Young House Love

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A Big Girl Bedroom With A Daybed & A Secondhand Dresser

A dove and a moose walk into a bar. Just kidding, not a bar. That’s not kid-room appropriate. How about a dove and a moose walk onto a playground? Anyway, I’ll just cut to the chase. We finally found a dresser for Clara’s big girl room, complete with dovetailed joints! Hence the mention of a dove (ah, they don’t make ’em like they used to).

We wanted one for the playroom/ big girl room for Clara once she moves in there (so that eventual-second-child can use Clara’s original dresser since it works so well as a changing table in the nursery). And that way we’re not undoing one room to redo another room, which always feels counter productive. Plus nine more drawers worth of storage in our house = jackpot. Especially when it’s taking the place of an old room full of clutter, which used to be what this space was.

Dresser3

It was a pretty great secondhand score thanks to Sir Craig And His List (craigslist for those not down with my dorktastic lingo). For just $50 we’re the proud owners of this nine drawer dresser. As for how we found it, we just searched “dresser” on craigslist in our area a few times a week (maybe once a week if I forgot) for about a month and then finally this guy came up:

Claras Dresser1

Our only real requirements were something from a non-smoking household (that’s a hard scent to remove), something with at least six drawers like Clara’s nursery dresser which has worked out so well for us (nine is a total bonus!), and something long as opposed to tall (since we figure as she grows she can reach these drawers and get dressed herself more easily than she would with a tallboy since she might not be able to reach all those upper drawers).

After we got it into the room, we tried the daybed and the dresser on a few different walls and preferred the dresser right to the left of the door as you enter the room (it’s a lot shallower than the daybed, which sticks into the room quite a bit, so we liked that on the back wall with the dresser across from it).

Dresser1

And here’s the other side of the room to help you get your bearings:

Dresser4

Oh but our new dresser’s not in perfect condition…

Dresser 1

… so we’re planning to either refinish it or paint it depending on how the room evolves around it. We don’t want to rush into anything so it’s easiest to do what we call sticking & moving. We drop it in place in the room and just keep on adding other elements that we need in here (a rug, window treatments, art, a new light fixture, etc) and we’re sure at some point it’ll become a lot more clear if we want to refinish it in a deep wood tone, paint it a moody navy, or go snowy white with it. Who knows, we might end up somewhere else entirely! No matter what we decide, you know we’ll keep you posted!

But where does the moose come in? Remember the estate sale light that I sprayed ceramic-animal-white back here? Boom, moose.

Moose2

I promised you guys a shot of him with his final lampshade on, so there you have it. Remember the fabric-covered shade was a book project (#182) so we couldn’t share it until the book was out but now that it’s out, I’m all about it. We used fabric leftover from Clara’s monthly picture to recover a shade that we already had, and I actually used the back side of the fabric (I’m a huge fan of using a fabric backwards to mute it down a little).

Moose3

So now you’ve basically seen one wall of the room starting to come together. Can’t wait to hang something over the dresser. Hint: it’s not going to be frames or “traditional” art. We’ll share pics as soon as we have it done! Hopefully Wednesday (we’re on a plane all day today coming back from the West Coast, but we have a giant to-do list that we hope to tackle tomorrow and then shoot and share things as soon as we can).

Dresser2

Oh and you’ve already seen the daybed on the other side of the room, but just for fun I thought I’d toss this picture in here too so you can see how the upholstered lamp shade “plays” with the pillows and blanket. It’s looking pretty happy in there. And I can’t wait to add some other colors like navy and teal and yellow. Soon I hope!

Dresser6

In the meantime, who’s the cutest fake sleeper you know? Does her name start with a C and end with a lara?

Dresser5

What are you guys searching/eying/buying on craigslist? Any other furniture sources that you love? Do you know any dove/moose related jokes? Did any of you guys go thrifting this weekend for the ol’ Macklemore Challenge? Thanks so much for all the fun we had with that on Friday. Can’t wait to see what you guys scored!

Comments

    • Kerrie says

      I am so glad the superlatives came out, so that I could come back to this. I want there to be something about antlers (i.e. the dove responds “antler you so kind”… I am so bad at these things, but love the concept.

      I was actually coming back to comment that the dresser could one day look really cool in the ombre styling like the dresser in your room, but all white except pink doors. Maybe it has too many doors or there is already too much color in the room, but I still like the idea! :)

  4. Melanie says

    I’ve been searching for baby chicks and some supplies for them on craigslist. I just got a load of firewood off craigslist yesterday.
    BTW, I wanted to tell you how much I loved the thrift shop video. I hadn’t heard the song and we’ve been rocking out to it all weekend!

    Reply

  5. Kara says

    I attempted to do the Macklemore challenge this weekend, but everything was expensive! But there’s always a silver lining in everything: I’ve discovered a local indie thrift store! I’ll have to go check out the regular chain thrift stores this week, time’s running out!

    Reply

  6. kaycee says

    An early post! I love the dresser, I even think it’ll look good painted. Although, I do agree with waiting to see how the room evolves. No matter what, you two usually make a good decision lol.

