at my (new) blog
http:/paintedfresh.blogspot.com
thanks!
~Donna
Oh my Lindy, This is a gorgeous chest! Combining the graphics with the paint was a fabulous idea.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Sherry
So beautiful; you are very talented!!!
ReplyDeleteoxo
Love this! I'm visiting from B2B where you were featured and I'm a new follower. Great job. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love this look,very nicely detailed and makes a oring piece stunning.Im going back in your blog to explore.Nice work
ReplyDeleteFabulous! The pulls are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWow - it looks phenomenal! Love, love, love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! What a great idea and wonderful execution! LOOOOVE it!
ReplyDeleteThat is just lovely!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! And so smart! I thought you handpainted it all since the branches were clearly handpainted. I never would have guessed that you printed the birds...you could definitely have fooled me!
ReplyDeleteHAND PAINTED SO BEAUTIFUL I LOVE THE BIRDS..BLESSINGS...SANDRA
ReplyDeleteOH....I....AM.....IN...LOVE!
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing talent my dear. Dropping over from Cottage Instincts. I am swooning over your lovely piece. The real question is...if I get a chest of drawers will you do this for me? You my dear are dripping with talent.
Cheers~
e
Now that was creative, I love how it turned out!
ReplyDeleteYou have created a beautiful one of a kind piece!!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
WOW! Lindy...you did it again....I am amazed!
ReplyDeleteTruely a pretty piece. Trish
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Found you on the Shapby Chic link party. I've been wanting to go "birds" in my living room and this is such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI think I already left a comment on your chest, but it never hurts to say again how absolutely stunning this is! The combination of the decopage and the painted branches makes it so unique!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! You did a great job. Dropping by from Met Mon. Hope you'll come see my youngest daughter's dining room redo.
ReplyDeleteAllison
Atticmag
This is magnificent. I love everything about it, and the way you placed the birds on the chest. You really created a masterpiece and a wonderful conversation piece for any room as well.
ReplyDeleteKaren
фантастика!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteVery, VERY nice! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the most beautiful piece of furniture I have ever seen! Oh, how I'd love to have this :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually into paintings on furniture - pictures anyway, but this is fabulous. I was so happy to know you didn't paint those birds by hand, I would have been green with envy.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Lisa x
Love ~
ReplyDeleteSoooo pretty!! All the little birds and branches-just divine! I'd love to see this at my weekend linky party :)
ReplyDeleteThis chest is absolutely breathtaking. I love it. Totally a work of art. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteGreat project. I featured you this week in my DIY column for examiner.com.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous transition for this chest of drawers!! I can almost hear those birdies singing they are so enjoying their new home!!
ReplyDeleteSuper super job!!
bee blessed
mary
Amazing, this just blew me away!!!
ReplyDeletexo,
Debra
Absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Oh this is just gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower!
Pamela :)
Hi Lindy...
ReplyDeleteOhh my goodness...your bow front chest is absolutely gorgeous, my friend! Ohhh...and I love how you painted the branches and decoupaged those beautiful birds on it! I would just love to have a piece like this! I have a small chest that I could do this with...maybe I'll give it a try! Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful piece with us...as well as the great tutorial!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
The birds are so sweet on this piece.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely STUNNING! Looks like an extremely expensive piece! Great job!!!
ReplyDeleteThe chest is beyond adorable. How clever that you mod podged them. I truly thought you had hand-painted them. Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteCAS
How beautiful!!! Wow!!! Amazing !!!
ReplyDeleteI love it. Thanks for sharing...
Erin
WOW!! Beautiful transformation ♥ it
ReplyDeleteThis is great. So beautiful.I am hosting a Valentine Giveaway. I would love for you to stop by!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this dresser! I think it is really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteStunning... so whimsical & creative. I think this would be a great dresser in any room of the house! I'm featuring your dresser in the PoPP SPOTLIGHT!
ReplyDeleteJust letting you know I'm featuring this on my blog. I'd love for you to grab a button.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeletewow that is amazing you did a fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteStunning piece!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW Lindy! I don't know how this is only the first time I am seeing this amazing piece! I saw it on brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy. It is honestly one of the best pieces I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day....
