The quest for the perfect master bedroom dresser recently culminated in a delightful, unexpected discovery. For over five years, our bedroom had been home to a familiar IKEA Malm dresser, a piece that had faithfully served its purpose since the day we packed up our lives in NYC and embarked on a journey to Richmond in a trusty red minivan. However, its time in the spotlight was drawing to a close, as it was slated for a new role in our guest room.
Out with the Old: The Malm Dresser’s Farewell
While the Malm had been a steadfast companion, it presented several clear shortcomings in its current setting. Visually, it was undeniably too diminutive for the expansive wall it occupied, leaving a noticeable void that begged for a more substantial presence. Functionally, it had also begun to show its age and wear. The middle drawer had developed a persistent wonkiness, a battle scar from various house moves, hindering its smooth operation. Furthermore, the dresser bore a few other visible marks and scuffs, testament to its journey through different rooms and homes – from our bedroom to the guest bedroom, and even a stint in the sunroom of our previous residence.
Our longing for an upgrade was clear: we needed something that offered greater scale and presence. Beyond mere size, we envisioned a piece with a touch of character – something a little curvy, perhaps even ornate. This aesthetic choice was intentional; it aimed to introduce a delightful contrast to the more modern elements already present in the room, such as our sleek “Ed the Bed” and our distinctive, snowball-esque light fixture. Our ultimate goal was to steer clear of a bedroom that felt like a stark, modern furniture showroom. Instead, we craved a space that exuded a “collected over time” charm, rich with layers and personal history. We both found ourselves drawn to the idea of a dresser elevated on turned legs, a detail that resonated well with our bed’s own leggy design. This subtle similarity, we hoped, would create an understated yet cohesive bond between the older, more traditional dresser and the contemporary bed, forging a beautiful marriage of old meets new. Naturally, the thrill of “rescuing” a sad, old piece of furniture was also a significant motivator. We had diligently scoured thrift stores and stalked Craigslist for weeks on end, but our efforts yielded nothing but disappointment. Then, just as we were about to lose hope, a dresser miracle unfolded. The perfect piece materialized from an entirely unexpected source. And by “unexpected source,” I mean my parents’ bedroom.
A Serendipitous Find: The Family Hand-Me-Down
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. My mom and dad were actively preparing to downsize to a smaller home, now that their nest was beautifully empty. This meant they were in the process of finding new homes for many of their cherished belongings. I had already happily inherited stacks of old family photos, school papers, and childhood art projects, each holding a flood of memories. So, during a recent visit, when we spotted my dad’s old dresser, a piece that perfectly fit our criteria – it was old, it had those coveted legs, and its width seemed absolutely ideal for our wall – we couldn’t resist asking about its fate. Their response was music to our ears: “Nope, we’re planning to put it on Craigslist. Unless you want to take the old clunker off of our hands?”
“Uh, yes please!” Sherry’s invisible cartwheels surely ensued in the background.
To our even greater surprise and delight, they informed us they would be in our neighborhood just two days later to babysit our nephew. This meant the dresser would be making its way to us far sooner than the “few weeks” we had anticipated it might take to mosey over. It was truly the best dresser surprise imaginable. And that, dear readers, is precisely how this beautiful, leggy, and character-filled piece found its way into our home, seemingly out of nowhere:
Integrating the New Dresser: A Blend of Styles
Immediately, the difference was striking. The new dresser, substantially larger than our former IKEA unit, filled the wall with the proper proportion and gravitas it deserved. Its traditional aesthetic offered a welcome counterpoint, harmoniously balancing the modern pieces in the room, such as “Ed the Bed” and our distinctive light fixture, just as we had envisioned. This successful integration has sparked further excitement for our bedroom’s evolution, particularly in our quest for old nightstands. We now hope to find bedside tables in a similar warm tone and shape, complete with cool ring-pulls – perhaps even ordering matching hardware online to achieve a cohesive look. Concealed bedside storage, a long-desired feature, would also be a fantastic bonus, further tying our “old meets new” design philosophy together seamlessly.
And, as we had hoped, the dresser arrived with just enough character to warrant a little bit of tender loving care. One of the drawers was indeed busted upon its arrival, but a quick ten-minute session with a screwdriver, accompanied by a whistle tune, was all it took to secure it firmly once more. But here’s the spoiler alert: that minor fix represents the extent of our “work” on the dresser for the foreseeable future. Despite our initial excitement at the prospect of re-staining or painting an old, “seen-better-days” piece, we simply couldn’t justify the effort and commitment of a full refinishing project at this time. This isn’t to say my parents objected; quite the contrary, they were eager to see what creative transformation we might unleash. Rather, we genuinely believe the dresser’s warm wood color beautifully complements the cool tones of our walls and bedding, while simultaneously highlighting the honey hues in our curtains, the texture of our jute rug, and the golden accents in our duvet. Moreover, as this next shot clearly illustrates…
…the rustic wide plank floors in the bedroom are in dire need of more than just a little attention. They exhibit discoloration, various stains, and splintering in numerous spots. Our long-term plan is to refinish them in a richer, darker mocha tone, a project that will extend to the rest of the hardwood floors throughout the house to ensure a harmonious and cohesive aesthetic. This future floor transformation will undoubtedly make the warm wood dresser stand out even more, preventing it from blending into the floor as much. The effect will be particularly striking if we succeed in finding two antique-looking nightstands for the other side of the room, ideally in a similar warm wood tone. Perhaps we’ll even stumble upon some old dark Craigslist or thrift store finds that we can lighten with a gentle stain, achieving a “not-perfect-but-good-enough” match that speaks to the charm of collected pieces.
