Making Big Box Cool
How we transformed this pre-loved—pretty meh—Pottery Barn piece into a total stunner.
The Problem:
A client’s baby (#4!) was arriving any day and the nursery was still short a dresser and changing table.
The Find:
We started where we always start, looking at what the client already owned. Luckily, an old Pottery Barn piece with nice millwork was still on hand from babies number one, two, and three. Unfortunately, it had taken some serious abuse and wasn’t the statement piece the room needed.
The Facelift:
To transform the piece from meh into a whimsical stunner, we decided to paint it a deep teal (Benjamin Moore’s Mallard Green), which provided a contrasting backdrop for the drawer pulls and complimented the Rebel Walls jungle mural on the opposite wall. Opting for a satin finish, which is slightly reflective, lent a bit of edge to the trad piece and helped the millwork really pop. Satin or semi-gloss is also much easier to clean.
Okay—time to make this kind of project super doable for you with some tips and tricks from the OG herself, Zoe.
Tip 1: shop your housE
“Before you go searching for a new or new-to-you item, look around your house for forgotten pieces that could be put to use. Reducing consumption is the gold standard for sustainable living.”
Tip 2: “jewelry” SwAP
“The hardware on big box pieces is often chosen for its mass appeal (aka, boring). It might be worth springing for some new pulls to upgrade the look, which you can use again for something else. Just remember to save the originals!”
Tip 3: Paint Job
“If you want to try your hand at refurbishing, a paint refresh is perfect for novices. It’s low-cost, low-commitment, and high-fun. If you’d rather outsource your refurb, a professional paint job will run you a few hundred dollars, depending where you live.”
Tip 4: choosing a paint coloR
“I love to use deep blues and off-blacks for larger casegood pieces. It’s also fun to then paint the interior of a piece with open shelves, like a curio cabinet, with a brighter accent color. Farrow & Ball’s Citrona, a punchy yellow with class, is a personal fave. If you want to neutralize your space a bit, I prefer a creamy white over bright white.”
Tip 5: Add Surface Protection
“Protect the top of your dresser or table, and score bonus style points, by adding a glass or marble top. We often do this with high-use pieces for added interest and easy cleanup.”
“Before you go searching for a new, or new-to-you item, look around your house for forgotten pieces that could be put to use. Reducing consumption is the gold standard for sustainable living.”