    I just bought a Crate & Barrel metal/glass coffee table off of CL a weekend or two ago. I wanted it because I can spray paint the currently black metal frame. Funny thing is I too am waiting to do it so I can be sure of what color I want it to be. Also, I noticed the other day it’s the same exact coffee table you guys had in your first house! The irony :)

    Someday I hope to get the before/after pics of my house posted on the inter-webs.. If only there was more time in a day!

    Reply

  7. Melanie says

    I’ve been searching for baby chicks and some supplies for them on craigslist. I just got a load of firewood off CL yesterday.
    BTW, I wanted to tell you how much I loved the thrift shop video. I hadn’t heard the song and we’ve been rocking out to it all weekend!

    Reply

  8. Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says

    Paint it navy! I vote navy!

    I have a question for you: when searching for the dresser, did you give much consideration to the furniture you already had in the room (ie. geometric daybed and mid-centry-funky kid’s chairs)? I know you’ll make them all mesh in the end (heck, they’re already meshing now), but did you have any particular aesthetics in mind?

    Reply

  10. Erin {Home Everyday} says

    That dresser is PERFECT! I love the feminine lines, and cannot wait to see how the room evolves and if you refinish it or paint it. Clara is such a lucky lady. She will be able to stash whatever she wants in NINE drawers!

    Reply

  13. Tracie@MiddleClassMod says

    A leeetle sick with jealousy over your awesome craigslist vintage dresser finds! I’ve been searching for a vintage six or nine drawer dresser FOREVER without luck (they are all ridiculously expensive or badly redone or just…awful).

    It’s a great dresser which should grow up with her nicely.

    Reply

  14. Janelle says

    I’ve been searching Kijiji (more people in my area use this than Craigslist) for a rug. Our poor dog slides all over our laminate floors. Hoping to find one soon!

    Reply

  15. Andrea says

    Hi:

    Can you tell me the manufacturer/name of the blanket? I love it and would like to find something like it.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  16. Sarah says

    Awesome!! I’m excited to see what you do with it, I have a thrift store dresser that needs a makeover too! It’s a mid-century style tallboy. It’s extra storage for our rec room right now, but I’m hoping to use it for a kid’s room someday. Oooh and I’m super curious about your art idea!!

    Reply

  17. Eileen says

    We’re in the process of painting our baseboards white and I just noticed that your quarter-round is wood like the floors instead of white like the baseboards. I never thought to leave that the color of the floors! Is that something that you guys did or did the room come that way?

    Reply

  19. Emily says

    Love the dresser! It’s amazing how different the dresser looked in the Craigslist photo than in your house! Looking good!

    Reply

  20. Lisa E says

    Great find. I acquired a very similar dresser a few months ago. A free curb find by a good friend. One of the drawers was broken, but it’s all good because I decided that is going to be our new media stand and I planned on removing the top three anyway. I originally planned on painting the piece, much to my hubby’s dismay, but I’m looking at how most of the wood is in good shape so I just might leave as is. Need to buy new pulls and unfortunately they are in a hard to find size. Ah well, what do you want for free, ha! Can’t wait to see how the rest of the room shapes up. Clara is absolutely adorable!

    Reply

  22. Angie says

    One of my favorite places to find furniture is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore! It’s great because not many college age kids go there, so there’s a lot to pick from (even in my rural town!). I highly recommend checking one or two out!

    Reply

  24. Kristi - SimplePrettyThings says

    Ugh I want that dresser for my little girl! That is so cute. As soon as I saw it I thought white but then I read “navy” and I can’t picture it any other way than navy! I think it will help modernize it to go with the modern style day bed. Maybe spray paint the french provincial pulls a hot pink… The potential is there!

    Reply

  25. Ellen says

    I’m jealous! I’ve been looking for a dresser on Craiglist for a while now and I’ve only found ugly laminate stuff or “Texas Rustic” stuff for way more than $50! (I do searches for “dresser” and “chest of drawers” and, well, because it’s Texas, also for “chester drawers” because people are crazy)

    also, my vote is to refinish it! The wood tones are amazing!

    Reply

  27. Rebecca Gorbena says

    HELLO!
    Just curious- how do you get these fantastic Clist finds from previous owner to your cute lil casa?
    Are you renting a uhaul, borrowing a trailer or trying to fit a 9 drawer dresser into your car?
    I have this problem every time I’m searching for larger furniture.
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Reenie says

      Rebecca….I’ve had 3 different sales off of Craigslist, where I offered to pay more to them if they could deliver what I bought (daybed; treadmill; buffett). I drive a VW Bug!! They all were very kind and willing to deliver to my home.

  28. Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says

    So fun to see it all coming together! I think one of my favorite items to shop for on the ole craig is dressers. There always seem to be so many with so much potential! Alas, I don’t need anymore, but I always want to buy them and refinish them. Can’t wait to see how yours turn out!