The Enduring Charm of Inherited Antiques
We are utterly captivated by our hand-me-down dresser’s imperfections, finding immense joy in how they beautifully preserve the piece’s rich history. Perhaps it’s a touch of overt nostalgia, given that this is our very first item of inherited “antique” furniture, but there’s an undeniable magic in knowing its backstory. My dad originally purchased this dresser from his cousin back in the 1960s for a modest $100 and has cherished and used it ever since. It proudly bears a scratch on the front of one of its drawers, a tangible reminder of its journey, incurred when he transported it in the trunk of his car over four decades ago.
While we don’t know the exact age of the piece, a faint stamp discovered on the back of one of the drawers offered a fascinating clue: “Abernathy Furniture Co.” A quick online search (thank you, Google!) revealed that this company appears to have commenced operations in the 1850s in Kansas, adding yet another layer of historical depth to our new acquisition.
After just a couple of days of using it, I made a peculiar realization: the dresser possessed some deeply rooted, almost uncanny auditory memories for me. When I heard Sherry opening and closing its drawers from the other room, the distinctive sound of the metal pulls clanging against the wood instantly transported me back in time. It was the exact same noise I remembered hearing emanating from down the hall throughout my childhood. It’s truly remarkable how sounds can evoke such vivid flashbacks, isn’t it?
DIY Solutions: Taming Sticky Drawers
Beyond the minor repair to secure that broken drawer rail, the only other “work” the dresser truly needed was some attention to its stubborn drawers. Each one stuck and dragged a little, making opening and closing a slight struggle. Sherry, having heard the age-old “rub soap on them” tip numerous times, decided to put it to the test. She retrieved a bar of Dove soap we had leftover from her mom and stepdad’s visit (we typically use Dr. Bronner’s, but she harbored a slight concern that “eco soap” might not yield the same results for this particular task).
With focused determination, she began rubbing the dry bar of soap along each of the wooden rails. She applied it diligently to the bottom edges of the drawers…
…and even meticulously worked it into the tracks located within the dresser itself. The intention was to effectively “wax” these surfaces, creating a smoother glide that would prevent them from catching and dragging.
The verdict on this simple, cost-free trick? It undeniably made a noticeable improvement, making the drawers operate with considerably less friction. However, it didn’t completely resolve the issue; a slight stickiness lingered, meaning it wasn’t a 100% solution.
Considering it was a totally free and readily available solution, we’re certainly pleased we gave it a shot. But if any of you, our astute readers, have other proven suggestions for helping these drawers slide even more effortlessly, please do share them! We’re contemplating trying a dedicated furniture wax or a similar lubricating product next.
As for the items adorning the top of the dresser, each piece serves a purpose or holds sentimental value. The large white lacquered box functions as a discreet charging station, a practical find from a Pottery Barn Outlet a while back, which even made an appearance in this road trip video. A charming ceramic egg crate is thoughtfully filled with Sherry’s jewelry, while a compact table fan stands ready for the warmer summer months. Two elegant white bowls neatly hold more of Sherry’s bracelets, necklaces, and glasses. Finally, three framed photographs capture cherished memories from each of our wedding anniversaries. And yes, thanks to my wonderfully eccentric wife, a ceramic animal friend has also found its place – a bronze ceramic pig she discovered at HomeGoods for a mere $6 a few weeks ago. I must admit, the dark bronze twist adds an unexpectedly cool touch, but don’t tell her I said that, or it might just fuel her strange addiction!
The Master Bedroom’s Evolving Narrative
Stepping back for a broader perspective, here are a few more glimpses of our master bedroom, allowing you to appreciate how the new dresser harmonizes with the other elements in the room. It’s crucial to remember that this space is very much “in progress,” a canvas awaiting its final touches. Future plans include the addition of captivating art, a luxurious long bench, and a substantial white built-in unit or cabinet to the left of the bed, which will thoughtfully balance the existing doorway. The aforementioned leggy, honey-colored nightstands are also on our wish list, alongside the possibility of new table lamps, among other evolving design ideas.
The journey of completing this space promises to be an engaging one (or perhaps not, depending on what treasures we unearth and how many places we have to explore – haha, there’s the husband’s perspective on shopping!). Ultimately, as thrilling as resolving our dresser dilemma has been, one of the most gratifying aspects is the immediate practical benefit: we are finally able to relocate a significant portion of our clothes from unruly piles in the closet into proper, organized storage – four full drawers’ worth! This means that after more than three months of living with mountains of shirts and pajamas scattered across the closet floor, a direct consequence of a smaller dresser with one inoperable drawer, we officially have absolutely no more excuses for neglecting our organization. Uh oh.
So, this marks our very first antique hand-me-down adventure. Or, for those inclined to a more refined description, our inaugural “furniture inheritance experience.” And I won’t lie, it truly does feel rather special, almost fancy. The profound idea that we now own something older than my own father is, to borrow Miley Cyrus’s apt phrase, “pretty cool” (anyone else been catching SNL lately?). This holds true even if the piece carries a few endearing battle scars and didn’t originate from a prestigious auction house. Have you, our readers, ever received something exceptionally awesome or particularly sentimental handed down from a family member? And did anyone grapple with the fascinating moral dilemma of whether or not to make transformative changes to it? We were fortunate in this instance, as my mom and dad were even more enthusiastic about the idea of refinishing it than we were. However, we’re acutely aware that such alignment might not always be the case. It’s a sticky situation indeed.
Pssst – Curious to see how we completely transformed an old Craigslist dresser with both stain and paint for Clara’s nursery? Click here to discover the full renovation process!