Lisa
That is just beautiful.I'd love to have you around my house for a while. ~ Priscilla ~
ReplyDeleteWow!! Just beautiful,you did a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog ,so now I'm following. Hope you'll do the same.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Hugs, Amy
Hi :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful blog. Great place :) Beautiful thing
Hugs from Ppland
Agata
Oh my gosh,
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely stunning! What an amazing transformation, Lindy! Well, all of your transformations are amazing, but this has got to be one of my hands down favorites! I've used several of those beautiful bird images myself. Looks like it should be in an exclusive boutique!!!
Absolutely unbelievable! You deserve a big star for this!!! I can't even put into words how perfect this is. STUNNING! Congrats on your Graphics Fairy feature.
ReplyDeletexx,
Autumn Clark
Absolutely stunning. You should be proud of yourself for doing such an amazing job.
ReplyDeleteHugs Ali x
I found you via graphics fairy and oh my, this is a drop dead gorgeous chest!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful !!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing!!! Fantastic work.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteThis could not be prettier! What a good designer's eye can make out of something less desirable is always refreshing!
ReplyDeleteI'll be sure to come back around for more of your good ideas!
Rose McGuinn
That dresser is gorgeous!! I love it!
ReplyDeleteLove the dresser makeover! Truly Awesome!
ReplyDeleteSo creative! Beautiful chest and I love birds!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen so many comments on one post...but I have to do it cause I am overwhelmed with this...the best I've ever seen! You need to make a business out of this! Well done new friend!
ReplyDeleteWOW Beautiful Job !!!!! I am becoming a follower!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I've been wanting to try the decoupage thing on furniture for quite some time and I've heard about that Graphic Queen and how wonderful it is. Job well done!!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing job!
ReplyDeleteWow! Have to love this one. Great work.
ReplyDeleteMvh Heidi
Lindy--what a fabulous job!
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the furniture at PATINA--I just can't afford it : /
But I'll bet that even THEY would be proud!
Catherine--Freddy & Petunia
i absolutely love it !!!.. what a fantastic makeover.. i have a similar shape chest of drawers and would love to do somthing so gorgeous.. somehow i dont think it would look like that!!!
ReplyDeletewell done!
charl
x
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this!!! I came over from Better After because I just had to see how you did it. It looks fantastic!
ReplyDeletegorgeous, i love all things bird. i would really appreciate if you linked it to my party.
ReplyDeletehttp://typeadecorating.blogspot.com/2011/03/anything-goes-party-6.html
great job!
You had me at "Patina Furniture". I have so many of those "inspiration" pictures myself.You actually did it! WELL DONE!
ReplyDeleteI love how wispy you made the tree. You've got a very natural painters style. I've always wanted to do more than a shabby chic on a dresser but I tend to chicken out in the end. But, I did only just start painting furniture last year so there is hope for me.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore this,,its just lovely,,
ReplyDeleteWow!!! This is absolutely incredible!!! I truly love it. So if you ever decide to part with it, could I buy it from you? I wish I could paint so that I could try something like this too!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm... It doesn't look like my last comment worked, so I'll try again. =) Wow!!! This is absolutely incredible! I absolutely love it, so if you ever decide to part with it, can I buy it from you? I wish I could paint so that I could create one of my own. Truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis dresser is for the birds! (tongue in cheek) And there's only one word for it: GORGEOUS! And only one word for you (ok, two!) BRILLIANT & TALENTED!
ReplyDeleteWOW, looking for a diy dresser makeover and THIS is what I want to do, thanks for the tutorial, I will probably go the easy way and just paint it a different color but you have me thinking...
ReplyDeleteYa know, I've looked and looked at this since you posted it. I even went to the graphics fairy and printed out the birds. EPIC FAIL. :-(
ReplyDeleteHow did you get them to print at the right size in high enough resolution? I'm an advanced-middle Photoshop user and yet I still found that even with tweaking, the photo quality wasn't what I was expecting. I am over-thinking it? Did the photos look somewhat pixelated before you modpodged them? Any tips or (even better) a step-by-step???
Beautiful! I'm follow you now!
ReplyDeleteLidiana
Belo Horizonte - Brasil