    Reply

  29. Crystal @ 29 Rue House says

    I love those three extra small drawers and I always do a smoke smell test! I probably look funny smelling furniture but it has to be done!

    I just went to a vintage furniture shop in Brooklyn for a new dining room table!! Can’t wait until that baby is in my house.

    P.s. I was asking myself this morning if I’d be brave enough to ask a stranger to take a picture of me at a thrift shop for the challenge…jury is still out so I don’t know if I’ll be able to get good shots!

    Reply

  31. Katie says

    We ARE SELLING on craiglist this week. Put some old bookshelves and end tables on last night, thinking they would get lost in the furniture shuffle, but dang if we haven’t already had people email about them! Me likey.

    Reply

  33. Renee says

    I love how the room is taking shape one piece at a time. I was curious if you’ll add a side rail to the bed. (Maybe you already addressed that in comments?) I’m in the midst of baby proofing and am curious how people tackle it all. Thanks!

    Reply

  34. Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says

    No chance to get out for the challenge since I got up yesterday and said “let’s redo the bathroom before company next weekend!” The Mr was not amused.

    It all looks great EXCEPT the gap between the crown molding and wall is much more pronounced and needs caulked. Any tips for caulking above your head when you’re dealing with a person who created new swear words while caulking waist level?

    Reply

  37. Heather says

    Love that dresser – I’m on the hunt for something similar for my daughter’s room! So what are you thinking you’ll do for window coverings in there? Curtains? Patterns or solids? I think a bright red would be fabulous depending on what color you do the chairs and dresser though!

    Reply

  38. Katrina says

    I love that dresser. I actually own the exact same one and I paid more for it so congrats. However, I refinish a lot of furniture and that piece was my toughest job. Hopefully yours is different but mine had so many coats of shellac or something along those lines that it took nine coats all together to cover it. I was painting it white and it kept turning yellow. However it was well worth it in the end. Best of luck!

    Reply

  39. Angie says

    I was so happy when I saw this because I bought an IDENTICAL dresser at a yard sale almost a year ago for $40 for my daughter’s new room! It has been sitting in the empty, unfinished room since then along with other things I’ve picked up (vanity, headboard, etc.). We just bought all the framing lumber and closet doors last week to finally start this project so I’m so excited to see what you do with the dresser–give me some inspiration!:)

    Reply

  41. Jill says

    I thought I wasn’t going to be able to do the Thrift Store challenge because I’m busy studying to take the Bar Exam, but then I found myself at Goodwill after all! So I’m excited to participate. I got a few things, but sometimes Goodwill is sneaky overpriced…

    Reply

  42. Chris says

    Hey, I used to own that EXACT dresser (with matching chest and headboard, to boot). I actually donated to my sidewalk freebie pile about 8 years ago because it felt “dated” then. But I think it’s style looks fresh now with the new vintage trends (I’d vote for white paint and some iron or bronze paint on the handles) and it really was a good sturdy piece of furniture.

    Reply

  43. Ronica says

    To save time, if you read your blogs through a reader (like Google reader), you can subscribe to craigslist searches. Just type one in, then copy the url that comes up and put it in the “subscribe” box. I subscribe to dressers as well as some others, and it saves me time and energy. :)

    Reply

  45. Janel says

    Love the dresser! How do you guys transport furniture this big? Do you have a truck? Rent one? I always run into this problem when I see something (large) I want on Craigslist!

    Reply

  48. Christina P (NS) says

    And your amazing Craig’s List luck strikes again. I am a Kijiji (pronounced Keh-gee-gee – Canada’s version of Craig’s List) searcher as well and while I have had some good finds over the years I am constantly blown away by the quality and price of your finds! Jealous!!
    Christina P(NS)

    Reply

  49. qs777 says

    Love the dresser! I may be a little biased since we got one almost exactly like it for our daughter’s room. We scored it at a yard sale for $35 and it came with 2 headboards and a nightstand! We ended up painting ours, but some days I wish we would have left it alone. Live and learn as it was our first adventure in repurposing furniture.

    Just an FYI – our handles were an unusual size so we have not been able to find anything so we just spray-painted the ones that came with it. If we paint it again, we will have to fill in the holes so we can get any handles we want. Can’t wait to see what you do with it!

    Reply

  50. Stephanie says

    We are in the middle of redoing a big girl room too, although our home is older than yours so we have spent most of our time scrapping away the layers, opening up the closet, redoing the whole ceiling, etc. it’s almost ready for paint now ;) Anyway, I’m planning to repurpose our French Provincial bedroom set – very close to your new piece but with more curlies and ball feet, quite girly, but torn between trying to fix the original finish or painting it. How do you know when to paint and when to maintain the original finish. Since this is vintage furniture, I don’t want to ruin good pieces with paint if not needed. Thanks and I’m looking forward to what you do with your piece.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just see what room we want to use it in and wait to see what we think will look best. Obviously if you have a valuable antique painting it isn’t a good idea to maintain the value, but cheap Craigslist finds can go either way :)

      xo,
      s

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