Re-dressing A DRESSER

Sometimes the perfect décor is right under your nose. While Valerie has many vintage pieces she’s restored or repurposed, one piece that stands out is an antique dresser.

VISION

After years of use, it was falling apart and completely unsalvageable—as a dresser. “I remember staring at it and loving the arch and other pieces throughout, thinking, ‘Gosh, I wish we could cut this thing up and save some of these pieces, maybe even use them for something else,’” she says. “Then a lightbulb went off, and I asked my husband Mario if he would be able to cut the top so I could use it above the wooden windows.”

REPURPOSE

The two got to work, cutting up the old dresser and taking pieces to add to their home décor. In addition to placing the wooden arch in the living room, Valerie also included a few other pieces as wall art in the kitchen to add further charm and a personal touch. “I absolutely love that we have pieces of that dresser in our home and used parts of it for something new,” she says.

(right) Often a smaller floorplan requires creativity when designing a space. Valerie’s DIY island is an example of how necessity is the mother of invention. “Our kitchen is small and narrow, so an actual island wouldn’t fit in this space,” she says. “I decided to convert the console table into an island. I sanded it down a bit and put new handles on the drawers, and we took the top off and added wood pieces to both the top and bottom. Then we added wheels to it so I could move it when I wanted and if needed.” (below) Valerie created this hallway vignette to fill the empty space between rooms. “We created the shelf under the windows with items we already had and a pair of corbels,” she says. “I also added the small stool and huge demijohn above it with some pampas grass my niece gifted me from her wedding to cover up a socket that’s right behind it.”